Does anyone NOT like Storm Along Bay??

[tinacaplan]

We stayed at the BC this past July and we loved SAB! There are many, many things that get a lot of hype here on the boards and I've found few of them live up to the hype...in my opinion, SAB really did. We never had a hard time finding chairs, not that I sat in them! We loved the lazy river, the sand bottom portions, and my son, who had just turned four, loved the pirate ship and the mini slide. When we go in the summer, and the pool is open 'till 11 (and we took advantage of this several nights), I'm not sure I'd stay anywhere else. That sai, for our quick February trip, we're headed to the Poly. February is hit or miss with the pool, so.. Overall, though, we loved, loved, loved the Beach Club and SAB.

 

[pixarmom]

Our boys are ages 4, 11 and 12. They love SAB, and so do we. For our two older boys, there is no question that SAB is their favorite pool and the jib slide is their favorite slide on Disney property. Our youngest loves the mini slide at the base of the pirate ship and everyone loves the zero depth entry area. It's one of the only zero depth entry areas that doesn't lead to deeper waters - it's about 2 feet deep throughout, with a tiny corner that reaches 3 feet. No question for our family - it's a fantastic pool and it's hard to give up SAB for a summer trip (particularly when it's open until 11pm.) I actually prefer the BWI slide over the BC slide - I really dislike clowns, but loved that slide and wasn't bothered by the whole clown thing in the least. The rest of the BWI pool area isn't my favorite - it was more crowded than I've seen at other resorts (see other resorts in my signature, below.)

But our resort choice is based on much more than the pool, especially in the winter months when we're not sure we'll be able to use the pool much anyway and the hours are limited.

Our last visit was in August, and we split between BC and BWI. I prefer the BC decor, the BC lobby and the refill mug situation at BC. But our room at BWI was beautiful and amazingly close to the water with an incredible balcony and view. And the CL CMs at BWI were outstanding. So BWI joins BC at the top of our "favorites" list - it's very difficult to choose!

I created an SAB photo thread after our August visit - maybe this will help: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2790323

 

[scottmel]

We have stayed at both YC and BWI in summer months. No comparison between the two pools. BWI is rather lame. Slide is faster though but overall concept is pretty lame. Location is a wash - both resorts have ideal locations. Decor in my opinion is better at YC....but that is such personal taste. Don't like concierge floor at BWI but love the lounge, just not floor layout. It really does come down to the pool for me in summer months there. Sorry! I love SAB!

 

[RMulieri]

We love SAB...BUT we only have one child to deal with.IF I had more than one with different swimming abilities, I would probably rethink SAB..It is spread out and has areas with varying depths.Older ,better swimmers will want to use the slide was can only be accessed by leaving the pool area and crossing a public walkway( the slide shoots you back over the walkway into a pool so it is hard to see a child climb to the top and then get back over to the splash pool fast enough).Younger ones will want to spend time in the sinking sands shallow digging area or the kiddie pool on the back of the pirate ship.

 

[LSchrow]

we don't care for SAB, either.
chairs are difficult to find, and the pool is too crowded to actually swim in.
our nephews and own kids asked (a few different BC/YC/BCV vacas) to go back to the BW.
we all do love the YC, but only use the quiet pool

 

[Brian Noble]

Its a mini-water park with something for everybody.

SAB is a very nice, very large pool, with a couple of unique-for-WDW features. However, calling it a mini water park is a stretch, IMO. It's nothing at all like a water park, and might not even compare favorably with some of the better offsite pool complexes at Reunion, Bonnet Creek, or Orange Lake/River Island.

It's nice, and is probably one of the better pools anywhere at WDW, but not a qualitatively different experience. Truth be told, I think part of its cachet is that it is so visibly "exclusive". The sand area is a hit with toddlers. The scope of it gives teens a bit more of a sense of freedom. For kids in the middle of those two, it's probably less important.

As for BWI/BWV vs. BC/YC/BCV: I think the Boardwalk area is a little more "active", while the BC/YC/BCV area is a little more laid back. Otherwise, I don't find them to be that different. None of them have particularly distinctive theming. The food situation is a little better at BWI/BWV, but not much---neither has great CS options, and the TS options of either are close enough to get to easily. I'd go with whichever vibe you are looking for, as it would be hard to go wrong with any of them.

 

[shalom]

I created an SAB photo thread after our August visit - maybe this will help: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2790323

I wanted to second the recommendation of that photo thread -- it's excellent. Also, the second post in the Yacht & Beach Club FAQ has a photographic map of SAB that I found immensely helpful. SAB doesn't appeal to me -- not into sand and think the lazy river too small -- and it didn't particularly interest my kids, either, but it's the only thing that made my hubby perk up when we toured the DVC resorts.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Though we do prefer Y&B over Boardwalk we're not big fans on SAB....

It's a great pool or canal but the over crowding makes it a poor draw....the times we've stayed, chairs and lounges too hard to come by in a pair....not worth it.....really too small serving 2 resorts, especially inn the swimming months......

We're actually MK fans so prefer to hang our hats in that area....

 

[nkereina]

Didn't get a chance to read all posts so sorry if this has been mentioned but every time I've been near SAB, it's CROWDED. This past September we walked past it around 9:30pm and if it wasn't dark out, the crowds would have made you think it was 1:30 in the afternoon. I know two separate families who take week long trips to YC/BC and spend the whole time at SAB. I am willing to bet a lot of families looking to spend a lot of time at the resort choose to stay at YC/BC for the sole purpose of using SAB, thus making it busy.

We wanted to try it because we love lazy rivers, but come to find out its tiny and also about 7-8ft deep in the lazy river part. I'm not a strong swimmer so that made me nervous.

 

[pixarmom]

I already posted, but just wanted to add a different perspective regarding the crowd issue at SAB. I'm very sensitive to crowds - that's why we're a rope drop family and usually avoid MK and DHS at night when they have lots going on. On the Disney Dream, we avoided Deck 11 and the pool after 10am for this reason.

Since 1992, our BC visits have covered the months of January, February, March, May, July and August - and the pool itself has never felt crowded to me. It's just so big that people spread out quite a bit. Most of those photos in the link I posted are from a hot August afternoon this summer - and it just doesn't seem crowded to me.

While I don't think the actual pool is crowded, I can see that some report difficulty finding a lounge chair in a desirable spot. We use one chair for our family of five to store our stuff and create a home base. That's by choice, regardless of crowds and it doesn't really matter to me where that one chair is located. So it's possible that perceptions of crowds are at least in part based on lounge chair availability - an issue BC tried to address by taking out the playground and adding chairs.

P.S. shalom, thanks so much! Really glad those photos were helpful!

 

[Deb & Bill]

...We wanted to try it because we love lazy rivers, but come to find out its tiny and also about 7-8ft deep in the lazy river part. I'm not a strong swimmer so that made me nervous.

Yeah, it's more of a quick little, deep loop instead of a lazy river.

 

[DisneyMim]

Overall I do like it, but find that it is very crowded and noisy. At times it's hard to find a seat. I witnessed the worse argument over seats at SAB that I have ever seen at WDW.

Enjoy The Magic!!

 

[dairyqueenmom]

My kids thought it was just ok, I was expecting a bigger response. We used a ton of points to stay there with our DVC and I don't think we will ever go back. I would rather save our points and go to a water park. My kids felt the same way.

 

[mollygirl13]

We found it to be more crowded and noisier than we would've liked.

 

[DVC-Don]

I think it's a bit overrated. We hardly use it when we stay at the YC or BCV.

 

[jupers]

I am going in June just to enjoy Stormalong Bay...I was at the BWV this past Oct and had never seen it. I went to check out all the hype...I have to say I thought it was pretty magnificent..I would not want to chase my little one around there but I'm taking just my DD for her 9th b'day and can't wait to enjoy it with her!!