? for the SAB pros

[wrighter]

DH and I walked from HS to Epcot yesterday morning and decided to stop and really take a look at SAB. We've never stayed at BCV, and wanted to know what all the hullaballoo was about. What we realized is that SAB is, indeed, a fantastic pool area!

In hindsight I have a question about the water slide: How do children (or adults!) access it? The slide itself goes over the general walking path - with the pirate ship a good distance from the actual pool. Does this mean children have to go "outside the fence" of the pool area to get to the slide stairs? I don't recall seeing any tunnels that go under the walkway . . . Did I miss something?

 

[Jillpie]

From the pool area, you need to "cross the street" lol. You just walk across the paved walkway and there is a set of stairs. So young ones must be supervised with parents. Older kids can go on their own. So fun! SAB is a blast, it's what I look forward to the most every trip, and we've been BCV members since 2002! Haven't tired of it yet.

 

[TPBChick]

Yes, you do have to go outside the fenced area. SAB can be a little difficult to keep track of kids that are old enough to get around on their own but not old enough to not be supervised. I was lucky that my teenage DS took DGS (5) to the slide and DSIL waited at the bottom. There is a wonderful area for younger children near the Yacht Club side of the resort. It is only 1-2 feet deep and there is a nice sandy area in the middle. The DGSs love to pretend that it is a pirate island.

 

[browniemtb]

Agreed with the other posts....kids have to cross the path to get to the slide. Though SAB is a great pool area we found it difficult to watch all the kids. Before #4 we had #3 hanging out at the sandy bottom kiddie area with my DW and me chasing around my two older ones who like going in separate directions.

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are some very deep areas (8') in SAB with a swift current. So if your kids aren't the best swimmers, you'll want to keep an eye on them. This area is near the "lazy river" portion. I know I was surprised by it.

 

[ddoconnell]

My DD would tell you that there is no pool at WDW that comes close to SAB! When we were there last Thanksgiving we had to plan our park time around her getting back to the pool. She always wanted to be there for the "changing of the guard"...when they change shifts of lifeguards, they do a big dance thing and get everyone involved...very cool and very Disney!!

But, I will agree with a PP that if you have little ones, it is difficult to keep up with them as it is just so huge!

 

[crisi]

We discovered that by the time I was comfortable enough with my kids to be able to let them go, they'd outgrown it in favor of the water parks. It is a cool pool, but you have to either do a lot of watching of kids, or be comfortable having them out of your sight.

(A third option would be have kids who are close enough in age and listen well enough for you to tackle the parts of the pool in stages "for the next twenty minutes we are doing the swirling waters part of the pool." However, even then, you can't see the entrance and the exit to the slide, there is no sitting in a chair with an eye on your kids with that slide.)

 

[lucyem]

We tend to get a spot near where the end of the slide is so we can watch the slide, the whirlpool and the activities area. They are not allowed to go past the bridge without an adult. Our 2 are ages 6 & 9. The 9 yr old spends most of his time on the slide and playing the organized games. My 6 yr old happily stays near us and will mostly hang in the whirlpool. It works for us. I do hate having my 9 yr old out of sight but one of us always has an eye on the slide and knows how long he has gone. Plus often my husband goes with him. If we ever felt uncomfortable with the crowd level we would stop the slide and have him stay in sight.

It would be harder if my kids were more spread out in age. Say if I had one who wanted to play in the sand and another who wanted to slide. But we would work it out and probably do what someone else suggested and move about the pool together. Or my husband and I would each take a child.

 

[jerseygal]

LOVE LOVE SAB! SO AWESOME!

Yes, if I had younger children, I would be watching them at all times, of course! Yes, the slide is "outside" the pool area so to speak, so yes, as parents of younger children, they obviously must be watched when they leave to go on the slide!

With that being said, it is an awesome, most relaxing pool!

So relaxing!

Have Fun!

 

[lisareniff]

I learned the hard way the first time that SAB is a 2 parent pool (at least if you have more then one child!) Very fun but not relaxing.

Here's a cool overhead view...