If I recall, BB is a ways from WL by bus but we could have been on a busy route that day.
There is so much to do at the Lodge though.
The snack bar is open from 6am-midnight, I think.
Bus service was not bad for us-went to the BW and DD-you can also take a quick bus ride over to TTC and take the monorail if you are going somewhere where the monorail goes. We also just rode the monorail through the resorts a couple of times for fun.
Yes, the pool has a slide and they also have a children's wading pool.
I think you will enjoy the boat transportation over to MK
You can check on the disneyworld website for schedules on the
MNSSHP-you can even buy tickets on the website-when it gets closer to October
Also, you can go early. Last year the party didn't start until 7pm and they were letting people in at 3:00 (so you basically get a whole day at the park if you wait and just enter with your MNSSHP tickets)
Sorry for the long post-and have fun, we will be there in October as well