Re-Thinking First trip!

[dvcnewgirl]

I am planning on doing my first trip as a DVC Member August 20-25. Since we just closed and paid cash I am broke! So to save money we planned on not buying the water park option and pool hopping. (My 2yo DD loves pools and slides). We planned on staying at OKW but just realized that SAB is not part of the pool hopping. Soo I need to get some opinions. Is it worth staying at BC (if I can get it) and sleeping on a pull out sofa (DD and DH will get the bed since she will not sleep alone in strange places) or Staying at OKW and using the other pools? Thanks for your help!

 

[Cinderella]

I would consider staying at SSR instead because of the zero entry into the pool, and the small poolslide with a two year old. You could pool hop to other pools. I wouldn't consider stormalong bay with a two year old. The pool is too large and spread out. I took my kids there when they were small and spent most of my time running round various sections of the pool after them - not very relaxing! Plus, the SSR pool is lovely - like a warm bath.

SSR is the best pool i have seen for toddlers because of the zero entry, toddlers slide and also the donald duck water shoot thing. I can't remember a lot about okw pool, and i haven't been there since they got a slide, but i know other members will be able to help on that.

 

[grizzlymd]

My 4yo and 8yo loved the dragon slide at Port Orleans. We spent an entire afternoon there. I think young children would love any pool with a slide.

 

[AFMom]

With the pool hopping option - you probably don't need to worry! We had so much fun pool hopping with out then 6 and 7 yo sons, they didn't even ask about water parks - and your DD is only 2..... Stormalong Bay looked really cool - but I agree that if we go (even with a now 8 and 9 yo) I won't be able to relax - it'll be me following my kids around. Until they are about 13 or so (and that's if they stay well behaved at 13 or so......) I'll have to follow them around the pool instead of relaxing as I can at the other pools! My kids' two fav's that we've tried were the Poly pool and SSR's. But OKW pool was under construction and looks great now! Have fun!

 

[dvcnewgirl]

Thanks so much for the input so far. Our last trip was in September. It was very hot so we spent a lot of time at typhoon lagoon. My daughter loved the small slide in the wave pool. We were staying at POFQ and she loved that slide too! I will never get to relax with a 2yo but your ideas are great so far I am leaning towards OKW but I didn't know if BC was worth giving up the bed! Thanks so much!

 

[Steamboat Bill]

The pull out sofa is not as bad as you may think

 

[cobbler]

If your daughter did love the small slide she would probably like the small one at SSR. They also have a beach ball and noodles to play with in the pool.

We really enjoyed the pool at SSR.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Our DD 2 loves the pool at SSR. The zero entry, small slide and Donald splash pad make it a GREAT pool for toddlers.

Mandy

 

[NYMomof4]

Hi, I think we will be going at the same time in August! My kids (4,7,10 & 12) are definitely water lovers too! With that in mind, I would plan on staying where you would like to spend parts of the day at the pool, which with DVC could be at any of the great resorts!lol Sometimes being near a quiet pool at a resort helps too (less crowds). The other thing that could be fun is to stay at one and make it a point to check out others with the pool hopping option. My kids are looking forward to that. If you do-check out SSR's pool.

 

[kellydizfan]

We are going the same time also but decided to use our points at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I have stayed at both BCV & SSR. My kids are 12, 8, 5. The pool at BCV is way to big to be chasing a 2 year old around. We had a hard time keeping up with my youngest as he was all over the place in 2004. SSR is certainly a better pool for a little one. My kids loved the SSR pool - especially the slide. The zero entrance is a great feature. Can sit down there and let her play. The hot tub is really nice at SSR also. Couldn't get my youngest out of there also.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I took my 2 year old niece, and my 2 Ds's 6 and 8.

The SSR pool was much easier to navigate with all 3 of them. My niece really enjoyed the Sand bar area at SAB but my boys wanted to be on the swirling water side. I still like to keep an eye on them In the water, so they had to wait for my niece to finish playing so we could all go to the other side of SAB. That side is too deep for my niece to stand up in, so she had to sit out. The slide was out of the question! LOL!

At SSR, it was much easier and I could let all 3 play at the same time and slide. The zero entry was great for her and she liked the little slide and Donald splash area. I like that the SSR pool is all integrated and not separated into kiddie pool so you can be in the pool with your 2year old in the shallow area.

So I would keep, OKW and pool hop to the mods which have really great pools and SSR which has the toddler slide, splash area and zero entry.

They may even have the new pool area completed by then at SSR and that will have popjets!