Resort Pools for kids

[disney08]

I just got a terrible letter in the mail that the Yacht and Beach club slide and a portion of Stormalong Bay pool is closed during our upcoming stay this April. We are so sad as that was the whole reason we were staying there! I know the BWV are close, but my boys ages 8 and 5 were so excited about the pirate slide. What other pools would you all reccomend that won't take us an hour and 10 stops to get to on the buses??

 

[sunshineNJ]

My kids like the slide at the Poly better then the Beach Club. The Carribean Beach has 2 slides one short , one longer and faster, but lots of bus stops. The slide at Coronado is supposed to be great. Sorry for your dissapointment though

 

[jujube]

The slide at BW is really lots of fun but CSR has a fabulous pool and fantastic bus service. The game room is in a building right at the pool.

My daughter likes the volcano pool slide at the Poly but you'll be there at a crowded time and the pool is small for the size of the resort.

If your boys love pirates, get a pirate themed room at CBR. They would love it!!!!

 

[CamoMama]

I second staying at CBR. I stayed in a pirate room with my girls in February, and granted the beds are doubles, but the details are great. And the pool is awesome. The pictures on Disney's resort page do not do it justice at all.

 

[mericletwins]

We are staying there in a couple of weeks and are also disappointed. I believe that there will be shuttles (i.e golf carts that will take you directly over to the BW pool) I don't believe that you have to get on the regular busses.

 

[patty57]

I would be upset too. I love the Boardwalk, and am not one who hates the clown slide at all. It isn't a huge pool though, compared to SAB. I can't imagine how crowded it will be if the Yacht and Beach Club guests come over to share it. I'm a huge fan of the Epcot resorts, but a SAB closure might make me reconsider Epcot resorts for that trip.

 

[disney08]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. At this point changing hotels is not sn option as everything is booked. We also have a one year old do we need a place with a kiddie pool too. This is why SAB was perfect for us. How about Pop Century? That looks close too.

 

[notaclue]

Are you talking about staying at Beach Club and using the pool at a different resort? That's called pool hopping and it's usually frowned upon unless your resort has a sister resort.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Are you talking about staying at Beach Club and using the pool at a different resort? That's called pool hopping and it's usually frowned upon unless your resort has a sister resort.

I think that's exactly what OP is talking about.

OP, you need to check out this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2450438 that discusses pool hopping.

 

[goofy4tink]

If SAB is closed, due to a rehab, then those staying at the YC/BC are allowed to use the pools at BW. But, no other pools around WDW. If they were to head to, say CSR for instance, they shouldn't expect to use that pool.

My advice??? Call Disney and tell them that the reason you chose BC was for the wonderful pool..and since it's not going to be in service, you want to be moved and credited with any difference. You could ask to be moved to BW but I think the pool over there may very well be crowded due to SAB being closed.
The pool area at CSR is fun...or just move to CBR, a great choice for pirate happy boys...maybe even be able to snag a pirate themed room possibly.

But other than that, you are going to have to use the pool at Luna Park at BW...no other resorts. Sorry.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I dont see why you couldnt ask to switch resorts, I really dont see the big deal about that. Im sure Disney would let you considering thats the reason you decided to go to YC/BC, was cause of the great pool. If I got a letter like that in the mail my first move would be a phone call to disney...i'd ask to move without hesitation. good luck.

I think CSR, CBR, Poly or BW are all great choices.

 

[disney08]

I called immediately and they couldn't get me a room at BW without a gap of 2 days in the middle. This would mean moving twice which is no good. a supervisor told me that other than Bay Lake Towers we could use any other pool. Do you think that is not correct? I am a DVC member.

 

[MASKED MANIAC]

Coronado and Polynesion are the 2 best...they usually DONT let you pool hop but your situation is different......

 

[Perditamarie]

There is a kiddie pool at BW, as well as a small slide with shallow pool at BC...I believe that is still open

 

[dfb05]

I would also consider switching your stay to the Caribbean Beach. It has the large pool w/ 2 slides & the pirate room as the others have mentioned, but it also has a toddler area with a kiddie pool & kiddie slides/water play area (giant barrel fills up with water & dumps out) for your 1-year old. My kids (now 5 1/2 and 2 1/2 LOVE it we've been going there since 2010 when they were 1 & 4) and it's a perfect fit!

Good luck!

 

[Mrsjvb]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. At this point changing hotels is not sn option as everything is booked. We also have a one year old do we need a place with a kiddie pool too. This is why SAB was perfect for us. How about Pop Century? That looks close too.

can't do that. you can ONLY use the pool at YOUR resort..and in your case the ONE pool they are providing transportation to since yours is closed.

 

[Allison]

can't do that. you can ONLY use the pool at YOUR resort..and in your case the ONE pool they are providing transportation to since yours is closed.

Except the OP said she is a DVC member so they are able to pool hop to most resorts.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Except the OP said she is a DVC member so they are able to pool hop to most resorts.

Except that wasn't in her original post. That came out later.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Except the OP said she is a DVC member so they are able to pool hop to most resorts.

But pool hopping isn't permitted for members from March 31 to April 14. So if the OP's days fall during that time, they will only be able to use the Luna Park pool other than their pools. And when members can pool hop, they cannot hop to either of the AKV/AKL pools, BLT pool or the pools at YC/BC/BCV. Since the OP is a guest at BCV, she can use the pools at YC/BC/BCV, but not AKV/AKL or BLT if she isn't going from March 31 to April 14.

 

[pixarmom]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. At this point changing hotels is not sn option as everything is booked. We also have a one year old do we need a place with a kiddie pool too. This is why SAB was perfect for us. How about Pop Century? That looks close too.

Disney08, from what we know over on the BC/YC thread (see my signature below,) the part of the pool that's closed isn't the area we'd use with little kids. The zero depth, sand-bottom kiddie area is still scheduled to be open, and so is the kiddie slide area and the wading pool. So it's still great for a one-year-old and 5-year-old!! Our 5-year-old is very excited about staying at YC next month, even with the partial closure. We have two older boys (ages 11 and 12) and they spend lots of time in the remaining areas of SAB and the quiet pool. We were at BC last year during a partial SAB closure and they were very excited about the ability to use the BWI pool, too.

Here's an excerpt from a thread I created regarding SAB that might be helpful. These are all the areas of SAB that are still scheduled to be open:

2) The lazy river area. This area is as shallow as 4 ft in some areas and reaches up to 8 ft in one part. Again, this area is entirely disconnected from the more shallow areas of the pool, and the deepest area is roped off. Signs on the overhead bridges warn guests that the water is deeper in that area.

3) The sandy, zero depth entry shallow area. This area is wonderful for little kids. Most of this area is 2 ft deep all the way across. There is just a pocket in the corner where the depth reaches three feet. Again, it is entirely disconnected from the deeper sections of the pool.

This walkway separates the zero depth area from the deeper section of the pool:

This is the deepest area of the sandy zero depth entry area, at only 3 ft deep:

4) Kiddie slide/pool at the base of the pirate ship. This pool overlooks the lake and is 2.8 feet deep.

5) The small, circular wading pool. BC replaced the playground with additional chairs.

6) Three hot tubs. (Sorry, no photos!)