SAB Slide, how young?

[FreeTime]

Still working on planning on next summers trip. We have ressies at BWV (or home and fave) but Gramps (who owns 100 pts in our name) like SAB the best. DH & I like Luna Park much better and our 3 & 4 yr olds love going down the Clown Slide. Isn't the SAB nonkiddie slide a little more rough then LP slide? If I recall, there isn't a place at the bottom that an audult can wait for the kids and the water at the exit is a bit more choppy then LP.

 

[MAC3]

If I'm not mistaken I believe it isn't so much of a age thing as it is an ability to swim from where the sldie exits to the ladder to get out of the pool.

They can test them before they go down in the little kiddie pool area to see if they can handle it.

 

[jel0511]

If I recall, there isn't a place at the bottom that an audult can wait for the kids and the water at the exit is a bit more choppy then LP.

True. Parents CAN NOT wait for their children to come off the slide, as that area is now roped off. The area at the bottom of the slide is approx 4 1/2 feet deep, and there is a pretty strong current. The children must be able to swim unaided to get out of the pool. Also, flotation devices of any kind, ie vests, swimmies, etc are not allowed on the slide at SAB. You can use the small slide at the bottom of the slide entrance, but compared to Luna Park, it's VERY small and no where near as fun.

 

[erikthewise]

The water depth at the exit is 4 feet (1.2m). If they are shorter than 4' 6", they need to be a reasonably good swimmer. There is a place at the bottom where one COULD wait, if one were permitted to. But apparently you aren't.

There is also a "secret" small kids slide on the far side of the ship where the entrance to the big slide is. I say secret because you can't see it from the rest of SAB! I would think this slide is much more appropriate for 3-4 yo kids, though it's a lot smaller than the Clown slide. It's not enclosed or anything, just a short, wide slide

The Swan-Dolphin pool complex has an intermediate slide that's good for ages 3-12. I wish SAB had a similar one.

 

[princess&tig]

I brought my 5 year old and he was just tall enough to stand but slipped and had to be rescued by the life guard. Which did a great job the way. The current is a little strong so unless they are great swimmers either make sure you go down the slide first or are waiting at the bottom.

 

[FreeTime]

Thanks for the quick responses everyone! My kids have tried the small kiddie slide the last time me stayed at the BC and for some reason hated it. We couldn't get them away from the LP one though. I guess now I will just have to decide it we want to stay at BCV and hopefully pool hop to BWV or tell gramps that we are staying at BWV for the kids.

 

[kweaver]

The SSR slide is nice for little ones...and there is room to wait near the bottom. The lifeguards are wonderful. If they don't like the big slide...there is a smaller accessible slide that little ones can use as well.

 

[FreeTime]

kweaver,
Thanks, I didn't even think about giving SSR a try. Also, OKW will have their slide my then too!

 

[CVW]

We just got back from BCV and SAB and I worked closely with the lifeguard to let my five year old go down.

The lifeguard would not let me stand at the bottom of the slide to catch him. He did, however, allow me to stay off to one side in the roped-off area so that my 5 yo could dog paddle to me. After a couple of tries, my 5yo was setting new personal records for swimming, and was able to swim to the edge without me.

It really wasn't that big of a deal, and there were other parents waiting off to one side as I did. If your child can dog paddle at all, he should be fine swimming to you in the roped-off area.

 

[Desperado]

There was a time when you could put your kid on your lap and go down the slide at our local pool, about 3 years ago. It was such wonderful fun. Then the local government came in to legislate our lives, and a rule was made one at a time only. Bummer.

 

[crisi]

I didn't realize this, but one of my girlfriends broke her daughter's leg that way, Desperado. Apparently, little legs get caught between you and the slide and snap - pretty badly - and according to the ER doc patching it up - it isn't uncommon to break your child's leg taking them down a slide. So it may be wonderful fun, but it may not be the safest thing going, and there may be a reason your local government decided to not allow it.