sensory issues at the beach club

[toodycat]

DH, DS (mild ASD, age 14) and I are planning a trip to WDW. We are thinking of staying at the Beach Club. Has anyone else with an ASD child stayed there and how did it go? I am concerned about the pool. I have read that it has a sand bottom and DS HATES the feel of sand. I would be interested to know if anyone else with a child on the spectrum has stayed and gone swimming and how it went. Also, is the pool's entire bottom sand or just a section? Thanks.

 

[bookwormde]

We stayed at Beach Club Villas last year; they share all the common facilities with BC. The sandy area is to the Yacht Club side of the pool; the lazy river, whirlpool and slide areas of the pool should not be a problem since they are of relatively “standard” pool construction. There is also the DVC quiet pool as another less crowded alternative. Just as a side note, Beaches and Cream is fun experience I you go during the less crowded times of day. I believe the movies and marshmallow roasts are done on the sand also (although we did not due these since we were there at the end of our vacation and the kids were “out” buy 9PM) I am waitlisted for 2 nights in a 2br DVC at BCV right now for June and will be very disappointed if we do not get it.

bookwormde

 

[Schmeck]

When we stayed at BC, the entire pool bottom had sand, although it tended to drift into certain areas. The CMs raked it back in place each morning before they opened. That was a few years ago, so perhaps they have removed it in the time between our visit and bookwormde's.

You could ask on the resort board if there is sand in the pools.

 

[mechurchlady]

This is from this site's refurbs page for Beach Club. Stormalong Bay is a sandy area but you can use normal swimming pools around the resort that do not have and for the time being the feature pool of the Boardwalk.

Stormalong Bay - 1/5/09 - 4/15/09

Sections of Stormalong Bay will be closed during this refurbishment. Guests may use the three leisure pools at this resort as well as the feature pool at the Boardwalk if they wish to use a poolslide

http://www.buildabettermousetrip.co...lk/pages/Boardwalk_014_Luna_Park_Pool_JPG.htm
If you go before the end of the above offer then you could use that pool instead. Most pools do not use sand but Stormalong does.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/yachbeachmap.htm
There is one pool at each area of the Beach Club, Beach Club Villas and Yacht Club that are supposed to be shared by guests. Also if you do find a CM who will not let you use a certain pool then politely explain and if no success then go to the front desk of your resort.

Dunes Cove for the Beach Club Villas
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/showphoto.php/photo/1356/size/big/sort/3/cat/500/page/1

 

[toodycat]

Thanks for the info. I think we'll just stay at the GF again. I know DS likes the pool there and the monorail is a great convenience. Someday, I'll get to the Beach Club...

 

[daisyduck123]

The entire area of SAB has a sand bottom. I think the above poster that mentioned the lazy river not having sand is mistaken.

I hope you have a great time at GF & that you do get to experience BC someday. It's wonderful!

 

[bookwormde]

Funny we were there in Aug last year and while I did not walk the whole pool there seemed to be a qualitative difference between the shallow beachy area and the other section near the slide. It definitely seemed more like Schmeck talked about, a pool with some sand in it that had accumulated in the “calm areas”, far different from the walk in the soft sand everywhere feel of the shallower “zero entry” section. I did not do the lazy rive part (only the boys) and we were there relatively late in the day so maybe that makes a difference, or maybe my expectation were too high for what was expecting and it just seemed to me to be a standard pool with some patches of sand. Sounds like the OP is playing it safe either way. We are doing either BCV or BWV in June so if it is BCV again is will have to try it early in the morning to see if my perceptions are different (our DS9 has issues with sand, although not acute, and he had no problem although he had a life vest on so he could easily keep his feet of the bottom in the sandy areas.

bookwormde