staying at YC - still go to water park?

[JJsmama]

Hi,
We have (warm weather) reservations for YC. I hear great things about SAB, like 'mini water park.' Is it fun enough to skip the water park (for a family who really likes water parks?) We would only do half days at wp after mornings at parks. Obviously there are better water slides, etc but there is also the hassle of getting there and back, etc. I also wonder if crowds will be terrible by the time we get there after lunch (early June) I need to decide which tickets to get. Thanks.

 

[alex9179]

I can't answer your question but, you could try out the pool area and if it isn't going to meet your expectations then add the WP option to your tickets.

 

[siskaren]

I can't answer your question but, you could try out the pool area and if it isn't going to meet your expectations then add the WP option to your tickets.

This. You don't need to buy the water park option now.

 

[JJsmama]

Yes, thanks for that reminder. However, I do need to work the wp days into my FP and park day planning.

 

[alex9179]

Yes, thanks for that reminder. However, I do need to work the wp days into my FP and park day planning.

I would schedule Pool Time with the option of traveling to the WP if your family decided the pool wasn't all that, which I think you'll know on day 1. We're planning on YC/BC in June, too, and I have the afternoons free for SAB/relaxation. We're attempting to "smell the roses" on this trip

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Hi,
We have (warm weather) reservations for YC. I hear great things about SAB, like 'mini water park.' Is it fun enough to skip the water park (for a family who really likes water parks?) We would only do half days at wp after mornings at parks. Obviously there are better water slides, etc but there is also the hassle of getting there and back, etc. I also wonder if crowds will be terrible by the time we get there after lunch (early June) I need to decide which tickets to get. Thanks.

IMHO, SAB in no way compares to a full-blown water park. Yes, they have a very small lazy river and a big slide, but it's not a substitute for the variety of slides, wave pools and huge lazy rivers you'll find at a water park. DS and I have stayed at BC/YC and we'll still head over to BB for 1/2 a day. That being said, afternoon is not a great time to go. Yes, lines will be fairly long by then and there is no FP+ option at the water parks. We typically hit the water parks at opening (we go to BB), do the big rides first before the lines built up, eat a QS lunch, do mini-golf at WinterSummerland and then head out by about 2 pm. As others have said, you will know on day 1 at the pool if SAB will be enough for you. If you are on the fence, I would build in a water park morning later in your trip, make your FP+ for that afternoon and, if decide when you get there that you actually want to go, buy your tickets then. If you decide not to go, you could always try to change your FP+ or just stick to the plan and go to the pool instead of the water park.

 

[mommyrosa2]

We absolutely love BC/YC and IMHO, their pool is the best on property BUT....

As a pp mentioned, you cannot compare SAB to a full blown water park so if your family is huge on water parks, I'd probably still plan to go.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with PPs. With the ages of your sons and your statement that they love water parks, I would also build in a water park morning - not afternoon. Go to the parks in the late afternoon/evening that day.
We stay at BCV and We love SAB, but I do not think it is a replacement for a full water park.

 

[JJsmama]

IMHO, SAB in no way compares to a full-blown water park. Yes, they have a very small lazy river and a big slide, but it's not a substitute for the variety of slides, wave pools and huge lazy rivers you'll find at a water park. DS and I have stayed at BC/YC and we'll still head over to BB for 1/2 a day. That being said, afternoon is not a great time to go. Yes, lines will be fairly long by then and there is no FP+ option at the water parks. We typically hit the water parks at opening (we go to BB), do the big rides first before the lines built up, eat a QS lunch, do mini-golf at WinterSummerland and then head out by about 2 pm. As others have said, you will know on day 1 at the pool if SAB will be enough for you. If you are on the fence, I would build in a water park morning later in your trip, make your FP+ for that afternoon and, if decide when you get there that you actually want to go, buy your tickets then. If you decide not to go, you could always try to change your FP+ or just stick to the plan and go to the pool instead of the water park.

Yeah. That is what I think I will plan - a morning at wp and pre dinner FP one day. Thanks

 

[Jules76126]

We absolutely love BC and stay there as often as we can. SAB is one of the best pools on property. However, water park it is not. The theme is really cool and they do have one water slide. The lazy river is relatively small and depending on the day, you may need to wait for a tube. If I was going to Disney for a week, I would definitely build in one WP day to get that experience. You can then enjoy SAB on the rest of your days. It really is a great pool.

 

[brockash]

Hi,
We have (warm weather) reservations for YC. I hear great things about SAB, like 'mini water park.' Is it fun enough to skip the water park (for a family who really likes water parks?) We would only do half days at wp after mornings at parks. Obviously there are better water slides, etc but there is also the hassle of getting there and back, etc. I also wonder if crowds will be terrible by the time we get there after lunch (early June) I need to decide which tickets to get. Thanks.

If you're only planning on spending a half day at the water parks anyways, I'd probably just skip it and hang at the pool. It doesn't have rides etc, but there's an arcade right by the pool and the pool/slide is nice. For us, it'd be too much of a hassle to go to the water park 1/2 day, especially when you're staying at YC and have SAB. There's no way I'd do it relying on Disney current transportation options and even if I had my own car, I'd rather just relax and have fun at the resort.

 

[JJsmama]

If you're only planning on spending a half day at the water parks anyways, I'd probably just skip it and hang at the pool. It doesn't have rides etc, but there's an arcade right by the pool and the pool/slide is nice. For us, it'd be too much of a hassle to go to the water park 1/2 day, especially when you're staying at YC and have SAB. There's no way I'd do it relying on Disney current transportation options and even if I had my own car, I'd rather just relax and have fun at the resort.

Yes, you can see from my question that I considered the 'hassle' element of it as well... So, if we plan to go, we should really plan on staying a while. I was thinking of staying until after lunch and then going back to resort to shower an change and then walk to WS. Also planning on having that be the day we get a before dinner FP for FEA and then enjoy World Showcase. The Epcot tiers are such a pain that that seems a good use of a One FP day at Ecpot, since we would do two other Epcot days.

I would love to just 'wing it' as suggested earlier but the FP and ADR planning complicated things.

 

[westie55]

I agree with others who said that Stormalong Bay is a great pool, but is NOT a water park. The lazy river and the slide are no comparison to what you'd find at either TL or BB . If your party enjoys water parks, I'd plan for a day at one!

 

[jamescanuck2001]

We always hit the waterparks at least twice per trip, even if we stay at YC or BC. Last time at YC we also walked over to the Boardwalk pool for something a little different. Variety is the spice of life!

 

[DVCMinnie2532]

Hi,
We have (warm weather) reservations for YC. I hear great things about SAB, like 'mini water park.' Is it fun enough to skip the water park (for a family who really likes water parks?) We would only do half days at wp after mornings at parks. Obviously there are better water slides, etc but there is also the hassle of getting there and back, etc. I also wonder if crowds will be terrible by the time we get there after lunch (early June) I need to decide which tickets to get. Thanks.

Our family has always said over the years, our water park days were some of the best days at Disney! We love typhoon lagoon for its wave pool. I say go if you can!

 

[Aliceacc]

SAB is wonderful. We enjoy it thoroughly and have never felt the need to do any of the WDW Water parks.

But SAB is NOT a water park. It does have a lazy river section, where a current pulls you around a circle, and you can rent a tube. But it has none of the other water rides you would find at the water parks.

For us, it's plenty. But it doesn't sound like it's what you're looking for.

 

[natebenma]

Others have given you great advice- Stormalong Bay is huge, there is small lazy river and a single slide. It is an awesome pool, but no replacement for a waterpark (FYI- if you want to see lots of pictures and info about SAB, go to the link in my signature and read posts 2 and 3)

You can work your Fast Passes around planning a morning at a waterpark and then as suggested, add the WP option (or even just a single day if that is all you are going to do) on the day you actually go.

We sometimes go to a waterpark when staying at the Beach Club during the summer. One of the things we have done a couple of times is spend the morning at Animal Kingdom, where we find we get very hot. Then we take a bus immediately to Blizzard Beach in the afternoon since it is so close by. The main problem with this plan is that we have encountered afternoon thunderstorms that we had to wait out.

 

[crazedprincess]

We just returned from our trip and spent lots of time at SAB. It is a great pool and has a fun slide but it does not compare to a water park. So I agree with others... if your family are huge water park people, book the water park option!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We had a free water park day when we stayed at the BC but we skipped it. The kids loved SAB and preferred staying there.

 

[JJsmama]

We just returned from our trip and spent lots of time at SAB. It is a great pool and has a fun slide but it does not compare to a water park. So I agree with others... if your family are huge water park people, book the water park option!

we are not really 'big water park people' but we do enjoy them when we occasionally go, which is once every year or so. However, in all of our years at WDW, we have never taken the time to do a water park there. More than dying to go to the wp, I think we feel like we have missed something by Not going... I am honestly not sure that one morning at wp is worth $250 though. That may have just answered my question. When did those prices get like that? I am already dealing with the PH price increase, which I really only use for dinners. I may need to rework my plan for one or the other.

SAB would definitely be easier, especially as I envision not seeing the teenagers the whole day once we get to the wp, and Ds9 will constantly be wanting to catch back up with them. I am also intrigued by the big slide at BWI. I actually prefer the colors and theming of that hotel. I guess we will see what happens if discounts ever come out and I can get a better rate at one vs the other.