Stormalong bay-how great is it really?

[Xtine76]

I was just wondering about Stormalong Bay and what amenities it has that makes it so popular. I haven't seen many pictures or information about it that lead me to believe it is different than many other pools. Just curious, any info would be appreciated-just wondering if it would be worth staying at BCV just to swim there?

 

[NancyDVC]

SAB is over 2 acres as I recall. It has a sand bottm so that it is like walking along the beach. There are places where the water bubbles up from the bottom just as if it were a natural spring. And a slide of course. All in all it is wonderful and I miss not being able to pool hop to SAB from OKW.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

Here are the best pics of SAB I have ever seen. Thanks to Disboard member tagrel!

http://tagrel.com/Tours/DVC/SAB2003/SABSlideShow.htm

 

[twotoohappy]

Thanks for the link!

I love the room slideshows!

 

[slp87]

It's not just your average, plain old pool. It's uniqueness is what makes it so cool. There is something for every age to enjoy. I remember my DD's first trip at 2 we stayed at the BC and she loved playing on the sand dune with all the other little kids building sandcastles and moats.

 

[crisi]

As far as I know, they have DVCs only kid slide. Most of the other resorts have one bigger slide - VWL is smallish - BWV is large. SAB has a really long slide for older kids and a short slide for the tot set.

It has DVCs only zero entry pool (SSR is supposed to have one as well - as thats how they are building pools nowadays). Another big plus for the tot set.

The third plus for the tot set is the sandbar, where they can play endlessly.

For older kids, the big slide is cool, they have a lazy river you can tube in.

It has really cool theming and landscaping.

However, what is doesn't have is good sight lines. If you need to watch your kids in the pool, its a very difficult pool to do that in. Finding the members of your party to leave can be difficult. This is the pool I personally would avoid when my kids are at the "swim alone but keep an eye on them" age - but we enjoyed our day there with preschoolers on the slide and I'm all over staying there for the pool when they are that pre-teen or teen "capable of meeing you at 3:00" age

 

[timC]

It's divided into several sections, each having unique features that you won't find at other pools at WDW... let's see...

1) Pirate ship wreck, located outside of the pool grounds is where the slide starts. The ship is fun for kids, and the slide is quite long.
2) There's a pool section that has a giant rotating fast current that you can get sucked into. Kids love to circle around... Moms and dads have fun too.
3) The next section has a very soft shallow sand bottom with the occasional sand trap. Too many kids in this section so we usually steer clear.
4) The next section has a nice quite picturesque water fall located in deeper water.
5) Up some steps, you'll find two whirlpools hidden amongst rocks, trees and plants.
6) Next section is a lazy river that's very deep (8'). You can rent a tube and let the current circle you around at a lazy pace all afternoon. One trip lasts about 10 minutes.
7) There's a snack/bar area. Not so unique, but located in a nice shady area, that allows a view of the pool area, the YC/BC sidewalk, for people watching, view of the lake and BW resort area. Great location.
8) There's a shallow sandy bottom section for kiddie's. Our kiddie's are too big for this section, so I can't say too much about it... It seems to be larger than normal kiddie areas, and the sandy bottom/beach must be perfect for diggers.

See... There's a lot of unique stuff at SAB to make it the best resort pool at WDW!

 

[Patricia]

I agree totally with the previous post. I know it is beautiful and unique, but the last time I was there, my son was 5 and it was a nightmare! I had such a hard time watching him and keeping an eye on my daughter as well who was 10 at the time. It was tough! Made our swims stressful instead of relaxing. If you have children all the same age, or all older, it's a great place with terrific styling. Have fun!

 

[zurgswife]

Someday I'll stay at BCV just so I can swim in the pool again....but not just yet...

 

[OneMoreTry]

SAB is big and has a great slide. It winds and winds around. A good place for you to unwind. It has a sandy area for kids to dig and build.

I think all DVC members should check it out once. We ended up renting some plastic inner tubes one day and floating for 4 or 5 hours. The deeper section has a current that pushes you around in a circle. In my opinion, in the end, the real attraction is not the slide or the sand (kids get tired of that before too long)but is just the size and the opportunity to relax in a pretty setting.

There's a snack bar and alcohol and Beaches and Cream (use the snack bar if you don't want to wait a long time) and the health club is right there.

Disney commandos need not apply.

 

[Deb & Bill]

My husband and son love it. I prefer the Dunes Cove pool. But I usually go with them when they go to SAB unless I'm doing laundry. It's the reason we bought points at BCV.

 

[iluvtink]

We are staying at BC for our Land/Sea this summer... stayed there in 1977 and loved SAB but missed the monorail! Stayed at the Poly in 2001 and loved the monorail, but missed SAB! If they could just run that monorail to BC!!!

The important part to us of SAB, besides being a kid's nirvana, is that when you have spent 6-10 hours tramping in your hot, sweaty shoes over miles and miles of Kingdoms and you slip into Stormalong Bay and scrunch your poor tired piggies into the sand at the bottom, every footstep is like a personal massage. It's better than chocolate!

Kim

 

[Doug Wolfe]

I think adults have as much, if not more, fun as the kids do.

It really is a great pool.

 

[Xtine76]

Thanks to everyone for the advice! I think i'll be staying there a few nights on my vacation in 2005!

 

[niks81]

Before I stayed at BCV last year I thought it was all a bunch of unneeded hype. Resort pools are ok, but let's face it--that isn't why I go to Disney World. I maybe swim once while I'm there, and that's it.

Last year we spent our "relax" day at SAB (which was very uncrowded!) and I LOVED it! In fact I can't wait to go back (it will be a long time ) It really is the uniqueness of the area and the pool. I really enjoyed how there was the sand bottom, and the slight current...the slide was great too!! I also really enjoyed the food they had at the counter service....those dang ducks were kind of agressive though They stole one of my chicken tenders!

 

[kathleena]

I do love to be at SAB - like others here - and I agree with all the positives.

So I will just report on a drawback for some people - the size. Getting around can be a real pain. And if you have kids - hard to keep track of them.

But - love the whirlpool when it's not full of kids! If you go at night - go in it by yourself if you can. I just go around and around. It really wings you around when it's empty.

 

[Tagrel]

Our family just LOVES SAB! As you can tell from all the pictures on the site (thanks for linking them!), it is really quite large, with so many options!

We tend to find a 'home base' near the sandy zero entry area, since our kids LOVE playing in the sand and on the sandbar. We typically go in the hot, hot summer, and one of my favorite things is the 'cold' jacuzzi between the sandbar and the lazy river. Sometimes the pool water is pretty warm in the summer, and that jacuzzi is a great way to REALLY cool off!

Oh, and the pool store sells both water wings and bucket/shovel for the kids are only a couple bucks each. I thought these prices quite reasonable and saved us packing the items. Then we just passed the bucket/shovels on to another guest on our last pool day.

I think you will LOVE SAB!

 

[jaysue]

SAB is the best pool at WDW and is the primary draw for us at BCV with the secondary being next to Epcot (BWV is close enough as well)

Here are some potential "-" things to keep in mind

Hard to track your kids
Lots of stairs to climb and go down unless you walk around
Beaches n Cream and Hurrican Hanna's can get awfully crowded
Pool is ok for something like 1,200 bathers
Pool services Beach Club, Yacht Club and BCV - lots of rooms

Having said that it is the best pool at WDW, and is just amazing - something to do for everyone in the family - large sandy beach area with water depth of only 2' ranging to the lazy river area at 8' deep - all of our family is happy here even the MIL

Between the location being next to Epcot and SAB, DW and I are not sure if we going to be staying at the other WDW DVC resorts unless we cannot get into BCV

kathleena, too funny on the whirpool - that is what DW and I did Wed night around 9:30pm (SAB was open until 10pm) - that thing was just flinging us around

thanks
jaysue

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Still have not tried it.

My husband and I are owners at BCV and have stayed at the YC before. We still have not tried it. I know we are crazy. It just seems that every time we are there we end up at one of the quiet pools or even on the beach. We keep saying NEXT time we will give it a try. Well, we will be there in 59 days so we will see if this will be they year of the SAB! Wish me luck!

 

[NjRon]

Like a previous post, SAB is what sold us on DVC/BC. We will be
making our first DVC trip to BCV in December. Does anyone
know if SAB is heated (just in case) ?