Stormalong Bay questions

[JJ&JSMOM]

I know Stormalong Bay is very popular and we are hoping to stay at BC or YC next so we can try it out. I do have a few questions.

In looking at the YC/BC map it looks like there are 3 separate areas to SAB. Are they separated by age - little kids vs big kids? Is there a little kids section separate from lazy river/slide area? My kids aren't strong swimmers and I'm concerned that maybe SAB would be too much for them. Well too much for me I guess I should say - I'm very nervous when my kids are around any body of water. In fact - pool time/lake time is not much fun for me as I am "on duty" & am on edge. DH and I would probably split up so DS8 could go down the waterslide and the younger ones would stay at the sandy beach area.

I read one post that mentioned that is was really difficult watching kids due to bridges blocking the parents' view. Is this true? I'd like to be able to keep my eye on DS8 while he goes up and waits for his turn to go down the slide. Is it possible to do that? Is there another pool that you would recommend in case I change my mind about SAB? We've stayed at the Poly & had no problems. Thanks for any info.

 

[ampooh]

SAB is very large. There are different areas where you have ot get out of the water to get in another section. There is a shallow sandy area for toddlers that is god. The lazy river area will not interfere with a non strong swimmer.

The slide....You have to access the large waterslide by walking across the pathway to the BC. You climb a spiral staircase to go down the slide. You can see the line from some areas but not all. It may not be an option for you if you are going to worry that much. Course A SSR I couldn't see my boys in line there so I think it's that way at all slides. I have a 4 yr old so his 14 yr old brother goes down behind him now.

SAB is our absolute favorite pool we've ever been

 

[Kim1964]

My kids are 11 and 5. 11 yo loves the slide at SAB, so I go with her and go down the slide right behind her. DH stays with 5 yo in the shallow pool or catches her as she comes down the little people slide that is at the base of the pirate ship. The spiral stairs for the big slide are part of the pirate ship, too. The wavepool is separate enough that you never have to get near it if you don't want to do so.

SAB is also our favorite pool so far at WDW. On our trip in August, we spent one of our non-park days at SAB and had a blast all day.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

SAB is very large. There are different areas where you have ot get out of the water to get in another section. There is a shallow sandy area for toddlers that is god. The lazy river area will not interfere with a non strong swimmer.

The slide....You have to access the large waterslide by walking across the pathway to the BC. You climb a spiral staircase to go down the slide. You can see the line from some areas but not all. It may not be an option for you if you are going to worry that much. Course A SSR I couldn't see my boys in line there so I think it's that way at all slides. I have a 4 yr old so his 14 yr old brother goes down behind him now.

SAB is our absolute favorite pool we've ever been

Thanks for the info. I wouldn't need to see him all the time just enough to know that he is standing in line and didn't get lost or turned around. At the Poly I could see him at the top waiting his turn to go down so I knew if I didn't see him at the top in so many seconds I'd then start to get nervous. I know it sounds like I'm a little protective just like to know where they are especially w/so many people around. Maybe DD5 will be ready to try the slide or I'll go w/him or his Dad. That would be fun. Thanks again.

 

[Shmily1]

SAB is a lot of fun. You can rent life jackets there or bring your own if that would make you feel safer. If my children were younger, I would make sure an adult walked with them to the stairs to the slide since it is a long way and partially hidden by some taller bushes. There is plenty of room for the younger children to play in the water where you can watch them. There is one section where the water spins in a circle (you will be able to see where this is) and it is very hard to get back out of. I would say keep the little ones out of that part because it seems more dangerous to me.

At YC/BC, there are a lot of activities for children. I was just looking at the guide from June and there are games, dances, "parties", sing alongs, sports, and treasure hunts. It's an awesome place to be if you are a child!!!

 

[Sammie]

you can not use any type of life jacket on the slide. You will either be able to watch them go up the slide or come down the slide but not both at the same time.

The slide loading area, the stairs up the slide are not visable from the pool and the area where they come out is not visible from the slide.

the lazy river area is 8 feet deep and the current is very swift.

The kiddie area beneath the big slide is nice for young kids as the sandy shallow water area but yes there are some areas of SAB that are not easy to maintain eye contact.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

SAB is a lot of fun. You can rent life jackets there or bring your own if that would make you feel safer. If my children were younger, I would make sure an adult walked with them to the stairs to the slide since it is a long way and partially hidden by some taller bushes. There is plenty of room for the younger children to play in the water where you can watch them. There is one section where the water spins in a circle (you will be able to see where this is) and it is very hard to get back out of. I would say keep the little ones out of that part because it seems more dangerous to me.

At YC/BC, there are a lot of activities for children. I was just looking at the guide from June and there are games, dances, "parties", sing alongs, sports, and treasure hunts. It's an awesome place to be if you are a child!!!

Thank you so much for the tips - I appreciate it. I agree I think DH or I will walk w/him to the slide. I dunno I'd like to think kids would be safe at Disney but unfortunately they're not. I bet my kids would love YC/BC - sounds like a great place. Thanks again.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

you can not use any type of life jacket on the slide. You will either be able to watch them go up the slide or come down the slide but not both at the same time.

The slide loading area, the stairs up the slide are not visable from the pool and the area where they come out is not visible from the slide.

the lazy river area is 8 feet deep and the current is very swift.

The kiddie area beneath the big slide is nice for young kids as the sandy shallow water area but yes there are some areas of SAB that are not easy to maintain eye contact.

Thanks for the tips. Thanks for the info on lazy river - it doesn't sound so lazy! By the time we go DS8 will be almost 10 so hopefully that will make things a little bit easier but I think DH or I will be going down the slide w/him at different times of course. Thanks again.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

My kids are 11 and 5. 11 yo loves the slide at SAB, so I go with her and go down the slide right behind her. DH stays with 5 yo in the shallow pool or catches her as she comes down the little people slide that is at the base of the pirate ship. The spiral stairs for the big slide are part of the pirate ship, too. The wavepool is separate enough that you never have to get near it if you don't want to do so.

SAB is also our favorite pool so far at WDW. On our trip in August, we spent one of our non-park days at SAB and had a blast all day.

Sounds like fun. I think that sounds like a good idea - I'd like to try the slide too. Sounds like everything is separate enough so nobody gets into trouble by accident. Thanks for the tips!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I know that it's always posted on the boards that you can't wear any life jacket on the slide at SAB. That actually kept us from trying YC for a few years. However, I have to tell you that every time we've stayed at YC there have been tons of kids going down the slide with life jackets and swimmies and the lifeguards have allowed this. I don't know what the official policy is, as mine are old enough to swim without them now, but I would say at least 1/2 of the kids were using them on our last two trips.

BTW you will love SAB, and it's even better now with all the kids activities and kids "Beach parties". They also have been showing movies at night on the beach which is a nice break for the kids.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

I know that it's always posted on the boards that you can't wear any life jacket on the slide at SAB. That actually kept us from trying YC for a few years. However, I have to tell you that every time we've stayed at YC there have been tons of kids going down the slide with life jackets and swimmies and the lifeguards have allowed this. I don't know what the official policy is, as mine are old enough to swim without them now, but I would say at least 1/2 of the kids were using them on our last two trips.

BTW you will love SAB, and it's even better now with all the kids activities and kids "Beach parties". They also have been showing movies at night on the beach which is a nice break for the kids.

Good to know - Thanks! I think we'll like it. I've looked at some pics of the other resort pools w/my kids (just in case) and even though the others aren't as big as SAB there are some other pools that they like - POR, OKW & CSR. I thought they might like the clown pool at BWI but they didn't. But I really want to try YC/BC so hopefully we'll be able to. Thanks again.