Stormalong Bay Questions?

[auroraarielella]

My first stay aat BCV is fast approaching, and I have a few questions about SAB.

Do you need water shoes? Do "most" people/children wear them or not?

How spread out is the SAB complex? Will I have trouble managing a 2 year old in the kiddie pool but trying to keep an eye on a six year old on the waterslides, etc??

Can we bring sand toys? Should we?

How about beach balls, etc??

Anything else I should know?

 

[njziggy]

I don't want to scare you but, there is no way to watch a child in the pool & 1 going on the slide (the entrance to the slide is outside the pool area). What we usually do is "move around" the pool area....we spend some time by the kiddie area building castles, spend some time in the deeper water (little guy sits on the edge), etc... We usually take our older one over to the slide entrance the first couple of times & then when he can be trusted we wait for him at the "landing area". It really is a fun pool.

 

[ducklite]

I agree, you can't see the slide entrance or exit from the kiddie pool area. And actually there's no part of the big pool that isnt' deep water that's visable from the kiddie pool area.

Anne

 

[pixiedust23]

I would say no to the water shoes. Unless you wear them normally at the pool when you go I dont see why you would need them here. I think bringing sand toys would be a good idea. If you dont want to bring them down they do sell them at the shop by the pool. I think beach balls would also be a fun way to entertain your kids!

 

[TammiMcMan]

As a spectator, I certainly got a workout with my 8 year old this past December. The entrance to the water slide is across the public path. I would walk my DD over and then walk back to the slide exit to pick her up again. When she just did some general swimming, I found it difficult to keep track of her. The walkway around the pool is not like a regular deck. There are bridges to cross and sometimes you run into deadends. SAB itself is spread over 3 acres.

 

[Mymatisse]

I wore water shoes when we went and I would highly recommend them. The "sand" is not like regular beach sand but large hard granuals. It's pretty abrasive and was not fun on bare feet. But that's just my experience.

 

[BCV23]

I think the only really good way to watch a 6 year old in the pool is to actually swim with them. There is a current that pulls you around and as others have said, it is a challenge to try to follow them around. As Anne said, it is impossible to watch the deeper areas and slide area from the kiddie area.

Wear beach shoes if you like. I don't think I've ever seen anyone doing so but it is artificial sand as Mymatisse said. It is OK for my feet though and I think for most people. Now DS2 used to get a rash when he would sit and play in the sand when he was younger but he does have very sensitive skin.

Yes to the sand toys. I personally wouldn't take a beach ball. The pool area gets crowded and those balls are just too hard to control. The smaller pool balls might work for you though. They are much easier to control.

 

[Laura66]

Bring the water shoes!!!!1
Like one poster said - the sand is a really large granual type - and when you're hanging out in the kiddie section it can really, really hurt your feet.

Don't know if it's as bad in the other sections - was stuck in the kiddie sections. My older kids said it wasn't a problem though.

Laura

 

[pixiedust23]

The entire pool does NOT have a current. There are regular and more shallow sections of the main pool for kids to be in. The lazy river is off to one side and there is a small whirlpool inside the main pool as well. Other than that...no current.

 

[BCV23]

The entire pool does NOT have a current. There are regular and more shallow sections of the main pool for kids to be in. The lazy river is off to one side and there is a small whirlpool inside the main pool as well. Other than that...no current.

Hmmm....I did not say that the entire complex had a current. But the OP asked about watching the six year old at the water slides, ETC while watching the 2yo in the kiddie section. Can't be done safely IMHO. And it's funny, I don't think of there even being one "main" pool at SAB...just a series of different areas. I guess it is all in the eye of the swimmer.

 

[princesslulu]

I agree with the others, NO WAY can you see one while the other is going down the slide. To answer your other question about sand toys YES I saw tons of kids playing with them. In fact I think if I remember right they even sell them out by the pool. I liked the pool but it defiantly has it's downsides. I was so nervous about the bigger kids using the slide by themselves, while I was with the baby I couldn't really enjoy myself.

 

[Steffi]

I'd say yes to the water shoes, even though I don't like them and don't generally wear them; the bottoms of my feet really took a beating from walking to & from the slide and around the outside of the pools.

Keeping up with two little ones of such different ages could prove to be a challenge. I'd suggest taking turns: take the 2 year old into the main pools with you & your 6 year old for a while, then switch and have your 6 year old help you play with the 2 year old in the kiddie pool area.

I saw a lot of kids with sand toys. The kids' meals at Hurricane Hannah's come with a shovel & pail, which is neat.

 

[pixiedust23]

BCV23- Sorry for the confusion must have read it wrong. Yea and I agree there is no way to be with the small child and watch the older one go down the slide. You would really need to have two parents watching the older child if you wanted tos ee him go up the stairs to the slide and see him pop out in the pool. Then you need one parent watching your stuff, one parent watching the 2 year old and one parent buying the mudslides youre gonna need after the day at the pool!

 

[BCV23]

Then you need one parent watching your stuff, one parent watching the 2 year old and one parent buying the mudslides youre gonna need after the day at the pool!

ITA!