Stormalong Bay

[DisneyMomx7]

What I don't like about SAB:

#1 It is so big you can't see the whole pool from any one spot. Meaning you
can't just sit and watch your kids, you have to either keep them confined to one part of SAB or you have to be on the move with them.

#2. The fact that you have to cross a public sidewalk to get on the large slide.

#3. I don't like that they close the whole thing down at night. Every other resort just shuts down the slide and leaves the rest of the pool open. SAB is totally closed. I understand it is more like a small waterpark, but it is disappointing when you are a family who likes to swim at night, after a long day in the parks. If you want to swim in SAB you have to take time out of your day to do so.

We go in the summer and SAB is always open until 10:00 pm. After that we use the quiet pools.

 

[Missoutandabout]

It is, by far, our favorite pool of all the resorts we've tried.

We've never had a problem finding a place to sit; however, we tend to go in "off season." I'm not the biggest fan of the sand, but mainly because it tends to get leaves stuck in the bottom and it freaks me out when I step on something I'm not expecting.

Our favorite areas are the Lazy River and the quieter bits of the pool that surround the hot tubs closest to the Yacht Club. In the Lazy River, I like how everyone "flows" in the same direction so you can really swim without getting in other's way.

What I don't like about SAB:
#3. I don't like that they close the whole thing down at night. Every other resort just shuts down the slide and leaves the rest of the pool open. SAB is totally closed. I understand it is more like a small waterpark, but it is disappointing when you are a family who likes to swim at night, after a long day in the parks. If you want to swim in SAB you have to take time out of your day to do so.

Yeah, I do wish it was open later than 10pm (at least that's when it closed when we were there except during our January stay). Although, I imagine they close it down not only because slide but for how deep it is in the Lazy River part.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yeah, I do wish it was open later than 10pm (at least that's when it closed when we were there except during our January stay). Although, I imagine they close it down not only because slide but for how deep it is in the Lazy River part.

For us, we like to spend all day in the parks, watch the fireworks, and then go back to the resort and swim. But who wants to go swim in a plain old quiet pool when you have SAB right there in front of you, in all its glory?

 

[RainK]

What I don't like about SAB:

#1 It is so big you can't see the whole pool from any one spot. Meaning you
can't just sit and watch your kids, you have to either keep them confined to one part of SAB or you have to be on the move with them.

#2. The fact that you have to cross a public sidewalk to get on the large slide.

#3. I don't like that they close the whole thing down at night. Every other resort just shuts down the slide and leaves the rest of the pool open. SAB is totally closed. I understand it is more like a small waterpark, but it is disappointing when you are a family who likes to swim at night, after a long day in the parks. If you want to swim in SAB you have to take time out of your day to do so.

What time does the pool close? We like to swim late....not too late, but maybe 10pm.

 

[maxiesmom]

What time does the pool close? We like to swim late....not too late, but maybe 10pm.

It depends on the time of year. I believe it can close as early as 8 pm.

 

[RainK]

It depends on the time of year. I believe it can close as early as 8 pm.

Omg.....this is terrible news.
Late August?? I would hope AT THE EARLIEST 10pm.

 

[darkwing818]

We love SAB

We even love the sandy bottom...

We just got back to weeks ago, if you can get there before noon or after 3:30 or so shouldn't have a problem finding chairs or lounges.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Omg.....this is terrible news.
Late August?? I would hope AT THE EARLIEST 10pm.

I believe it is 10:00 during the summer months.

 

[nkereina]

Only negatives I had about SAB were the deep portion in the lazy river - I'm an adult who is a moderately good swimmer at best and this part scared me (can't imagine being a parent with a kid in that!) and also just how busy it was. This was in September, but it was busy at all times. This doesn't bother some people but it certainly didn't allow for a relaxing afternoon at the pool if you want that at all.

 

[em36]

We were at the YC from June 8-15, and SAB was open until 11:00 PM all 7 nights.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Omg.....this is terrible news.
Late August?? I would hope AT THE EARLIEST 10pm.

It is harder for the lifeguards to watch all the guests when it get dark. They close it for the safety of the guests.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

Well I absolutely love the sandy bottom of the pool. It makes me feel like I am giving my feet a pedicure. I am a female adult who usually vacations solo.
When I was out in the pool, I guess it was the lazy river part, I was starting to feel very uncomfortable with the strong current that was pushing me toward the deeper water. I am not a strong swimmer, I didn't even learn to swim until I was about 29 years old. I find the quiet pool more relaxing, and yet the scenery around SAB is very beautiful.

 

[Jillpie]

Sometimes I wonder if I love SAB more than the parks! We go every single day of our trips and really enjoy it. However, this past trip, they stopped charging rent for the blow up ring floats and now they throw them all into the lazy river!! I HATED that. They took up all the free space that was always there and you would constantly bump into these things along the whole river. I wish I could talk directly to the pool director or management and express my strong dislike of this new thing they're doing. I wish they would leave them along the outside of the pool, not where the lifeguards have to walk, but away from the pool so if people want one, they can go grab one.

Otherwise, I LOVE this pool.

 

[vinotinto]

I do not like it for an adult only/lounge type of day as it's way too crowded and far from relaxing.

I do not like it for a mix of kids who have different swim levels as it's a large crowded complex that makes it hard to keep an eye on multiples.

I think it's a fantastic pool if you have one or more children who are content staying in the kiddie sand area. Or one or more children who are older and excellent swimmers and old enough to access the slide alone.

What I don't like about SAB:

#1 It is so big you can't see the whole pool from any one spot. Meaning you
can't just sit and watch your kids, you have to either keep them confined to one part of SAB or you have to be on the move with them.

#2. The fact that you have to cross a public sidewalk to get on the large slide.

These two posts sum it up for me very well. It's a terrific pool, but it's not relaxing. The pool roughly has two sides - there is the side in front of YC that is shallow and excellent for the little ones. This area has not held my DS's attention for long, and we started going to BC/YC when he was 4, but my DD has enjoyed this side very much every time we have gone she's and she has been between 2 and 5. The other side - roughly in front of BC - is deeper and it is where the slide ends. To climb the slide, you have to cross the public walkway outside the resort. It is not possible to watch the slide entrance from the pool itself. So, for a family like us, my DH and my DS would spend the pool time going up and down the slide, while my DD and I would hang out in the shallow YC side. It's 1) a separate vacation and 2) it does require accompanying children to the slide, i.e., very active parenting. We've never been able to just relax at the pool or at a chair while the kids are at the pool.

It's also a very child-oriented pool - lots of pool games, songs, dancing, bingo, etc. Great for kids, but perhaps not so ideal for adults looking to relax.
I personally like the sand, but then again, I love the beach!

 

[herb102211]

The BC is our favorite resort and we love SAB!! The only con, as PP mentioned was the lack of chairs. Sometimes in the afternoon I've found it difficult to find a chair, but other than that, no complaints here! Enjoy!