Who with younger kids didn't like BCV?

[WALTSAGOD]

Who with younger kids didn't like BCV?

With SAB, BCV just seems like it would be ideal for families with kids under 18.

Of course, ideal for families with kids under 18, who love water parks.

Many of the responses I read say that BCV is very high energy and filled with kids running everywhere. Definately not the resort for a quiet stay, correct?

 

[BCV23]

Many of the responses I read say that BCV is very high energy and filled with kids running everywhere. Definately not the resort for a quiet stay, correct?

No, we find BCV to be a very quiet resort for the most part. One of the reasons we love it.

 

[buzz5985]

BCV are not right next to SAB. About a 5 minute walk away (from the closest villas)

 

[mbhoxsie]

We loved BCV.. (Especially DD4)...

My major concern with SAB though is its sheer size and how it's laid out.. We didn't mind the activity so much as we did the fact that it was very difficult to keep both of kids within eyeshot at any given time...

DS6 wanted to ride the waterslide constantly... This meant that he had to leave the pool area proper, walk across the path, go up the ladder, and then come off the slide.. With him being just six, DW and I felt that one of us had to watch the slide's exit and the other had to watch its entrance.. To be honest, I wasn't entirely comfortable with this as there were about 15 seconds or so when neither of us could see him, but with only two adults, it was the best we could do...

If DD4 wanted to go swim in an area away from the slide, then DD6 had to tag along because one adult alone couldn't keep an adequate eye on the kids..

I don't mean to sound overprotective, but its just that when you are in a pool area, you need to keep a good watch over the kids.... Very tough at SAB... At BWV, OKW, Vero, or HHI, we've never had that problem because you can pretty much see everything from a single vantage point..

 

[SammieG]

the quiet pools at BCVs are great! We MUCH preferred them to SAB...
actually we didnt like SAB that much... it just wasnt relaxing..

 

[MikeyNS]

With our 2 year old we used the quiet pool more than SAB. And again I always add my disclaimer that it's only my opinion, but we doubt we'll be staying there anytime soon again. Just didn't click with us. Our little one loved SSR and AKV much more (and so did we!). Nice to be able to try them all and really find the ones that you prefer over others.

 

[KelleyGirl]

I agree with mbhoxsie. It is tough to keep track of various aged children in SAB. My kids ages were 10,7,4, and 2. If me and my 2yo were in the wading pool area, the older kids had to stay very close by, which they didn't like too much, but I just didn't want them out of my site. The way SAB is set up, there are a lot of blindspots, unlike some other pools that have a more open design.

On the other hand, we loved the quiet pool of the BCV.

 

[crisi]

I have a similar issue with SAB. We have never stayed at the BC, but were lucky enough to use SAB when the Boardwalk slide was closed. At that time our kids were 4 and 5. At that age, we were in the water with them - two adults and two kids. They weren't terribly strong swimmers and we stayed pretty much near the kiddie slides - using the zero entry area only a little.

It was obvious then however that SAB was to be avoided for the next several years.

The next year over at Luna Park the kids were strong enough swimmers for me to sit in a pool chair and watch. Which I've been doing - getting in the water with them occationally. But watching involves being able to see from my chair - there are a few corners of Luna Park that the kids can't go to (or I have to move if they do). SAB is all those corners.

Now they are eight and nine, and next year or the year after would probably be old enough to "find mom near her pool chair" without having me in a constant state of worry for the entire time. I had fleeting thoughts of one night over there this year.

I do have two advantages - one is that I have as many adults as kids - zone defense at SAB would be hard. The second is that my kids are similar in age, so I don't have a toddler in zero entry while a ten year old takes the slide way at the other end of the pool.

SAB can be a tricky pool - the lazy river is very deep - over my own head. And if you step in there with the current it can send a grown up for a loop.

 

[Starr W.]

SAB, it's big and if you have multiple kids not close in age or swimming ability it would be tough.

My eldest(11) didn't care for it, too far of a walk to get on the slide, he likes SSR's main pool better.

The 6yr old loved the place, but he's the daredevil. I stationed them down by the slide and gave them a landmark that couldn't go past. The lifeguard heard me and reminded the youngest a few times.

Just trying to get over to Hurricane Hannah's is an adventure.

 

[WALTSAGOD]

So there are actually areas of BCV that are quiet? Most of what I read madfe me think that BCV was one big kid filled resort.

Opinions do vary don't they, quiet for one is crazy loud for another.

I'm really suprised by those with kids that didn't love SAB. Are the kids that didn't love SAB from the south and water and water park lovers?

Being from New Orleans, my two kids are waterbabies and love the water and water parks.

 

[abk96]

I agree that it's too hard to watch your young kids at SAB. I was a nervous wreck so we left after about 15 minutes.

We have stayed at the YC not BCV and we won't spend the extra points to stay there because we don't like the pool.

We used the quiet pool at YC for the week instead.

 

[ChelleinNC]

I haven't stayed at BCV (yet ), but have stayed at BC many times before joining DVC. We (DH, DD,DS & I) all love SAB. DS was almost 5 the first time we stayed there and it wasn't much of a problem for us at all. Maybe that's because my kids were good swimmers, used to the water (we had a pool in the backyard) they were good about following pool rules and the lifeguards there are great (and all over the place!)

The pool area is between the BC & YC, so while it can be noisy/busy at SAB, you don't hear it from even the BC rooms.

 

[Starr W.]

So there are actually areas of BCV that are quiet? Most of what I read madfe me think that BCV was one big kid filled resort.

Opinions do vary don't they, quiet for one is crazy loud for another.

I'm really suprised by those with kids that didn't love SAB. Are the kids that didn't love SAB from the south and water and water park lovers?

Being from New Orleans, my two kids are waterbabies and love the water and water parks.

My kids love swimming, they're in the pool everyday when we are at WDW. The eldest just likes a more traditional spread out pool, like SSR or VWL. He feels like he has more room to swim. The swimming age kids tend to all congregate down by the slide, he likes to have a little more space. He would actual prefer going to a waterpark than SAB. The youngest thinks SAB is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Though he now has a thing for trying the "clown" pool.

We have 3 big hotel/indoor waterparks about an hour away at Cedar Point(plus they have a huge outdoor one). We go for a night or 2 during the winter. They actually prefer going to CP's water park than the actual amusement park.

 

[crisi]

So there are actually areas of BCV that are quiet? Most of what I read madfe me think that BCV was one big kid filled resort.

Opinions do vary don't they, quiet for one is crazy loud for another.

I'm really suprised by those with kids that didn't love SAB. Are the kids that didn't love SAB from the south and water and water park lovers?

Being from New Orleans, my two kids are waterbabies and love the water and water parks.

Why would kids from the North not love the water? We are in Minnesota and my parents are on a lake, my kids grow gills in the summer - and are in indoor pools in the winter. Mine would rather spend the day at Typhoon Lagoon than at the Magic Kingdom.

The thing with SAB is that its a strangely laid out pool. It is referred to as a "mini water park" but I'm not sure how accurate that is. It has a slide - as do all the other DVC resorts. What it has that the other DVC resort pools doesn't have is a lazy river. It also has some kid slides and zero entry. And the sand bottom. The issue is really that the lazy river wraps through the middle of the pool and that there are more nooks and crannies than average - some of them with jets to bubble or make currents, making the layout difficult for anyone wanting to keep their eye on kids. Where the "mini-water park" description would disappoint my kids - they expect a wave pool at a waterpark and more slides.

The sand bottom itself is tactilly different enough to drive a lot of kid's dislike for the pool. If your kids don't like the strange feel of the "sand" they may not like the pool. The other thing that some people find disturbing is the rather sudden depth changes - the lazy river is deep - and only yards away from the zero entry area (personally, if the lazy river were three feet deep, that would fix a lot of my issues with the pool right there).

Another factor is that the slide is enclosed and tight for much of its trip. While some kids love sliding through a tube, other kids have a preference for the open slides. And getting to the slide is a walk compared to most resorts - repeat trips down the slide take longer for a kid wanting to do the slide over and over again - its way more efficient to do the slide over at BWVs.

 

[Starr W.]

Why would kids from the North not love the water? We are in Minnesota and my parents are on a lake, my kids grow gills in the summer - and are in indoor pools in the winter. Mine would rather spend the day at Typhoon Lagoon than at the Magic Kingdom.

The thing with SAB is that its a strangely laid out pool. It is referred to as a "mini water park" but I'm not sure how accurate that is. It has a slide - as do all the other DVC resorts. What it has that the other DVC resort pools doesn't have is a lazy river. It also has some kid slides and zero entry. And the sand bottom. The issue is really that the lazy river wraps through the middle of the pool and that there are more nooks and crannies than average - some of them with jets to bubble or make currents, making the layout difficult for anyone wanting to keep their eye on kids. Where the "mini-water park" description would disappoint my kids - they expect a wave pool at a waterpark and more slides.

The sand bottom itself is tactilly different enough to drive a lot of kid's dislike for the pool. If your kids don't like the strange feel of the "sand" they may not like the pool. The other thing that some people find disturbing is the rather sudden depth changes - the lazy river is deep - and only yards away from the zero entry area (personally, if the lazy river were three feet deep, that would fix a lot of my issues with the pool right there).

Another factor is that the slide is enclosed and tight for much of its trip. While some kids love sliding through a tube, other kids have a preference for the open slides. And getting to the slide is a walk compared to most resorts - repeat trips down the slide take longer for a kid wanting to do the slide over and over again - its way more efficient to do the slide over at BWVs.

The sand bottom, not great if your younger brother thinks it's funny to grab a handful and dump it on your head. Though funny he never thought about throwing sand at Vero Beach.

My eldest wonders where the "mini-water" park label came from, because other than the ONE slide and lazy river, it's really lacking in waterpark features.

He loves the location of BCV "why can't we go over and catch Illuminations for the 4th time this trip?"

 

[SleepyatDVC]

BC was my ALL TIME favorite Disney resort UNTIL we joined DVC (after having kids).

I love the location of the BCV but after staying there one trip shortly after it opened I am not clammering to get back until my girls are older and won't need to be watched.

The shallow end with the sand bars is perfect for toddlers. BUT it seems sooooo far away from the BCV, all the way on the YC end. Not bad for an all day hang by the pool time but who does that with toddlers? At that younger age, my girls liked a quick dip of about 30-60 minutes right before bath/bed time and the walk seemed longer than the dip. After the first 2 times, we stuck to the quiet pool.

And if we forgot something in the villas, expect one adult to be gone 15-20 minutes at least to go back and get it while the other one has to watch both kids.

My kids are no longer toddlers, of course, but I am waiting until they are both old enough to be out of my sight for 2 minutes without me freaking out. They are not there yet. As PP's pointed out, there are too many blind spots and when you have more than one... NOT my idea of a relaxing afternoon by the pool.

 

[Jaaron2]

We actually found BCV to be rather quiet and relaxing. The fact the the pool is large and spread out helps to keep it from "overcrowding" in certain areas. We also like the fact it is away from the Villas so again it keeps things on the quiet side near the villas while the pool is full.

There is some walking to get to certain areas but considering other resorts (SSR, BWV) and the distance you can walk to get to the pools, food etc. we find it very minimal. We preferred BCV over the Boardwalk for this reason.

 

[LIFERBABE]

The sight of SAB was what made me purchase DVC!

That said, it is not my boys first choice. They dont like the slide and they prefer the lazy rivers at TL and BB because they can touch bottom and kind of run along when they get tired of floating.

They are too big for the sand bar zero entry area and too small for the lazy river. My youngest likes to slide but my oldest does not.

They are both strong swimmers, but I am still leary of the youngest (now 9) going over to the slide by himself. It's like crossing a busy street to get to the slide and those surrey bikes can come down that hill at a pretty good clip, so we try to keep an eye on him on his way over. If DH doesnt go to the pool with us, I move around alot to keep up with both of them. If I am going to be doing all that, we may as well hit the waterpark!

I like SAB best when Im on my Girls Trips for F&W fest. We sit by the pool, watch all the other kids play and I am grateful that I dont have any kids to watch while I drink my margarita and have the pool attendents bring me food and drinks!

There is a quiet pool, but we dont stay at BCV for the 1 quiet pool. We stay there for the location and SAB. If we want relaxing pool time, with all the features, we like SSR the best. I can look up from my magazine and see both boys regardless of what they are doing.

 

[WALTSAGOD]

It's like crossing a busy street to get to the slide and those surrey bikes can come down that hill at a pretty good clip, so we try to keep an eye on him on his way over.

how doers a surrey bike get into the park, or am I missing something?

 

[Jaaron2]

You have to go outside the pool area and across the main walkway to get to the slide entrance.