Why are people nervous about SAB?

[edk35]

I have read several threads about SAB freaking moms out. My yougest is 9 and is a good swimmer do I need to be concerned??? We did Typhoon Lagoon this past Aug. and he was fine with that. Now I am starting to 2nd guess our BCV ressies this July. Our kids will be 17, 14 and 9 when we go in July. HELP!!!

 

[Corinne]

I have read several threads about SAB freaking moms out. My yougest is 9 and is a good swimmer do I need to be concerned??? We did Typhoon Lagoon this past Aug. and he was fine with that. Now I am starting to 2nd guess our BCV ressies this July. Our kids will be 17, 14 and 9 when we go in July. HELP!!!

SAB is VERY spreadout. Kids have to go out and around to get to the slide, which "dumps" you into one of several different sections. We first started visiting WDW when our boys were 5 & 9 (they are now 17 & 21) and when they were younger one of us was with them at all times. They are both good swimmers but it is a large area, and some sections are deep. That all being said, it is a GREAT place and I highly recommend it! It sounds like you and your family would really enjoy it!

 

[edk35]

SAB is VERY spreadout. Kids have to go out and around to get to the slide, which "dumps" you into one of several different sections. We first started visiting WDW when our boys were 5 & 9 (they are now 17 & 21) and when they were younger one of us was with them at all times. They are both good swimmers but it is a large area, and some sections are deep. That all being said, it is a GREAT place and I highly recommend it! It sounds like you and your family would really enjoy it!

So do you not know each time where you will end up?? How deep is SAB if anyone knows?? I have also heard that there are swift currents too?
Thanks

 

[CarolA]

If you kid goes down the slide they end up at the bottom, no chance of them going someplace else. It only dumps into one place. It does not have "branches" that send you different places.

I think a lot of this is the parents who refuse to let thier child out of thier sight for the time it takes to WALK over to the slide. If you are a "helicopter" parent who is covinced that Junior will be kidnapped if you can't see him every waking minute then this is not the pool for you. There are several sections to the pool.

The only "fast" currents are in one specific area that is like a "whrilpool" effect. It's fairly small, but loads of fun! (And there is a lifeguard watching it!)

All of my friends who go there love it and they generally have kids ranging from 5 to 16.

 

[Alexander]

Man, Carol hit it right on the head! If you need to hover over your children constantly, SAB is not a good choice. We have been taking DS there since he was 4 and have never had a problem. The pool with the currents is great, it is deep (up to 10 feet I think) but it is not a swift current by any means. It's a lazy river.

The pool has lifeguards all over who take their responsiblities very serious.

To the OP, your kids will be fine! They will LOVE SAB and you'll be disappointed if you change your plans.

 

[crisi]

I don't hover over my kids constantly, but the first time I went to SAB I stepped off unknowingly into the 8 ft deep lazy river and freaked out - as an adult. The same day we had the opportunity to set our stuff next to a woman who lost her kid for 45 minutes - the girl was about eight and Mom let her run off to do the slide. But the girl had done the slide once and then went to a different area of the pool. Mom couldn't find her. Moms don't have to be helicopter parents to not enjoy not knowing where there kid is for 45 minutes around water. We also - as adults - spent five minutes trying to find the lounge chair we'd put our stuff on - its simply a confusing pool.

Its very difficult to watch your kids in the pool, and there are currents and places where it is very deep. Its very easy for kids to wander off and simply be difficult to find at that pool.

When we are at BWV, I spend some time in the pool with my kids, and some time in a lounge chair with a book. I can look up from my lounge chair and scan the pool and know my kids haven't wandered off (sometimes it takes a few minutes to find them - usually not). I can't do that at SAB.

As they get older I scan less - and therefore are getting closer to the age where SAB is possible (they are now eight and nine - and will be nine and ten for the next trip).

There are LOTS of lifeguards at SAB. It may, however, take a while for the lifeguard to match you up with your kid if your kid needs to get pulled from the pool and you aren't watching. My daughter got rescued coming off the community pool slide at home once - got caught in the current and turned around - another bigger kid came down the slide before given the signal and SLAM! Everyone was fine - just scared, but the fact that I was there to comfort my daughter was important to me.

 

[alldiz]

I loved SAB....but it is more "work" than just chillin by the pool.

there are different sections....the slide is far away....of course my DD is 5 so
i have to be with her at all times.
If your 9 yr old can swim and his older siblings will stay with him....I think
it will be perfectly OK.

If you want a pool where you can sit in your chair and see most of the
pool and know where they are at all times...SAB is not a good choice.
Happy Planning
Kerri

 

[Deb & Bill]

Count me as one who does not like SAB. It is usually very crowded and difficult to find a couple of beach chairs. I'm like crisi and stepped into the 8 foot area unexpectedly. Freaked me out bigtime. And when I tried to get back to the shallower water, the current (and it is rather strong) kept pulling me out.

If you think the "lazy river" is anything like the lazy rivers at TL or BB, think again. Those are only 4 feet or less deep. This one is 8 feet deep. Those go on for what seems like miles. This one goes in a little circle and you don't float, you actually move along on the current.

I also stepped into the sinking sands area which also freaked me out. I wasn't expecting it and knew nothing about it. You can't swim where the slide lets out. From there you get the little whirlpool area and then the sinking sands. Move on to the fast current and the non-so-lazy streamlet. After that you hit the little kids' area where there are very shallow area and lots of sand to play in.

Give me the Dunes Cove pool any day. Though I bet your kids will love SAB.

 

[Boston-to-Orlando]

This is great info. My son is 10 and a good swimmer, but has autism. I'd have to be with him at all times, so knowing about the slides, river and how spread out the area is great to know. that said, we always go to Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach and have a great time--but I'm with him at all times.

 

[Starr W.]

If you kid goes down the slide they end up at the bottom, no chance of them going someplace else. It only dumps into one place. It does not have "branches" that send you different places.

I think a lot of this is the parents who refuse to let thier child out of thier sight for the time it takes to WALK over to the slide. If you are a "helicopter" parent who is covinced that Junior will be kidnapped if you can't see him every waking minute then this is not the pool for you. There are several sections to the pool.

The only "fast" currents are in one specific area that is like a "whrilpool" effect. It's fairly small, but loads of fun! (And there is a lifeguard watching it!)

All of my friends who go there love it and they generally have kids ranging from 5 to 16.

My kids loved SAB and I didn't have a problem keeping an eye on them. I told them exactly where they could go(not past here, as it would be too deep for my 6 yr old). They both know my pool rules, you don't listen you get out. I found the depth of the pool alot easier to figure out then the one at SSR(I have yet to figure out the rhyme or reason of the depth levels there, kind of weird IMHO). But I don't copter by the edge of the pool(saw some of that but most parents seemed to be in the pool or had their nose in a book or drinking a "pool" drink(my favorite out of the pool activity ).

Mine of course stayed by the slide, as that was the main reason for staying at BCV, in their minds.

Plus after seeing SAB, it wasn't really what I had pictured in my mind. I didn't find it that spread out.

Plus I usually get into the pool for awhile with my boys. Actually did the slide with them a few times. I really liked the whirlpool.

 

[LIFERBABE]

www.tagrel.com has a great slideshow of SAB and all the areas.

SAB can be overwhelming for parents trying to keep up with younger kids.

You cant catch your kids at the bottom (unless you ride the slide) and they cant wear vests.

Also, the kids have to cross the wide path that separates the beach from SAB and there is alot of traffic on that path. You have Surrey Bikes, joggers, carts, lots of people, etc.

If the older kids help you out, you should be OK.

I dont have any older kids, so when we go to SAB, we all stick together and Dh has to go.

 

[lisaviolet]

I told them exactly where they could go(not past here, as it would be too deep for my 6 yr old). They both know my pool rules, you don't listen you get out.

Thank for your parenting Starr. It made me smile, broadly.

 

[JimMIA]

Our daughter is 5 and fearless around water. We have a pool at home, and she easily swims the 50 meter pool length at her swimming lessons, so we're really not worried about her at pools.

That said, we kept within a few feet of her at SAB, except when she was making her way up the tower to the waterslide. Even for a good swimmer, there are several places to get in trouble at SAB, most of which are mentioned above. She actually didn't like SAB much, except for the waterslide, and actually asked to go to OKW the second time we went to SAB.

There are a lot of lifeguards and they are very attentive, so I think it's unlikely that anything tragic would happen. But there are plenty of places for a kid (even a good swimmer) to get good and scared.

"Helicopter parenting" comments notwithstanding, it is sensible to remember that SAB is a completely open, completely public-access area. Anyone can park at BC/YC or BWV, or Swan/Dolphin, and just walk to SAB. The staff check room keys and issue wristbands for actual pool use, but the main public walkway runs right alongside SAB. Kids have to cross the public walkway to get to the waterslide, so it's not like they're in a private, secure place.

 

[lesley.a.murray@talk]

www.tagrel.com has a great slideshow of SAB and all the areas.


Thanks for this. I've thoroughly enoyed the various slideshows

 

[Hibernians]

My experience with SAB was that it did require a lot of coordination/communication between my wife and I to monitor our 4 young children (ages 5 - 8). Nonetheless, the kids loved it and SAB was by far and away on one the highlights of our entire vacation.
Fortunately the kids spent most of the time in the same area - where the pirate ship slide drops them into the pool and the spinning water/whirlpool corner - this was a little fun for me too !!
Whenever they wanted to swim downstream I usually joined them - and its true the lazy river is surprisinlgy deep in areas and the current is stronger than one might expect.
One major plus about SAB is the Lifeguards - I have never seen so many lifeguards and they are very good; attentive and right on top of things; vocal as well but in a good way.
And who can forget mother duck and her babies - what a neat sight to see the ducks swimming through.

 

[JimMIA]

One major plus about SAB is the Lifeguards - I have never seen so many lifeguards and they are very good; attentive and right on top of things; vocal as well but in a good way.

They also have the very finest EMS equipment. No expense spared there.

And who can forget mother duck and her babies - what a neat sight to see the ducks swimming through.

Yeah...until you follow that thought for a few moments...

 

[daisyduck123]

My DS9 loved SAB last summer & we're going again for 8 days this summer.

It doesn't bother me in the least, but then he's been swimming on a year round competitive swim team since he was 6yo.

He can swim a 500 FREE no problem...so I am very confident of his swimming ability.

 

[edk35]

WOW a lot of all over the place responses here. I know we ate breakfast at Cape May's back last Aug. and we walked around and looked at the pool area and it didn't look that spread out like I expected unless I was missing stuff. LOL I will check out the slide show above that someone posted and make sure I am understanding the set up. Thanks everyone.

 

[Deb & Bill]

It actually stretches from the sidewalk entrance to the BC all the way over to the sidewalk entrance to the YC with the pirate ship slide on the beach side of the wide sidewalk over to Epcot. It covers quite a bit of sq feet.

 

[Corinne]

I think a lot of this is the parents who refuse to let thier child out of thier sight for the time it takes to WALK over to the slide. If you are a "helicopter" parent who is covinced that Junior will be kidnapped if you can't see him every waking minute then this is not the pool for you. There are several sections to the pool.

Wow, what a snarky little comment that was! The OP was simply asking WHY some people are nervous about SAB. It is a large spread-out area. I can see how some people (helicopter parents or NOT) may have concerns. Not everyone is simply afraid "Junior will be kidnapped".