Would/do you let your child do this....

[MerriH807]

We did a split stay last summer blt and bcv. I was much more comfortable at blt. The pool area was just too huge for me to feel I had a handle on my kids at bcv. Besides the slide being across the walkway, the lazy river is very deep and drops unexpectedly at times. The area itself is very big as well. If you are staying at bcv you could always use the quiet pool there .....
I understand your concerns --- you are right . You never know....

 

[crisi]

I'd let them walk to the slide at nine.

But I wouldn't do SAB at those ages. Nine was pretty much the earliest I'd have let my kids SWIM without my eyes on them at SAB - its the lazy river which is deep and has a strong current. And with a two and a four year old - no way. It isn't the worries about child abduction - its the "SAB is a nightmare if you feel you have to have an eye on your kids near water."

We did SAB last year at "almost 11 and almost 12" (my son turned 12 on the trip, my daughter three weeks later).

 

[rentayenta]

So with our 7 month window approaching DW and I are discussing resorts. She want BCV and I want BLT. Now I love BCV, it's just with three little ones (9,4,2, at the time of the trip) I feel BLT suits us better. My biggest problem is SAB at BCV. It's an awesome pool I just feel it's too big to keep any eye on DD. She is a very good swimmer, but I need to see her at all times. The other issue is the slide. DW seems to feel it's ok DD to leave the pool area, cross the path and go down the slide. I totally disagree. So what's your opinion? Would you/do you let a 9 year old do that?

She's 9? Yes she's old enough to cross over and go down the slide alone.

 

[disneyobessed]

My 9 yearold DS did the slide alone last year... while I stayed in the sandbottom section with my other kids.. My husband would stay near the slide exit.. No way would I have let him swim alone in the lazy riiver section alone..even if he is a good swimmer, it is deep and depending the time of year (we go in summer) the pool is packed and people everywhere..

 

[ddhoeg]

When my kids were approximately the same as the OP, we would do SAB in sections. Here is what we did which could work for the OP.

When parents were not going into the pool and were lounging, the kids stayed in the shallowest sand bottom pool area and did castles and swimming games or played on the small playground and wading pool. They ended up playing mermaids or sand bakery or other games in that area for HOURS. Generally speaking we could watch that entire pool area from our front row chairs and feel good about their safety. I always felt like there was no better DVC pool option for small kids than this section of SAB. YMMV.

When parents had rested up a bit (and had an umbrella drink or two) we went as a family to the other parts of the pool. We enjoyed the sinking sands, the pool games and DJ, the lazy river, the whirlpool area, etc. I also feel like there is no better DVC pool option for families than these sections of SAB. Again YMMV.

We also did the slide, and I understand the OPs hesitation to send DD by herself. My main concern is definitely the out of control surrey bikes being peddled by four crazies honking the horn and yelling for everyone to get out of the way. This doesn't happen all the time by any means, but it does happen often enough. Throw in a golf cart or two while a leaf blower is howling and you can't hear very well, and it can be a little chaotic. It isn't a big deal at all if I'm there to help guide DD, but I'm a little uncomfortable with her on her own.

I agree with the PP about splitting up parents. You don't need to do the slide all day and be split up. Just take 15-20 minutes and allot that to slide time. You can have one parent stay in the small pirate play area below the staircase with the other kids. They will have their own smaller slide and get to swim inside a cool pirate ship. Have the other parent wait at the Flying Jib exit and make sure DD emerges in tact. You can walk her back to the pirate ship where the other parent is waiting and do it all over again. Great memories and the best slide at WDW IMHO of course.

Hope you have a great trip wherever you decide.

 

[Inkmahm]

I'm glad I grew up when I did and not now. I walked to kindergarten and back on my own each day when I was 4 years old. It was only one long city block and 3 short city blocks but the school didn't even WANT the parents walking with us. We were to learn to be independent.

Unless there was something drastically wrong with a 9 year old, I wouldn't even think twice about letting them walk to a slide at the pool on their own.

 

[bnk1120]

When my kids were approximately the same as the OP, we would do SAB in sections. Here is what we did which could work for the OP.

When parents were not going into the pool and were lounging, the kids stayed in the shallowest sand bottom pool area and did castles and swimming games or played on the small playground and wading pool. They ended up playing mermaids or sand bakery or other games in that area for HOURS. Generally speaking we could watch that entire pool area from our front row chairs and feel good about their safety. I always felt like there was no better DVC pool option for small kids than this section of SAB. YMMV.

When parents had rested up a bit (and had an umbrella drink or two) we went as a family to the other parts of the pool. We enjoyed the sinking sands, the pool games and DJ, the lazy river, the whirlpool area, etc. I also feel like there is no better DVC pool option for families than these sections of SAB. Again YMMV.

We also did the slide, and I understand the OPs hesitation to send DD by herself. My main concern is definitely the out of control surrey bikes being peddled by four crazies honking the horn and yelling for everyone to get out of the way. This doesn't happen all the time by any means, but it does happen often enough. Throw in a golf cart or two while a leaf blower is howling and you can't hear very well, and it can be a little chaotic. It isn't a big deal at all if I'm there to help guide DD, but I'm a little uncomfortable with her on her own.

I agree with the PP about splitting up parents. You don't need to do the slide all day and be split up. Just take 15-20 minutes and allot that to slide time. You can have one parent stay in the small pirate play area below the staircase with the other kids. They will have their own smaller slide and get to swim inside a cool pirate ship. Have the other parent wait at the Flying Jib exit and make sure DD emerges in tact. You can walk her back to the pirate ship where the other parent is waiting and do it all over again. Great memories and the best slide at WDW IMHO of course.

Hope you have a great trip wherever you decide.

This is how I feel too. My sister and I stayed at bc with our kids in September. I would NOT let my 8 yr old go across the path and down the slide alone. My sister and I split up and one watched at the pool area and one went with the kids to the slide. We were there at a really slow time of year and i really wouldn't stay there at a busy time. It would be a nightmare keeping of track of kids and would not be relaxing at all. although the pool is cool, I think your kids could have just as much fun somewhere else where YOU are comfortable.

 

[Song of the South]

No been there, done that experience but I did want to mention the book, "Protecting the Gift" by Gavin DeBecker as an excellent guide for preparing kids for being independent at the speed in which they are ready and able to be responsible--whether it is avoiding surrey bikes, following their intution, or dealing with strangers it is a great book, I think, for every parent! He is an expert at personal security and the book is fabulous at helping parents know how to prepare their kids and themselves for increasing levels of independence.

That said, go with your gut and have a great trip!

SotS

 

[lovin'fl]

We were at Disney last week and walked from Epcot over to BCV to see gingerbread display. While walking the path back to Epcot- DH, SIL, BIL and I saw 2 little girls (about 6 or 7) run across path to get on the slide...all by themselves. SIL said "now see, that's why we never stayed here when my kids were little...it's too hard to keep an eye on them". 9 is getting to the age where I wouldn't worry so much...but at 6 or 7, I'd have been following them.

 

[Eventer98]

My oldest is almost 4 so it's hard to say where I will be in 5 years but if DS was 9 today I wouldn't let him. I am a worry wart but do a good job of hiding it from my kids. I would probably stay somewhere else...like a PP said....BCV will always be there. I also wouldn't stay there just b/c there isn't a CS nearby..that's a must with 3 toddlers! You do what YOU are comfortable with..if you are going to be nervous about it then you aren't going to have a relaxing trip...go with your gut and don't feel like you are being overprotective.

 

[Hibernians]

Happy New Years !!!

Great question - its a strange set up to begin with; I bet a lot of parents would be more comfortable if the entire area was not accessible to the general public and somehow the kids would not be out of sight when they run off to the stairs to the slide.
We have let our kids run off to the slide area by themselves and at the time they were all 8 and under. Initially we walked over with them but after a few runs we felt comfortable with them going off together and our seats were right near the sidewalk path by the restrooms behind Hurricaine Hanna's.

 

[Judique]

Happy New Years !!!

Great question - its a strange set up to begin with; I bet a lot of parents would be more comfortable if the entire area was not accessible to the general public and somehow the kids would not be out of sight when they run off to the stairs to the slide.
We have let our kids run off to the slide area by themselves and at the time they were all 8 and under. Initially we walked over with them but after a few runs we felt comfortable with them going off together and our seats were right near the sidewalk path by the restrooms behind Hurricaine Hanna's.

When my daughter was nine at SAB, i let her do the slide with no problem. I stayed near where she landed in the water. I would be watching close for her to come out at the top before she came down the slide. I didn't follow her through the whole thing.

What scared me most was her love for the whirlpool water area! I couldn't get her out of that thing! That's where I felt I had to watch her all the time, especially when she was younger and older bigger kids would be rough housing and having fun.

I don't think I've ever gotten to relax at SAB.

 

[LPnerd]

you make it sound like the path is a block long, it's two steps across the sidewalk. whats the problem, she's 9. or, you could get up off your butt and go with her. . sounds to me like you've made up your mind and what us to support your opinon. Tha's not fair to us, or your wife IMO. why not give it a chance and see how it goes?
having said all this, BLT is probably a better fit with the younger ones, easier and closer to get back for naps.

 

[jpolak]

you make it sound like the path is a block long, it's two steps across the sidewalk. whats the problem, she's 9. or, you could get up off your butt and go with her. . sounds to me like you've made up your mind and what us to support your opinon. Tha's not fair to us, or your wife IMO. why not give it a chance and see how it goes?

Really? Considering the amount of errors in your post, I wouldn't take your opinion or seek you support on anything. As for fair, do not presume to know what is fair to my wife or how much I do with my kids. The question was simple one that you obviously missed.

 

[Bunnyfeather]

I would let my daughter walk to the slide while I waited in sight of the slide end now. She is about to turn 6. I would walk her over the first couple of runs, and we would discuss the rules that come with such a big-kid privilege, and if she violated that swim time would be over. But I am sure mine would be fine. I am far more in favor of teaching a child traffic safety, stranger safety and swimming safety and then giving reasonable freedoms than over-protecting children and crippling them from growing into independant young adults.

Now, my son is 4 and would NOT be allowed to cross by himself. I don't know if he will be allowed at 6. I certainly hope he has the maturity at 9. But it's certainly a case-by-case sort of thing. There is no blanket level of maturity, trustworthiness, responsibility or awareness/self-preservation sense at any age. Each child has to be judged on his/her own merits for privileges and responsibilities.

 

[TosaTrio]

I let my DD 6 cross the path to the slide herself and she had no problems. She is a sharp kid and I was not worried about stranger danger. I actually felt it was more important to watch her in the water, even though she is s pretty good swimmer. As others have said I find SAB really difficult and not enjoyable with multiple kids of different ages. It is to spread out and people are everywhere. I prefer a more relaxing environment where I have full view of the water from a chair or pool side. While the sand area is great, the lazy river is very close, deep and has quite a current.