Days at Walt Disney World can be long and hot. One of the best ways to cool off and get a change of scenery is a dip in your resort pool! You really can’t go wrong with any of the pools at Walt Disney World resort hotels, but of course some stand out above the rest. Wayfinding TravelingMom asked her kids (ages 9, 9, and 5) for some help narrowing down the best pools in Disney World for kids.
There are great pools at every Walt Disney World hotel, but we definitely have our favorites! Photo credit: Jennifer Kaufman, Wayfinding TravelingMom
Despite all of the magic within the four parks, some of our favorite Disney memories have been made away from the hustle and bustle. And it’s no secret that for most kids – mine included – any hotel with a swimming pool is the “best hotel ever” (for the moment, anyway). So it’s true then that after a day at the most magical place on earth, my family would be content to head back to just about any old clean (preferably heated) pool.
6 Best Disney Pools for Kids
My kids get excited over just about any pool; I prefer the ones that are heated! Photo credit: Jennifer Kaufman, Wayfinding TravelingMom
The reality is, of course, some pools are better than others – even if “better” is a matter of preference. My kids have rounded up their favorite Disney pools, in no particular order. No order, that is, except for a unanimous #1 choice!
SARATOGA SPRINGS’ POOLS
We are admittedly big fans of the first Disney Vacation Club resort we ever called home. Saratoga Springs boasts two “feature pools,” in addition to quiet pools in each of the resort neighborhoods.
Both feature pools at Saratoga Springs have kids’ splash areas. Photo credit: Jennifer Kaufman, Wayfinding TravelingMom
The original feature pool area, High Rock Spring Pool, features a water slide with beautiful rock work, plenty of space to swim, and a great little splash area for kids.
The Paddock Pool has another large water slide, zero-depth entry, and a horseshoe-shaped hot tub. This area has 2 kid-friendly water slides, too!
LUNA PARK POOL AT DISNEY’S BOARDWALK INN & VILLAS
This particular pool gets a spot on the list for its fun theming. (A 200-foot-long water slide called the “Kiester Coaster” doesn’t hurt, either, when you’re polling kids.)
The Luna Park pool at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn features a slide called “the Kiester Coaster” and other Atlantic City homages. Photo Credit: Sam Marraccini
Harkening back to 1920s boardwalks, the pool has elephant statues that spray passers-by, a bar shaped like a carousel, and a giant clown face as the base of a slide.
GRAND FLORIDIAN VILLAS’ ALICE IN WONDERLAND WATER PLAY AREA
The Mad Hatter’s hat in the adorable “Alice in Wonderland” themed play area dumps water on kids as they play! Photo credit: Jennifer Kaufman, Wayfinding TravelingMom
The Grand Floridian has a few great pools, but the kids’ favorite choice is the whimsical Alice in Wonderland play area. The Mad Hatter’s hat dumps water when it fills up, and the little teacups below are so much fun to watch.
ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE/KIDANI VILLAGE POOLS
The Uzima Springs pool at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge has long been touted as one of the coolest pools on property. It was one of the first zero-entry pools at Walt Disney World, and is still one of the largest at 11,000 square feet. Like many of the resort pools, Uzima Springs also has a fun water slide.
The kids’ play area at Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village has three unique sections, catering to kids of varying ages. Photo credit: Jennifer Kaufman, Wayfinding TravelingMom
Our favorite place to play during a stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge though is Samawati Springs Pool and Uwanja Camp play area at Kidani Village. This is easily our favorite splash/water play area on property, with three large, distinct areas to play. The Departure Zone, Observation Station, and Base Camp provide different experiences for kids of varying ages, though all of mine have had fun in any or all of them when we’ve visited.
POLYNESIAN VILLAGE RESORT LAVA POOL AND KIKI TIKI PLAY AREA
When the Polynesian Village Resort got a major overhaul a few years ago, they vastly improved the pool area – while preserving the things guests had loved about the Lava Pool for decades.
The Lava Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Village. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist, Healthy TravelingMom
Beautiful lava rock features make the place a sight to behold. Water slides and a large water playground give kids of all ages something to do. There’s an infinity hot tub and a spectacular view of Cinderella Castle. What more could you want?!
BEACH CLUB & YACHT CLUB’S STORMALONG BAY
To call Stormalong Bay a pool really sells it short; it’s practically a mini-water park of its own!
Stormalong Bay, the pool shared by Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club resorts, is our favorite pool anywhere – not just at Walt Disney World. Photo credit: Jennifer Kaufman, Wayfinding TravelingMom
