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.

Preschooler excited at Disney's Stormalong Bay, a favorite Disney pool 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.

But you know Disney doesn’t do just “any old” anything very often. So unsurprisingly, the swimming pool at your Disney resort hotel – usually pools plural, actually – is going to be fun. It doesn’t matter if you’re staying in the least expensive Value room or the most expensive Deluxe, you and your kiddos won’t have to swim in a boring rectangular hole in the ground.

6 Best Disney Pools for Kids

Goofy greeting guests in the pool at Disney's Aulani

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.

Donald Duck themed splash area for Disney Pools for kids at Saratoga Springs resort pool

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.

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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, with elephants and a clown-themed slide

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

An "Alice in Wonderland" themed play area (perfect for kids) at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort includes small water slides and interactive water features

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.

A toddler playing in one of Animal Kingdom Lodge's kids pool areas at Walt Disney World

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.

Disney World Resorts: Value vs. Moderate vs. Deluxe

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!

a view of one section of Disney's Stormalong Bay pool, widely touted as the best disney pool for kids and families

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

The pool covers 3 acres of land and has something for everyone. You can float along in the lazy river or take a ride on a shipwreck water slide. Find a whirlpool, a sand bottom section, and even a “sand bar” area to play in. There are zero-entry pools and smaller water slides for kids, too. When we stay at one of these resorts, we always plan an entire afternoon (or more!) just to swim.
Walt Disney World hotels all have great pools and kids' play areas. Find out what TravelingMom kids think is the very best Disney pool for children and families. It's a Top 6 list of hotels that feature interactive play areas, water slides, and other fun swimming options.

What do you look for in a pool when you’re on vacation? Have you tried one of these at Walt Disney World?