If your kids are like ours, a hotel swimming pool is one of the must-haves on their vacation. In the mugginess and sweltering heat of Florida summers, a pool ranks high on the list as families can pretty much swim year-round. From budget friendly to luxury, Traveling Grandmom (with help from her Traveling Mom friends) brings you the 5 best Disney World Resort pools.
One of the best Disney World resort pools is at the Art of Animation resort where you can Dive “under the sea” and listen to underwater music. Photo credit: Diana Rowe, Traveling Grandmom
5 Best Disney World Resort Pools
1. It’s All About the Pools at Disney’s Coronado Springs
2. Lava Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
3. Aye, Matie! Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort pool
4. Get “Under the Sea” at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort pools
5. Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club Resorts
Baby, it’s hot outside, and nothing cools off the kids after a hot day at the Disney theme parks better than spending time at one of the best Disney World Resort pools. One of the first things I check out before booking is the hotel pool. That’s where my grandkids always want to end up, no matter how tired they (or Grammie) might feel. And there’s one thing you can count on when entering the magical world of Mickey – Disney knows how to entertain families at the theme parks and in their hotels.
When traveling to Orlando, make the most of your family vacation by diving into these 5 best Disney World Resort pools.
1. It’s All About The Pools at Disney’s Coronado Springs
Main pool and the Dig Site area at Coronado Springs. Photo credit: Leslie Harvey / Frequent Flyer TravelingMom
Karyn Locke, Road Trip Traveling Mom says, “Seriously. Coronado Springs Resort is built AROUND the beautiful 22-acre Lago Dorado so it really does revolve around water.”
It should be no surprise with Florida’s notorious humidity that Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is all about the pools. Splish-splash in the cool waters of the Dig Site, Mayan-themed pool complex with an impressive 123-foot-long waterslide, Lost City of Cibola Pool, and pile up to 21 of your closest friends in the largest hot tub at a Walt Disney World Resort property.
“Next to the Lost City of Cibola pool is a kiddie pool for younger children,” says Leslie Harvey, Frequent Flyer TravelingMom. “When the kids are ready to get out of the water, discover plenty to do around the pool area, making the Dig Site a destination where families can spend quite a bit of time on hot days. ”
2. Lava Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Splish splash at Disney’s Polynesian Resort Lava Pool with its 142-foot-long water slide. Photo credit: Diana Rowe, Traveling Grandmom
Step up the splish-splash fun at the lava pool at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, located at the Seven Seas Lagoon, with impressive views of the Magic Kingdom. This popular Disney World resort pool debut its 2015 renovation with an expanded deck and seating area, tiki-themed water play area with child-sized slides, and a new hot tub.
Families with young children will appreciate the attention to safety with a zero-depth entry point, similar to a beach, sloping gently into the pool for easy entry and exit. Of course, the Lava pool would have to include a volcano, perfect for climbing, before embarking on the ultimate thrill: plunging down its 142-foot-long water slide.
3. Aye, Matie! Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort pool
Only fitting that one of the best Disney World resort pools is pirate themed at Caribbean Beach. Photo credit: Diana Rowe, Traveling Grandmom
Got a pirate-loving kid? Swashbucklers of all ages will love exploring the Fuentes del Morro pool at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Themed after a colonial Spanish fortress, kids climb the staircase of the turrets to discover its two waterslides, including one at 102 feet long.
Parents of young pirates with their eyes on the water cannons can rest easy with the shallow water and zero-depth entry access. Young swashbucklers 48 inches or underset off on an adventure at the pirate shipwreck-themed splash pad, with min-slides and a crow’s nest. Listen for the giggles (or if your kid isn’t a fan of getting soaked, beware!) when a barrel releases a drenching downpour onto the littles.
4. Get “Under the Sea” at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort pools
One of the best Disney World resort pools is the Art of Animation, which also includes a splash pad. Photo credit: Kathy Penney, Special Needs TravelingMom
In my grandchildren’s opinion, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort has one of the best Disney World Resort pools. And I do agree. You can’t help but feel the Disney love and want to belt out “Under the Sea” when passing by the pool areas when walking to your themed resort rooms.
Choose from three pools including The Big Blue Pool, the single largest hotel pool at Walt Disney World Resort. Each of the pools consists of village-like “pods” of waters, featuring the theme of Finding Nemo. My grandkids excitedly informed me that the pool featured underwater speakers, apparently a first for Disney Resort hotels.
Kathy Penney, Special Needs TravelingMom is a fan of the Art of Animation pools too. She says, “Beyond that, they have a fun splash pad and zero entry for young kids. The colors are so bright and fun and all the theming really feels like Disney magic come to life.”
Interactive play areas for little ones, fun water features, and complimentary life vests with lifeguards on duty keeps the kids occupied and safe.
5. Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club Resorts
Where can you book a Disney hotel AND stay near 13 countries WITH a great pool? Sherry Boswell, Melodious TravelingMom’s answer is Disney’s Beach Club Resort! She says, “When it comes to location, pool, and dining options, Disney’s Beach Club Resort is one of the most outstanding and popular Disney deluxe resorts, and Epcot’s World Showcase entrance is a mere five-minute walk away. And there’s that amazing pool, Stormalong Bay, a 3-acre water wonderland. Shared by the Beach Club and Yacht Club Resorts, this pool area offers a lazy river, waterslide, and life-size pirate ship, play area.”
Jennifer and her family voted this as one of the best Walt Disney World resort pools too. In fact, this pool is their favorite. She says, “Stormalong Bay has not only a soft and fun sand bottom, but an actual “sandbar” area in which to play and build sand creations. Sometimes, my kiddos don’t want to leave this area! They should though, and we are sure to remind them what else waits for them throughout the pool.”
And my 3 year-old-granddaughter LOVED the sandbar area too. Like a big girl, she waded into the main pool from the gently sloping and sandy beach. She also loved cooling off in the Shipwreck Pool and zooming down the miniature waterslide.
Now that you’ve read our Traveling Mom favorites, what are your best Walt Disney World Resort pools? Please share with us in the comments below.
I need to get my toes in the water!
Stormalong Bay’s my personal fave. I could float the lazy river all day long.
So fun to have this detailed advice on this key feature – pools!
So helpful! My daughter LOVES to swim. Hope to get to check these out in the future.