The perfect swimming pools at Walt Disney World

Ask a returning household about their journey to Walt Disney World, and also you would possibly hear the frequent chorus: “My youngsters simply needed to swim within the pool the entire time!”

It is robust to high the nostalgic attraction of basic rides like Peter Pan’s Flight and Haunted Mansion, the high-speed thrills of Expedition Everest and Tron Lightcycle Run, and the draw of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, however the youngsters are onto one thing.

Tucked away from the bustling parks are a number of the most meticulously themed and immersive swimming pools you will discover anyplace. Walt Disney World’s resort swimming pools aren’t only a place to chill off. They provide an expertise that, for some, can rival the theme parks.

Should you already know your itinerary will embrace some critical pool time, this information to the most effective swimming pools at Walt Disney World will enable you to decide the right pool on your journey.

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What to know concerning the Walt Disney World swimming pools

Each Walt Disney World resort has at the least one pool, with a lot of the bigger, extra sprawling resorts boasting three or extra. Every resort’s important pool, generally known as the characteristic pool, would be the most elaborate, with more and more spectacular theming and options as you go up the pricing ladder throughout Disney’s three resort tiers — Worth, Reasonable and Deluxe.

The characteristic pool will even have a pool bar and quick-service meals choices close by. At Reasonable and Deluxe resorts, you will additionally discover a waterslide and children splash areas. Worth resorts have giant characteristic swimming pools however no waterslides or sizzling tubs.

Day by day recreation actions happen on the characteristic pool, usually within the afternoons. Recreation hosts will lead video games for youths, generally with small take-home trinkets as prizes and Disney trivia everybody can take part on.

The characteristic pool can also be the place you will discover the most important crowds and most noise. So, if you happen to choose to lounge quietly with e book, you might need to hunt down a leisure pool, generally known as a “quiet” pool.

Walt Disney World swimming pools are heated to 82 levels year-round, although the water may be hotter in the summertime because of the blazing Central Florida solar. Complimentary towels and life jackets can be found in any respect swimming pools. Lifeguard availability and pool hours range by pool.

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Finest Disney World pool for households

Lots of Walt Disney World’s resorts are destination-worthy even with out the addition of the close by theme parks, maybe none extra so than Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Greater than 200 totally different animals, together with zebras and giraffes, roam quite a few savannas. The Africa-themed resort can also be residence to 2 unbelievable characteristic swimming pools, one at every of the resort’s two accommodations, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas — Jambo Home and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas — Kidani Village.

At Jambo Home, the 11,000-square-foot Uzima Springs Pool includes a zero-depth entry and 67-foot-long waterslide and has a most depth of 4 ft and 9 inches. There’s additionally a wading pool for youths and two sizzling tubs. The resort’s important quick-service eating location, The Mara, is simply steps from the pool gate, and the Uzima Pool Bar is a full bar serving cocktails, beers on faucet, frozen drinks and extra.

Uzima Springs is a superb pool, but it surely’s Kidani Village’s Samawati Springs Pool that makes this resort our decide for the most effective pool for households.

The 4,700-square-foot, 118,138-gallon pool presents one thing for each choice. It has a zero-depth entry level that is nice for kiddos, two sizzling tubs for these trying to loosen up, and one in every of Disney World’s most thrilling resort waterslides, 128 ft lengthy and quick, for swimmers on the lookout for pleasure. A second, a lot smaller waterslide with a pool depth of three ft and 6 inches on the base lets younger kiddos in on the slide enjoyable, too.

One other huge draw for youthful youngsters right here is the Uwanja Camp water playground. Themed after an animal remark web site, the play space consists of three zones — Remark Station, Departure Zone and Base Camp. Every is designed for various ages, from 4 and beneath to eight and up (although we have by no means seen older or youthful youngsters excluded from any of the areas at this resort). The world presents quantity of shade, water options like cannons and spitting cartoonish snakes, and spots to climb and slide.

Eating choices are much less in depth close to this pool than at Uzima Springs, however the Maji Pool Bar serves a spread of meals from sizzling canine and smooth pretzels to tandoori hen and spiced pork nachos. You too can order to-go from Sanaa, Kidani Village’s glorious table-service restaurant.

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Finest Disney World pool at a Worth resort

Disney’s Artwork of Animation Resort is residence to the most effective Disney World swimming pools at a Worth resort.

Nonetheless, rooms listed below are constantly the most costly within the Worth tier, so concentrate on the trade-off. The “Discovering Nemo”-inspired Huge Blue Pool is the biggest resort pool at Walt Disney World and options big, colourful characters from the movie. The 308,527-gallon pool is zero-entry with a most depth of 4 ft and 11 inches.

Subsequent to the Huge Blue Pool, Schoolyard Sprayground is a spacious splash zone surrounded by extra of Nemo’s pals. Additionally close by, Squirt’s Righteous Reef presents youngsters a dry playground possibility.

When starvation strikes, the Drop Off Pool Bar serves fundamentals like easy sandwiches, smooth pretzels and frozen treats. For a extra in depth choice, the resort’s meals courtroom is a brief stroll away.

For a quieter pool close by, head to the Cozy Cone Pool within the “Automobiles”-themed space of the resort, which options life-size fashions of favourite “Automobiles” characters. The pool is surrounded by Cozy Cone cabanas (first come, first served) that present a shaded spot excellent for households with youthful youngsters needing a nap or break from the solar whereas greater youngsters play.

Followers of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” might need to head to the resort’s third pool, the Flippin’ Fins Pool.

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Finest Disney World pool at a Reasonable resort

Aspiring swashbucklers can reside out their pirate desires on the Fuentes del Morro Pool at Disney’s Caribbean Seashore Resort, our decide for the most effective pool at a Reasonable resort. Designed to move friends to a colonial Spanish fortress, this zero-entry pool has two waterslides, with the most important stretching 102 ft and large water cannons that give main “Pirates of the Caribbean” vibes.

Children 48 inches or shorter can get further pirate play in on the Fuentes del Morro Water Play Space, a youngsters’ splash space with a pirate ship and mini slides. A 12-person sizzling tub presents loads of room for leisure, as do the resort’s whopping 5 extra leisure swimming pools.

At Outdated Port Royale, the pool is true throughout from Banana Cabana, the pool bar and lounge serving specialty frozen tropical drinks and Caribbean-inspired fare like coconut shrimp and jerk hen wings. For much more eating choices, Centertown Market, the resort’s important quick-service location, is true subsequent door.

Know earlier than you go: The Fuentes del Morro Pool will likely be closed for routine upkeep from January to late March 2024. Company are suggested to make use of the resort’s 5 leisure swimming pools throughout this time.

Finest Disney World pool at a Deluxe resort

The runaway favourite pool throughout all of Walt Disney World, Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht Membership and Seashore Membership resorts is extra like a mini water park.

Spanning three acres with a complete of 795,000 gallons of water, the complicated options a wide range of swimming pools, together with a sand-bottomed pool, a 230-foot-long shipwreck-themed waterslide, a lazy river, three sizzling tubs and a sandbar the place youngsters can play. The small Shipwreck Pool on the entry level of the large waterslide additionally has a smaller waterslide for youthful youngsters.

There isn’t any arguing that Stormalong Bay presents infinite aquatic leisure. Nonetheless, it may be a worrying pool possibility for households managing a number of youngsters of various talents, and this is the reason Stormalong Bay is not all the time our high decide for youthful households. Some swimming pools start with a zero-entry level and attain depths of 4 ft to five ft, and the lazy river ranges from 6 ft to eight ft in depth. The pool deck can get very crowded, and totally different areas of the deck are linked by generally slim walkways and bridges, making the complicated really feel like a maze while you’re making an attempt to get from level A to level B rapidly.

Moreover, the Shipwreck Pool and entrance to the massive waterslide, which is known as The Flying Jib, are outdoors the gated pool complicated and throughout a large public walkway accessible to friends not staying on the resort, so some dad and mom might not really feel comfy letting youngsters shuttle from the pool space to the waterslide alone.

However for infinite aquatic leisure, nothing beats Stormalong Bay.

The pool complicated can also be surrounded by top-notch eating choices out there to get pleasure from poolside. The pool bar, Hurricane Hanna’s, serves a dependable lineup of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and frozen drinks, however there are additionally quite a few eating choices close by that serve meals to go, together with Ale & Compass Restaurant and the Yacht Membership’s and Seashore Membership’s quick-service places, every with totally different menus.

For a enjoyable table-service lunch or dinner break from the pool, make a reservation at Seashores & Cream Soda Store, an old style diner serving up a basic menu of burgers and fries, chili-cheese tots and extra, together with malted milkshakes and monstrous sundaes for dessert.

Know earlier than you go: Stormalong Bay and the Shipwreck Pool will likely be closed from January by way of Could 2025 for routine upkeep. Company are suggested to make use of the resort’s three leisure swimming pools throughout this time, so make sure to keep away from this stretch if you wish to go to Stormalong Bay.

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Finest Disney World pool for adults

For adults trying to escape the noise and splashes of a chaotic characteristic pool, the various leisure swimming pools at Walt Disney World resorts supply nice alternate options. Nonetheless, a few of them may be considerably secluded and out of the way in which of eating choices. In order for you a soothing pool expertise however do not need to be too removed from the motion, now we have two picks for the most effective pool for adults.

Our first alternative is the Beau Soleil Pool at Disney’s Riviera Resort. This leisure pool feels quiet and secluded when you cross by way of the gates, but it surely’s additionally proper subsequent to the resort’s stunning exercise garden and steps from the Bar Riva pool bar and Primo Piatto quick-service restaurant.

Bar Riva is without doubt one of the most stunning open-air lounges at Walt Disney World and presents a sublime spot to take a break from the pool for Mediterranean fare and drinks. We advocate the mushroom arancini and a glass of Provence frose.

Additionally, in contrast to many different leisure swimming pools that generally entice households as a result of they provide a better possibility than the resort’s characteristic pool, Riviera’s spectacular important pool, which incorporates a wonderful splash pad for youths, is simply throughout the garden.

Our different favourite pool for adults is the Oasis Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Because the resort’s leisure pool, the Oasis Pool tends to draw a extra grown-up crowd than the close by Lava Pool with its engaging volcano, waterfall, youngsters play space and 142-foot waterslide. The Oasis Pool additionally has its personal pool bar, the Oasis Bar & Grill, so you do not have to depart the pool space to get pleasure from dishes like wonton chips and fish tacos, specialty cocktails, beer, smooth drinks and extra.

Finest Disney World pool splurge

For essentially the most luxurious poolside expertise, personal poolside cabanas can be found for every day rental at three of Walt Disney World’s Deluxe resorts: Disney’s Up to date Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Yacht Membership and Seashore Membership resorts.

These personal, shaded areas accommodate as much as six friends and are available geared up with plush furnishings, ceiling followers and ranging leisure choices like Bluetooth audio system, TVs and charging stations.

Complimentary refreshments, together with contemporary fruit, soda and water, are additionally supplied, in addition to sunscreen and skincare merchandise and a protected. Reserving is just open to friends of every respective resort. Pricing begins at $350, and facilities and providers, like cocktail service to the cabana, range barely by resort. E book by calling 407-939-7529.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort additionally presents a lower-priced possibility that also supplies shade and privateness. Oasis Patios are on the resort’s Oasis leisure pool and accommodate as much as six friends with a devoted shaded spot close to the pool, furnished with cushioned lounge chairs and plush towels. Oasis Patios begin at simply over $100 and can be found first come, first served or by advance reservation by calling 407-939-7529.

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Finest Disney World sizzling tubs

On the peak of summer season in Central Florida, a sizzling tub may not high your listing of how to loosen up in your Walt Disney World trip, however temperatures can actually dip throughout the winter and within the evenings at sure instances of the 12 months. All Reasonable and Deluxe resorts have sizzling tubs, however some rise above the remaining.

One of many prettiest sizzling tubs with the most effective views is on the Lava Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. It has an infinity edge and presents views of Seven Seas Lagoon and even the fireworks over Cinderella Citadel within the evenings. Be warned, this sizzling tub is unquestionably not a well-kept secret — it will probably get fairly crowded, particularly within the evenings.

For extra room, The Dig Website, the expansive pool complicated at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, is residence to Walt Disney World’s largest sizzling tub, accommodating as much as 22 folks.

For a extra secluded soak, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge sizzling tubs are tucked away in spots barely separated from the hustle and bustle of the primary swimming pools.

And if you happen to’re on the lookout for a critical splurge, you may have your personal sizzling tub if you happen to e book one of many Copper Creek cabins.

Finest Disney World splash pads

Children love a water playground, and oldsters love a break from preserving youngsters entertained within the pool. These high water play areas are so good the toughest half for folks could also be getting youngsters to depart.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Located subsequent to the Lava Pool, the Polynesian’s water playground for youths beneath 48 inches is one in every of Walt Disney World’s most elaborate.

Water options all through the multilevel construction embrace spitting tikis, spraying spouts, erupting water geysers, two mini slides and loads of stairs to climb and bridges to cross to maintain youngsters busy. Simply beware when you have youngsters on both aspect of the 48-inch most peak restriction — that is one time older siblings may discover themselves wishing they hadn’t hit that peak marker but.

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

This “Alice in Wonderland”-themed splash pad consists of mini waterslides, sprinklers and water spouts. Overhead, the Mad Hatter’s hat and an enormous teapot periodically fill with water then soak everybody in putting distance. Inside minutes, your youngsters will likely be saying, “We’re all moist right here.”

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Disney’s Riviera Resort

Harking back to Europe’s majestic public fountains, S’il Vous Play is an exquisite “Fantasia”-themed water play space with two waterslides and many interactive water options.

Finest Disney World waterslide

The Luna Park Pool at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is a whimsical homage to the amusement park sights discovered alongside the turn-of-the-century boardwalks in locations like Atlantic Metropolis and Coney Island. The piece de resistance is the 200-foot waterslide, which resembles a basic picket curler coaster. The pool bar, Leaping Horse Libations, appears to be like like a carousel, including to the basic theme park really feel of the pool space.

The large Keister Coaster waterslide was identified for the iconically creepy big clown head at its base. Sadly (for these of us who love the BoardWalk’s quirky theming), the clown was eliminated in 2020 and changed with two-dimensional art work of Mickey and pals.

The slide stays on the high of the listing, although. Though Stormalong Bay’s Flying Jib slide is barely longer, we choose the Keister Coaster for ease of re-riding with out having to depart the pool complicated. For a similar motive, dad and mom will even discover it a lot simpler to keep watch over kiddos right here.

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