By During an extended vacation, you’ll probably want to take a dip in the pool. Since Disney doesn’t currently allow Pool Hopping, the practice of taking a dip at a pool where you’re not staying, you’ll only swim at the hotel where you’re staying.
So, the quality of the pool could factor into your hotel decision. Keeping that in mind, here are what we consider to be the best pools at Walt Disney World.
The Big Blue Pool
We’re listing these alphabetically but also by tier. That’s why we’re starting with a Value Tier pool that is legitimately among the best in Orlando.
The Big Blue Pool at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is almost incomprehensibly large, covering nearly 12,000 square feet of space and holding more than 300,000 gallons of water.
Even better, the Finding Nemo theme will charm kids and their parents alike. We love the zero-entry features, while parents will appreciate that this pool isn’t that deep. It has a maximum depth of 4’9”, which should make everyone feel safe.
The Hippy Dippy Pool
You can swim at our other favorite pool in the Value Tier when you stay at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Disney describes it as having a “lazy 1960’s attitude,” which works for us.
Hey, Flower Power remains fun to this day, which is why we admire the theming of this particular pool. It’s also spacious, holding more than 235,000 gallons of water.
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, many Disney World hotels can comfortably host dozens of swimmers simultaneously. That’s particularly true at the Value Tier properties which tend to have more hotel guests.
The Doubloon Lagoon Pool
Now, we’ve moved up to the Moderate Tier of Disney World resorts. You’re in for a treat, as all three of the pools we’re mentioning rival all but the best pool in the Deluxe Tier.
You’re getting tremendous value when you swim at places like the Doubloon Lagoon Pool, our favorite in this tier. We say this because we visit Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter frequently.
While we’re at the hotel, we almost always spend a few hours at this pool, which features a massive sea serpent. Its name is Scales – seriously! – and it’s 51 feet long. Kids love circling Scales while they play.
Meanwhile, we like that there’s a pool bar with decent snacks right by Doubloon Lagoon.
Speaking of which, we won’t mention it elsewhere, but pretty much all of the pools we’re discussing today have nearby pool bars. When you’re on vacation, pool bars are your best friend. Most of Disney’s pools sell food that works great for lunch, too.
The Fuentes Del Morro Pool
Disney takes pool theming to the next level, as this and the next one will prove. At Fuentes Del Morro, Imagineers have recreated a Spanish fortress. Yes, a Spanish Fortress!
Disney even added cannons to perfect the effect. Obviously, they’re water cannons, but that makes them even better. Parents should probably keep one eye open around Junior, though.
The theming of this pool takes our breath away, with Imagineers even going so far as to make the fortress look battle-worn. This place has seen some stuff. That little bit of deterioration makes all the difference in creating a more immersive experience.
Also, this area is one of many at Disney World where you’ll find a water play area near the pool. Kids will love finding all the interactive water elements near this pool at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
The Lost City of Cibola Pool
Somehow, an entire Spanish fortress isn’t even the most impressive architectural feat for a Value Tier pool. No, you’ll find an even more remarkable one at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
Disney built an entire abandoned pyramid just for this pool! The concept here involves a dig site surrounding Mayan ruins. The central structure is a 50-foot-tall pyramid above the archaeological work.
While swimming or sunbathing, you can admire the detail of this pyramid. While you cannot climb on it for obvious reasons, you can ride on the nearby 123-foot waterslide.
Disney owns and operates several stunningly detailed pools. Even by those standards, we view The Lost City of Cibola as the most ambitious pool in Orlando. It’s truly stunning.
The Bay Cove Pool
Now we’ve entered the Deluxe Tier of pools, one of which towers above the rest. Still, we have other favorites in this category before we get to the obvious one.
We’ll start with one of the pools where we’ve swum the most. It’s the Bay Cove Pool at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
In all honesty, you won’t notice anything fancy about this pool. Sure, it’s shaped like Mickey Mouse, and the circular, looping waterslide is amazing.
However, most people would describe it as what it is: just a good, solid hotel pool with some Disney touches. The Bay Lake backdrop makes it a bit more serene, and we’re addicted to that waterslide.
The Lava Pool
On the other hand, the Lava Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is definitely a showstopper. Disney has themed it to look like a volcano.
We’ve never been clear on whether this particular volcano is active or dormant, but who cares? David’s always been a sucker for pools with waterfalls, and the Lava Pool has one.
Also, during the day, the pool looks ashen, but it comes alive at night due to some clever lighting. We love walking on the beach here and admiring the view of the pool.
Speaking of which, you can see this pool while walking to most of the longhouses, as all roads seem to lead to it. So, you’ll notice the Lava Pool long before you swim here.
This is another pool with a terrific children’s play area, too. There are bridges here that kids love to climb.
The Riviera Pool
Here’s one of our new favorites, as Disney’s Riviera Resort opened in 2019. Hotel guests immediately noticed that a disproportionate number of rooms faced the hotel’s main pool.
That’s not accidental, as Imagineers modeled the design after the many hotels on the French and Spanish Riviera. Their rooms tend to face the Mediterranean Sea as well as the hotel pools.
So, Disney followed suit at the Riviera, and it’s sublime. Seriously, we think David’s brother’s family would live here if they could. They visit the Riviera Pool whenever possible.
We feel the same way about it, as we treasure every second we spend at this hotel. The lobby, the play area, and the pool here are next-level phenomenal.
Also, there’s a water play area here cleverly named S’il Vous Play. We do NOT act our age here, as we’re not above bombing each other with water cannon attacks.
The Uzima Springs Pool
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a bit unusual compared to other Disney hotels. It’s really a two-fer, with distinct areas: Kidani Village and Jambo House.
Kidani Village features a terrific pool, Samawati Springs, which is nearly as good. Still, we prefer the Uzima Springs Pool at Jambo House due to its backdrop.
This pool faces the Uzima Savanna, a place where animals live their lives. While you cannot see the animals from the pool, at least not that we’ve ever noticed, it won’t matter.
You’ll still feel at one with nature while you swim here. It’s a picturesque scene, and the African hut theming accentuates the vibe.
This is one of the most tranquil spots at Disney World. Okay, it would be if not for the fact that the pool area is LOUD due to plenty of rambunctious children and their amused parents.
We swear that’s a good thing, as the energy at Uzima Springs will lift you up and reinforce the joy of being at Disney.
…and Stormalong Bay
Not all pools are created equal. Stormalong Bay is to Disney pools as Godzilla is to other lizards. We are talking ultimate behemoth territory.
In truth, we often describe Stormalong Bay as a mini-water park because that’s what it is. Seriously, have you ever swum at a three-acre hotel pool? Well, you can at Disney World!
You must be a guest at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort or Disney’s Beach Club Resort to enter the pool area here. While Pool Hopping isn’t currently allowed at Disney, not every resort enforces it.
You’ll feel like you just tried to rob a bank if you attempt to enter Stormalong Bay without the proper authorization. Security is that tight here, as Disney wants to keep this experience special.
Why does Disney lock it down? Well, Stormalong Bay provides many of the joys of your own local water park, only better because it’s Disney.
You’ll swim in sand-bottom pools, making you feel like you’re really at the beach. However, you’ll enjoy all the luxuries of a water park, straight down to a lazy river.
Yes, the main pool area features a recently redesigned lazy river. How great is it? David often begs Kim to stay here just so that he can float on the lazy river for an hour each day. This is NOT a joke. David is a lazy river addict.
Kim agrees because she loves the style here. Imagineers went so far as to build an actual shipwreck here just to complete the beachy theme.
Even by Disney’s lofty standards, Stormalong Bay is special. While other Disney World hotel pools are magnificent, there’s just one we believe should make you reconsider which hotel to choose.
We’re not talking theoretically. We’ve done this. The belief runs in the family as well. As we type this, David’s brother’s family is staying at Beach Club primarily for Stormalong Bay. It’s that good.
Feature Image: Disney