The Resorts Gal Guide to Walt Disney World’s Pools
“When can we go to the pool?” I hear this question almost daily when I’m in the parks. A typical response is, “I brought you to Disney World, and you want to hang out at the pool? We can do that anytime!”
But the pool doesn’t sound so bad when it feels like it’s 120 degrees outside, and you’ve already stood in line for five hours to ride two rides. So, if you’re frustrated with the mere mention of ditching the parks for the pool, it’s probably time to go to the pool.
What’s so great about the pool? Relaxation. Okay, your kids are probably not going to relax at the pool. Instead, they will wear themselves out with other children. Meanwhile, you are going to relax. First, you will hit the hot tub and relieve all those overworked muscles. Then you might read that book you brought along. You know, the one that’s been sitting on your nightstand for ages? When was the last time you had time to do nothing? (And enjoyed it?)
Below, we’ve provided a list of every pool at Walt Disney World. Additionally, we answer frequently asked questions about the pools and share tips. If you want to know more about a specific pool, you can browse our pool guides for each resort. They are near the bottom of this guide. Each resort pool guide has photos of the pools, pool hours, amenities, and other need-to-know planning details.
List of Walt Disney World Hotel Pools
Here is a list of each resort with its pools.
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort (Fantasia and Duck Pond Pools)
- Disney’s All-Star Music Resort (Calypso and Piano Pools)
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort (Surfboard Bay and Grand Slam Pool)
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Uzima Springs Pool)
- Disney’s Art of Animation (The Big Blue Pool, Cozy Cone Pool, and Flippin’ Fins Pool)
- Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club (Stormalong Bay, Tidal Pool, Admiral Pool, and Dunes Cove Pool)
- Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Pools (Luna Park Pool, Community Hall Pool, and Leisure Pool)
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (Fuentes del Morro Pool and 5 Leisure Pools)
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort (The Feature Pool, Bay Lake Pool, Bay Cove Pool)
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (The Lost City of Cibola Pool and 3 Leisure Pools)
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort (The Beach Pool and The Courtyard Pool)
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground (The Meadow Swimmin’ Pool and a Quiet Pool)
- Disney’s Kidani Village Pool (The Samawati Springs Pool)
- Disney’s Old Key West (The Sandcastle Pool and Leisure Pools)
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (The Lava and Oasis Pool)
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort (The Hippy Dippy Pool, Bowling Pool, and Computer Pool)
- Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter (The Doubloon Lagoon Pool)
- Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside (Ol’ Man Island Pool and Leisure Pools)
- Disney’s Riviera Resort (Riviera Pool and Beau Soleil Pool)
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort (The Springs Pool, Paddock Pool, and Leisure Pools)
- Disney’s Swan and Dolphin (The Grotto Pool and Leisure Pools)
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (The Copper Creek Springs Pool and Boulder Cove Pool)
FAQs for the Pools at Disney World
Below, we’ll review some of the most frequently asked questions about the pools at Walt Disney World and our experiences. We’ll start with the most commonly asked question!
Are the pools at Walt Disney World heated?
Yes, all the pools at Walt Disney World are heated to 82 degrees. However, even though the pools are heated, they will close during cold weather, which is usually about 55 degrees or lower.
What are the pool hours at Walt Disney World?
That depends on the time of year. The feature pool hours are typically between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. after Labor Day through Memorial Day. Then, after Memorial Day, they are open between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. All feature pools have lifeguards and are attended by staff.
Most quiet or leisure pools, however, are open 24 hours. Some will have posted hours between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Guests can use the quiet pools at their leisure. They do not have lifeguards. (Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter is the only resort without a leisure pool.)
How many pools does each Disney Resort have?
Each resort has at least one feature pool and a secondary leisure pool, except for Port Orleans French Quarter Resort. Some resorts have multiple leisure pools. For instance, Stormalong Bay is shared between the resorts at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club. In addition to Stormalong Bay, the Yacht Club has one leisure pool, and the Beach Club has two.
Related: Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht and Beach
Does Disney World have any indoor pools? Unfortunately, Disney does not have any indoor pools. They are all outdoors.
Can anyone use the resort pools at Disney World?
Guests can only use the pools at their respective resorts. So, if you’re staying at Coronado Springs, you can use any pool there. Unfortunately, guests are not allowed to pool-hop between resorts. You must use your Magic Band or room key to enter most resort pool areas.
What is the largest pool at Walt Disney World?
The Big Blue Pool at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is the largest pool at Disney World, holding 308,527 gallons of water!
Are the pools at Disney World crowded?
Yes, the feature pools at Disney World are usually crowded. However, based on varying factors, there are times when they might not be busy. So, if you were to luck up on a slow afternoon at the pool, enjoy it!
Are kiddie pools available at Disney World?
All Walt Disney World pools have a kiddie pool, splash pad, or aquatic play area. For example, Port Orleans Riverside has a large kiddie pool at Ol’ Man Island.
Many of the resorts have tremendous aquatic play areas. Here’s an example of the water play area at Disney’s Riviera Resort.
Do the pools at Walt Disney World have hot tubs?
The answer to this question depends on your hotel. Value Resorts (Art of Animation, Pop Century, and the All-Stars) do not have hot tubs. However, all moderate, deluxe, and deluxe villa resorts have hot tubs.
Do the Disney World Resorts have water slides?
The answer to this question also depends on your resort. Like the hot tubs, all moderate, deluxe, and deluxe villa resorts have water slides at their feature pool. However, the value resorts do not have water slides.
Related: Disney World Resorts with Water Slides
Are towels available at Disney’s pools?
Yes, all Disney Resorts provide complimentary towels at their pools.
Do the pools at Disney World have life jackets?
Yes, all of the pools at Walt Disney World have a life jacket stand near or around the pool area. Life jackets are complimentary and come in various sizes.
Tips for the Pools
When it comes to spending a day at the pool, there are a few tips we think you should know!
Children’s Activities at the Pool
First, be aware of poolside entertainment your children might enjoy. Every afternoon, recreation cast members visit each resort’s feature pool. They play games, offer trivia, and offer other activities.
Most of these activities are free, and cast members do an excellent job of getting children to participate. However, extra-cost activities are also available at some point in the afternoon. One of the most popular activities is making tie-dye Mickey shirts. If you plan a resort day, you might check the recreation calendar upon arrival to see what’s available.
Movies Under the Stars
Most evenings, you can participate in “Movies Under the Stars” at each of Disney’s Resorts. With a few exceptions, these movies are often available near the pools. You might plan an entire resort day where you spend the day at the pool and finish the evening with a movie by the pool. Hopefully, Disney will provide a little popcorn or a few marshmallows to toast!
*The movie schedule for the week of your stay will be listed on the resort’s recreation calendar, which is usually posted at several locations around the resort.
Cabanas
Are you looking to splurge? Select Walt Disney World Hotels have cabanas available for rent. However, these cabanas need to be reserved in advance. At this time, guests can reserve cabanas 60 days before their vacation. We rented a cabana at Disney’s Beach Club and enjoyed it immensely. While expensive, we felt there were many scenarios where guests could benefit from this extra-cost amenity.
Related: Renting a Poolside Cabana at Disney World
Check-in and Check-Out Days
While your room might not be ready upon arrival, the resort’s pool is waiting! You can use the resort pool as soon as you arrive. So, if you expect extra time to kill on your arrival day, why not pack a swimsuit in your carry-on? Each resort’s feature pool has restrooms with a shower and a place to change.
You will also have access to the resort’s pool on the day of checkout. So instead of spending half your day sitting in the lobby, or worse, the airport, spend some time at the pool. You can use the restrooms at the pool to shower and change before you leave.
*Most showers in the pool restrooms have toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, and soap. Hair dryers are also usually available.
Disney Resort Pool Photo Gallery
Below, we’ve added pictures of the feature pool at every Walt Disney World Resort. You can select any photo to enlarge it.
Resorts Gal Pool Guides for Every Disney Resort Hotel
If you want more information about any of the pools we’ve discussed, you can check out the pool guide specific to that resort. We’ve photographed every hotel pool during our stays.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, these tips answered some of your questions about the pools at Walt Disney World. We love to spend the day at the pool. More often than not, those days end up being our favorites. Maybe they will be for you too.
For more information about the resorts at Walt Disney World, you might enjoy our list of Disney World Resort Reviews. Or try these other articles:
- How to Create a Budget for Your Walt Disney World Vacation
- Benefits of Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort
- Disney World’s Resort Hotel Refurbishment Schedule
- The Best Disney Resort Quick Service Restaurants
You might also enjoy our guide to ranking the top 10 Pools at Disney World.
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