The best pools at Walt Disney World

Ask a returning family about their trip to Walt Disney World, and you might hear the common refrain: "My kids just wanted to swim in the pool the whole time!"

It's tough to top the nostalgic appeal of classic rides like Peter Pan's Flight and the high-speed thrills of coasters like Tron Lightcycle / Run, but the kids are onto something.

Tucked away from the bustling parks are some of the best themed and most immersive pools you'll find anywhere. Walt Disney World's resort pools aren't just a place to cool off; they offer an experience that, for some, can rival the theme parks themselves.

Plus, only hotel guests can access the pools. If you know your itinerary will include some serious pool time, this guide to the best pools at Walt Disney World will help you choose the best Disney hotel for your vacation.

Related: Tips for visiting Disney World: 17 ways to save money and have more fun

What to know about the Walt Disney World pools

Every Walt Disney World hotel has at least one pool, with most of the larger resorts offering three or more.

Each resort's main pool, known as the feature pool, will be the most elaborate, with increasingly impressive theming and features as you go up the pricing ladder across Disney's three hotel tiers: Value, Moderate and Deluxe.

The feature pool will also have a pool bar and quick-service food options nearby. At each Moderate and Deluxe resort, you'll also find a waterslide, hot tubs and kids splash areas. Value resorts have large feature pools but no waterslides or hot tubs.

Daily recreation activities occur at the feature pool, typically in the afternoons. Recreation hosts will lead games for kids, sometimes with small take-home trinkets as prizes, and there is Disney trivia that everyone can join in on.

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The feature pool is also where you'll find the biggest crowds and the most noise. So, if you prefer to lounge quietly with a good book, you may want to seek out a leisure pool, sometimes called a "quiet" pool.

Walt Disney World pools are heated to 82 degrees year-round, and complimentary towels and life jackets are available at all pools. Lifeguard availability and pool hours vary by pool.

Best Disney World pool at a Value resort

Disney's Art of Animation Resort is home to the best Disney World pool at a Value resort. However, rooms here are consistently the most expensive in the Value tier, so there is a trade-off.

The "Finding Nemo"-inspired Big Blue Pool is the largest hotel pool at Walt Disney World. It features a zero-depth entry area and giant, colorful characters from the film.

Next to the Big Blue Pool, Schoolyard Sprayground is a spacious splash zone surrounded by more of Nemo's friends. When hunger strikes, the Drop Off Pool Bar serves simple sandwiches, soft pretzels and frozen treats. The resort's food court is a short walk away and offers a more extensive selection.

For a quieter pool nearby, head to the Cozy Cone Pool in the "Cars"-themed area of the resort. This pool features life-size models of favorite "Cars" characters and Cozy Cone cabanas (first come, first served) that provide shade on a sunny day. Fans of Disney's "The Little Mermaid" may want to head to the resort's third pool, the Flippin' Fins Pool.

Best Disney World pool at a Moderate resort

Aspiring swashbucklers can live out their pirate dreams at the Fuentes del Morro Pool at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, our pick for the best pool at a Moderate resort. Designed to transport guests to a colonial Spanish fortress, this zero-entry pool has two waterslides, with the biggest stretching 102 feet, and huge water cannons that give major "Pirates of the Caribbean" vibes.

Kids 48 inches or shorter can get extra pirate play at the Fuentes del Morro Water Play Area, a kids splash area with a pirate ship and miniature slides. A 12-person hot tub offers plenty of room for relaxation, as do the resort's five additional leisure pools.

Related: This is Disney World's most budget-friendly hotel for large families

The pool is right across from Banana Cabana, the pool bar and lounge serving specialty frozen tropical drinks and Caribbean-inspired fare like coconut shrimp and jerk chicken wings. Centertown Market, the resort's main quick-service location, is right next door for even more dining options.

Best Disney World pool at a Deluxe resort

The runaway favorite pool across Walt Disney World, Stormalong Bay at Disney's Yacht Club Resort and Disney's Beach Club Resort, is more like a miniature water park.

Spanning 3 acres, the complex features several pool areas, including a sand-bottomed pool, a 230-foot-long shipwreck-themed waterslide, a lazy river, three hot tubs and a sandbar where kids can play. The small Shipwreck Pool at the entry point of the waterslide also has a smaller waterslide for younger kids.

The pool complex is also surrounded by top-notch dining options available to enjoy poolside. The pool bar, Hurricane Hanna's, serves a reliable lineup of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and frozen drinks, but there are also numerous dining options nearby that serve food to go, including Ale & Compass Restaurant and the Yacht Club's and Beach Club's quick-service locations, each with different menus.

For a fun table-service lunch or dinner break from the pool, make a reservation at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. This old-fashioned diner serves a menu of classics like burgers and fries, chili-cheese tots, malted milkshakes and monstrous sundaes.

Know before you go: Stormalong Bay and the Shipwreck Pool will be closed from January through June 2025 for routine maintenance. Guests are advised to use the resort's three leisure pools during this time, so avoid visiting during these months if you want to enjoy Stormalong Bay.

Best Disney World pool for families

Many of Walt Disney World's resorts are destination-worthy even without the addition of the nearby theme parks, perhaps none more so than Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.

More than 200 animals, including zebras and giraffes, roam numerous savannas surrounding the resort. The Africa-themed resort is also home to two fantastic feature pools, one at each of the resort's two sections, Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas — Jambo House and Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas — Kidani Village.

The 11,000-square-foot Uzima Springs Pool at Jambo House features a zero-depth entry and a 67-foot-long waterslide. There are also a wading pool for kids and two hot tubs. The resort's main quick-service dining location, The Mara, is just steps from the pool gate, and the Uzima Pool Bar is a full bar serving cocktails, beers, frozen drinks and more.

Uzima Springs is an excellent pool, but Kidani Village's Samawati Springs Pool makes this resort our pick for the best pool for families.

The 4,700-square-foot pool offers something for everybody. It has a zero-depth entry point, two hot tubs for relaxing and one of Disney World's most thrilling hotel waterslides at 128 feet long. A second, much smaller waterslide lets young kids in on the slide fun, too.

Another big draw for younger kids here is the Uwanja Camp water playground. Themed after an animal observation site, the play area includes three splash zones with features like cannons and spitting cartoonish snakes, and spots to climb and slide.

Best Disney World pool for adults

The many leisure pools at Walt Disney World resorts offer great alternatives for adults looking to escape the noise and splashes of a chaotic feature pool. However, some can be somewhat secluded and out of the way of dining options. If you want a relaxing pool experience but don't want to be too far from the action, we have our pick for the best pool for adults.

Our top choice is the Beau Soleil Pool at Disney's Riviera Resort. This leisure pool feels quiet and secluded once you pass through the gates, but it's also right next to the resort's beautiful activity lawn and steps from the Bar Riva pool bar and the Primo Piatto quick-service restaurant.

Bar Riva is one of the most beautiful open-air lounges at Walt Disney World and offers an elegant spot to take a break from the pool for Mediterranean fare and drinks. We recommend the mushroom arancini and a glass of Provence frose.

This pool is close enough to the resort's main pool that you won't find as many kids wandering over as you might at other resorts.

Best Disney World pool splurge

For the most luxurious poolside experience, private poolside cabanas are available for daily rental at four of Walt Disney World's Deluxe resorts: Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney's Yacht Club and Beach Club resorts.

These private, shaded spaces accommodate up to six guests and come equipped with plush furniture, ceiling fans and varying entertainment options like Bluetooth speakers, TVs and charging stations.

Complimentary refreshments, including fresh fruit, soda and water, are also provided, as well as sunscreen, skin care products and a safe. Booking is only open to guests of each respective resort. Pricing starts at $350, and amenities like cocktail service to the cabana vary slightly by resort. Book by calling 407-939-7529.

Disney's Polynesian Village Resort also offers a lower-priced option that provides shade and privacy. Oasis Patios are at the resort's Oasis leisure pool and accommodate up to six guests with a dedicated shaded spot near the pool, furnished with cushioned lounge chairs and plush towels. Oasis Patios start at just over $100 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis or by calling 407-939-7529 to reserve one in advance.

Best Disney World hot tub

At the height of summer in Central Florida, a hot tub might not top your list of ways to relax on your Walt Disney World vacation, but temperatures can dip during the winter and in the evenings at certain times of the year. All Moderate and Deluxe resorts have hot tubs, but some rise above the rest.

One of the prettiest hot tubs with the best views is at the Lava Pool at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. It has an infinity edge and offers views of Seven Seas Lagoon and even the fireworks over Cinderella Castle in the evenings. Be warned, this hot tub is not a well-kept secret — it can get quite crowded, especially in the evenings.

And if you're looking for a serious splurge, you can have your own hot tub if you book one of the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge.

Best Disney World splash pad

Kids love a water playground, and parents love a break from keeping kids entertained in the pool. But of all the top water play areas, the one at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort is so good that parents may struggle to get kids to leave.

Situated next to the Lava Pool, the Polynesian's water playground for kids under 48 inches is one of the most elaborate at Walt Disney World.

Water features throughout the multilevel structure include spitting tikis, spraying spouts, erupting water geysers, two miniature slides, and plenty of stairs to climb and bridges to cross to keep kids busy.

Best Disney World waterslide

The Luna Park Pool at Disney's BoardWalk Villas and Disney's BoardWalk Inn is a whimsical homage to the amusement park attractions found along the turn-of-the-century boardwalks in places like Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Coney Island, New York. The piece de resistance is the 200-foot waterslide, which resembles a classic wooden roller coaster. The pool bar, Leaping Horse Libations, looks like a carousel, adding to the classic theme park feel of the pool area.

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