My Favorite Pools at Every Price Range Hotel in Walt Disney World

Picking the right hotel can be a challenge and most often guests really want to know one thing: how awesome is the pool? When traveling to Walt Disney World and staying on-site the pool choices are fairly scattered in style between the value, moderate, and deluxe hotels.

I have stayed at every price range hotel at Walt Disney World including the most expensive resort on property along with the cheapest.

Based on my experiences staying at Walt Disney World, here are the best pools in every price range at Walt Disney World!

Big Blue Pool at Art of Animation Resort

When it comes to finding a pool that best serves the need of children, the Art of Animation hotel at the Walt Disney World resort will check off most boxes. The Big Blue Pool is located by the Finding Nemo suites and offers larger than life characters decorating the pool.

The Art of Animation hotel also has another Cars Land themed pool over by the Cars suites that is also a guest favorite with its cozy cone cabanas and quieter atmosphere. This is one of the largest pools at Walt Disney World with this zero-entry pool containing over 308,527 gallons!

However, since this is a value resort pool, you won't find any water slides or hot tubs at this pool but this is a huge pool for one of the affordable hotels on property.

All Star Pools Feature Fun Centerpieces

All the pools at Walt Disney World offer different fun qualities in their own way even the most afford value resorts like All Star Music or All Star Movies. The feature pools are all large and with the All Star Music's in the shape of a guitar with a centerpiece of the Three Caballeros which shoots water at the swimmers.

Over at All Star Movies the centerpiece is featured around Fantasia with a large Sorcerer Mickey fountain. While these pools don't offer waterslides or hot tubs, they aren't to be overlooked as Disney still puts considerable efforts into the themes.

Hippy Dippy Pool at Pop Century Resort

Pop Century Resort is one of our favorite value resorts at Walt Disney World because of its cute theme, affordability and Skyliner access. But the pool itself is also one of the best Walt Disney World pools with its bright, colorful theming and size.

One of the best perks of Pop Century Resort is how small the resort is in comparison to other resorts which means most hotel rooms will have easy access to the pool area. Even better if you pick a preferred pool view room, you room will be right within just a few steps of the pool which makes for such easy, convenient access to swimming on midday breaks.

Similar to the previous pool, there are no slides or hot tubes but the atmosphere and convenient location of this pool is really what makes it stand out.

Fuentes del Morro Pool at Caribbean Beach Resort

This moderate level hotel pool at Caribbean Beach Resort is themed like a colonial Spanish fortress providing zero entry access and interactive features. The pool offers two different waterslides with one measuring 102 feet long along with “man-of-war-cannons” that spray water.

The theming of this pool is a hit for kids and the pool area is conveniently located right next to the main hotel hall with easy access to all the restaurants and shops. This pool also offers a 12-person hot tub which is a great size for adults to take advantage of while their kids swim.

The only downside to this pool, and perhaps the entire resort, is how spread out Caribbean Beach Resort is. If your room is not a preferred room, you will have a long walk to and from the pool which makes upgrading to a preferred room really worth the cost if you want to use the pool often.

Dig Site Pool at Coronado Springs Resort

The Mayan theme of the Coronado Springs Resort offers a nice blend of theming for adults and for kids. The Dig Site Pool features a 50ft replica of a Mayan pyramid where you can find the 123-foot long jaguar themed water slide. This pool features the largest hot tub out of the on site hotels which can hold up to 22 people. There is a nearby playground and sand area for children to enjoy in addition to the pool.

This is one of the largest moderate pools at Walt Disney World and is a favorite amongst many guests due to the great theming! It's also well-known for its giant hot tub which is a great perk as the hot tubs are often so popular with guests.

As with most moderate resorts, Coronado Springs Resort is spread out and if you are staying in the newer Tower you will find yourself at a considerable distance from the pool. This is something to keep in mind when you book your stay and pick your room types.

Lava Pool at Polynesian Village Resort

This pool is the perfect blend for families and adults alike at the Polynesian Resort. This tropical theme features a fantastic splash pad for kids, a waterfall, and a volcano with a built in 142-foot water slide that goes into the large pool. The theme of the pool area falls into place with the Polynesian Resort theme of a tropical oasis and this pool is a popular favorite amongst guests that are looking for that tropical getaway.

Another great bonus of this pool is the easy access to both spiked and regular Dole Whips at the nearby Tiki Terrace along with the view of fireworks going off at Magic Kingdom at night! But with all these parks comes additional costs as the Polynesian Resort is a deluxe category hotel at Walt Disney World meaning its one of the most expensive.

Luna Park Pool at Boardwalk Inn

The Luna Park Pool used to be known for it's terrifying clown face at the end of the slide but that has been removed and replaced with much more aesthetically pleasing designs. This 200-foot waterslide is one of the bigger slides at the deluxe resort at this pool inspired by 1920s amusement park at the Boardwalk Inn.

The pool bar, Leaping Horse Libations, is located nearby and features a fun carousel theme. This pool offers a nice summer atmosphere that is based on a seaside amusement park.

Uzima Springs Pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Uzima Springs Pool is a 11,000 square foot tropical pool facing the Uzima Savanna at Animal Kingdom Lodge. The pool is surrounded by large canopy trees and Floridian palms with a zero-depthy entry point and a 67-foot waterslide.

While the waterslide is a bit on the smaller end compared to other slides at the deluxe hotels, the atmosphere of the Uzima Springs Pool makes it one of our favorites. The Mara is also a great food court that is located just steps away from the pool area.

Animal Kingdom Pool Unique Atmosphere

Animal Kingdom Lodge is unique because of the close up views of the animals that live on the savanna. The pool area itself even features a flamingo habitat nearby that you can go see straight from the pool area. If your family loves animals, this pool is a great choice for its unique atmosphere.

Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort

Stormalong Bay is often called the best pool at Walt Disney World because it closely resembles a small water park in a sense. This beach themed pool is 3 acres large and is shared between the Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts.

Kids can enjoy a life-sized shipwreck replica and a 230-foot long water slide which is one of the highest hotel slides in Walt Disney World. There is a lazy river, three whirlpool spas, and an elevated tanning deck. This sand bottom pool offers a gentle slope, sandy beach area, and a smaller pool with a mini water slide for smaller children.

If you are looking for a pool that has plenty of activities and entertainment, especially for kids, Stormalong Bay is easily the best one at Walt Disney World! It's close proximity to the Beaches and Cream icecream shop is also a great perk.

Beach Pool at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Beach Pool is a 111,261-gallon pool overlooking Seven Seas Lagoon with a nearby water play area for kids to enjoy. The pool features a 181-foot long waterslide in this natural spring setting with waterfalls and zero depth entry to mimic the atmosphere of a beach.

Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the most expensive resort at Walt Disney World and while the pool is nice, it doesn't necessarily always compare to some of the other options at deluxe resorts like Stormalong Bay. However, the proximity of Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom allows for firework viewing at night and a great view of the Electrical Water Pageant Parade.

Watch the Fireworks from Grand Floridian Pool

One of the best parts of the Grand Floridian is that you can view the fireworks from the hotel which allows for a great nighttime swim that is combined with a view of the fireworks. That close proximity to Magic Kingdom definitely pays off when you utilize the pools in the evening like the Serene Pool which offers a view of the fireworks you can enjoy right from the ater.

What Walt Disney World Pool is the Best?

So after all these options, and this is really just a slice of all the hotels, which should you pick? I think it comes down to the price you're willing to pay for an on-site hotel and what age group you are traveling with. Only deluxe and moderate hotels offer waterslides and hot tubs while both of these options aren't offered at value hotels.

Each pool serves a different need as well with Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort serving those that are looking for a pool the size of a water park. For guests that might care most about Disney themes, the value resort pools are going to cater most directly to those designs. The moderate and deluxe hotels vary greatly in terms of the size of water slides and what theme options are offered. Do you want to see fireworks from the pool? Consider a resort near Magic Kingdom like Grand Floridian Resort & Spa or the Polynesian Resort. Interested in being able to view animals close by? The Animal Kingdom Lodge is a good choice.

One of the best things about the Walt Disney World resort options is how much effort goes into all their pool designs and isn't something just limited to their most expensive resorts.

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