Which Resort Has the Best Pool at Disney World? (and 10 Other…

In this article, we preview which resort has the best pool at Walt Disney World. Additionally, we rank the top 10 best pools among the resorts.

Some of the fondest Disney vacation memories are resort days spent at the pool. However, considering so many of the Walt Disney World Resorts have extraordinary pool areas, it can be difficult to choose one.

For some, a day spent poolside is the true meaning of relaxation. If that’s the case, you’ll want to consider somewhere with multiple resort pools. That way, if the feature pool is loud or crowded, you can escape to one of the quieter leisure pools.

Others might want to hang out at a pool with all the action! Your tweens and teens are probably going to want the whole pool experience. So you might consider a hotel with a pool that entertains. Extra points if there are other recreation options or an arcade nearby, right?

Below, we rank the best pools at Disney World Resort Hotels. We’ll discuss what features each pool has that make it worthy of ranking in the top ten. I’ll also throw in a few honorable mentions.

Some factors considered in our rankings include the pool, surrounding views, amenities, and children’s play areas. Also, we’ve taken pool bars and nearby dining options into account.

So find a comfortable spot (preferably in the sunshine) because we’re off to pick the resort with the perfect pool for your upcoming vacation.

Top 10 Best Pools at Disney World

Here are our rankings for the best pools at Disney World. These pools are ranked in order from our last to the first choice for pools in the top ten.

However, none of these pools are the worst! On the contrary, they are all excellent options.

Unfortunately, none of Disney’s value resorts make the list, except for one honorable mention we’ll discuss further below. Value resorts don’t have the same amenities at the pool as the higher-category resorts.

So each of these choices is located at either a moderate resort, a deluxe resort, or a deluxe villa resort.

The Feature Pool at Disney’s Contemporary
Uzima Springs Pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge
Luna Park Pool at Disney’s Boardwalk
Beach Pool at the Grand Floridian
The Lava Pool at Disney’s Polynesian
The Riviera Pool at Disney’s Riviera Resort
The Lost City of Cibola Pool at Coronado Springs
Fuentes del Morro Pool at Caribbean Beach
The Grotto Pool at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin
Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club

We also have a few honorable mentions:

The Big Blue Pool at Art of Animation
Doubloon Lagoon Pool at Port Orleans French Quarter
Samawati Springs Pool at Kidani Village

#10 The “Feature Pool” at the Contemporary

The Feature Pool at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is our last choice for the best pools at Walt Disney World. No, you’re not doing a double-take!

This pool is called the “feature pool.” This pool makes our list for one reason alone–it offers fantastic views of nearby Bay Lake in the distance.

Directly behind the Feature Pool, there’s a white sand beach with loungers facing out to the lake. It’s the perfect spot to relax if the pool gets crowded. There’s also a volleyball court in this area with a monorail on the netting.

Disney’s Contemporary is also home to a stunning quiet pool that gives the illusion that it’s floating over the lake.

One of the great things about this pool area is that everything is conveniently located in the resort’s large backyard. You won’t have to trek to a separate area to find the quiet pool.

Also, kids old enough can easily enjoy the activities in the surrounding area without being too far out of sight. You’ll find there’s plenty to do here.

Contemporary’s main pool has a 17′ foot water slide, two whirlpool spas, tabletop tennis games, and a separate children’s splash play area.

Unfortunately, the pool bar doesn’t have a variety of food offerings. You can find basics like burgers, hot dogs, and nachos. But you’ll have to trek through the lobby and head upstairs to Contempo Cafe to find a more extensive selection of quick service items.

#9 Uzima Springs Pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Next on our list of best Disney pools is the Uzima Springs Pool at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This pool is located at Jambo House, the main portion of the resort.

If you’ve stayed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge before, you already know how unique the resort is in its entirety. Where else can you wake up to views of animals grazing on the savanna below?

Like the rest of the resort, the Uzima Springs Pool is perhaps one of the most serene pool areas property-wide. One side of the pool is zero-entry, and a separate kiddie pool is nearby.

Jambo House’s pool features a gentle 67-foot-long water slide. This slide is extremely kid-friendly because there isn’t much height involved. However, the length of the slide still makes it a fun ride.

In addition to the slide and children’s wading pool, there’s a large playground with cork flooring in the vicinity of the pool area. This entire area is exceptionally child-friendly.

If a resort could get my vote for the best spa area, it would be a toss-up between Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Polynesian.

Below is one of the two whirlpool spas surrounded by luscious landscaping. It feels like a tropical oasis. Trust me, after a long day in the park, you’ll need a place to relax those aching muscles.

But perhaps the best part of the Uzima Springs Pool is that there are savannas only a few steps away. You can take a break from the pool anytime you like and only have to walk a few steps away to see if there’s a zebra or a giraffe grazing.

Secondly, the food options are good at the Uzima Springs Pool Bar and The Mara. You can read more about the dining options at the resort in our Animal Kingdom Lodge Restaurant Guide.

Related: Animal Kingdom Lodge Review

#8 Luna Park Pool at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn

Luna Park Pool is our next choice for the best Disney World pools. This is the pool at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn. Parents, children love this pool, and there’s a reason!

That reason? Boardwalk’s pool has a water slide (200′ feet long) that is built to look like an old-fashioned wooden roller coaster. When your kids see this, they’ll want to go to the pool daily.

While the slide does involve climbing a bit of a staircase, the entire area is child-friendly. In addition, you’ll find a kiddie pool, playground, and pool bar within the enclosed feature pool area.

Unfortunately, this pool isn’t ranked higher because there aren’t many decent counter-service dining options nearby. There are a few things at Leaping Horse Libations, the pool bar.

But for the most part, you’ll have to walk over to the new Boardwalk Deli, where they have a variety of sandwiches, pastries, and treats.

Related: Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Review

#7 Beach Pool at the Grand Floridian

We’re headed to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa for our next best pool option. We can probably all agree that it’s one of the prettiest pools at Disney World.

Grand Floridian’s Beach Pool has a water slide, waterfall, and zero-entry pool area. Outside the pool area, there’s a stunning white sand beach overlooking Seven Seas Lagoon. You can see Cinderella Castle and Magic Kingdom in the distance from the pool area.

Next to the pool, there’s an Alice in Wonderland-themed aquatic play area for children.

When it comes to dining options, Beaches Bar and Grill is available at the pool. They usually have a decent variety of items.

Or you can walk over to Gasparilla Island Grill for a larger variety. Since they offer mobile orders, you can order your food and then pick it up.

#6 The Lava Pool at Disney’s Polynesian

You probably thought Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort would be in the top five best Disney Resort pools, didn’t you? It would be if it weren’t for a newer resort and a bit of a surprise for our number two choice.

That said, there are no complaints about the pool at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Well, except that Poly’s pool will probably be more crowded than you or I would like.

Don’t get me wrong, all of the pools can get crowded. But with the volcano taking up one side of the pool, it’s a little awkward to get around.

However, the Lava pool has a 142-foot water slide that travels under a footbridge. In addition to the slide, there’s a zero-entry area and a waterfall feature that runs off the volcano into the pool.

Polynesian’s Lava Pool has one of the best whirlpool spas at Disney World. This sizable spa sits toward the back of the pool. It has an infinity edge that faces out toward Cinderella Castle.

Children love this pool because it has a tremendous water play area. It’s located toward the front of the pool area.

As for dining options, Barefoot Pool Bar has plenty of options. Additionally, Captain Cook’s, the resort’s quick service, is only a few steps away from the pool. We consider it one of the best quick services at Disney World.

# 5 The Riviera Pool at Disney’s Riviera Resort

For many reasons, the Riviera Pool at Disney’s Riviera Resort has landed a spot on our list of the best Disney World hotel pools. Those reasons include efficiency, nearby food options, and pleasant views.

Riviera’s pool has a unique layout with a zero-entry area on the far end of the pool.

In addition, the Riviera Pool has a large tower water slide with a spiral staircase.

Plenty of loungers and casual tables with chairs surround the pool area. It’s a more-than-pleasant place to spend the day.

While the Riviera Pool has a sophistication to it, the pool also has one of the best aquatic play areas for children. It’s too cute and has a twisty slide that mimics the larger one in the main pool.

Lastly, the restaurants at Disney’s Riviera are worth mentioning. If you’re spending the day at the pool, both Primo Piatto and Bar Riva are only a few steps away. You can’t go wrong at either!

Related: Disney’s Riviera Resort Review

#4 The Lost City of Cibola Pool at Coronado Springs

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is home to our fourth choice for the best pool with The Lost City of Cibola Pool. This pool sits in the center of the resort’s large recreation area, The Dig Site.

This pool sits at the base of a 50-foot pyramid which serves as a backdrop for the entire area. Additionally, this faux Mayan pyramid has a 123-foot-long waterslide.

Here are the steps that lead up to the Jaguar slide.

Disney’s largest hot tub sits toward the front of the pool area.

Overall, the Dig Site is one of the most kid-friendly pool areas. In addition to the pool, there’s an arcade, playground, volleyball court, and kiddie pool, all within the immediate area.

Siesta’s, the pool bar at Coronado Springs, is also a bit of a hidden gem. They usually have anything from fish tacos to burgers and fries. You can read more about this location in our Coronado Springs Restaurants Guide.

#3 Fuentes del Morro Pool at Caribbean Beach Resort

Coming in at the number three spot on our list of the best pools at Disney World is the Fuentes del Morro pool at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. We have to give this pool credit because it has two water slides!

That’s also the primary reason it has a slight edge over the pools at Coronado Springs. Caribbean Beach’s main slide is 102 feet long, while the other is slightly less adventurous.

Besides, who doesn’t like a pirate-themed pool area with water cannons and a spa tub that seats up to 12 guests?

Related: The Pools at Caribbean Beach

Toward the back of the pool, you’ll find a separate children’s shipwreck play area.

Banana Cabana is the pool’s dedicated bar area that offers a counter-service menu. But Centertown Market, the resort’s primary quick service, is only a few steps away with a greater variety of offerings. You can read more about those options in our Caribbean Beach Restaurant Guide.

Overall, this pool is tons of fun and worthy of a spot near the top of the best hotel pools at Disney!

#2 The Grotto Pool at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin

While Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort are not owned and operated by Disney, the resorts still make up part of the Epcot Resorts Area. We’ve spent many a day at the Grotto Pool and can assure you it’s worthy of a high ranking on this list of top pools at Disney World.

Like its name, the Grotto Pool has an alluring grotto tucked behind a waterfall. If you prefer the coolest place to sit on a hot summer day, you’ll want to snag a spot underneath the waterfall feature!

Trust me, chairs in this area are difficult to find before 5:00 p.m.

Unfortunately, given the immense size of this pool area, it’s difficult to describe. The Grotto Pool is like one pool after another that goes on and on for a reasonable length.

Several bridges cross the pool, so guests can quickly get from one side to the other. Additionally, there’s a volleyball area, sports court, children’s pool, and whirlpool tubs.

White sand beaches sit in front of the pool area with tons of other recreational activities, including a fun playground with rubber flooring underneath. Why would you want to spend your day anywhere else?

This is truly one of the most pleasant places to spend a pool day at Disney World.

The Best Pool at Disney World

Here it is! We’ve finally reached our top choice for the best pool at Disney World…

#1 Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht Club and Beach Club

Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts share a massive pool area that includes a shipwreck, a 230-foot water slide, a lazy river, and more! While ranking some of the pools was difficult, there were never any questions about which one would come in first.

It’s hard to even call this area a pool because it’s really more of a mini water park than anything. When staying at Beach or Yacht Club, we rarely visit a water park because there isn’t any need. There is plenty to do right here at Stormalong Bay.

One of the pool’s features is the sand-bottom pool. There’s even a separate sand pool for children with an area to build sandcastles right in the middle.

Here’s a secret about this pool, it has a kiddie pool at the base of the slide with a miniature slide for the little ones! Since you have to cross a walkway (outside of the pool area) to get to the feature slide, most guests never know this other pool is available.

Of course, some complain that children are out of sight when they leave to do the water slide. Make no mistake; this pool area is massive. So it’s hard to see everyone if you have children who want to play in different pool areas.

When it comes to dining, there’s Hurricane Hanna’s, which usually has decent options. However, if you’re looking for something substantial, you might want to place a to-go order from Ale and Compass, the table service restaurant at Disney’s Yacht Club.

Related: Disney’s Beach Club Review

Best Disney World Pools (Honorable Mentions)

When I drafted this review, I felt a few more pools at Disney World were worth mentioning, even if they didn’t make the top ten.

First is The Big Blue Pool at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, located in the Finding Nemo section. You won’t find a waterslide here. However, this is still a fun pool that holds over 300,000 gallons of water!

It also has the Schoolyard Sprayground, a super cute splash area for little ones!

If you love animated films, the resort is also home to the Flippin’ Fins Pool and the Cozy Cone pools. They are highly themed and lots of fun.

Next, there’s the Doubloon Lagoon Pool at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort. This pool has a sea serpent water slide.

Doubloon Lagoon is an excellent pool for those traveling with younger children. Everything here is so child-friendly, including the cutest aquatic play area.

Lastly, the Samawati Springs Pool at Kidani Village is another fabulous option when traveling with younger children to pre-teens.

Samawati Springs has one of the most fun twisting slides, and there’s an extensive children’s play area called Uwanja Camp nearby! Uwanja Camp has different zones with wet and dry play areas.

Related: Kidani Village Review

Final Thoughts on the Best Pools at Disney World

Hopefully, this article gave you an idea of which pool might be the best for your vacation. Of course, any of these are excellent options.

Unfortunately, we left off a few pools, like Ol’ Man Island at Port Orleans Riverside and the Copper Creek Springs Pool at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. While these pools are great, they don’t necessarily stand out as much as the others.

If you would like an overview of all the pools or have questions about specifics at the pool, you might enjoy our guide:

List of Pools at Walt Disney World with FAQs

For more information about the resorts, browse our Disney World Resort Reviews.

For other Disney World planning, you might enjoy the following articles:

In the Comments

What do you think of our rankings? Do you consider these the best pools at Disney World? Would you rank them differently? Tell us what you think.

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Which Resort Has the Best Pool at Disney World? (and 10 Other Options Ranked)

Top 10 Best Pools at Disney World

The Best Pool at Disney World

Best Disney World Pools (Honorable Mentions)

Final Thoughts on the Best Pools at Disney World

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Top 10 Best Pools at Disney World

The Best Pool at Disney World

Best Disney World Pools (Honorable Mentions)

Final Thoughts on the Best Pools at Disney World

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