The Pools at Disney’s Beach Club (Photos, Hours, and Details)
When it comes to the pools at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, you’ve got options. The resort has three pools and an additional fourth option at the neighboring Yacht Club. Most guests, however, will prefer the resort’s feature pool, Stormalong Bay. It’s no secret that we consider it the best hotel pool at Walt Disney World.
All the same, those wanting to enjoy a peaceful spot at the pool or take a quick swim near their room will want to be aware of the leisure pool options. For instance, you might have a day when you want to enjoy the pool and get laundry done simultaneously. Or you might wake up early one morning and have a few minutes to enjoy the quiet pool before the main pool opens. If so, you’ll have options.
Below, we’ll discuss each of the quiet and feature pools at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club. We’ll review their location, pool hours, and other amenities you’ll want to know beforehand.
Disney’s Beach Club Pools
As mentioned above, Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club has four swimming pools. They are as follows:
- Stormalong Bay
- Tidal Pool
- Dunes Cove Pool
- Admiral’s Pool (Yacht Club Side)
We’ll preview each pool further below.
Pool Hours
During our visit, pool hours at Stormalong Bay were between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. However, hours are subject to change. During the summer months until Labor Day, the hours are usually extended one hour until 11:00 p.m.
Quiet pool hours were posted during our last stay from 7:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. These pool hours are pretty consistent throughout the year. However, you’ll want to know that the quiet pools at Beach and Yacht Club do not have lifeguards or other attendants.
Are the Pools Heated?
Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club pools are heated to 82 degrees. So, in the event of cooler weather, they usually remain open. However, if the outside temperature drops to around 50 degrees or lower, the pools will close until warmer temperatures return.
Complimentary Towels and Life Jackets
Complimentary towels are provided at each pool at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club, so you can use the extra room in your suitcase for something else.
Life jackets are also provided at each resort pool. They come in a wide range of sizes.
Mobility Lifts
Pool lifts are available for guests with disabilities or limited mobility. Here is a photo of the lift at the Beach Club’s Tidal Pool.
Changing Areas
Each of the resort’s pools has a nearby restroom. However, Stormalong Bay has an area with dedicated showers, a room to change, toiletries, and towels. If you find this area busy, you can use the shower inside the resort’s gym. The gym is adjacent to the pool, and I don’t think most people know this extra set of showers exists.
Stormalong Bay
Stormalong Bay is more of a water park than a pool. It’s so large that it would be difficult to photograph in its entirety unless you had an aerial view.
Most guests (including my family) stay at Disney’s Beach or Yacht Club because of Stormalong Bay. We spend most of our days relaxing at the pool, but we do visit the parks for entertainment in the evenings.
Toward one end, a wading pool features a large sandbar in the center. Smaller children can spend hours digging in the sand and enjoying the pool area.
Another kiddie pool is available inside the shipwreck, across the walkway from Stormalong Bay. The ship also serves as the entrance to the pool’s water slide. The photo below shows where the tube slide begins at the top of the ship’s mast.
Stormalong Bay has three hot tubs scattered throughout the pool area.
Guests can take in scenic views of Disney’s Boardwalk across the lake from some places around the pool. Stormalong Bay has plenty of seating. But be warned, the good seats are often taken early. During our stay at the Yacht Club this summer, I waited in line for the pool to open each morning to get a table and chairs in the shade. Places in the shade are pretty limited.
Cabana rentals can be reserved up to 60 days in advance, but they sell out quickly. If you want to learn more, we have a review of renting a cabana at the Beach Club. We also have a complete guide for Stormalong Bay that includes photos and videos of every pool feature. If you plan to spend some time at this pool, it includes some tips that will likely be useful.
Tidal Pool at Disney’s Beach Club
Disney’s Beach Club has two additional quiet pools. The Tidal Pool sits on the front side of Disney’s Beach Club. It is the smallest of the three quiet pools between the resorts. While this pool sits near the walkway to Epcot, a laundry room sits on one end, blocking the view. Rooms on the other three sides surround the pool.
To access this pool, take the main hallway off the resort’s lobby. Follow the signs that say pool, and after a few turns, you’ll reach a doorway leading out to the pool. You can’t miss it.
This pool is often the least busy of the three quiet pools. However, if you visit when the weather is warm, don’t be surprised to find a reasonable number of guests at all the pools.
A hot tub sits adjacent to the pool.
Here is the laundry room by the pool. We have a separate article with the locations for all the laundry rooms at Disney’s Beach Club.
Dunes Cove Pool
Next, the Dunes Cove Pool is located near the back of the resort. This is the formal pool for the Beach Club Villas. The buildings in this wing are mint green compared to the blue of Disney’s Beach Club. While the Dunes Cove Pool is exclusive to guests staying in the Beach Club Villas, resort guests can access it. However, this pool area will likely be out of the way and is often busy.
This pool was recently completely resurfaced. We stopped in on a chilly day to check out the updates. Everything looked fresh and new.
A hot tub sits behind the Dunes Cove Pool.
A foosball table and a life-size chess set are available.
Here are a few tables with chairs and loungers around the pool.
Admiral Pool at Disney’s Yacht Club
At Disney’s Yacht Club, guests have access to the Admiral Pool. If you take the hallway off the lobby and pass The Marketplace at Ale and Compass, it will dead end at doors that lead to the Admiral Pool. It’s a peaceful pool area surrounded by trees on one side.
This pool is a little off the beaten path. If your room doesn’t face it, you might not know it was there.
All the quiet pools have a maximum depth of 4’3″. However, Stormalong Bay has some areas that get as deep as 8′.
A hot tub is available on the far end of the pool.
A large laundry room sits at the back of the Yacht Club’s Admiral Pool. We have a post with specifics for laundry at Disney’s Yacht Club if you want to learn more.
Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grill
If you want to enjoy a meal or cocktail at the pool, you’ll have two options. You can order something and take it to the pool of your choice, or you can visit Stormalong Bay and order from the poolside bar and grill, Hurricane Hannas.
During busier times, servers wait on guests at the pool deck. However, this often takes a while because only a few servers wait on the entire pool area. On my last visit, a server left us a menu. It was over 30 minutes before he returned to our area. While it wasn’t his fault, if you want something quickly, you are probably better off ordering it at the location.
We like placing a mobile order at Ale and Compass and bringing it to the pool. The food is good quality and reasonably priced, and if you want something small, you can order something from the kids’ menu.
If you purchase a Rapid Fill mug during your stay, you should be aware that Hurricane Hanna’s has a beverage refill station. You can refill your mug at the pool.
Related: Rapid Fill Mugs at Disney’s Beach Club
Additionally, Beaches and Cream, an ice cream shop, sits immediately behind the pool area. They do not do mobile orders but have a walk-up window where guests can order various ice cream treats. If you want to dine here, you’ll need to get a reservation or join their walk-up list when available.
In addition to the pools, the Beach and Yacht Club have a variety of other recreational activities. The Beach Club has a sand volleyball court near the lobby entrance.
The Yacht Club has a tennis court next to the Admiral Pool. Both resorts share a fully equipped gym on the walkway behind Stormalong Bay.
Or you might prefer to lounge on the Beach while the children play in the sand.
Final Thoughts
We love all the pools at Disney’s Beach Club and Yacht Club. But it’s hard to deny that Stormalong Bay has a special place in our hearts. It’s going to be tough to beat!
On a side note, I would caution that some guests are overwhelmed by the large pool area. So, if you have children of an age where you’ll need to keep an eye on them at all times, you might not enjoy your pool time. When my niece was younger, we camped out at the sandbar pool. It’s more of a wading pool than anything. She was content to dig in the sand all day. So, I never had to worry about her wandering off into other pool areas.
That said, make sure to pack a good book (hopefully), find a spot in the full sun or shade, and relax the day away. Don’t forget the sunscreen! You might even enjoy a little pool-hopping between the resort’s quiet and feature pools throughout your trip. It’s your vacation, so enjoy what you like the most. These special times don’t come often enough for most of us.
For more information about Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, you might enjoy:
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Review
- Disney’s Beach Club Review
- Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club Restaurants Guide
- Cape May Cafe Character Breakfast Review
- Preview the New Rooms at Disney’s Beach Club
In the Comments
Now that we’ve looked at all the pools at Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club, what do you think? Are you more of a quiet pool person or a Stormalong Bay person? Leave us a comment below or on our social media channels to let us know!
