The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s All-Star Sports Pools

If you’re planning a stay at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, you might want to take advantage of one or both of the resort’s pools. We’ve stayed at Disney’s All-Star Sports many times. During our last visit, we took a few new photos of the pool to share what to expect. We’ll also discuss hours of operation, complimentary amenities, and a few other aspects you’ll want to know ahead of time.

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort has two pools for guests to enjoy: the Surfboard Bay Pool and the Grand Slam Pool. However, it’s important to mention that All-Star Sports is a value resort. So, unfortunately, you won’t find any extras like a water slide or hot tub at either of the resort’s pools. If you’re hoping for those kinds of upgrades, you’ll want to consider a moderate or deluxe resort.

The Surfboard Bay Pool sits directly behind the resort’s lobby. You can’t miss it. You’ll have to walk past either side whenever you visit the lobby, bus stop, or dining hall. A secondary pool is only a short walk away in the Homerun Hotel section of the resort. While this pool is sizeable, it’s not nearly as large as the feature pool. Some consider it the resort’s quiet or leisure pool.

Pool Details for Planning Your Vacation

The pools at Disney’s All-Star Sports are typically open between 10:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m. from Labor Day to around Memorial Day. During the summer months, the pool hours are usually extended until 11:00 p.m.

We regularly stay at each resort at Disney World and monitor the pool hours. So we recommend snapping a photo of the pool hours when you arrive at the resort. That way, you’ll have a good idea of when you can use the pool, especially if you plan to use it early or late.

The pools at All-Star Sports are heated to 82 degrees. However, pools close from time to time during dips of colder weather. Given the warmer climate, it is common to find guests utilizing the pools in the coldest months, like January and February. We get a few days of cold weather now and then.

We receive many questions about whether you should pack towels for the pool. The short answer is no. Pools are provided at each pool at Disney’s All-Star Sports and at every other pool at Walt Disney World. So there is no need to take up the extra space in your luggage. Guests can grab as many towels as they like at the pool. (Complimentary towels are also provided to resort guests at Disney’s Water Parks. So you won’t need them there either!)

Each pool offers life jackets in various sizes. Pool lifts are also available for guests with disabilities or limited mobility. (Per Disney: Pool hours and lifeguard availability vary by pool and are subject to change.)

The Surfboard Bay Pool

First, we’ll look at the resort’s feature pool, the Surfboard Bay Pool. This large pool holds 242,471 gallons of water. You’ll find the pool area immediately outside Stadium Hall, the resort’s lobby.

Giant surfboards surround the pool area.

This pool has a maximum depth of 5 (feet).

A kiddie pool is also available in a separately fenced area next to the feature pool. Lifeguards are not present at the kiddie pool. It has a maximum depth of 14″ (inches).

Plenty of lounge chairs surround the pool area, and tables with chairs and umbrellas are also spread throughout the pool deck.

A few tabletop games sit outside the fenced pool area. Unfortunately, since All-Star Sports is a value resort, the pool doesn’t have a waterslide or a hot tub. We have a separate list of resorts with waterslides at Walt Disney World.

Grandstand Spirits is the poolside bar at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort. It sits off the back of the main lobby, only a few steps away from the pool.

A few seats are available at the pool bar. Additionally, a large outdoor area with tables and chairs is available nearby. Inside this area, you’ll find End Zone Food Court, the primary dining option at Disney’s All-Star Sports.

Lastly, the laundry room at All-Star Sports is toward the front of the Surfboard Bay Pool, so you can do laundry while you’re at the pool if needed.

Here are a few more photos of the feature pool area at All-Star Sports.

Grand Slam Pool

In addition to the resort’s feature pool, the resort has a secondary pool called the Grand Slam Pool. This pool is located at the Home Run Hotel portion of the resort.

The Grand Slam Pool is considered the resort’s quiet or leisure pool.

A giant Coca-Cola cup is a staircase between the two hotel buildings behind the pool. The bridge that extends from the buildings to the cup is meant to mimic baseball stands.

Our old pal Goofy stands on the pitcher’s mound in the middle of the field (pool). He’s shooting water out of a cannon!

A large green space comprises the outfield.

A scoreboard sits to the far side of the pool.

If you’re into baseball, you might consider requesting this area. However, several other themed areas at the resort represent different sports. We discuss each section in our review of Disney’s All-Star Sports.

Several recreational activities will be available during your stay at Disney’s All-Star Sports. Most of these activities will take place at the Surfboard Bay Pool.

Recreational calendars like the one below are posted at the resort each month. They’ll list specific details for each event. All the feature pools at Walt Disney World offer poolside games, trivia, and other complimentary activities each afternoon. They also usually have an extra-cost activity, like making tie-dye Mickey t-shirts. Cast members are good at getting children involved in the fun.

Another thing you might want to take part in during your stay is the Movies Under the Stars program. Cast members will set up a blow-up projection screen near the feature pool. A different movie is scheduled for each night of the week.

While this activity might not sound like the most thrilling thing, I assure you it’s enjoyable. If you were to have a day where you had to return to the hotel earlier than anticipated, the Movie Under the Stars program is a relaxing way to spend the evening.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Disney’s All-Star Sports pools are fun and appropriately themed to the resort. When it comes to choosing between the All-Stars, the pools are pretty much the same. The only difference is the theming. For instance, the pools at All-Stars Music have musical elements, and the pools at All-Stars Movies have movie references.

For more information about All-Star Sports, try our resort guide. It lists every article we have for the resort guide to Disney’s All-Star Sports, or you might enjoy one of the following:

• Disney’s All-Star Sports Review
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Room Tour
• Transportation Options at Disney’s All-Star Sports
• The End Zone Food Court Review

In the Comments

Did you find this article helpful? Do you have any other questions about the pools at Disney’s All-Star Sports? If so, leave them below, and I’ll be happy to answer them based on my experience.