Are you having trouble deciding where you should stay when you visit Disney World?
Disney World
There are over 25 hotels on Disney World property alone. It can be hard to find the right fit for you and your party. With three different hotel tiers, Value, Moderate, and Deluxe, each tier shares and has its benefits as compared to the others. While you may think the room size or proximity to the park may be some travelers’ top priority, a pool rule could actually sway where you stay!
There are so many benefits when you choose to stay at a Disney World Resort. All tiers offer free transportation around the resort, including busses, monorail, watercraft, and the Skyliner. A stay at a Disney World hotel means that you get to book your Lightning Lane selections seven days in advance, whereas all others can only book three days in advance, giving hotel guests a considerable advantage! All those staying at a Disney World hotel can participate in Early Theme Park Entry, which allows you to enter one of the four parks each day 30 minutes before they officially open!
Early Entry into Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Value Resorts are the most budget-friendly. While they do offer all the free perks listed above, they have fewer dining options and are further from the parks. These resorts do not have any slides in their pools and are mainly just large pools with theming based on the building it is near.
The Big Blue Pool
Moderate Resorts are a step up from Value Resorts and cost a little more. They tend to offer bigger rooms and more dining options. The pools are also a step up from a Value Resort, as many of the signature pools have slides.
Fuentes del Morro Pool
If you are looking to spend a little more, those who stay at a Deluxe Resort can take advantage of Extended Evening Hours. On select nights each week, one of the parks stays open two hours after the park closes, which means short lines and fewer crowds. Plus, Deluxe Resorts are closer to the parks and have the most amenities. Pools at these resorts are considered to be the best among Disney fans and are often sought-after.
Riviera Resort Pool Area
Not all Disney World hotel pools are created equally. Some resorts offer a fun-themed pool, whereas others are just your classic rectangle pool with a little bit of theming.
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Fantasia Pool
Before, you used to be able to pool hop at Disney World. So let’s say you are staying at Pop Century, but you really want to swim over at the Polynesian Village. You used to actually be able to go “hop over” to the Polynesian pool and swim there! Since this is no longer the case and due to the “no pool hopping” rule, a resort’s pool can play a role in where people choose to stay.
Lava Pool
So, when booking your Disney World hotel, you need to ask yourself if you would want to stay there if you plan on having a pool day/ how much a resort’s pool would make or break your trip. We asked our team to see if they would consider the pool when they booked a hotel at Disney World.
Grand Floridian Resort Pool
Some of our team members said that they absolutely consider it. For example, one member said that they purposefully chose to stay at either Yacht or Beach Club because of the pool. If you did not know, these two resorts share access to Stormalong Bay, which is arguably one of the coolest pools at Disney World.
Stormalong Bay
Another thing you need to think about when booking your stay is if the pool will be open. From time to time, Disney closes pools to perform routine maintenance on them. Normally another resort pool is open for you to go to, but it can be a bummer if you book a stay just for the pool and it is closed.
Ride, Restaurant, and Resort Closures and Construction at Walt Disney World
Flippin’ Fins pool was closed in February
On the other hand, one of our team members said that they do not really consider the pool when they are booking their stay, even if they plan to have a pool day.
Treehouse Villas Pool
We have the perfect solution so you can get the best of both worlds! If you want to stay at a resort with a cool pool but do not want to dish out the money, we recommend a split stay! You can spend part of your trip at one hotel and then the next part in another. This is a great way to save a little money by staying at a Value Resort to start your stay and then finishing it off at a Deluxe Resort with a better pool.
Stormalong Bay
Depending on which resort you choose to stay at, you may have multiple pool options. For example, bigger resorts like Saratoga Springs and Old Key West have multiple pools around the resort. As long as you are a guest, you can swim at any of the pools. The same goes for the All-Star Resorts. If you are staying at All-Star Movies, you can go to any of the other All-Star Resort pools!
Grandstand Pool at Saratoga Springs
So, when you are narrowing down your list of resorts to stay at, make sure to consider the resort’s pool and if you plan on spending time there.
Old Key West Pool
Whether you have a pool day or not, we highly recommend a rest day to recharge and relax from the long days at the parks. As always, keep following along with Disney Food Blog for more Disney news, tips, and updates!
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Our go-to time of year to visit has become early January, so the pool doesn’t factor in for us anymore. When the kiddos were younger and we visited mostly in the summer or for Spring Breaks, we loved Value Resorts as much for their low-key, large, open late pools as for the price. We love(d) the computer pool at Pop Century. I loved making the littles laugh explaining how the ‘old timey’ computers used to work. In some photos though, it looks like they may have removed the key pad. If that’s true, we can’t go back to PC. The fam will be heartbroken!
Pool and relaxing days are a must. I’ve only been to WDW twice and both times stayed at Yatch Club so I’m biased to Stormalong Bay! My family loves it! and for the convenience to Epcot.
No news here…. Pool hopping has been forbidden at least since 2019.
You could never pool hop according to Disney’s rules – people just did. Doesn’t mean you were ‘allowed to’.
Early lightning lane is great but earlier dining picks would be outstanding!
We were probably three trips in before our kids realized that there were pools at the hotels, so the pool is not even a factor for us.
Years ago we got a great deal at the Grand Californian because the pools were under refurbishment while they were adding in DVC. It was a magical visit.
Luckily, pool hopping is still allowed for DVC members so we don’t really pay attention to the pools.