Best DVC Pools?

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

If you were bringing younger kids (9 and 6) during May how would you rank the DVC resorts as far as the pools? My kids love the parks but they will want to spend a lot of time at the resort/pool as well!!!

 

[Granny]

It is generally acknowledged that Stormalong Bay pool at Beach Club is the biggest and most engaging pool outside of a water park at WDW. Some people don't like how large it is, but it almost a small water park into itself. You can only access this pool if you are staying at Beach Club, Yacht Club or Beach Club Villas (DVC).

Beyond that, most DVC resort pools are such that any child will have a great time. Despite my love for VWL, the main pool slide at WL is probably the weakest slide of any of the resort pools.

I think you will find that any pool at WDW is exciting and fun for 9 & 6 year olds. Enjoy.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Thank you! I heard that at SAB it can be a bit hard to keep your eye on the kids- did you find that to be the case?

 

[bumbershoot]

If you were bringing younger kids (9 and 6) during May how would you rank the DVC resorts as far as the pools? My kids love the parks but they will want to spend a lot of time at the resort/pool as well!!!

This depends on what they consider a good pool to be!

Do they like to actually swim? If so, a nice big rectangle is nice. We've hopped (DVC-legal) to CSR for their pool for that. (and then the early October lovebugs ruined it)

Do they like slides and such? "Features"? Things that keep it from being a *swimming* pool IMO but more of a playing pool? Then you want to look for those.

If they don't want to swim, but to float, from what I read it sounds like SAB is good. That's not a swimming pool to me, but nice in a different way.

Gotta define what they want from a pool before choosing a pool.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

So true- I think I worry way too much about this stuff- after a long snowy winter they'd be happy playing in a bathtub lol

 

[BuffyFan]

I know you mean the Florida WDW pools, but I must sneak in that the pool complex at the Aulani Villas on Oahu are without a doubt the best of all the DVC pools.

We went to Stormalong Bay some years back with my nephews and nieces and they loved it, but they were equally happy at the Boardwalk and Wilderness Lodge pools.

All the DVC pools are awesome.

 

[hakepb]

I'd also put Kidani and SSR's Paddock in the top 3

Depending on the 6yo's sense of adventure, the Jambo pool slide is one of the most mild of the "bigger" pool slides, so it's a great "starter" slide.

 

[Kidanifan08]

I think your 9 and 6 yo are going to love the pools at AKV and BLT. The BLT pool is a little boring, from a theming standpoint, but the kids will love the slide. You didn't indicate whether you are at Kidani or Jambo, but you can use both pools while at AKV. Personally, we like the Kidani pool area better, and at your kids' ages, they will love the slide there and they should both have fun in the splash play area. The Jambo pool slide is a little weak, but it is a very nice pool area and pool.

We stayed at BCV this summer, and while DS8 loved the pool, I was not a big fan of the sandy bottom and the winding shape of the pool. The slide is awesome at BCV and we actually like the main pool area at BWV. We haven't used the pools at SSR and have not stayed at VWL or VGF yet. The pool at OKW was nice, but it has been 3 years since we have been there, and it was not particularly memorable.

Enjoy your stay! May is a great time to be at WDW!!

 

[DisReno]

My husband just said, "As long as there's water in it, they don't care." Kids really don't care. We stayed at the Institute, when my son was 3 and 5, the WL, Beach Club, Port Orleans, and AKL. It was always just about the pool. He probably swam at Storm Along Bay the least, and Port Orleans the most. It's water...they will go in it and have fun.

I honestly think the theming is all for the adults. Think about when you were a kid...it was a pool. You swam in it and were happy.

 

[magicaldisney]

I'd also put Kidani and SSR's Paddock in the top 3.

These were going to be my two suggestions. Both have great slides and water play areas with their pools.

 

[goofy4wdw2]

Our kids loved the pools at SSR, BCV, Kidani, and the slide at BLT. They liked WL too...it's a little small but had a great time with the poolside games, trivia, and activities on the nearby beach.

How are the pools at GF/VGF?

 

[PetePanMan]

Aulani by a wide margin

 

[crisi]

Thank you! I heard that at SAB it can be a bit hard to keep your eye on the kids- did you find that to be the case?

I thought it grey hair inducing when mine where your age. I like to be able to keep an eye on kids in the pool, and SAB has poor sight lines.

When they got past the keep an eye on them stage (they are now 15 and 16), they wanted waterparks, not SAB. SAB may be a mini waterpark, but it compares very unfavorably to the giant waterparks Disney has with lots of big slides and raft rides and swimming with sharks and wave pools and huge lazy rivers.

BWV has an awesome slide for kids that age, but the whole pool is deep - and a short five year old won't be able to touch - no zero entry.

 

[dsnydaddy]

Aulani by a wide margin

Including the Aulani in this conversation is completely unfair. What an awesome place.

 

[jerseygal]

If you were bringing younger kids (9 and 6) during May how would you rank the DVC resorts as far as the pools? My kids love the parks but they will want to spend a lot of time at the resort/pool as well!!!

LOVE Stormalong Bay!

 

[CarpeDisney]

Of all the DVC resorts at which we've stayed, our family's favorite pool is at BLT. As others have mentioned, the theme of the pool area is nothing unique. However, for ease of keeping track of the kids (high on our priority list), BLT's pool allows for parents to see almost all areas of the pool/hot tub/small splash area/slide/restrooms from anywhere in the pool or its surrounding confined area.

Plus, the slide is by far our favorite!!

 

[Minniesgal]

Of all the DVC resorts at which we've stayed, our family's favorite pool is at BLT. As others have mentioned, the theme of the pool area is nothing unique. However, for ease of keeping track of the kids (high on our priority list), BLT's pool allows for parents to see almost all areas of the pool/hot tub/small splash area/slide/restrooms from anywhere in the pool or its surrounding confined area. Plus, the slide is by far our favorite!!

Us too our kids love the BLT pool the best of all.

 

[Simba's Mom]

My husband just said, "As long as there's water in it, they don't care." Kids really don't care. We stayed at the Institute, when my son was 3 and 5, the WL, Beach Club, Port Orleans, and AKL. It was always just about the pool. He probably swam at Storm Along Bay the least, and Port Orleans the most. It's water...they will go in it and have fun.

I honestly think the theming is all for the adults. Think about when you were a kid...it was a pool. You swam in it and were happy.

Exactly what I was thinking. We just took our 4 yo DGD to OKW and she loved the pool there. I really think wherever we stayed and she could swim would have been her favorite!

 

[YoMickey]

We bought at Beach Club Villas for SAB, for true full pool days we'll use SAB, but for just a quick dip, the Beach Club has two quiet pools that are great, both with nice hot tubs.

 

[YoMickey]

We bought at Beach Club Villas for SAB, for true full pool days we'll use SAB, but for just a quick dip, the Beach Club has two quiet pools that are great, both with nice hot tubs.