Best Pools?

[deschneider]

Which DVC resorts have the best pools for young kids? We have 3 sons: 8, 5, and 5. We have only stayed at AKV Jambo House.

 

[disneynutz]

BCV's Storm-A-Long Bay is the best pool at WDW.

Bill

 

[happyann79]

I second that! Beach club has the absolute best pool! From what I remember the boardwalk pool is pretty nice as well.

 

[aggiemullins]

Stormalong Bay is definitely the best DVC pool. It has different areas that do different things that are really neat. Of course it has a "beach" where the sand slopes into the pool and the entire bottom of the pool is sand. One drawback though is that it's real gritty not very comfortable on the feet.

Another area is the "whirlpool" where high-powered jets spin the water in a circular area so that you go round and round the designated area. My girls love this one.

My favorite area though is the "sinking sand" where small jets sporadically blow water from underneath the sand so that while you're walking through it, your feet sink into the sand and then they turn off so that the sand "grabs" your feet. Really ingenious.

After all that, it has the best slide hands down. It also has the best little kids slide.

For other resorts, I really like SSR's main pool. There is something very serene and relaxing about it. It also has a great slide. The Grandstand pool at SSR is also a great tranquil pool with one of the best splash pads at Disney.

My least favorite pool is BLT. While the slide is nice and neat to watch at night, the pool itself and the surrounding area has a cold feeling to it as there is really zero theming to it other then the slide. It's also way too small and you feel cramped and claustrophobic if it's crowded.

 

[Deb & Bill]

But if your three kids aren't great swimmers, you will be more nervous than a cat in a houseful of rocking chairs. It's very big and spread out. There are very deep areas (8' deep) with a hard, fast current. You can get over your head very quickly if you are not expecting it.

Personally, I hated the sinking sands. Just made it hard to get across to the other side of the pool.

If you are looking for a fun pool for kids who aren't the greatest swimmers, AKV/AKL has two nice pools with lots of fun areas. Or, if you are a DVC member staying on a DVC reservation through MS, and pool hopping isn't blacked out for a holiday, the pool at Coronado Springs is fun for kids. And the Caribbean Beach Resort pool is also a lot of fun for kids.

 

[Mjkre]

As a mother of 3 under the age of 10 daughters, I have to say I had mixed feelings about SAB. I like knowing where my kids are. I like being able to watch them from a comfy beach chair and let them play without worry. I could not do that at SAB. It is just simply too big and has too many little bridges and walkways around the pools. I found it very frustrating. That being said, it certiainly has more features then the rest, although my kids and I hated the slide. They were super excited and then went on it 2x each and that was the end of that. The entrance is also across the public boardwalk and the slide itself hurt my back and that of my 10 year old.

Despite all that, all do want to go back. They loved the sandy bottom. They loved the (hidden) hot tubs and the lazy river. I am just going to wait until the kids are a little older and can go off by themselves and check back in.

We have loved the pools and slides at OKW and Saratoga Springs. They are relaxing and fun for all. We are interested in trying AK on next trip so I am curious about the pools there.

 

[moredisneyplease]

i agree that SAB is awesome but it is indeed nerve racking for moms of young children. How good of swimmers are the 5 year olds? I'm sure your 8 year old will be fine but you'd have to watch the weak swimmers like a freaking hawk!! I'm going this summer with a 3 and 5 year old and am doing BWV because the kids love the keister coaster (slide) but am debating moving to AKL because the kid water area is more age appropriate for my kids.