Pools that are adequate for resort size

[karen4546]

The pool at BRV is great and was never crowded while we were there. At most, there may have been 6 people in the pool and 10 people around the pool in the loungers or at the tables.

this was last month.

 

[80sTerraceCafeFan]

Yes - Bay Lake Tower is too small, with seating somewhat limited - but you can stroll to the spacious main Contemporary pool - with an additional quiet pool on the lake (a must for classic disney resort fans). I'm super worried about the Poly main pool when the new tower is done.

If disney would add a cool monorail slide to the main Contemporary (a la Disneyland Hotel) it would really elevate the area (which is already a nice escape set on bay lake).

 

[mickeyluv'r]

You got lucky! We stayed the last week in August in 2019 and couldn’t even find 2 chairs together, we were there for 10 days and the pool was always packed.

That was the week that Galaxy's Edge opened, and - more or less- people chose the Epcot area resorts so they could arrive earliest to HS.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Yes - Bay Lake Tower is too small, with seating somewhat limited - but you can stroll to the spacious main Contemporary pool - with an additional quiet pool on the lake (a must for classic disney resort fans). I'm super worried about the Poly main pool when the new tower is done.

Funny, BLT was the only pool that came to mind when reading the OPs question!! We agree. That really was a disappointing pool for us - like they squeezed it in. But a large majority of the resorts have plenty of pool space, if you include the quiet pools (which are quite nice sometimes!)!

 

[Mle8308]

That was the week that Galaxy's Edge opened, and - more or less- people chose the Epcot area resorts so they could arrive earliest to

 

[mkymouse4ever]

SAB is a great pool and even with no chairs the pool itself is roomy. With the current area things keep moving. . Remember tx & bc both have nice quiet pools which are also very empty. BLT is small. Very small. Last august it was so hot and small the water temp was hotter than the air. . CSR has great pools but not sure now with tower how crowded. CSR & AoA have large pools. Great pools at PO-RS. Quiet & main. Poly we only used the quiet pool lava pool is always nutz. GF holds a crowd without any issues and could handle another tower. . BW has a large pool but not seating for as big as it is. Nice quiet pool at BWV behind theme pool it’s in next section over. S/D pools are huge and deep which is becoming hard to find. AKL Kidani we thought small and it’s in parking lot? AKJambo is large with a lot of seating Offsite: portfino bay is huge. And we like Hyatt regency grand cypress great pool with caverns.

 

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

SAB is a great pool and even with no chairs the pool itself is roomy. With the current area things keep moving. . Remember tx & bc both have nice quiet pools which are also very empty. BLT is small. Very small. Last august it was so hot and small the water temp was hotter than the air. . CSR has great pools but not sure now with tower how crowded. CSR & AoA have large pools. Great pools at PO-RS. Quiet & main. Poly we only used the quiet pool lava pool is always nutz. GF holds a crowd without any issues and could handle another tower. . BW has a large pool but not seating for as big as it is. Nice quiet pool at BWV behind theme pool it’s in next section over. S/D pools are huge and deep which is becoming hard to find. AKL Kidani we thought small and it’s in parking lot? AKJambo is large with a lot of seating Offsite: portfino bay is huge. And we like Hyatt regency grand cypress great pool with caverns.

What are S/D pools?

 

[dansdad]

What are S/D pools?

The pools at the Swan and Dolphin resorts.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

What are S/D pools?

Swan dolphin

 

[Budzooka]

Just spent 5 nights at BC last week and the pools were not as crowded as I expected. First stay there, but never had any problem finding chairs and the pool is plenty big to move around, although my favorite spot was under a waterfall. We didn’t spend any time at the quiet pool right outside our villa.

Now, the resort itself was too busy for our liking. We spent 5 days at WL first and went from being so peaceful and relaxing to chaos all the time. Lobby always had lots of people and the spot by Beaches and Cream was hard to get through. Proximity to Epcot is tough to beat though.

 

[Cfabar1]

I wonder if they could add a second pool at BLT and/or expand the pool area they have... it is way too small for the number of rooms they have!

 

[brockash]

I've never found this to be the case. Last trip July 2018, I was swimming laps in Stormalong Bay because it was so empty.

We have stayed at BC 4 times, twice in the middle of summer, once during spring break, and once in December.

I agree; we never had a problem swimming or finding chairs at Storm a long. Grand Floridian on the other hand was very tough.

 

[Cfabar1]

I agree; we never had a problem swimming or finding chairs at Storm a long. Grand Floridian on the other hand was very tough.

The pool closer to the DVC villas is too small… especially for a “feature” pool…

The other pool is less bad, but the decision to go zero entry really comes at the expense of usable water area….

They really need a third pool at GF

And another hot tub… but they won’t do it…

 

[Elephantay]

I believe at most Disney resorts you can only use the pool if you are staying there. We have never chosen where to stay based on the pool since that isn't our main reason to go to Disney. As someone else mentioned, if you want to use a pool early to mid-day, it will probably be less crowded since most people go to Disney to spend the majority of their day at a park. Later in the day when people are tired of walking, they return to their resort and might decide to use the pool. Time of year and where you mostly spend your time while at Disney would make a difference in how crowded any pool happens to be.

We love to hang at the pool until the afternoon, then head out to the parks for the nights. We avoid the busy afternoons and love the parks at night. I do wish the pools would open earlier though!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I wonder if they could add a second pool at BLT and/or expand the pool area they have... it is way too small for the number of rooms they have!

Has Disney ever changed the pool footprint in a refurb? I thought they always dig it up and replace it. (SAB has seen some modifications over the years to remove features but that’s a different beast.)

 

[Wood Nymph]

Has Disney ever changed the pool footprint in a refurb? I thought they always dig it up and replace it. (SAB has seen some modifications over the years to remove features but that’s a different beast.)

The main pool at the Wilderness Lodge had a big change. They added a bigger set of stairs at one end of the pool. But the rest of the main pool's footprint remained the same. There is a second pool. The Hidden Springs pool was the quiet pool. It was completely removed, and a larger DVC pool replaced it.

Most of the resort pools just have the old tiles removed and new tiles put on. I'm sure it includes other improvements, but the footprint remains the same.

 

[Brian Noble]

Of the delux the worst would be WL and AKL as they don't have quiet pools to spread out the crowds.

WL does have a second pool, between the Copper Creek wing and BRV. It is sometimes referred to as "the DVC pool" but it is not limited to DVC guests AFAIK. Jambo only has the one pool, but it is a good size, and has a LOT of chairs though many are "outside the fence."

 

[Wood Nymph]

WL does have a second pool, between the Copper Creek wing and BRV. It is sometimes referred to as "the DVC pool" but it is not limited to DVC guests AFAIK. Jambo only has the one pool, but it is a good size, and has a LOT of chairs though many are "outside the fence."

I believe that there is a quiet pool at Kidani.