Which resorts have the best pools?

[marcais]

We're staying at Caribbean Bach Resort and on a few of the days our plan is to do a park early, head back to the hotel for a bit and hang around the pool area, before going back to a park in the evening.

But I was thinking it would be a wasted opportunity to always go back to the CBR pool when we could head off to some of the other resorts and try out their pools.

So, firstly, is that allowed? Can we use the pool area of a resort we're not staying at?

And, secondly, if we can do that, which resort's pools should we check out?

 

[Denise W]

No you can only use the pool at the resort you are staying at (or a sister resort lie the All Stars). Most people say the best pool on property is the one a the Yacht Club/Beach Club.

 

[gmboy95]

if you eliminate the Beach Club as a clear #1......then i would say I hear that the Poly pool is cool, and i also like the Boardwalk

 

[gmboy95]

although i think you cant pool hop at the POLY

 

[rchampagne]

On a related note... every one knows the Beach Club/ Yacht Club has the best pool. But... does anyone find it TOO crowded? I was debating between staying at BC vs GF recently, but a few people I talked to said the BC pool was always crowded. Personally, I'd rather enjoy a lesser pool that's less crowded, and every time I walked thru GF (on way to 1900 Park Fare), it seems their pool area was hardly being used. So I chose GF, and just curious if that was the right thinking.

 

[Denise W]

Well, cash visitors can't pool hop at all, but you are right that DVC members can't pool hop to Poly.
Denise

 

[gmboy95]

On a related note... every one knows the Beach Club/ Yacht Club has the best pool. But... does anyone find it TOO crowded? I was debating between staying at BC vs GF recently, but a few people I talked to said the BC pool was always crowded. Personally, I'd rather enjoy a lesser pool that's less crowded, and every time I walked thru GF (on way to 1900 Park Fare), it seems their pool area was hardly being used. So I chose GF, and just curious if that was the right thinking.

it is perpetually crowded

 

[Shellyb84]

On a related note... every one knows the Beach Club/ Yacht Club has the best pool. But... does anyone find it TOO crowded? I was debating between staying at BC vs GF recently, but a few people I talked to said the BC pool was always crowded. Personally, I'd rather enjoy a lesser pool that's less crowded, and every time I walked thru GF (on way to 1900 Park Fare), it seems their pool area was hardly being used. So I chose GF, and just curious if that was the right thinking.

It can be crowded, but IMO it's not TOO crowded. We've always been able to find at least two loungers, middle of the afternoon in late June.

 

[focusondisney]

although i think you cant pool hop at the POLY

Unless you are a Disney Vacation Club owner staying on points, you can't pool hop to any other resort's pool. And even then, there are restrictions.

The only exceptions are resorts that are "sister" resorts, such as PO Riverside & French Quarter. There are signs at every resort pool stating the pool is for use of their guests only. Also, many of the resort pools are now gated & you must tap your MB to enter. Y & B also has cast members checking MBs & hand g out wrist bands most of the time.


OP, plan on using the pools at CBR only.

 

[gmboy95]

It can be crowded, but IMO it's not TOO crowded. We've always been able to find at least two loungers, middle of the afternoon in late June.

i think you have to be strategic....showing up in the middle of the afternoon expecting a good spot is difficult...but if you get there early enough and scope out a spot, it should be fine

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We're staying at Caribbean Bach Resort and on a few of the days our plan is to do a park early, head back to the hotel for a bit and hang around the pool area, before going back to a park in the evening.

But I was thinking it would be a wasted opportunity to always go back to the CBR pool when we could head off to some of the other resorts and try out their pools.

So, firstly, is that allowed? Can we use the pool area of a resort we're not staying at?

And, secondly, if we can do that, which resort's pools should we check out?

No, you can't do that. If you would like to try out some new pools, you may want to consider going to one of the water parks which knock any of the resort pools out of the water (so to speak, LOL!). If you have purchased park hoppers, it's not that costly to simply add the water park option onto your ticket.

On a related note... every one knows the Beach Club/ Yacht Club has the best pool. But... does anyone find it TOO crowded? I was debating between staying at BC vs GF recently, but a few people I talked to said the BC pool was always crowded. Personally, I'd rather enjoy a lesser pool that's less crowded, and every time I walked thru GF (on way to 1900 Park Fare), it seems their pool area was hardly being used. So I chose GF, and just curious if that was the right thinking.

I've never found any of the pools to be that crowded including BC/YC. We've always managed to find chairs and have always had a a great time. We've enjoyed all of the deluxe pools (though finding shade at the Poly is difficult). We find the AKL and WL a little small, but they are perfect for younger children, IMHO.

 

[marcais]

We have days planned for the water parks. It hadn't even occurred to me to go there in stead of the hotel. Definitely something to consider. Cheers!

 

[KenHutch]

And they do enforce the pool hopping rule. During my last trip on my resort hopping day I was trying to find Beaches & Cream for a lunch ADR. An extremely snobby British CM informed me that I could not walk thru the pool area because I might be a pool hopper. Of course the pleasant treatment I got is way that resort if forever off my vacation list.

 

[Lynne M]

There's more information on the use of pools at Disney resorts in this FAQ at the top of this board:

Using Pools at Other Resorts