Best DVC Resort Pools Ranked: Our Honest Picks

DVC resort pools don't get enough attention in the rental conversation. Most guides focus on room quality, point costs, and park proximity. Those things matter. But when you're spending $2,000-$4,000 on a week-long DVC rental, the pool you come back to after a park day can make or break the resort experience.

Some DVC pools are genuine attractions. Others are afterthoughts. And the difference between the best and worst is enormous. We've spent time at every DVC pool on Walt Disney World property, and here's our honest ranking.

Tier 1: These Pools Are Worth Choosing a Resort For

1. Stormalong Bay (Beach Club / Yacht Club)

It's not close. Stormalong Bay is the best pool at any Disney resort, DVC or otherwise. Calling it a "pool" undersells it. It's a 3-acre mini water park shared between Beach Club and Yacht Club.

The centerpiece is a sand-bottom lagoon that feels more like a natural swimming hole than a hotel pool. The zero-entry area slopes gradually into deeper water, making it perfect for toddlers and non-swimmers. There's a lazy river that winds through rock formations and under bridges. A waterslide built into the hull of a full-size shipwreck replica. Multiple hot tubs. And enough lounge chairs and umbrella spots that you can almost always find a good seat, even during busy weeks.

The pool area also has a pool bar (Hurricane Hanna's) with decent food and drinks. You can spend an entire day at Stormalong Bay without setting foot in a theme park and not feel like you wasted a day. For families with kids, this pool alone is a reason to choose Beach Club over other Epcot-area resorts.

One note: Stormalong Bay is exclusive to Beach Club and Yacht Club guests. You need your room key or MagicBand to enter. This keeps the crowds manageable relative to the pool's size, though it gets busy on hot afternoons during peak weeks.

2. Waikolohe Valley (Aulani, Hawaii)

Aulani's pool complex is the only one that rivals Stormalong Bay, and in some ways it's better because there's a real ocean beach 50 feet away. Waikolohe Valley features a lazy river that meanders through volcanic rock formations and caves, a body slide, a tube slide, a zero-entry pool area for little kids, and two hot tubs set into the rocks overlooking the ocean.

The theming is incredible. Disney built the entire pool area to look like a natural Hawaiian setting with lava rock, tropical plants, and hidden grottos. There are interactive water features for kids, a snorkeling area (Rainbow Reef, separate admission), and the pool connects to the beach via a short walkway.

If you're renting DVC points for Aulani, the pool is a major part of the experience. You'll split your time between Waikolohe Valley and the Ko Olina lagoon beach, and both are world-class.

Tier 2: Great Pools That Add Real Value

3. Copper Creek Springs Pool (Copper Creek / Wilderness Lodge)

The Wilderness Lodge pool area was redesigned when Copper Creek Villas opened, and it's beautiful. The main pool has a 67-foot waterslide, a zero-entry area, and hot tubs set against the Wilderness Lodge's Pacific Northwest themed buildings. The pool area feels like a mountain creek retreat, with rock formations and pine trees surrounding the deck.

The standout feature is the pool's setting. Wilderness Lodge is themed after the grand lodges of the American Northwest, and the pool area continues that theming with log structures, stone pathways, and views of Bay Lake. It's more atmospheric than most Disney pools. The slide is fun for kids without being intimidating, and the overall vibe is relaxed and uncrowded.

4. Samawati Springs Pool (Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village)

Kidani's pool is underrated. The Samawati Springs pool has a great zero-entry area for young kids, a waterslide, and two hot tubs. But what makes it special is the setting. The pool is surrounded by the resort's savanna areas, and on a good day you can see animals from the pool deck. Giraffes walking past while you're floating on a pool noodle is not something any other resort can offer.

The pool also has a large kids' splash pad area with water cannons and interactive play features. It's separate from the main pool, which means young kids have their own space to play without competing with adult swimmers. The pool bar (Maji) serves solid food and frozen drinks.

5. Bay Cove Pool (Bay Lake Tower)

Bay Lake Tower's pool is smaller than some others on this list, but its location makes it special. The pool deck overlooks Bay Lake with views toward the Magic Kingdom area. On clear evenings, you can watch the fireworks from the pool. The pool itself has a waterslide and a splash area for kids.

The real pool asset at Bay Lake Tower is access to the Contemporary Resort's main pool, which is larger and has more features. As a Bay Lake Tower guest, you can use both pools. The combined offering is strong, even if neither individual pool matches Stormalong Bay.

Tier 3: Solid Pools, Nothing Spectacular

6. Luna Park Pool (Boardwalk Villas)

The Boardwalk pool has a carnival theme with a clown-themed slide (which is either fun or terrifying depending on your feelings about clowns). The pool is a decent size with a good kids' area, but it's not a destination in itself. The real draw at Boardwalk is the Boardwalk entertainment district, not the pool.

The pool gets crowded because Boardwalk Villas shares it with the main Boardwalk Inn hotel guests. During peak weeks, finding chairs can be competitive in the afternoon. Early morning and evening are much better times to swim here.

7. Riviera Pool

The Riviera's pool area is elegant and well-designed, with a European Riviera aesthetic. There's a main pool with a slide, a separate kids' splash area (S'il Vous Play, which is beautifully themed), and a quiet pool for adults. The pool bar, Boca, has one of the better poolside menus on Disney property.

It's a perfectly good pool that matches the resort's upscale vibe. It just doesn't have the "wow factor" of Stormalong Bay or the setting of Kidani's savanna pool. For adults and older kids who want a pretty pool to relax at between park visits, Riviera delivers. For families with young kids who want water play features and excitement, it's a step below the Tier 1 and 2 options.

8. Lava Pool (Polynesian Village)

The Polynesian's pool was recently updated and it's nice. There's a waterslide, a zero-entry area, and tiki torches that give it the tropical atmosphere the Polynesian is known for. The pool overlooks the Seven Seas Lagoon with views toward Magic Kingdom, and fireworks viewing from the pool deck is excellent.

But for a resort of the Polynesian's stature and popularity, the pool is smaller than you'd expect. It gets crowded, especially during peak weeks when the resort is at capacity. The pool is fine. The views are great. It just doesn't match what you'd hope for at Disney's most iconic resort.

Tier 4: The Pools That Won't Sell You on the Resort

9. High Rock Spring Pool (Saratoga Springs)

Saratoga Springs has multiple pool areas spread across its sprawling campus. The main pool (High Rock Spring) has a waterslide and a decent kids' play area. The smaller "quiet pools" scattered throughout the resort are pleasant for a relaxed swim without crowds.

The pools are fine. They're maintained well, they're not overcrowded (because the resort is so large that guests spread out), and they do the job. But there's nothing memorable about them. You won't choose Saratoga Springs for its pools. You'll choose it for the low point costs and easy availability, and the pools will be a satisfactory bonus.

10. Old Key West Pool

Old Key West has a main pool with a waterslide themed to look like a sand castle, plus several quiet pools throughout the resort. The main pool is modest in size and theming. It's functional, clean, and perfectly adequate for a daily swim. It's also rarely crowded because Old Key West guests tend to be families in spacious villas who are more focused on park time and cooking meals than pool hanging.

11. Boulder Ridge / Wilderness Lodge

Boulder Ridge guests share the Copper Creek pool (ranked #3 above), which is great. But the dedicated Boulder Ridge pool area (the "Hidden Springs Pool") is tiny and basic. If you're staying at Boulder Ridge and want the good pool, plan to walk to the main Wilderness Lodge pool area.

What the Pool Ranking Means for Renters

If the pool is important to your vacation (and for families with kids, it should be), use this ranking as a tiebreaker when choosing between resorts with similar point costs.

Beach Club at 114 points for a 7-night studio versus Boardwalk at roughly 108 points? Beach Club's Stormalong Bay is worth the 6-point premium. Absolutely.

Animal Kingdom Lodge at 95 points versus Saratoga Springs at 84 points? If your kids love pools and animals, Kidani's pool and savanna combo is worth the 11-point difference. If pool time isn't a priority, save the points at Saratoga.

If you're planning a trip where you'll spend significant time at the resort (longer stays, trips with toddlers, visits during hot summer months), give pool quality extra weight in your resort decision. A great pool turns an average resort day into a highlight of the trip. A mediocre pool is just... a pool.

Pool Hours and Seasonal Considerations

One thing that catches first-time renters off guard: DVC resort pools don't stay open late. Most pools close at 10 PM, some at 11 PM during peak season. And the heated pool temperature can vary in the cooler months. January and February in Florida can have daytime highs in the 60s, and while the pools are heated, they're not hot tubs. If you're visiting during the cooler season and pool time is a priority, expect the pool to feel refreshing rather than warm.

During summer (June through August), pool crowding is at its peak. The Tier 1 and 2 pools handle this better because they have more space and more features to spread people out. The smaller Tier 3 and 4 pools can feel cramped on busy summer afternoons. If you're visiting during summer and want pool time without the crowds, early morning (before 10 AM) and late afternoon (after 4 PM when people head to the parks for evening events) are your best windows.

Many DVC resorts also have "quiet pools" separate from the main pool. These are smaller, simpler pools without slides or features, tucked into quieter sections of the resort. They're rarely crowded and perfect for adults who want to swim laps or relax without the energy of the main pool area. Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and Animal Kingdom Lodge all have excellent quiet pool options.

A Note on Pool Hopping

Disney's official policy is that resort pools are for that resort's registered guests only. You can't stay at Saratoga Springs and use Stormalong Bay at Beach Club. Pool access is checked via MagicBand or room key at the more popular pools (especially Stormalong Bay).

Some resorts share pools with adjacent properties. Beach Club and Yacht Club share Stormalong Bay. Copper Creek and Wilderness Lodge share the main pool. Bay Lake Tower guests can use the Contemporary's pool. These shared arrangements are official and don't require any special access.

If the pool is a big factor in your resort decision (and for families it should be), pick the resort with the pool you want rather than hoping to use another resort's pool. The rules are enforced, especially at the most desirable pools.

Browse our resort pages for photos and details of every DVC resort's pool and amenities, or check available listings to compare pricing at the pool resorts that catch your eye.