25 over-the-top Orlando hotel pools that you should totally not sneak into

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

2901 Osceola Parkway Blvd. | 407-938-3000 | 9 a.m. - 11 pm.
Get in touch with your wild side at the lodge’s Uzima Pool, an 11,000 square foot watering hole straight out of a tropical paradise. But what really makes this pool stand out is the scenery — African wildlife can often be seen from the pool deck grazing in the neighboring savanna. The pool hours change seasonally, so you’ll want to double check depending on when you go. Typically, resort guests are the only ones allowed to use the pools, but when the pool is below capacity, the hotel might make an exception for friends and family who are visiting.

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Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando

5800 Universal Blvd. | (407) 503-2000 | 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Sunday-Thursday), 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. (Friday-Saturday)
Rock out at this 12,000 square foot pool, complete with a sand beach, interactive fountain and a 260-foot slide. Plus, you’ll never miss a beat of any of the live music or DJ-crafted hits found poolside, even when completely submerged, because of the hotel’s underwater sound system. Visitors of guests are allowed to use the facilities as well, but they have to remain with registered guests — the pool area requires a hotel key to gain access.

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Disney’s Beach Club Resort

1800 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Lake Buena Vista | 407-934-8000 | 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Stormalong Bay), 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. (leisure pools)
With Stormalong Bay and three leisure pools that each include steaming whirlpool spas, you’re bound to find a swimming area of your liking. The Stormalong Bay is a 3-acre beachside water park with currents and a sand-bottomed pool. Use your adventurous side and climb a life-sized shipwreck to plummet down a 230-foot-long waterslide. If you’re relaxed side is taking over for the day, you can check out the lazy river where you can rent an inner tube. There are also two pretty big leisure pools: Disney’s Yacht Club Resort pool and the Dunes Cove pool, which is technically for the convenience of guests at Disney’s Beach Club Villas, but all resort guests are welcome. However, you cannot bring any additional guests.

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Hilton Orlando Bonnett Creek Resort

14100 Bonnett Creek Resort Lane | 407-597-4600 | 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Travel down a pirate ship waterslide or take part in daily poolside arts and crafts at the Hilton Bonnet Creek Pool. The resort also features private cabanas that can be rented alongside the pool, which include lounge chairs, personalized service and access to an HD flat-screen TV. And once you’re ready for dining, Beech offers free-flowing mojitos and a menu featuring salads, sandwiches, pizza and nachos. Although you have to be a guest at the hotel to use the pool, you are allowed to bring as many additional friends and family to join you.

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Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando

6300 Hollywood Way | 407-503-3000 | 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.
This lagoon-style pool is perfect for the picky family. Kids can splash around in the ship-themed water play area, adults can relax or watch TV in rentable poolside cabanas and and everyone can enjoy activities like pool basketball, hula hoop contests, ping pong tournaments and weekly “dive in” movies. Friends and family can accompany registered guests to the pools, but only if they stay together at all times.

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Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

900 Cayman Way, Lake Buena Vista | 407-934-3400 | 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Take a mini vacation and visit Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort to travel down an 82-foot-long slide into a zero-entry pool. There are two slides and water cannons to make the experience fun and enjoyable. A shipwreck play area with three small slides is also available for kids nearby. Only guests staying at the resort are allowed to use the pool, and additional visitors are not allowed to join. This resort is also undergoing refurbishments until further notice, but the only operations it affects are Old Port Royale Food Court, Shutters at Old Port Royale, Banana Cabana Pool Bar and Calypso Trading Post.

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Loews Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal Orlando

6550 Adventure Way | 407-503-4000 | 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Cabana Courtyard pool), 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. (Lazy River pool)
Cabana Bay has two tricked-out pools guests can dive into. At the Cabana Courtyard, make a splash with your entrance from the dive tower waterslide or grab a frozen margarita from the Atomic Tonic poolside bar. The Lazy River Courtyard features a pool with a sandy beach, plus, you guessed it, a lazy river with waterfalls and water canons. Registered guests are the only ones allowed to use the pool, but if you have a friend visiting or staying overnight, they can join you for the day.

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Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

1000 West Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista | 407-939-1000 | 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
You’ll dig the sprawling Dig Site Pool complex at Coronado Springs. The Mayan ruin-themed attraction features the Lost City of Cibola pool as its centerpiece, with a 50-foot pyramid with stone steps where weary swimmers can rest during their explorations. Guests can also join a jaguar spirit animal for a ride down a 123-foot waterslide or join other “tribesmen” in the largest hot tub on Disney property, which boasts enough space for 22 people. Only registered guests can explore these ruins, but if you have a friend or family visit you, they can also join in on the adventure. The resort is currently undergoing refurbishments, and an expected completion date has not been announced, but it does not affect guests’ access to the pool or many other recreational activities--it just might get a little noisy at times after 9 a.m.

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Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

1901 Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista | 407-939-7000 | 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Jump right into your favorite classic Disney films at the All-Star Movies Resort. In the Fantasia Pool, huge character statues surround you as you swim and Sorcerer Mickey recreates his iconic movie scene atop a rocky cliff with cascading fountains. The Duck Pond pool puts you out on the ice in this 105,438-gallon pool designed to look like a hockey rink. Only registered guest can use the pool, but you can pool hop between all three All-Star Resorts, which means you can get your groove on in the Piano pool at the All-Star Music Resort or score a homerun at the Grand Slam pool at the All-Star Sports Resort.

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Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort

10100 Dream Tree Blvd., Lake Buena Vista | 407-313-6868 | Sunrise-Sunset (about 6:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.)
At Four Seasons, you can take a break from your hectic life and take a ride along the lazy river. The lazy river is more than 11,000 square feet and snakes around The Mansion, which features two waterslides. If you’d rather take a swim, you can visit the adult-only pool, which features underwater audio and a jacuzzi to change up the mood, or the family pool that overlooks the lake and has a sloping entry into the water. The pool is available for guests at the resort or visitors who reserve an 80-minute treatment at the spa. Anyone staying with the guest at the resort (rooms have a maximum of four people) can use the pool area, but no additional guests are allowed.

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