Walt Disney World's Disney Vacation Club Resort Swimming Pools

Walt Disney World's Disney Vacation Club Resorts have a lot to offer guests in terms of amenities. The rooms are spacious and equipped with all manner of vacation needs. The dining destinations are varied and delicious and the service is excellent. Several have marinas with boat rentals available, others offer resort tours and activities. But the best place to hang out on a hot afternoon or a "down" day is definitely the pool. So what do the resorts have to offer the pool loungers?

Old Key West. This laid back resort modeled on the Ernest Hemingway vision of Key West, Florida has a main pool area located next to the marina and just off of their main restaurant, Olivias. The pool is whimsical, with leaping dolphins poised off to the side and a large sandcastle spiral slide that is fun for adults and children alike. An additional charming detail on the slide is the not so hidden Mickey located at the exit of the slide into the pool. The Gurgling Suitcase is located poolside for drinks and basic snacks and meals.

Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa. The High Rock Springs main pool area at this resort goes hand in hand with the resorts theme of "health, history and horses". The pool is very spa-like and the slide is designed as a large natural rock formation surrounding a spring. There is a child's play area with Donald Duck and spouting water fountains, and cast members host daily activities and games around the pool. There is a pool bar located on the edge and Artist's Palette is a staircase away for full counter service meals and snacks.

Boardwalk Villas. The Boardwalk's Luna Park Pool is a sight to behold. From the turn of the century carousel inspired Leaping Libations pool bar to the playful elephants and ferris wheel decorations around the kiddie pool, this leisure area is a perfect re-creation of an Atlantic City turn of the century amusement park. But nothing carries this theme off better than the jaw dropping pool slide. Set to resemble an old fashioned wooden roller coaster, guests climb to the top of the slide and plummet through the wooden slabs of the coaster, emerging finally into the pool through the brightly colored and very large mouth of a cheerful clown. The pool area is upbeat and cheerful, but those with a fear of clowns may want to steer clear...!

Villas at Wilderness Lodge. At this resort, the main pool's slide isn't awe inspiring. There are no jets or spraying water anywhere. The appeal of Silver Creek Pool isn't in the thrills, but rather in the beauty and the details. Nestled behind the main lobby of this majestic resort, Silver Creek offers a stunning view of Bay Lake on one side and the resort on the other. The pool is set up to appear to begin as a stream in the lobby and flow out into the larger swimming pool. Roaring Fork, the resort's counter service restaurant is steps away and there is a pool bar overlooking the lake and beach. The slide comes out of a rock formation and for those interested in bubbling jets of water coming from the bottom of the pool, Hidden Springs pool is located just around the corner next to the Villas.

Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House and KidaniVillage. The Jambo House villas, located in the original Animal Kingdom Lodge share the Uzima Springs Pool with the hotel. This is a sprawling pool themed as an animal oasis right down to the seagreen color of the pool bottom. The water slide is designed to carry riders through red rocks and both a pool bar and The Mara, a counter service restaurant are nearby. The new Kidani Village villas offer up a second main pool and recreation area called Samawati Springs. Located just off the resort, guests are able to choose from cooling off in the main pool with the large corkscrew slide or in the play area where they can shoot water cannons, get deluged with water from pails, squirting flowers and snakes on one end or splash in the kiddie and toddler/infant pools on the other end. Maji Pool Bar is available for light snacks and drinks and Survival of the Fittest Health Club overlooks the pool area.

Beach Club Villas. The Beach Club Villas shares it's main pool complex with the Beach Club Resort and the Yacht Club Resort. Stormalong Bay is more than a pool area, it is a true pool complex. Located on the edge of Crescent Lake with a view across the lake of the Boardwalk Resort, Stormalong Bay boasts a white sand bottom, a lazy river, several different pool areas and a huge deeply themed shipwreck slide. Hurricane Hannah's is located in the midst of the action for drinks and counter service snacks, and Beaches and Cream is close by for ice cream sundaes, cones and shakes to go or for sitting down to enjoy burgers, malts and more.

While nearly all of the Vacation Club resorts also sport "quiet" pools where guests can truly relax and get away from the hustle and bustle, the main pool areas are alive with Disney theming and activity. A pool area may not make or break the vacation, but it can certainly be an integral part of escaping the Florida heat and kicking back for a different kind of Disney fun.