Get to Know the Disney World Pools, Part Two: The Value Resort Pools

Now that we’ve covered the basics of Disney pools in general, let’s get into the specific pool situation at each resort. First up are the Disney value level resorts: All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, All-Star Sports, Art of Animation, and Pop Century. Here’s the scoop on the pools at these hotels.

ALL-STAR MOVIES

• How many pools are there? Two.
• What is the pool themeing? The main Fantasia pool features elements from the film “Fantasia,” notably a Sorcerer Mickey statue which shoots streams of water into the center of the pool. The smaller Mighty Ducks pool features hockey themeing such as larger than life sticks and a faux goal net.
• What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is one shallow kiddie pool with an adjacent water spray feature. This is located to the immediate right of the Fantasia pool, as you face the main Cinema Hall building.
• Are there water slides? No.
• Is there a nearby playground? There is a playground, located a bit away from the pool, near the Toy Story section of the resort.
• What’s the nearest food option? The Silver Screen Spirits bar is next to the Fantasia pool. For a full menu, go inside Cinema Hall to the World Premier Food Court. There are no food options near the Mighty Ducks pool.
• Are there showers at pool? Yes. There are locker rooms with showers next to both pools.
• Are there hot tubs? No.
• Are there towels available at the pool? No. You are welcome to use the towels from your room while you’re at the pool.
• How deep is the pool? Both pools are five feet at their deepest point.
• Is there are zero entry pools? No.
• Are poolside cabanas available? No.
• Are there poolside activities? Yes. All activities take place at the Fantasia pool area. There is one poolside ping-pong table. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Mickey Bean Bag toss, Twister, Musical Dots, Dance Party, Bingo, Treasure Hunt, and others.
• Anything else? Laundry facilities are available next to both pools.

 

ALL-STAR MUSIC

• How many pools are there? Two.
• What is the pool themeing? The main Calypso pool is shaped like a guitar, with an infrequently used “stage” in the center to signify the sound hole. The smaller Piano pool is shaped like a piano, with black and white deck tiling resembling piano keys.
• What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is one shallow kiddie pool. This is directly adjacent the Calypso pool, serving as the head stock peg area of the “guitar.”
• Are there water slides? No.
• Is there a nearby playground? There is a playground, but not right next to the pool. Find the playground behind Calypso building #10.
• What’s the nearest food option? The Singing Spirits bar is next to the Calypso pool. For a full menu, go inside Melody Hall to the Intermission Food Court. There are no food options near the Piano pool.
• Are there showers at pool? Yes. There are locker rooms with showers near both pools.
• Are there hot tubs? No.
• Are there towels available at the pool? No. You are welcome to use the towels from your room while you’re at the pool.
• How deep is the pool? The Calypso pool is five feet at its deepest point. The Piano pool is four feet at its deepest point.
• Is there are zero entry pools? No.
• Are poolside cabanas available? No.
• Are there poolside activities? Yes. All activities take place at the Calypso pool area. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Peter Pan ring toss, Duck Duck Donald, Hula Hoop contest, Dance Party, Name That Disney Ride, Trivial Pursuit, and others.
• Anything else? Laundry facilities are available next to both pools.

 

ALL-STAR SPORTS

• How many pools are there? Two.
• What is the pool themeing? The main pool Surfboard Bay pool is shaped like an amorphous, watery blob. The smaller Grand Slam pool is shaped like a baseball diamond, with Goofy on a mid-pool mound shooting a water cannon.
• What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is one shallow kiddie pool. As you’re walking away from the main building, it’s just past the Surfboard Bay pool.
• Are there water slides? No.
• Is there a nearby playground? Yes, but it’s not at the pool area. Find the playground between guest room buildings six and seven.
• What’s the nearest food option? The Team Spirits bar is next to the Surfboard pool. For a full menu, go inside Stadium Hall to the End Zone Food Court. There are no food options near the Grand Slam pool.
• Are there showers at pool? Yes. There are locker rooms with showers near both pools.
• Are there hot tubs? No.
• Are there towels available at the pool? No. You are welcome to use the towels from your room while you’re at the pool.
• How deep is the pool? The Grand Slam pool is five feet at its deepest point. The Surfboard pool is four feet, six inches at its deepest point.
• Is there are zero entry pools? No.
• Are poolside cabanas available? No.
• Are there poolside activities? Yes. All activities take place at the Grand Slam pool area. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Bucket Ring toss, Musical Dots, Disney Pictionary, Dance Party, Are You Smarter Than?, Disney Charades, and others.
• Anything else? Laundry facilities are available next to both pools.

 

ART OF ANIMATION

• How many pools are there? Three.
• What is the pool themeing? The main Big Blue Pool is Finding Nemo themed. The Big Blue themeing extends to event the underwater areas of the pool – you can hear Finding Nemo character dialog and music, but only underwater. The smaller pools are the Flippin’ Fins pool in the Little Mermaid section and the Cozy Cone pool in the Cars section.
• What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is no kiddie pool, but the Schoolyard Sprayground is a water play area specifically designed for small children.
• Are there water slides? No.
• Is there a nearby playground? Yes. The Righteous Reef Playground is adjacent to the Schoolyard Sprayground.
• What’s the nearest food option? The Drop Off pool bar is next to the Big Blue pool. For a full menu, go inside Animation Hall to the Landcape of Flavors Food Court. There are no food options near the Flippin’ Fins or Cozy Cone pools.
• Are there showers at pool? Yes. There are locker rooms with showers near all pools.
• Are there hot tubs? No.
• Are there towels available at the pool? No. You are welcome to use the towels from your room while you’re at the pool.
• How deep is the pool? All three pools are four feet, eleven inches at their deepest point.
• Is there are zero entry pools? Yes. The Big Blue pool has zero entry access. This can function as additional kiddie swim space.
• Are poolside cabanas available? No.
• Are there poolside activities? Yes. All activities take place at the Big Blue pool area. There are two poolside ping-pong tables. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Bingo, Water Basketball, Parachute Games, Arts & Crafts, What Are the Disney Lyrics, and others.
• Anything else? Laundry facilities are available next to all pools. Also note that the pools here are surrounded by low gates. These gates are sometimes propped open, but they do somewhat limit water access to small, fast-moving children.

POP CENTURY

• How many pools are there? Three.
• What is the pool themeing? The main Hippy Dippy pool is 60s themed and shaped vaguely like a flower with flower-shaped posts spraying water into the pool. The smaller pools are the Bowling pool, shaped like a bowling pin, in the 50s section, and rectangular Computer pool in the 90s section.
• What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is a shallow kiddie pool with fountain-like features located adjacent to the Hippy Dippy pool. Additionally, there is a small Goofy-themed spray area near the Hippy Dippy pool.
• Are there water slides? No.
• Is there a nearby playground? Yes, but it’s not at the pool area. Find the Goofy Pop playground behind guest building #5.
• What’s the nearest food option? The Petals pool bar is next to the Hippy Dippy pool. For a full menu, go inside Classic Hall to the Everything Pop Food Court. There are no food options near the Computer or Bowling pools.
• Are there showers at pool? Yes. There are locker rooms with showers near all pools.
• Are there hot tubs? No.
• Are there towels available at the pool?No. You are welcome to use the towels from your room while you’re at the pool.
• How deep is the pool?All three pools are four feet, nine inches at their deepest point.
• Is there are zero entry pools? Only the kiddie pool is zero entry.
• Are poolside cabanas available? No.
• Are there poolside activities? All activities take place at the Hippy Dippy pool area. There are is one poolside ping-pong table. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Goofy Bingo, Beach Ball Blast, Photo Scavenger Hunt, Wacky Bowling, Notable Quotes, and others.
• Anything else? Laundry facilities are available next to both pools.

 

Stay tuned soon for Part Three: The Moderate Resort Pools.