Splash into fun: The 14 best hotel pools in Orlando
Whether you are visiting Orlando for a magical Walt Disney World vacation, to cosplay as Harry Potter at Universal Orlando's The Wizarding World of Harry Potter or simply to enjoy the sunshine, one spot you are going to want to visit to beat the Florida heat is your hotel pool.
While nearly all of the hotels in Orlando have a pool, you don't want to settle for a run-of-the-mill square of water with nary a lazy river or waterslide in sight.
The 14 pools you'll find below are the best of the best. They're so much fun, in fact, that you might decide to cancel some of your magical, wizarding plans to have some pool time instead.
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CoCo Key Hotel & Water Park
CoCo Key Hotel & Water Park is located less than five miles from both Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando, making it a great "home away from home" during any Orlando theme park getaway.
The large, tropical-themed pool complex has a splash pool for kids with pint-size slides and water features, full-size water slides for big kids and grown-ups, a swimming pool and a massive splash playground for kids. The 54,000-square-foot canopy that partially covers the hotel's water park provides guests with shade from the Florida sun even when they are in the water.
The water park is open year-round and admission is included as part of the daily resort fee for up to four guests per room. Room rates start at around $75 per night.
Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites
With room rates starting at less than $150 per night, the Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites is a surprisingly affordable option for a property that's only five minutes from Disney World, offers family suites with up to three bedrooms and has a fun-filled water park.
Related: The 10 best Orlando hotels for large families
The hotel's Lagoon Pool and Waterpark has a colorful splash playground with multiple slides for swimmers of all sizes, a zero-entry pool and poolside activities like mini golf.
If you are hoping to pay using IHG One Rewards points, pricing starts around 13,000 points per night, plus the $49 daily resort fee, which covers water park access.
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Every hotel at Universal Orlando Resort has features that gave them a shot at making this list, but Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is among the best of the best.
The entire resort is designed to make you feel as if you've been sprung from Central Florida and transported 5,000 or so miles to the seaside village of Portofino, Italy. That feeling extends to the hotel's three (yes, three) sparking pools.
Related: These are the best hotels at Universal Orlando for 2022
The main pool, dubbed the Beach Pool, has a Roman aqueduct-themed water slide, a sandy beach leading to a zero-entry pool, a splash pool for kids, two hot tubs and cabanas to rent. The Villa Pool has fewer features for kids, but it is quieter and the Hillside Pool is the most secluded of the three.
Room rates at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel start at around $325 per night, which includes early theme park admission at Universal, water taxi transportation to the parks and Universal Express Unlimited skip-the-line access.
Orlando World Center Marriott
If you've ever visited Disney World, you've most likely driven right past the Orlando World Center Marriott. The huge 2,010-room property is located on World Center Drive, just minutes from the main entrance archway that officially welcomes guests to Disney World.
As part of a multi-year, multi-million dollar renovation, the hotel opened River Falls Water Park in March 2022. The water park features a large lagoon-style swimming pool, three waterslides, a lazy river and an aqua playground for kids.
There are daily poolside activities, including a nighttime laser light show, which you can watch from the pool or your pool-view room.
Room rates start at around $200 or 31,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
Everything about the Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort screams luxury, including the Explorer Island water park. Here, you'll find a large, zero-entry lakeside pool complete with an underwater stereo system, a kids splash area with interactive fountains, two waterslides, a lazy river and an adults-only pool and whirlpool.
Poolside activities include dive-in movies, bocce, trivia, bingo, s'mores making, water aerobics and more.
Room rates start at around $1,100 per night, which includes Disney perks like theme park transportation and early theme park entry.
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress offers complimentary shuttle service to both Disney World and Universal Orlando, but you may be tempted to skip the parks thanks to this hotel's refreshing pool complex.
The 800,000 gallon lagoon pool has a waterslide, 12 waterfalls — some of which are hidden in a private grotto complete with a cave system — and a suspension bridge. There's also a kids' splash area and hot tubs.
Related: The best points hotels near Disney World
Room rates start at around $225 per night or 12,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort's Lava Pool is one of two Disney World hotel pools that earned a spot on this list. The Lava Pool, though not the largest pool at Disney, has a few notable features that make it a worthy contender.
One, it has a waterslide built into a volcano. Two, it has the most impressive kids pool at Disney, with two water slides, a rope bridge and a small pool just deep enough for little ones. Three, you can watch the nightly Magic Kingdom fireworks from the pool (or the beach area just outside the pool).
If that isn't reason enough for you, buy a frozen margarita made with lime-flavored Dole Whip from the Barefoot Pool Bar and you'll be convinced.
Room rates at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort start at around $600 per night.
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate
With two 18-hole championship golf courses, a family-friendly par-3 course and a mini golf course, the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate is a golfer's paradise. And while the golfer in your life is perfecting their putt, the rest of your group can stay cool in the Omni's water park and pool complex.
Related: The 10 best Orlando hotels for large families
Younger kids will love the shallow kids' pool and waterslides, families can play together in the wave pool, lazy river and zero-entry family pool (complete with a 125-foot corkscrew waterslide) and adults seeking an escape can visit the adults-only pool.
Room rates at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate start at around $215 per night.
Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin
The Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve resorts are located on Walt Disney World property within walking distance to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios (you can also take a complimentary bus or water taxi).
Because the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve are technically three separate resorts, there are multiple pools to choose from, all with their own vibe and activities. There's the second-floor pool at the Swan Reserve tower, two lap pools, the quiet Spring Pool, a kiddie pool and a large Grotto Pool with a waterfall and waterslide where most of the action happens.
Rates start at around $185 or 45,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
The Hilton Orlando
The Hilton Orlando is located close enough to Universal (as well as SeaWorld and Discovery Cove) that guests can take advantage of perks like early park entry and free theme park admission for kids by booking a vacation package directly through the hotel.
When you are ready to retreat from the parks, head for Hilton Orlando's sprawling pool complex. The main pool has a gently-sloping entry, a winding waterslide, hot tub, a nearby splash pad for kids and a poolside bar and grill. There's also an adults-only pool and hot tub for guests 18 years old and up, a lazy river with waterfalls, fountains and (watch out!) water cannons.
Room rates at the Hilton Orlando start at around $160 or 50,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort pays homage to the Floria beach resorts of yesteryear. The colors are vibrant, the style is retro, there's Zest and V05 in the guest rooms and large screens in the food court show TV programming from the '50s and '60s.
Outside, the pool areas have the same vintage feel. The Cabana Courtyard on one side of the hotel has a dive tower-themed waterslide and the Lazy River Courtyard has a leisurely lazy river.
Related: How to use points to save money at Universal Orlando
Both areas have sandy beaches and large, zero-entry pools, as well as poolside lounges, fire pits (you can purchase a s'mores kit from the food court) and outdoor games like ping pong.
Room rates at Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort start at around $160 per night.
Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
There's no other pool at Disney World quite like Stormalong Bay, available to guests of Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts.
Within this 3-acre beach-themed water playground, you'll find a lazy river, a shallow, sandy beach area for families, a 230-foot-long shipwreck-themed waterslide, a kiddie waterslide and a swirling whirlpool.
Related: Hotel with the best pool complex at Disney World: Review of Disney's Yacht Club Resort
There are also three "leisure pools" that are smaller and quieter, each with its own seating areas and hot tubs.
Room rates at Disney's Yacht Club Resort and Disney's Beach Club Resort start at around $480 per night or you can look into renting Disney Vacation Club points.
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
The restaurants, activities and many of the guest rooms at Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center are housed within a large, glass atrium. The areas inside the atrium are themed to various parts of Florida like the Everglades, St. Augustine and Key West.
The aptly-named Cypress Springs Water Park and South Beach Pool carry that same Sunshine State theming outdoors. The water park is home to a zero-entry pool, a kids' water playground, a FlowRider surf simulator, waterslides and an "action river," which is similar to a lazy river, just a bit faster.
The South Beach Pool is long and narrow, great for lap swimming or relaxing under the palm trees away from the action at the water park.
Room rates at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center start at around $275 or 32,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
The Grove Resort & Water Park
The Grove Resort & Water Park's Surfari Water Park is one of the largest in the area. There are two tall waterslides, a huge zero-entry pool, a kids pool with waterslides and splash features, a 695-foot lazy river and a double FlowRider surf simulator (for an additional fee).
Water park admission is included for all hotel guests, though you can pay for add-ons such as expedited entry, cabanas and premium seating. There is also a stand at the entrance for life jacket rentals and any forgotten pool day necessities.
Room rates at The Grove Resort & Water Park start at around $215 per night.
Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
The Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld is so close to SeaWorld that some guest rooms have views that look directly toward the theme park's coasters.
During your downtime from SeaWorld's marine-themed attractions, you can kick back at the pool and R Aqua Zone water park at the Renaissance. The Olympic-sized pool has cushioned loungers and covered daybeds, while the R Aqua Zone for kids has a splash pad, water playground and slides. There are, of course, even more cushioned loungers in this area where adults can safely watch their kids play.
Rooms at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld start at around $200 or 31,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Bottom line
The hotel pool is more than just a place to cool off at the end of a long day hoofing it around the Orlando theme parks. These properties have something for everyone and prove that the hotel pools can be an attraction all their own.
Features photo courtesy of Renaissance Orlando SeaWorld.