Most people head to Walt Disney World with kids in tow. One of the most important decisions in planning your Disney World vacation is deciding where to stay. And if you will have kids along with you, that decision becomes even more important. So, here are out top 10 Disney resorts for kids.

#10: Port Orleans Riverside – Riverside, along with the other moderate resorts are ok for kids, but honestly, are better for adults without kids. They are quiet and decent resorts, but not anything overly fun or stimulating for kids. Riverside is the one exception, as they have a very fun pool, a cool boat you can ride to Downtown Disney along with the coolest thing, old time bamboo fishing poles you can rent and fish in the river. Riverside is a great resorts as well if you have three kids, as many of the rooms will sleep 5, the only moderate resort that has this amenity.

#9: Pop Century – While Pop Century, and the #8 All-Stars, were built for kids and families, they really aren’t the best resorts for kids. The pools do not have slides, and the resorts tend to get pretty crowded and often loud. Granted, Pop Century is well thought out and it is a fun resort. It has several big pools and a great arcade and food court, and plenty of Disney magic.

#8: All-Stars – While technically I would put All-Star Movies here at #8, in reality, the All-Stars are basically identical with only their theme separating the resorts. These resorts are similar to Pop Century, in not having a slide at the pools, but they have fun themes that kids seem to love. Whether your kids are into Sports, Music or Disney Movies, you can find something at one of these resorts to make your kids happy.

#7: Disney’s Fort Wilderness - Fort Wilderness offers both camping spots for tents, trailers and RVs as well as cool Wilderness Cabins. Kids love camping, and if you don’t want to rough it, the cabins are a great answer. Fort Wilderness has fun activities from campfires at night to hay rides and golf carts you can rent. A fun resort to spend time at for kids and adults.

#6: Polynesian – The Polynesian has many great attractions for kids, a great pool with ultra cool volcano slide, a beach, the monorail and a great view of the Magic Kingdom. The rooms are fun, and you really get into the feel of the Polynesian, especially at night, with the tiki torches. Plus, all kids love sitting on the beach and watching the water parade at night.

#5: Boardwalk Inn – Disney’s Boardwalk Inn is a great kids resort, with a fantastic roller coaster water slide at the pool, a great location near Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Boardwalk right out your door. Not only are there great restaurants on the Boardwalk, including the ESPN Zone, but you can also rent surrey bikes and hang out and watch the buskers, where are a blast.

#4: Wilderness Lodge – The Wilderness Lodge is a great resort for kids, with a fun, swimming hole type pool, great courtyard area and one of the funnest restaurants in Disney, Whispering Canyon Cafe. Plus, there is a great boat ride over to the Magic Kingdom available if you wish. Also, you can get a room with bunk beds, which always seems to solve a few fights over sharing a bed between the kids. Now, you just have to deal with the fight over who gets to sleep on the top bunk.

#3: Beach Club/Yacht Club – While technically the Beach and Yacht Club are separate resorts, in most cases, they really are only one resort. The Beach Club and Yacht Club have the best pool by far at WDW, Stormalong Bay. In addition to the great water slide, this sand bottom pool has a lazy river, a whirlpool and many other fun places to explore. Kind of like having your own water park outside your hotel room. Plus, the Yacht and Beach Club is right next to Epcot, and not far from the Boardwalk and Disney’s Hollywood Studio.

#2:  Contemporary – there is just something magical about the Contemporary for kids. I don’t know if it is the monorail running through the lobby every few minutes, or the great views of the Magic Kingdom from the room, or the kids pool that is out in Bay Lake. The rooms are fun, just having been totally redone, and have nice balconies where kids can hang out and watch the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. Plus, it is only a 5 minute walk over the Magic Kingdom if you don’t want to wait for the monorail, the only resort you can walk to the Magic Kingdom from.

#1: Animal Kingdom Lodge -  Well, kind of a no brainer for me. The Animal Kingdom Lodge is my kids favorite resort, and that holds true for most kids I have ever asked. With rooms right on savannas, kids can sit and watch the animals for hours from their rooms. Plus, there is a great pool with super fun water slide and you can even see animals from the pool area. Just a great place for kids to stay, they never seem to complain when you are leaving the parks to head back to the resort.

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Walt Disney World has some fantastic swimming pools, and why not? You have swimming weather available to you most of the year, and thousands of resorts guests looking for a break from the heat and theme park crowds. While the water parks are great, there is an entrance fee involved, and often, they are just as crowded as the parks. So, if you are picking your resort based on the swimming pool, here are the top 10:

#10: Contemporary Resort Pool – The Contemporary features a very nice pool, with a nice, if tame, water slide. The location on the back side of the Contemporary allows the pool to be very quiet and a bit removed from all the activity of the parks. A great beach is adjacent to the pool, and don’t miss the quiet pool just a few steps away, it actually “floats” over Bay Lake.

#9: Port Orleans Riverside Pool - Ol’Man Island at Port Orleans Riverside sits on it’s own island in the Sassagoula River. With easy acces from either the Mansions or Bayou side of the resort, the pool is quite and fits in quite well with the resort. There is a great little water slide and plenty of fun areas to explore. A bit on the small side, but worth the visit.

#8: Old Key West Pool – What used to be one of the worst pools at Disney World, Old Key West just finished a total rehab of their pool, and it now features a nice water slide and play area for little kids. It has nice views overlooking Old Key West, though my one complaint is that it is not private at all.

#7: Polynesain Pool - The Nanea Volcano Pool is a recent addition to the Polynesian. The Volcano water slide is the main feature, and is quite fun. The pool features many quiet areas, including semi-hidden hot tubs. There are also great views from most parts of the pool, including the Magic Kingdom and the nightly water parade.

#6: Saratoga Springs Pool – Great new pool at the new resort, with a super fun water slide, great kids area and plenty of places to sit and relax, both in the sun and shade. Surrounded by buildings though, not private at all.

#5: Grand Floridian Pool – a newer pool, located to the South of the Grand Floridian, Disney World did a great job or making it so that you can’t see the pool from the monorail or really, anywhere else. A great water slide and waterfall make this pool quiet and fun for everyone. Great white sand beach next to the pool is fun as well.

#4: Animal Kingdom Lodge Pool – a decent swimming pool, and very similar to the one at the Polynesian (they were built at the same time), the special thing about the Animal Kingdom Lodge pool is the fact that you can see animals from the pool area. While there won’t be any giraffe drinking out of the kiddie pool, it is special none the less.

Please note Disney World does not allow “pool hopping”, and many of the pools are closely watched and resort ID is required. So, if you want to swim in one of these great pools, you must stay at that resort.

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