Top Walt Disney World Resort Pools

Everyone loves to take a nice cool dip in a pool after a long hot day. Disney has some of the most beautiful resort hotels in the world, and along with them are amazing pools. Here is a list of my top five favorite Disney resort hotel pools:

1. Disney's Polynesian Resort - There's something about this pool that is perfect for me. It has white sand beaches, lush tropical plants, a water slide, zero-depth entry and an amazing view of Cinderella's castle.

2. Disney's Yacht and Beach Clubs - Known as Stormalong Bay, the pool at Yacht and Beach is different than any other pool at Disney. It has a one-of-a-king sand bottom pool, which feels great on your tired feet! It also has a lazy river, and a large water slide. Please note: This pool area is only accessible to guests who are staying at Yacht and Beach. All swimmers must have a wristband in order to enjoy the pool area.

3. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

4. Disney's Grand Floridan Resort and Spa

5. Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

Viewing Locations for Illuminations

Illuminations at EPCOT is one of Disney's most memorable nighttime events. It is truly the perfect way to end a day at the park! One thing that many guests don't consider is that with so many fireworks, there is going to be a lot of smoke. My number one tip for watching Illuminations is to check the wind direction! It is so much more enjoyable when you do not have to look through the cloud of smoke to see the fireworks. That said, here are a few of my favorite places to view Illuminations:

-Along the railing between Mexico and China
-On the bridge between France and the International Gateway
-Along the water at the Rose and Crown (this requires dinner reservations and good planning)

Tips for Beating the Florida Heat!

If you've ever been to Florida in the summer, you know that it can be HOT. It is very typical for it to be in the 90's everyday during the summer. Add that to the extremely high humidity, and you will be begging for some relief from the heat. Here are few tips that I use when visiting the parks to stay cool:

- Bring a hand-held water mister/fan: These can be bought at Disney for around $18 but are much cheaper at Walmart

- Wear clothes that dry quickly: Try to avoid wearing any kind of denim or heavy material. There is nothing worse than walking around in wet jean shorts all day.

- Take breaks by visiting indoor attractions or having an indoor snack when your family gets too overheated (Also, many of the indoor quick service restaurants will let guests sit at the tables just to relax without buying anything)

- One of my favorite things to do is to grab a few cubes of ice from the street vendor soda carts when passing by. There is nothing better than the feeling of cold ice when your out in the sun all day. (Just remember to keep this to a minimum and not grab handfuls!)

- There are also a ton of great places to cool off in water around the parks. Below are some of the great places or attractions that offer a break from the heat:

~Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
~Kali River Rapids (Disney's Animal Kingdom)
~Studio Backlot Tour (Disney's Hollywood Studios, make sure to sit on the left side of the vehicle to get wet)
~The spitting camel at Magic Carpets of Aladdin (Magic Kingdom)
~The squirting tikis/totem poles near Jungle Cruise (Magic Kingdom)
~Play fountains near Mission Space and Test Track (Epcot)
~Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground (Hollywood Studios)
~The bridge over Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
~Play fountains (Downtown Disney)