Every time I stay at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, I’m blown away by how the magic of Disney animation comes to life all around me—and the pools are no exception!

This resort is home to some of the most creative and immersive pool areas at Walt Disney World, with themes pulled straight from classic Disney and Pixar films.

In this post, I’ll dive into the three pools at Art of Animation Resort and share what makes each one so special.

Pools at Art of Animation:

Pool #1: The Big Blue Pool

The Big Blue Pool is the LARGEST pool at ANY resort at Walt Disney World! This feature is pretty impressive, considering the number of resorts and pools here. Believe it or not, it holds over 308,000 gallons of water.

The pool is themed after Pixar’s movie Finding Nemo. Surrounding the ocean-themed pool are larger-than-life characters from the movie, such as Bruce the shark, Crush the sea turtle, Mr. Ray the stingray, and various other fish and coral decorations.

The Big Blue Pool is EASY to find! It is right behind Animation Hall, the resort’s main lobby, and between the two Finding Nemo suites buildings.

The far end of the Big Blue Pool has a ZERO-ENTRY entrance.

This means there is no need to climb down a ladder or stairs to enter the pool as the depth gradually increases. This feature is great for guests with small children that want to play in shallow water. Zero-entry pools also allow those with disabilities to enter the water safely.

Surrounding the pool are lots of lounge chairs for relaxation. Behind the lounge chairs are tables with umbrellas that offer places to eat while being in the shade. Just be advised that on HOT days, the chairs and tables can get claimed quickly, so you may want to head to the pool early if this is important to you.

If you get hungry or thirsty while at the Big Blue Pool, there is an outside pool bar called The Drop Off. It’s easy to find as it’s located next to the pool.

The main food area, Landscape of Flavors Food Court, is also close to the Big Blue Pool. It can be found just inside Animation Hall. So if you dry off and put on shoes and a shirt, you can head here to find many more dining options.

If you have little kids, you will be happy to learn there is a splash pad behind the pool called Schoolyard Sprayground!

This area is perfect for younger kids. They will have a blast with all the fountains! In addition, there is ample seating for adults surrounding the splash pad.

And if your kids don’t want to get wet, there is a play area behind the splash pad. This fun playground is called Squirt’s Righteous Reef. Our kids played here when we first arrived at Art of Animation, and we didn’t have access to our bathing suits yet.

Since the Big Blue Pool is so large and centrally located, it is the busiest pool at Art of Animation. If you want a less crowded pool with a more relaxed atmosphere, keep reading to learn more about the other two pools at Art of Animation! 🙂

Pool #2: The Cozy Cone Pool

You will find the smaller Cozy Cone Pool at the far south end of Art of Animation. The pool and entire area are themed after the movie Cars. This is also the area where the Cars-themed hotel buildings are found.

The first thing you will probably see as you walk up is a replica of the Cozy Cone Motel. From here, you will walk through the “entrance” of the motel, which allows you to enter the pool area.

The pool is uniquely shaped and resembles a wheel well. If you were to view the pool from above, it resembles a semicircle.

Surrounding the pool are eight cone-shaped cabanas, which perfectly fit into the Cars theme. These cabanas are perfect for finding some shade while sitting by the pool. This is the only pool at Art of Animation that has cabanas. And the BEST part is that you can use them for FREE, and they are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you were to walk around the surrounding pool area, you would find some really fun Cars-themed decorations. My favorites are the life-size character cars of Mater, Sally, Doc, and Lightning McQueen!

The Cozy Cone Pool is much smaller than the Big Blue Pool. As a result, it is usually quieter and less crowded.

Pool #3: The Flippin’ Fins Pool

You will find the Flippin’ Fins Pool at the far north end of Art of Animation. The pool and entire area are themed after the Disney movie classic, The Little Mermaid. This is also the area where the Little Mermaid-themed hotel buildings are found.

The entire pool area is designed to resemble Ariel’s underwater grotto from the movie. Around the pool, you will find huge statues of the main characters, like Flounder, King Triton, and Sebastian. However, the largest statue is of Ariel, and it is the first thing you can see as you walk toward the pool!

As far as size goes, the Flippin’ Fins Pool is larger than the Cozy Cone but much smaller than the Big Blue Pool. Because of its smaller size and location at the far end of Art of Animation, it is typically much quieter and less crowded than the Big Blue Pool.

More info about the Pools at Art of Animation :

Operating hours:

All three pools are normally open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. But these hours tend to change depending on the time of year you visit. Just ask the front desk when you arrive to see the current schedule. The operating hours should also be posted on a sign near the pool entrance.

Lifeguards:

Yes, lifeguards are on duty at all three pools (Big Blue, Cozy Cone, Flippin’ Fins) when the pools are open. The operating hours for the pool are typically from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. But the hours are subject to change depending on the time of year, so check the schedule upon arrival.

Water slides and hot tubs:

Since Art of Animation is a “Disney Value Resort,” you won’t find any water slides, lazy rivers, or hot tubs at any of the three pools. If these features are important to you, you must stay at a Moderate or Deluxe resort at Disney World.

Pool locations:

Here are the locations for each of the three pools.

The Big Blue Pool: Located in the center of the Art of Animation and right behind Animation Hall.
The Cozy Cone Pool: Located at the far south end of Art of Animation in the Cars-themed section.
The Flippin’ Fins Pool: Located at the north end of Art of Animation in the Little Mermaid section.

Here is a map of Art of Animation Resort to help you see where the three pools can be found. Click HERE to download a PDF of the map!

Life jackets:

Complimentary life jackets are available at all three of the pools.

Pool towels:

Fresh and clean towels are available at all three pools: Big Blue, Cozy Cone, and Flippin’ Fins. In addition, there are bins to throw your used towels into as you leave the pool area.

Activities near the pools:

At certain times of the day, Disney Cast Members come out to play games with the kids, like trivia, relays, and other pool games, that are free! They may also have paid activities like tie-dyeing a shirt or making mouse ears. Look for a recreation calendar near the pools to see that day’s schedule.

There is also a ping-pong table near the Drop Off Pool Bar at the Big Blue Pool that is free to use.

And right next to the Big Blue Pool, there is an area where kids can get airbrush tattoos, henna designs, and hair wraps. Please note that this is NOT free. 🙂

Lastly, another fun activity near the Big Blue Pool is watching a movie under the stars. Every night a different Disney movie plays. Many times, there is even popcorn available. Upon arrival at Art of Animation, check out the movie schedule at the Front Desk so you don’t miss your favorite.

And if you don’t like what is playing, you can easily walk over to Pop Century Resort to check out the movie they are showing. 🙂

Showers and changing rooms:

There are showers located inside the bathrooms at each of the three pools. Below is a picture of the shower area near the Big Blue Pool, but the showers at the Cozy Cone and Flippin’s Pools look almost identical.