Jambo, Julie, and welcome back to planDisney! Thanks for stopping by with your question.
Your trip to The Most Magical Place on Earth is just around the corner, and I'm sure you're getting excited! From delicious food to exciting attractions, Walt Disney World has it all - including those incredible water parks. I'm thrilled to help you enjoy some fun in the sun on your upcoming visit, so let's dive straight into your question!
While Disney World is magical anytime of year, the truth is that spring is my
favorite time to visit! But you're a Florida native, Julie, so I know I don't have to tell
you that May can really pack the heat. Fortunately, Disney World's water parks are a great place to cool off! With their lazy rivers and wild water slides,
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and
Disney's Blizzard Beach truly have something for everyone. And as Olaf would say, just imagine how much cooler you'll be in summer...when you hang out at the water park!
While Disney World
is offering a
Free Water Park Access benefit this year, I have some unfortunate news to share. This offer is only applicable to stays between May 26th, 2026, and September 8th, 2026 - which means your arrival date falls just outside of the eligibility window. I know this isn't the answer you were hoping for, Julie, but the good news is that you can still visit the water parks, even without this benefit! You may want to consider the
Park Hopper Plus Ticket Option, which includes admission to the water parks, along with other fun-filled experiences.
Now, here's the kicker, Julie. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is largely known for its exotic animal residents and beautiful, sprawling savannas. But what you might not know is that it also offers some truly spectacular pools. On my family's last visit to Animal Kingdom Lodge, we intentionally skipped the free water park on check-in day
in favor of the resort pools!
While pool-hopping is generally not allowed at Disney Resorts Collection hotels, guests at Animal Kingdom Lodge
and Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village are welcome to use ALL the pools at that property. My husband and I love the serene Uzima Springs Pool at Jambo House, while my kids ADORE the water slides and water play features at the Samawati Springs Pool over at Kidani Village. It's like having a water park right at your own resort!
I hope this information is helpful, Julie, and that your upcoming visit to Disney World is a wildly good time! If you have any other planning questions, you know
where to find me right here at planDisney. I'm happy to help you plan the magic, every step of the way!
Hakuna Matata,
Allison