Hi Erika,
Welcome to planDisney! I’m so glad you stopped by today, and even happier to hear you're planning to cool off under the warm Florida sun in one of the amazing pools at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel. You’ve come to the right place, and I’d be happy to help you dive into the
big blue...and beyond! (See what I did there?)
If I had to guess, you may have come across some helpful answers from my fellow planDisney panelists
Kaylene and
Sarah B. on this topic. But since it’s been a while since they answered that question, I took the plunge and reached out to a friendly Cast Member on your behalf to gather the most up-to-date info!
Here’s what I learned: none of the Walt Disney World Resort pools are considered true saltwater pools. That means the water you’ll be swimming in isn’t quite like what you’d find under the sea with Ariel, Flounder, and Sebastian. However, there are a couple of pools that use saltwater filtration systems. These include the iconic
Stormalong Bay, shared between Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and
The Big Blue Pool at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.
Now, pool chemistry isn’t exactly my area of expertise, I’m more at home helping folks pick out their dream Disney Resort, planning a non-theme park day, and in my non-planDisney life, finding their dream homes, than decoding filtration systems. However, I did my best to channel my inner Dr. Bunsen Honeydew (though if I’m honest, I’m probably more of a Beaker) to break it down for you:
In pools with saltwater filtration, pool salt (sodium chloride), like table salt, is dissolved into the water, creating a mild saline mixture. As the pool’s filtration system circulates the water, it passes through a special generator that uses a process called electrolysis. That process converts the salt into a chlorine gas that sanitizes the pool, helping keep things clean by zapping bacteria, algae, and other not-so-magical pool intruders. So, while the water isn’t “salty” like ocean water, the filtration system does use salt to create a gentler, more natural-feeling swimming experience.
Erika, I hope this helps clear the water on your question and gives you a better idea of what to expect during your swim-time adventures! If you have any more questions about your Walt Disney World vacation plans, whether you're curious about pools, parks, or pixie dust, swim back over to planDisney.com and
send me a message directly. I’d love to help!
Wishing you sunshine and smooth swimming,
Brent