Welcome to planDisney, Alana!
I'm happy to hear from a fellow Florida local! I hope you're familiar with the
Florida Residents Special Tickets, Passes, and Offers page -- if not, I highly recommend bookmarking this page for easy access so you can watch it regularly for deals that may help you save some money for future trips!
Officially, day visitors at Disney Resort hotels are welcome to "enjoy select dining, shopping, entertainment and recreation experiences" while visiting (this includes people visiting guests of that hotel). Currently, access to the pools is limited to registered guests. Your friends will have to scan into the pool gate with their MagicBand, phone, or key card to gain access, and sometimes Cast Members have been known to verify at some Disney hotel pools.
That said, I do recommend having your friends chat with the Cast Members at the Front Desk to explore their options. Policies such as these may be subject to change without prior notice and could fluctuate based on management or the time of year. Also, depending on their room type/occupancy and the size of your party wanting to visit, they might be able to register you to their room as an additional guest in order for you to enjoy the pool with them without bending any Disney policy.
You and your friends could also always spend a day at a
Disney Water Park! Both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are operating! This could be a great way to cool down and spend some quality time with your friends!
If you have any additional questions, Alana, we would love to hear from you again at planDisney!
See ya real soon,
Allyn