Review: The Pools at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World

(For the first page of this review of Four Seasons Resort at Walt Disney World, see this)

THE POOLS AT THE FOUR SEASONS RESORT ORLANDO

The geometry of the Four Seasons Resort Orlando yields two long sides.

One faces the parking lots and the rest of the Golden Oak division of Disney World, an expensive residential area.

The other long side faces the waterways and forests of the wilderness area south of Bay Lake and east of Fort Wilderness.

The northern part of this side is where you’ll find the pools and most of the play play areas of the Four Season at Disney World (the tennis courts are on the far south side.)

There’s four pools here, plus a slide landing zone that Four Seasons counts as a fifth:

• The adult-only Oasis Pool
• The lazy river The Drifter
• A family pool
• A splash pool bigger than most Disney main pools, the Splash Zone

The last three are all in what the Four Seasons calls “Explorer Island”–see the map.

THE ADULTS-ONLY OASIS POOL AT THE FOUR SEASONS ORLANDO

The adult-only Oasis pool is the first you’ll encounter, and a wonderful point of quiet tranquility.

Neither large nor of distinctive design, it has no kid appeal other than being the first pool they will see.  Getting them past it and into the lazy river area will suffice to leave this pool for quiet adult relaxation.

It is a straight-sided infinity pool with the infinity edge charmingly tied to the pond beyond.

The pool is surrounded on the other three sides by lounge chairs and cabanas, with generally a side table for every two lounge chairs.

Staff will cover your chair…

…bring you a pitcher of water…

…and offer you the PB&G menu–here’s part of it (as always on this site, click any image to enlarge it).

There’s also a hot tub here. There’s nothing special about this pool–except the level of pampering, and the freedom from noise…which are themselves pretty special.

THE LAZY RIVER DRIFT POOL AT THE FOUR SEASONS ORLANDO

The lazy river Drift pool seems to go on forever…

…and ever, and includes some semi-hidden spots to nestle with your family.

This shot, from my balcony at night, gives a sense of the scope of this pool. In it the Drift pool is at the right.

The 11,000 square foot Drift pool includes a waterfall, rapids section, and even some water cannons! (There’s an image of the water cannons at the top of the page.)

THE SPLASH ZONE AT THE FOUR SEASONS ORLANDO

The Splash Zone pool at the Four Seasons includes both play fountains and a short-depth splash pool as well.

This enormous play pool itself is large than many Disney World main pools.

Like the Drift Zone, it has some secluded areas

…but also abuts the “Ruinous Mansion” area…

…with its water slides…

…and kids services. Here’s where you’ll find the “Kids for All Seasons” staff who provide indoor, outdoor, and pool play help and supervision.

THE FAMILY POOL AT THE FOUR SEASONS ORLANDO

The family pool is a traditional family resort pool with a couple of additional features. For example, it’s an infinity pool–like the Oasis pool the infinity side is to the pond.

It’s also a zero-entry pool, with the zero entry in the middle of the long and narrow 7500 square foot pool.

One end of the family pool…

…and the other.

There’s also a playground here…

…and casual dining at PB&G, located between the family pool and adult pool.

Here’s the interior of PB&G.

As a total offering, the pools at Four Seasons are far better than the total pool offerings at any Disney owned resort.

Nothing here is so charmingly themed as the pools at the Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge; but no pool complex at a Disney resort comes close to the wide range of offerings here–a lazy river, an adult pool, a splash and play pool–except Stormalong Bay at the Yacht and Beach Clubs. The slide at Stormalong Bay is clearly better; on every other dimension, the Four Season pool offering bests it.

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