Booking a Walt Disney World Resort hotel comes with plenty of benefits, but it also comes with a higher price than many guests remember paying just a few years ago. Between rising room rates, more expensive meals, and paid offerings like Lightning Lane, an onsite vacation has become a significant investment for many families.
As a result, guests expect more from the overall resort experience. Disney's hotels remain some of the most immersive places to stay in Central Florida, yet many fans believe a few simple additions could make those stays feel even more worthwhile.
Much of that conversation centers on one place families spend hours enjoying: the resort pool.
A Disney Resort Experience Fans Love
A Disney resort pool often becomes part of the vacation itself.
Guests spend afternoons floating through Stormalong Bay, racing down the lava slide at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, or relaxing beside the colorful pools at Disney's Value resorts. They also provide a much-needed escape from Florida's heat between park visits.
Whether you're staying at a Deluxe or Value resort, pool time can easily become one of the best parts of the trip.
Still, some guests feel Disney has fallen behind in several areas that could make the experience even better.
Mobile Ordering Update That's Long Overdue
Disney has embraced technology throughout its parks.
Guests can check wait times, unlock hotel rooms, purchase Lightning Lane, and use mobile ordering to skip restaurant lines. It's one of the resort's most convenient features.
That convenience doesn't extend to the pool.
While some Deluxe resorts offer limited service, most guests still have to leave their lounge chair and order food or drinks in person. They also can't place those orders through the My Disney Experience app while relaxing poolside.
Considering how much Disney emphasizes convenience elsewhere, adding mobile ordering to resort pools feels like a natural next step.
Value Resorts Continue Missing One Popular Feature
Disney's Value resorts remain popular because they combine affordable pricing with fun, family-friendly themes.
Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort, and Disney's All-Star Resorts all create memorable environments without the higher cost of Moderate or Deluxe hotels.
One amenity still doesn't make the list, though.
None of them includes a hot tub.
After spending the day walking around Magic Kingdom, many guests would welcome a chance to soak before turning in for the night. While hot tubs may not appeal on the hottest summer afternoons, they're especially enjoyable on cooler evenings and throughout the fall and winter.
Right now, that experience is reserved for Disney's Moderate and Deluxe resorts. Even one hot tub at each Value resort could make those hotels feel like a more complete vacation experience.
A Lack of Convenience
Disney pays close attention to theming, yet one popular resort feature remains absent across the property.
Guests won't find a swim-up bar or café at any Walt Disney World resort pool.
The request isn't about turning Disney into an all-inclusive destination. Instead, it's about making pool days more relaxing. Rather than climbing out of the water, drying off, and waiting in line, guests could simply grab a drink or snack without interrupting their afternoon.
Swim-up bars have become common at tropical resorts, making Disney's decision to skip them stand out even more.
They seem especially fitting for Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, where the atmosphere already embraces an island-inspired escape.
Luxury Experiences Could Feel More Luxurious
Guests willing to rent a private cabana already pay premium prices.
Those rentals include comfortable seating, shade, televisions, fans, and complimentary snacks or beverages at some locations.
Still, they could offer one more feature that many luxury resorts already provide.
Cooling misters can make a dramatic difference during Central Florida's hottest days, helping guests stay comfortable without leaving the cabana.
Adding that extra touch would help Disney's premium cabanas better match the upscale experience many guests expect when paying higher rental rates.
Disney Still Delivers Several Nice Touches
Even with room for improvement, Disney continues to offer amenities that many families appreciate.
Complimentary life jackets remain available for younger swimmers, and recreation Cast Members organize games, trivia, and other activities throughout the day.
Disney also keeps its resort pools heated year-round, allowing guests to enjoy them even when temperatures cool down.
Those extras continue making Disney resorts stand out, even if fans believe there's still room to grow.
Guests Want Resort Perks to Keep Pace With Rising Prices
Disney has built its hotels around immersive storytelling and thoughtful details, which is why expectations remain so high.
As the cost of staying onsite continues increasing, many guests hope the resort experience evolves alongside it. Poolside mobile ordering, hot tubs at Value resorts, swim-up bars, and upgraded cabanas may seem like small additions, but they could make a noticeable difference.
For fans who continue investing more in Disney vacations, those added comforts would help make every resort stay feel like an even better value.
