Hoping to grab a snack and a drink in Disney World? Well, there are some dining locations you might not be allowed to visit!

If you’re hoping to dine at one of the hotels around Disney World, but you’re not staying at the resorts, your options may be limited. This is particularly true when it comes to pool bars! So today we’re breaking down the pool bars that Disney has BARRED you from (pun intended).

So, what are the rules here?

Well, to know which spots you are and aren’t allowed to visit, you need to know the rules of visiting Disney hotels. If you’re staying at a Disney Resort, you will automatically have access to all that resort’s dining, pools, recreation, and shopping. You may need reservations to visit some locations (like popular sit-down restaurants), but you won’t be barred from the public spaces.

Also, those staying at Disney Resorts are welcome to visit other resorts freely using Disney transportation, though you will likely not have access to their pools. The only resorts you can pool hop between are the All-Star Resorts (between the three hotels), the Port Orleans Resorts (between Riverside and French Quarter), and Animal Kingdom Lodge (between Jambo House and Kidani Village).

Due to more recent changes with rules for hotel hopping and transportation, if you’re staying off Disney property and want to visit hotels, you will either need to have a dining/experience reservation and drive yourself, or you will need to pay to park at one of the theme parks and take Disney transportation from there. You can no longer park at Disney Springs and take buses or boats to hotels if you’re staying off property. 

So… we’ve covered the rules for visiting hotels, but what does this have to do with the pool bars? Well, some pool bars are located inside the pool area, which means that likely, only guests of that hotel will have access to it. Along with the new transportation rules, Disney has been cracking down on access to the pools, double-checking hotel reservations for guests entering the pool area in some places.

Now, we’ve rounded up the list of pool bars that you probably won’t be able to access if you’re visiting a resort and not staying there. 

Which Pool Bars May Be Unavailable to Outsiders?

The following pool bars in Disney World are located inside the gates of the pool area. This means that you may not be able to visit them without a hotel reservation:

• Backstretch Pool Bar
• Beaches Pool Bar
• Courtyard Pool Bar
• Leaping Horse Libations

• Oasis Bar & Grill
• On the Rocks Pool Bar
• Paddock Grill
• Uzima Springs Pool Bar

Some That ARE Accessible That We Love!

But don’t worry, plenty of pool bars around Disney World remain accessible to resort hoppers, since they’re located outside of the gated pool area. Starting with the Barefoot Pool Bar at Disney’s Polynesian Resort — this one is mostly inside the pool area, but it has a walk-up window outside the gate. One of our favorite things to snag here is The Voyager, which pairs well with their chicken wings.

See Our Review Here!

Another beloved choice is Geyser Point Bar & Grill at Wilderness Lodge, which is technically the pool bar for the resort’s main pool, though it feels more like a traditional lounge and restaurant. Here, you can grab the Bison Cheeseburger and several interesting cocktails like the Northwest Iced Tea, the Pineapple Mule, and the Huckleberry Punch. They even have Mobile Order available!

See Our Review of Geyser Point Here!

Over at the Yacht and Beach Club, you’ll want to stop by Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar & Grill. We’re big fans of their Loaded Crab Fries, and their drink menu has several tropical beverages, as well as the Category 5 and Cape Codder.

See Our Review of the Fries Here!

But those aren’t all! Other great spots we love that are open to all include:

• Banana Cabana at Caribbean Beach
• Bar Riva at the Riviera Resort
• The Drop Off at Art of Animation
• Mardi Grogs at Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter
• Muddy Rivers at Port Orleans Resort — Riverside
• Siestas Cantina at Coronado Springs
• Spyglass Grill at Caribbean Beach (they have Mickey-shaped churro waffles for breakfast!)

Pool bars typically aren’t our #1 stop for good eats in Disney World, but many of them have some fun menu items! If you want a cool snack, a refreshing drink, and a good view, try out some of our faves.

The Best and Worst Disney World Hotel Restaurants

Do you have a favorite pool bar in Disney World? Tell us in the comments!