Looking for Disney World playgrounds and splash pads? Discover every location across parks and resorts, plus the best spots for kids to burn energy.

When your kids need a break from the magic, head to the playgrounds and splash zones around Walt Disney World. Days at Walt Disney World can be jam-packed with characters, attractions, and shows, but also long queues, crowds, and definitely no running!

Enter the playgrounds and splash zones at Walt Disney World. Even in all that magic, sometimes kids just want to go down a slide and scream while getting sprayed with water.

I learned this on my 7th trip to Disney World when we took our then 5-year-old on their first trip to Disney. During the trip, we met Mickey, rode Star Tours 3 times in a row, saw epic fireworks, and so much more. But in the midst of all that magic, they had the best time at a playground in EPCOT and a splash zone at Magic Kingdom.

There are those moments on most Disney vacations… your normally wonderful children are getting antsy. They are done waiting in line. They’re not excited about another attraction. They do that walk/run thing kids are so good at. They need to get some energy out.

Enter playgrounds and splash zones. Disney gets that sometimes a slide or getting soaking wet is the most magical thing on earth.

Disney World Resort Playgrounds and Splash Pads

Here’s the list of playgrounds and splash zones at the parks & Disney Springs:

• Magic Kingdom: Hop over to Rabbit’s Garden in the queue for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, cool off in the circus playground in Dumbo the Flying Elephant, or get wet at Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station
• EPCOT: Kids can blast all that energy in the Advanced Training Lab play area in the Mission Space building. Just a hop, skip, and a jump from there is a playground area that changes themes regularly. It’s between the Creations shop and Test Track. There’s also a small splash zone in World Discovery before the entrance to Mission Space and Test Track.
• Animal Kingdom: DinoLand U.S.A is home to The Boneyard, arguably the best playground area in a Disney park.
• Disney Springs: Lake Buena Vista is not for swimming but if you need to cool off at Disney Springs, you’ll find small splash zones behind the Earl of Sandwich and near the shop Disney’s Days of Christmas

You’ll notice one park that is not on this list, Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Despite being home to Andy’s backyard and Disney Jr. there isn’t currently a playground or splash zone. At one time, this park was home to the best playground at Disney World, the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure. Parents could rest on giant Kodak film canisters while kids explored an ant hill.

Disney World Resort Playgrounds and Splash Pads

Here’s the list of playgrounds and splash zones at Disney resorts:

• All-Star Movies Resort has a playground, an ice themed splash zone, and plenty of Disney movie themed areas to play
• All-Star Music Resort is home to a playground and kids love seeing the Three Caballeros statue at the pool
• All-Star Sports Resort has a playground and sports fans of every size will love running around the oversized football field and tennis court
• Animal Kingdom Lodge has the Hakuna Matata playground and the epic Uzima Camp splash area
• Art of Animation entertains with the Schoolyard Sprayground and Righteous Reef Playground. Don’t miss wandering around the Cars area with your racing fan
• BoardWalk Inn has a playground and a large grassy area on the lake for playing catch, tag, or just running in circles
• Caribbean Beach Resort and Port Orleans French Quarter are moderate resorts with both a playground and a splash zone
• Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower both offer splash zones
• Coronado Springs gets adventurous with the Explorer Playground
• Campers will find Disney’s Fort Wilderness playground and splash zone near the Meadow Recreation Area
• Grand Floridian keeps things fancy with an Alice in Wonderland themed splash zone in the Beach Pool Area
• Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort offers a fun Moana themed splash pad
• Old Key West Resort has playgrounds near all three of the pools
• Enjoy island time while kids play on the splash and climbing zones in Kiki Tikis Splash Play at Polynesian Village Resort
• Pop Century Resort has both a playground and small splash zone. With the oversized pop culture icons, this resort can feel like a giant playground
• Port Orleans Riverside hides its playground behind the pool area
• Fantasia fans will love splashing around the S’il Vous Play splash area at Riviera Resort 
• Find Donald Duck (a statue, not the real thing) splashing around at Saratoga Springs High Rock Springs pool splash zone. The playground is near the Congress Park section
• Wilderness Lodge was built with all the best splash zone amenities – twisty slide, climbing area, and a giant wood bucket that dumps gallons of water on your head!
• The Walt Disney World Dolphin playground is near the Grotto Pool

Sometimes, the playgrounds and splash pads are pretty straight forward – slides, spraying water, places to climb.

But there are others that are very Disney with themes, interactivity, and even one location kids can go to school with their favorite fish at a Schoolyard Sprayground.

The Best Playgrounds and Splash Zones at Disney World

Here’s my list of the 10 coolest things you’ll find at playgrounds and splash zones!

Giraffes and Elephants Soaking Guests

Like Walt Disney, kids love trains! Kids can’t ride this version of Casey’s circus train (like they can at Disneyland) but they can get sprayed by a variety of animals that are aboard the circus train.

Photo by Brett Svenson

Our 5-year-old spent hours playing at Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station in Magic Kingdom on their first day at Walt Disney World. Learn from our mistakes and pack a swimsuit or change of clothes!

Air Conditioned Playground

Fantasyland is the place to be in Magic Kingdom to amuse guests under 12. Inside the circus tent for Dumbo, the Flying Elephant is a themed playground.

This queue is different as you get in line to reserve a time on the ride. While the kids burn off energy on the indoor playground, you can chill on the bleacher seating savoring Disney air conditioning. And maybe even taking a little nap. You’re alerted when it’s your time to go on the ride.

Tea Cups that Spill Not Spin at Grand Floridian

Near the Beach Pool area at Grand Floridian is a whole new way for your kids to get curiouser and curiouser, the Alice in Wonderland-themed splash zone.

There’s a giant Mad Hatter hat that soaks tea partygoers. The stack of tea cups overflows from constant pouring by the large teapot. There’s even a portrait of the Mad Hatter. It’s one of the prettiest splash zones in WDW.

Festival and Movie-Themed Playground at EPCOT

A monorail ride away at EPCOT is a playground space that’s a must visit because you never know what the theme will be. It’s located between the backside of the Creations Shop and Test Track. I love a good theme and this playground doesn’t disappoint. Our kids have crawled around Cars, gone into the web with Ralph Breaks the Internet, and visited Oz at this playground.

It tends to change themes with each festival or to promote film releases. It’s a must-visit during the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival.

Digging for Dino Bones at Animal Kingdom

Quite a few splash zones and playgrounds at Disney World are for ages 2-12. Cast Members are often around to help reinforce these rules. Parents or older siblings accompanying the child are okay. Trying to get five adults with one kid into the epic Boneyard at Animal Kingdom or to play in the Mad Hatter’s splash zone is likely not going to happen. Animal Kingdom’s playground The Boneyard is a 10 and under area.

Photo by Laurie Sapp

It’s the best playground in a Disney park with two areas, a dig site and a Dino-themed playground with climbing areas and slides.

Walk in a Waterfall at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge has two areas – Jambo House and Kidani Village. They are two huge separate buildings. The great thing is you can use the facilities at both buildings when staying in Animal Kingdom Lodge.

This means you have access to not one, but two areas for kids to play – Hakuna Matata Playground and Uwanja Camp splash area. Hakuna Matata is a pretty straightforward playground, perfect for your little animals to run around.

It’s Uwanja Camp that made our older kids jealous of the kids under 12. The Camp has three sections that include a waterfall, slides, and even a rope course.

Colorful Splash Zone at Port Orleans French Quarter

The Mardi-Gras-themed splash zone at Port Orleans French Quarter provided hours of amusement on one of our Disney trips. There are water cannons, a twisty slide, and a brightly colored wheel that will drench your kid.

If you’re up for a walk, head over to Port Orleans Riverside to their playground to find a paddlewheel-inspired playground feature.

A Shipwreck at Caribbean Beach Resort

Over at Caribbean Beach Resort, little scallywags under 48” can get soaked pirate style at the splash zone near the Fuentes del Morro feature pool. Mateys over 48” can amuse themselves finding the Hidden Mickey and references to the film in the shipwreck-themed structure.

Sliding Out of A Beast’s Mouth at Coronado Springs Resort

The Explorer Playground at Coronado is considered one of the best playgrounds for a moderate resort. There are two parts to this playground. The one area is super themed and goes beyond just your standard slides and a climbing area. In one section, a giant spider looms over a web-looking climbing area, and explorers climb into a temple to access the slide.

To enter the second section, you walk through a giant stone head with Indiana Jones vibes. Oddly, on the other side is a super basic playground that looks straight out of an elementary school.

A Righteous Reef and a Sprayground

I love when Disney makes up words – chEAR squad, Imagineer, sprayground. Find the sprayground at Art of Animation Resort. Your little minnows can go to school with Nemo and his friends at the Schoolyard Sprayground and get soaked with pop up jets and gushing water.

Colorful Tad, chatty Sheldon, Kathy and her teeth, and of course a pink Pearl who squirts water all gather around Marlin and Nemo in their anemone. When the kids are up later than the pools open try Squirt’s Righteous Reef playground. Your little dudes climb stairs, go down slides, and explore caves inside Squirt’s reef.

At Walt Disney World, your kids can ride through their favorite movies, eat lunch in a castle, or even blast off to a galaxy far far away but never underestimate the power of a playground. They won’t forget that Squirt slide or spending hours getting sprayed with water by circus animals!