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The Story Behind Disney’s BoardWalk & Luna Park Pool as It Was in 2015

📝 Note: This blog was initially written in 2015, offering a historical look at Disney’s BoardWalk and Luna Park Pool as they existed then. Since then, the BoardWalk and the BoardWlak pool have undergone multiple refurbishments, which may have altered some of the details mentioned. Consider this a nostalgic deep dive into the rich history and theming of the resort as it once was!

Welcome Home! The Walt Disney World Boardwalk Resort - Theme is everywhere, and the Luna Park Swimming Pool is no exception.
Welcome Home! The Walt Disney World Boardwalk Resort – Theme is everywhere, and the Luna Park Swimming Pool is no exception.

Summer 2015 is here, and planning is key if you’re heading to Walt Disney World! Magic Kingdom opens at 9:00 AM, with Extra Magic Hours until 2:00 AM, while EPCOT and Hollywood Studios stay open until 11:00 PM on select nights.

The secret? Pacing! Instead of powering through, start at Magic Kingdom for the morning show (Note: No longer runs daily). You’ll ride more attractions in the first three hours than in six peak hours.

Plan! With little ones, start with Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, Winnie the Pooh, and Little Mermaid, then use FastPass+ later when lines are long.

Avoid afternoon meltdowns—take a resort pool break before returning for more fun!

Luna Park Pool at the Walt Disney World Boardwalk
Luna Park Pool at the Walt Disney World Boardwalk

Luna Park Pool – A Tribute to Classic Amusement Parks

Every Walt Disney World resort has a themed swimming pool, a must during summer (May–September). While all pools are outdoors and heated, they’re open year-round, making them great even for holiday trips. Pools range from simple designs to Storm-Along Bay at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club, featuring a sand-bottom pool, lazy river, and 150-foot slide.

Theme is everywhere at the Walt Disney World Boardwalk – and the Luna Park Feature Swimming pool is no Exception

Pool features vary by resort category. Value resorts have whimsical designs with basic water features, except Art of Animation’s Big Blue Pool, which includes an interactive splash area. Moderate resorts add waterslides and hot tubs, while deluxe resorts take it further—Polynesian’s Volcano Pool and Storm-Along Bay are attractions themselves. Sometimes, the pool alone makes a resort worth choosing!

Keaster Coaster water Slide
Keaster Coaster Water Slide

What’s my favorite Walt Disney World pool? The one at the resort where I’m staying! More often than not, that’s my Disney Vacation Club home resort—Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas. This resort transports guests to an East Coast turn-of-the-century boardwalk, blending elements of Coney Island and Atlantic City into an immersive, lively theme.

Every Disney resort has a signature pool, and at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, it’s Luna Park Pool. But why Luna Park? While they could have named it the BoardWalk Pool, the backstory dates back to 1901.

That year, the Pan-American Exposition, a World’s Fair-style event, was held in Buffalo, New York. Two visionaries, Elmer “Skip” Dundy and Frederic Thompson, introduced an innovative attraction called Trip to the Moon. This rocket-shaped ride gave passengers the illusion of soaring over Niagara Falls before landing on the moon. Instead of the usual stationary illusion shows, this one took guests on a journey, using manually operated sliding cards to change the scenery outside their windows. Upon “landing,” visitors were greeted by moon people and even offered moon cheese—a nod to the popular 1901 belief that the moon was made of cheese.

Trip to the Moon became the biggest attraction of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, drawing over 400,000 visitors. Following its success, Dundy and Thompson moved the ride to Steeplechase Park in Coney Island, where it thrived. But when park management demanded a bigger cut of profits, the duo made a bold move—they bought out the neighboring Sea Lion Park and, in 1903, opened Luna Park, named after the Latin word for “moon”.

That rich history of amusement parks, nostalgia, and boardwalk entertainment lives on in Luna Park Pool at Disney’s BoardWalk, bringing the magic of the past into the heart of Walt Disney World.

Helter Skelter at the real turn of the century Luna Park
Helter Skelter at the actual turn of the century Luna Park

The Luna Park Pool at Disney’s BoardWalk pays tribute to Skip Dundy and Frederic Thompson and their historic Luna Park. Just like classic coastal amusement parks, Luna Park needed a roller coaster—and it got one, with a twist! Instead of hopping onto a traditional coaster train or car, riders slide down on their keisters—the name Keister Coaster.

The Kiester Coaster Clown Exit – Disney Boardwalk Resort Swimming Pool

This signature water slide is cleverly designed to resemble a classic wooden roller coaster, adding to the boardwalk nostalgia. And if you’ve ever played those classic boardwalk carnival games—where you shoot water into a clown’s mouth to pop a balloon—you might notice a fun detail: the Keister Coaster exits right through a clown’s mouth!

Waiting to ride the Kiester Coaster at Luna Park Walt Disney World Boardwalk

Historically, clowns were also used to entertain guests in amusement park queues, making them one of the first forms of interactive queues. The Keister Coaster’s design captures that same spirit, blending theme park history, boardwalk fun, and classic Disney storytelling into one memorable splashdown!

The Elephants of Luna Park

What about those elephants? Luna Park once had an entire herd of elephants, which served as a popular attraction. Much like pony rides, guests could pay to ride the elephants, a spectacle that drew huge crowds.

Elephant Rides at the Real Luna Park - Cony Island
Elephant Rides at the Real Luna Park – Cony Island

To generate even more attention, trainers would lead the elephants down to the ocean, where they could bathe on the beach. Imagine a busy summer day, the waves crashing, and suddenly, a herd of elephants wading into the water. People would quickly gather to watch the elephants splash, play, and even squirt onlookers with water. The idea? Luna Park hoped the crowd would follow the elephants back to the amusement park and purchase a ticket to ride them.

Elephants at the Pool? Why?
Elephants at the Pool? Why?

While you can’t ride elephants at Disney’s BoardWalk, you can let them squirt you all day! Keep an eye out for the baby elephant at the kids’ pool, playfully keeping this fun piece of history alive.

Leaping Horse Libations – A Name with a Story

Leaping Horse Libations is more than just a whimsical carousel-themed bar and snack stand at Disney’s BoardWalk—its name carries a rich history. The inspiration comes from the painting on its side, featuring a diving horse and a young rider.

Leaping Horse Libations – there must be a story here
Sonora Webster Carver with one of the "Leaping Horses"
Sonora Webster Carver with one of the “Leaping Horses”

This imagery is a tribute to a famous Atlantic City act from the Steel Pier, where a horse would dive into a water tank from heights of 40 to 60 feet with a female rider. But the real story is about Sonora Carver, one of the brave young women who performed these stunts.

Sonora Webster Carver mid Leap
Sonora Webster Carver mid-Leap

During her second year of diving, Sonora suffered a tragic accident—hitting the water at the wrong angle detached both of her retinas, leaving her blind. Despite her injury, she continued performing for 11 more years, with the crowd never realizing she had lost her sight. Her story is told in her 1961 book, A Girl and Five Brave Horses, and was later adapted into the highly fictionalized Disney movie Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken, available on Disney Plus. Sonora Carver lived an incredible life, passing away in 2003 at 99.

Hidden Details & Easter Eggs (Gone but not Forgotten)

🏇 Ever noticed the design of the ESPN Club? The water tank inspires Sonora to dive into it during her performances!

The façade for the ESPN Club played into the Luna Park swimming pool theme. Do you know how?

Dundy & Thompson Easter Eggs: Remember Skip Dundy and Frederic Thompson, the creators of Luna Park? You can find their names hidden throughout Disney’s BoardWalk. The general merchandise store in the BoardWalk lobby is named Dundy’s Sundries: Serving the General Public Since 1902. Meanwhile, Frederic Thompson’s name appears on a storefront along the BoardWalk promenade—a perfect tribute to the legendary amusement park pioneers.

Dundy's Sundries, named for Skip Dundy.  Walt Disney World Boardwalk Resort
Dundy’s Sundries, named for Skip Dundy. Walt Disney World Boardwalk Resort

Relaxing at Luna Park Pool

Beyond its fantastic theming and history, the Luna Park Pool is the perfect place to relax and recharge before returning to the parks. Kids can enjoy the playground and campfire while the pool hosts fun games and activities.

Check the schedule, join the fun, and make a splash at Disney’s BoardWalk! 🎠💦

Be Sure to Check out Port Orleans River Side. The Reimagined Coronado Springs, Disney’s Yacht Club, and a new Contemporary Resort Rooms tour.

6 COMMENTS

  1. Such an awesome post, Sam. I’m from New York and Coney Island is about ten minutes from my house. It’s funny – now that I see the turn of the century photos of the real Luna Park, I can see so much of the theming of that area. I always have had a jaded look at the Boardwalk’s Luna Park because the current state of Coney Island is a bit dismal.

    Thanks for sharing and for being a part of this look. Awesome photos.

  2. Did you know they have a tour there? ;) I loved reading this, loved the detail! And I was glad to see video, I wondered if you’d surprise me and go all written. I’m glad you didn’t! Fun rookie loop, well done my friend! :)

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