📝 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!
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
Boardwalk is one of the few Disney resorts I have not stayed in or at least toured, so thanks for this sneak peek! Something to look forward to on my next trip.
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.
Wow! As a Disney backstory enthusiast I absolutey love this post! I had no idea there was such an intricate history to the design of the Boardwalk Resort and surrounding areas. Thank you so much for sharing!
I had no idea about this. How cool that sooo much research went into the pool. I do have to admit that the clown does scare met and I have had on my room request “no clown view room”.
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! :)
What a cool pool! I had no idea that the pool at Boardwalk was so detailed. Thanks for the history lesson!