A surprising new line awaits you at Disney World.

If you're visiting Disney World this year, be ready for waits at popular attractions like Splash Mountain, the new Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, or even for the latest must-try snack: a half-pound cookie from Gideon's Bakehouse in Disney Springs.

Be sure to secure a Park Pass reservation with your ticket purchase to avoid being left outside the theme park gates without entry.

One unexpected line you might encounter at your Disney resort hotel is the wait to access the pool.

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Since reopening in July 2020, Disney World has effectively implemented social distancing measures, which extend to the pool area, resulting in fewer available chairs and limited capacity.

While my previous two visits during the pandemic were manageable, rising outdoor temperatures and increasing visitor numbers have led to greater demand for the hotel pools.

We recently enjoyed a weekend at the Disney Yacht Club, often regarded as the resort with the best pool.

A detailed review of the resort and its amenities is on the way, but for now, it's worth noting that this location boasts a fantastic three-acre pool area known as Stormalong Bay, shared with the nearby Disney Beach Club.

As we approached the entrance to enjoy the resort pool, we were met with ... a line.

In the realm of Disney, I'm accustomed to waiting (and planning for it). I've stood in line before dawn to enter Hollywood Studios during the days of vying for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance boarding passes and spent three hours gearing up for the Pandora: Flight of Passage attraction.

However, waiting in line to access a Disney pool was a completely new experience for me.

Once a Disney pool reaches its maximum capacity (with some pools being more prone to this than others), two outcomes can occur.

You might find yourself in a traditional line where groups can only enter as others leave, with tables and chairs sanitized in between, or you could encounter a virtual queue. Our wait for the pool was the classic style, standing in a physical line.

Luckily, I was aware of this possibility thanks to the Disney Food Blog, so I prepared the kids to bring their patience along with their flip-flops.

Several groups that joined the line around us, or those who arrived and quickly left, voiced their surprise at the situation.

Our wait lasted about 15 minutes, but I've heard of longer delays—particularly during recent spring breaks in schools. This could worsen at this specific pool during summer if capacity remains unchanged, especially since the hotel section of the nearby Disney Beach Club is scheduled to reopen on May 30.

This means there will be even more guests eager to cool off in the same area.

If you find yourself needing to enter a virtual queue, you'll receive a text when it’s your turn to return to the pool area within a specific timeframe, much like how Disney restaurants handle their waitlists.

When the pool reaches capacity, a Disney cast member will assign chairs for your group upon your entry—though they might not match your expectations. Our assigned spot at Stormalong Bay was a table without an umbrella or shade, featuring standard chairs instead of loungers.

The table worked well for holding our shoes and towels while we swam, but it wasn’t exactly the ideal place to relax for an afternoon by the pool.

If all of this seems like more hassle than it's worth, there are alternative options available.

During our visits to the same pool both early in the morning (between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.) and late at night (after 9 p.m.), we encountered no crowds and had our choice of seating.

If you're planning to visit during peak season, I strongly suggest scheduling your pool time for either earlier or later in the day. Typically, pool usage spikes in the afternoon as guests take breaks from the parks, so steering clear of those hours can help you avoid long waits.

If that early or late approach isn’t feasible for you, just be mentally prepared for a potential wait to enter the pool, and you might be pleasantly surprised if you get to walk right in.

One way to ensure a great spot by the pool without waiting is to reserve a cabana, though these are typically in high demand.

I tried to book a pool cabana ahead of our Yacht Club trip to avoid any possible lines, but I ended up waiting three hours on the phone only to find that all four cabanas at Stormalong Bay were already fully booked.

To secure a cabana, it's recommended to call (407)-939-7529 starting 60 days prior to your trip. Both Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort offer pool cabanas for advance booking.

Another option is to look for your hotel's serene pool, which is often less crowded and possibly tucked away. While it may lack the amenities of the main pool, it could have available seating when the activity pool is full.

Lines and waits are a common part of the Disney World experience.

With rising demand colliding with capacity limits and still restricted offerings, new challenges are arising that we haven't faced before. If you're eager for a refreshing afternoon swim in the Disney resort pool this summer, be prepared for possible delays.

However, the silver lining is that once it’s your turn, you can expect a pleasant pool experience without overcrowding on the other side.

All images by Summer Hull / Dinogo.