I do like using liners with drains quite a bit. I have an actual concrete pool now but if you dig a small pond (easy to just do by hand with a shovel) dig a little trench and lay some pvc to drain it, and then put a drain down and liner in. That way you can make it whatever size and shape you...
No they're definitely way worse now.
I use some heavy duty black tubs that I bought from our farm store. They're not as big as a kiddie pool but you could use two. I like them being smaller because it's easier to clean them and refill them frequently.