Hi Chris,
It's always nice to see you planning Disney at planDisney.
The latest planDisney podcast is about the best things to do outside the theme parks, which includes miniature golf. Something new I learned from my panelist pal
Jason is that you can get a discount on a second round of miniature golf by showing your receipt for the first round. This offer is valid on the same day or even the day after your first round.
You'll find miniature golf at two locations in Walt Disney World Resort:
Winter Summerland Miniature Golf and
Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf. There are two 18-hole courses at each location, which makes the deal on a second round of golf even more desirable.
Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, designed by Santa Claus, is located by Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park. Santa designed a Winter and a Summer course for his off-duty elves. Both courses feature creative obstacles, but my vote would be for the Winter course because it offers a change of scenery for Florida and you get to meet Squirty the Snowman. Using complimentary Disney transportation, Guests staying at Disney's Coronado Springs or one of the All-Star Resorts can take a bus directly to Winter Summerland. Guests staying at other Disney Resort hotels should take a bus to Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park where they can catch a bus to Winter Summerland.
Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf is located by the
Walt Disney World Swan Reserve. The Fantasia Gardens course is quite popular and very kid-friendly. Each hole feels like you're stepping into a scene from the movie Fantasia. Fairways Miniature Golf feels like you're playing a miniature version of real golf, which is best suited for tweens and older. The longest hole is 109 feet long; the sand traps and water hazards make this course a challenging adventure. You can walk to Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf from the EPCOT Resort area. From other resorts, I recommend taking the bus to Disney's Hollywood Studios, the boat to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels, and following signs to the walking path.
If miniature golf is a must-do for your family, Chris, I recommend allotting 3 hours for travel and course play. You can reserve a tee time up to 60 days in advance by calling (407) WDW-PLAY (939-7529). My family recently played the Fairways Miniature Golf course and noticed there was a 45-minute wait for Fantasia Gardens.
I hope this information leads you to a tee time and a hole-in-one, Chris. Just remember - if you had fun, you won!
Choose magic,
Jennifer