Hi there, Angela. Thank you for bringing your question to planDisney!
A first-time visit to the Walt Disney World Resort! I love to experience the resort through a first-timer's eyes. A few years ago, we brought our niece and nephew for their first visit and my favorite part of the whole visit was watching
their reactions to all of the magic surrounding them! Your friend is very lucky to have you there to guide him! Just make sure to sprinkle in some things that are new for you too!
TRON / Lightcycle Run in
Magic Kingdom Park will be open when you go (it opens April 4, 2023) and so will the brand-new table service restaurant
Roundup Rodeo BBQ in
Disney's Hollywood Studios (it opens March 23, 2023). And I've already decided that your friend definitely needs to experience the
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival!
At the time you are looking to go, there are two options to get from
Disney Springs to
Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf and back. The most convenient and
my preferred option would be to take a
Minnie Van. The reason I say this is because you would be able to book a ride directly to and from your destination. Not only that, Minnie Vans are driven by friendly and knowledgeable Cast Members who add that extra magical Disney touch.
The free option would be to use the
Walt Disney World Bus Service and take a bus from Disney Springs to
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. From there, you can walk to Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course. It is not necessarily a short walk, but there are sidewalks. It's about a 15-minute walk. When you are done with your very merry miniature golf experience, you would simply walk back to Disney's Coronado Springs Resort and take a bus back to Disney Springs.
Please note that since you are going to miniature golf in the evening, you cannot take a bus from a
Disney Resorts Collection Hotel to
Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park, which is how you can get to Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf during the day. The reason for this is Disney's Blizzard Beach closes early and there will not be bus service at the time you are looking to go. If for some reason your plans change and you're going to go miniature golfing during the day, another free option is walking or taking a boat from Disney Springs to
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and then taking a bus to Disney's Blizzard Beach.
Angela, I hope that you and your friend have a wonderful visit to the resort. There's nothing like a vacation with good friends! Feel free to
reach out again if you have any other questions!
Put me in summer and I'll be a happy snowman,
Matt