By Undercover Diva
If you are looking for something to do on your arrival day, or if all the parks close early, I recommend heading to one of the mini golf locations. There are two mini golf locations on property, Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland. Both are your standard mini golf course, but come with a little extra Disney flair.
Personally, I’ve never been to the Winter Summerland, but I have played both courses at Fantasia Gardens. The Gardens’ course is a whimsical adventure through a challenging, yet fun, set of holes themed after the movie Fantasia. Each hole starts with a short poem giving you an overview of the theme and a tip if you read carefully. Many times, if you hit the ball just right water will shoot out, music will play, or something else fun will happen. This course is fun for kids of all ages, though younger children may have a bit of a challenge with some holes.
The Fairways course is exactly what it sounds like. Take a normal, adult sized golf course, and shrink it by about 50%. I’ve never seen a course quite like this, and I don’t think I want to again. This course has bumps and curves and it’s own version of sand traps. Undercover Boyfriend and I both got very frustrated on this course. I don’t really recommend this course for children, but if you want a challenge, or enjoy playing the normal version of golf, this is your place. I also recommend grabbing an extra ball (or two) on your way to the course, because it’s very easy to lose them in the bushes and never find them again! My favorite part of this course was the view. It’s right across the street from Hollywood Studios, so often times you can see a lot of the taller buildings in the distance.
Do you spy Tower of Terror in the background?
Stuck in a sand trap!
For both courses, always remember to be aware of your surroundings. If you are a bigger party or need to move slow because you have small children and the party behind you seems to constantly be waiting, let them on through. You will both be happier because you won’t feel rushed and they won’t feel like they don’t get any time on the course. At the same time, if you are a smaller party and notice that the party in front of you is slow and the one behind you is slow, play the hole again! Undercover Boyfriend and I did that last time and we took the best score of the two. Disney Diva Tip: I do recommend going at night. The course is less busy, and some of the extra lighting adds to the effects, but don’t feel like you are missing out if you go during the day. Just remember to have fun! You are on vacation and whether you are a pro or not, mini golf is always fun!
