Exploring Walt Disney World's Miniature Golf Courses - A Hole-in-One Adventure

12 October 2023 by Steve Bell Leave a Comment

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Are you ready for a magical golfing experience that combines the charm of Disney with the excitement of mini-golf?

Look no further than Walt Disney World’s fantastic miniature golf courses! In this blog post, we’re going to explore the world of Disney mini golf, featuring two unique courses: Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course and Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf Course.

Let’s dive into the details of each Disney World mini golf course.

Winter Summerland: Where Santa Plays a Round of Golf

Located Near Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park

Winter Summerland is a miniature golf course that captures the spirit of Christmas all year round. This delightful course features two distinct courses: the Summer Course and the Winter Course.

Summer Course: Picture this – you’re golfing amidst surfboards, sandcastles, and palm trees, feeling like you’ve been transported to a tropical paradise. Keep an eye out for the playful squirting ornaments – they might just add an unexpected challenge to your game!
Winter Course: On the flip side, the Winter Course transports you to the North Pole. You’ll encounter snowmen, a melting snowman (they’re quite the characters!), and even a North Hole that’s sure to test your putting skills.

Guests of all ages will be captivated by Winter Summerland’s festive atmosphere. And the best part? You don’t need a reservation to enjoy this mini-golf gem.

Winter Summerland opened in 1999.

Fantasia Gardens: A Whimsical Journey Through Disney Classics

Located Near Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Hotels, at the Swan Tower.

Fantasia Gardens offers another magical mini-golf experience inspired by Disney’s animated classics. This course is divided into two options: Fantasia Gardens Course and Fantasia Fairways Course.

Fantasia Gardens Course: Dive into the world of “Fantasia” as you navigate through scenes inspired by the film. From broomsticks to dancing hippos, this course brings Disney magic to life in a way that only Disney can.
Fantasia Fairways Course: Looking for a bit more challenge? The Fairways Course offers a more traditional golf experience with bunkers, sand traps, and water hazards. It’s perfect for those seeking a unique golfing adventure within the magic of Disney.

Whether you’re visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Disney BoardWalk, or Epcot, you can easily access Fantasia Gardens and enjoy a round of mini-golf with family and friends. No reservation required here either!

Fantasia Gardens and Fairways, Disney World’s original mini golf opened in 1996.

Disney World Mini Golf: Affordable Fun for All Ages

First things first, let’s answer a common question: “How much does Disney mini-golf cost?” The great news is that Disney’s miniature golf courses offer affordable fun for the whole family.

Two Ways to Play

There are 2 different ways to cover the cost of your mini Golf game, you can either purchase a ticket or opt for Plus Option or Water Parks and Sports option on your theme park ticket.

Purchasing a Ticket

The cost for the general public typically ranges from $14 to $19 per adult and $12 to $16 per child. You will pay this when purchasing at the courses

However there is a military discount!

The Shades of Green Ticket Office offers Military Discounted Tickets for both courses.

The cost for the Military Tickets is $12 per adult and $10 per child.

You can purchase these tickets at the Shades of Green Ticket Office in person or ahead of time long distance.

As a Ticket Add On

If you select certain Military tickets, mini golf is included!

Military Tickets That Include Mini Golf:

4 and 5-Day Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets with the Plus Option
Regular Military Discounted Magic Your Way Tickets with either the Plus or Water Parks and Sports Options

When you have these options, you have entries to various WDW Venues (including mini golf) equal to the number of days on your ticket. For more on this see the link below.

More about Military Tickets:

Getting Around: Transportation and Accessibility

Now that you know about these fantastic miniature golf courses, you might be wondering how to get there from your Disney resort or theme park.

Unfortunately, neither Disney or Shades of Green provide convenient transportation options to the mini golf courses!

Using transportation provided by either will involve indirect routes with at least one transfer and walking and availability can change throughout the year. Always be sure to ask a Disney Cast Member, check your My Disney Experience app, or call (407) WDW-RIDE or (407) 939-7433.

If it’s your thing, using Minnie Vans, Lyft or Uber is the best option.

Below I detail how to use Disney and Shades of Green transportation to get to the mini golf courses under regular travel availability.

Getting to Fantasia Gardens

Disney Transportation

As I mentioned above, Disney buses do not stop at Fantasia Gardens.

Fantasia Gardens is right across the street from the Walt Disney World Swan (crosswalk available) and right next to the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve.

From the Theme Parks
- Magic Kingdom – Take the Monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center, then the bus to the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve and walk.
- EPCOT – Exit at the International Gateway and take the Water Taxi Service the the Swan and Dolphin, then walk. Or walk to the Walt Disney World Swan from the International Gateway (this is a longer walk). Or exit the front of the park and the bus to the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve and walk.
- Disney Hollywood Studios – Take the Water Taxi Service the the Swan and Dolphin, then walk. Or take the Skyliner to the International Gateway and walk to the Walt Disney World Swan (this is a longer walk). Or the bus to the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve and walk.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Take the bus to the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve and walk.
- Minnie Van, Lyft, or Uber directly to Fantasia Gardens.
From the Disney Resorts
- All Resorts (Disney’s Recommendation) Take the Disney bus to Disney Hollywood Studios and then the 20 minute walk (following walking directions on My Disney Experience). I don’t recommend this.
- Disney’s Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, and Riviera Resorts – Take the Skyliner to the International Gateway and take the Water Taxi Service the the Swan and Dolphin, then walk. Or walk to the Walt Disney World Swan from the International Gateway (this is a longer walk).
- Disney’s Yacht and Beach Clubs and the BoardWalk Inn – Take the Water Taxi Service the the Swan and Dolphin, then walk. Or walk to the Walt Disney World Swan from the International Gateway (this is a longer walk).
- Disney World’s Swan Dolphin and Swan Reserve – Just walk.
- Other Disney Resorts – Take the Disney bus to EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, or Disney Springs. Then take a bus to The Swan Reserve and walk.
- Minnie Van, Lyft, or Uber directly to Fantasia Gardens.
From Disney Springs
- Take a bus to The Swan then walk.
- Minnie Van, Lyft, or Uber directly to Fantasia Gardens.

Here is my post on the walk from The EPCOT Resort area to Fantasia Gardens.

Shades of Green Transportation:

Shades of Green’s bus service does not go to the mini golf courses!

From the Theme Parks
- Use Disney Transportation as noted above.
From Shades of Green
- Take the Shades of Green bus to the Transportation and Ticket Center, then take a bus to The Swan Reserve and walk.
- Take the Shades of Green bus to Disney Hollywood Studios then take the Water Taxi Service the the Swan and Dolphin, then walk. Or take the Skyliner to the International Gateway and walk to the Walt Disney World Swan (this is a longer walk). Or as Disney says above walk 20 minutes to the course from the Studios.
- Take the Shades of Green bus to Disney Springs. Then take a bus to The Swan Reserve then walk.
- Minnie Van, Lyft, or Uber directly to Fantasia Gardens.
From Disney Springs
- Take a bus to The Swan Reserve then walk.
- Minnie Van, Lyft, or Uber directly to Fantasia Gardens.

Getting to Winter Summerland

Disney Transportation:

Winter Summerland is co-located with the Blizzard Beach Water Park.

As of publishing (Oct 2023) Blizzard Beach has not yet re-opened from its 2020 closure). I checked with Disney World Guest Relations (Cha) and they said that service to Winter Summerland is available property wide (Resorts, Parks, Disney Springs). Take this with a grain of salt, anyone at Disney World who interacts with the public long distance are known to pass out bad info. So be sure to ask a Disney Cast Member, check your My Disney Experience app, or call (407) WDW-RIDE or (407) 939-7433.

From the Theme Parks
- All Parks – Take the Disney bus to Winter Summerland
- Minnie Van, Lyft, or Uber to Winter Summerland
From the Disney Resorts
- All Resorts – Take the Disney bus to Winter Summerland
- Minnie Van, Lyft, or Uber to Winter Summerland
From Disney Springs
- Take the Disney bus to Winter Summerland
- Minnie Van, Lyft, or Uber to Winter Summerland

Shades of Green Transportation

Shades of Green’s bus service does not go to the mini golf courses!

From the Theme Parks
- All Parks – Take the Disney bus to Winter Summerland
- Minnie Van, Lyft, or Uber to Winter Summerland
From Shades of Green
- Take the Shades of Green bus to Disney Springs, Disney Hollywood Studios, or any Disney Resort, then take the Disney bus to Winter Summerland
- Minnie Van, Lyft, or Uber to Winter Summerland
From Disney Springs
- Take the Disney bus to Winter Summerland
- Minnie Van, Lyft, or Uber to Winter Summerland

For additional assistance, ask a Disney Cast Member or call (407) WDW-RIDE or (407) 939-7433.

For those who prefer ride-sharing services like Minnie Van, Lyft, or Uber, they’re readily available to get you to your destination in style. See Using Minnie Van, Lyft, and Uber at WDW.

Wrapping Up Your Magical Mini Golf Adventure

In conclusion, Disney’s miniature golf courses at Winter Summerland and Fantasia Gardens offer a unique blend of family-friendly fun and Disney magic. Whether you’re aiming for par, navigating sand traps, or simply enjoying the scenery, these courses promise a memorable experience for all ages.

So, next time you’re at Walt Disney World, consider adding a round of mini-golf to your itinerary. It’s a fantastic way to take a break from the theme parks, soak in the Disney atmosphere, and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones.

Remember, Disney mini-golf is more than just a game; it’s a journey into the heart of the Disney magic, where you can putt your way through the enchanting worlds of your favorite Disney classics. Don’t forget to check out Disney’s vacation packages for special deals and magical extras to enhance your Disney vacation experience.

We hope this guide has piqued your interest in the delightful world of Disney miniature golf. So, grab your putter, embrace the magic, and tee off on a magical adventure at Walt Disney World’s miniature golf courses!

Have you played these courses? Share your experience in the comment section below!

Don’t forget about Military Discounts on regular golf at Disney World!

This article was written by Steve Bell, founder of Military Disney Tips.

Steve is a retired U.S. military member who has been visiting the Disney Parks since 1971 and writing about Disney military discounts and vacations for the military community for over 18 years.

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