I went mini golfing at Disney World – here are my honest thoughts

Are you thinking about adding a round of mini golf to your next Disney World vacation? Here’s why you might want to rethink your itinerary, according to a Disney expert.

I’ve done just about everything there is to do at Disney World…or so I thought. So when my husband and I decided to skip the parks for a day and try one of Disney’s miniature golf courses, I figured it would be a fun, low-pressure way to spend the afternoon. After all, Disney and mini golf? What could go wrong?

Here’s my full review of my experience mini golfing at Disney World to help you decide if this is a must-do (or a must-skip) for your next Disney World vacation!

Mini Golf at Disney World Overview

Currently, Disney World has two miniature golf courses: Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland. Each course is open most days from 10 AM to 1 0 PM (though, check the hours on the day you plan to visit to be sure!) and costs $19 per adult and $12 per child for a full 18-hole game. 

The Winter Summerland mini golf course can be found next to the entrance of Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park and is themed after all things winter. There are two separate courses for you to choose from, including a “Summer” and “Winter” side. Both are filled with fun obstacles and highly themed holes to make you feel like you’ve stumbled upon a place where Santa and his elves once were.

The Fantasia Gardens course, on the other hand, is located near the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Hotel and themed after the classic Disney animated movie, Fantasia. Here you can choose from two different courses, one being more kid and beginner friendly, and the other being geared to more experienced players with challenging holes ranging in length from 63’-109’ long.

Recently, I played a round of 18 holes with my husband at the Fantasia Gardens course – here’s what I thought!

What I Liked About Mini Golfing in Disney World

I’ve been going to Disney World for over 30 years, but this was actually my first time mini golfing. So, needless to say, my inner Disney nerd was very excited to be trying something new. And, there were definitely some things I liked about it!

Instead of purchasing a pricey theme park ticket, we decided to spend a day outside of the parks, and mini golfing fit perfectly into the schedule and the budget. Instead of paying $120-$200+ on a day waiting in long lines and battling crowds, the $19 per adult price tag was a welcome sight. It helped us keep the overall vacation budget down while still feeling like we were immersing ourselves in all things Disney.

And, when I say that we escaped the crowds, I really mean it! In the early afternoon, we were one of roughly five to ten families mini golfing. This allowed us to take our time at each hole and make a whole afternoon out of the activity. Plus, it was very stress-free compared to the theme parks.

So, all in all, the price and the lack of crowds were a big pro. However, there were a few things that I felt missed the mark and made me rethink wanting to go mini golfing in Disney World again.

What I Wish Was Different About Mini Golfing in Disney World

Getting There Was a Challenge

Unlike the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs, Disney does not offer direct transportation to either of their mini golf courses. Now, this is pretty understandable – it’s not something that many people are trying to do on any given day. But when you do want to get in a round of mini golf, getting there can be pretty challenging.

The Fantasia Golf Course is technically within walking distance from EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the Disney BoardWalk area. However, we weren’t staying at any of those nearby hotels or visiting the parks that day. For us, the quickest and most convenient way was to drive ourselves (if you don’t have your own car, Uber is an option). Additionally, you can technically take the Disney Skyliner over to the EPCOT Resort area and walk from there. If time is of the essence, your best bet is going to be a car or rideshare.

The Winter Summerland Mini Golf Course requires a little less coordination since Disney does offer bus transportation to Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, and it’s located just outside the park entrance. But it’s still going to take some thought and time to get to either of these golf courses.

Expect Wear and Tear – But Still Fun Disney Theming

One of the things that I love about Disney World is how clean everything is considering how many thousands of people visit every day. However, as we mini golfed around the Fantasia Gardens course, it didn’t necessarily match the Disney standards I’m used to. For example, some of the putting green was peeling up, and there were a few putt-putt features that weren’t working the day we visited.

Of course, it’s expected that not everything will be perfect all the time when you’re at Disney, and there’s a good chance that we just visited on a day that multiple things had gone wrong and Disney was in the process of fixing.

One thing that is worth noting is that, even with the wear and tear, the theming is still very fun. Since this is Disney, the theming of the mini golf goes above and beyond, and changes depending on whether you choose the “Winter” or “Summer” course options. For younger kids, especially, this can keep it fun and entertaining throughout the course.

Hot, Sunny, and Absolutely No Shade

If you’re hoping for an afternoon activity where you can cool off, mini golfing at Disney World probably isn’t it. In my experience, the golf course (especially the Fantasia Gardens course) offered very little shade. We had to apply sunscreen multiple times and purchase extra water bottles because we felt like we were baking in the sun throughout all 18 holes.

Luckily, this problem is easily avoided by planning your mini golf session right when they open or visiting later in the evening when the sun is setting or has set for the day.

Also worth noting, the Winter Summerland course definitely offers more shade than Fantasia Gardens.

Snacks Are Limited, So Pack Ahead

It can take roughly 45-90 minutes to complete Disney’s miniature golf courses, depending on the crowd levels and how many people are in your group (especially if you’re there with kids), and that’s plenty of time to work up some hunger. While there is a small store where you can purchase snacks and bottled drinks at the entrance, the selection was minimal and mostly limited to overpriced bags of chips.

If you’re heading to the course with kids who may need a snack, it’s best to plan ahead. With the travel to and from the course and the game, you may want to consider bringing along a few snack options with you in case of a (food) emergency. It’s also a good idea to bring your own reusable water bottle or Disney Resort refillable mug so that you don’t end up thirsty in the middle of your game!

Should You Go Mini Golfing in Disney World? My Honest Review

So, is miniature golf a must-not do in Disney World? Not necessarily! My husband and I did have fun and really enjoyed experiencing Disney’s take on mini golf. It was a cheap(ish) activity to do on a day that we didn’t have anything else planned, and we didn’t have much trouble getting there, thanks to the fact that we had driven our own car to Disney World.

That being said, I do wish that the course were better maintained and in a more convenient location. The sun and lack of food also put a bit of a damper on the whole experience, but those are easy fixes in the future.

So, if you’re looking for a relatively cheap activity that’s unique and still Disney-themed, give the mini golf courses a try! Just time it around the weather and be sure that you’ve eaten. It may not be the most amazing thing you see or do in Disney World, but it is a fun, family-friendly activity to keep you busy when you’re not in the parks. However, I wouldn’t necessarily put this on your must-do list for future trips.