Are the Mini Golf Courses worth the time?

[Minnie Mi]

Our vacation package includes a round of mini golf, which my DS LOVES to play. Are the courses themed well and worth the trip or are they not all that special?

 

[ColoradoDis]

We like the Winter-Summerland course. You can either play the summer side that has holes designed like sand castles or the winter side with holes designed out of "snow and ice". We went the first time in 2001 and had a great time. Returned again during the last week of May and enjoyed it, but it was really hot. Take water with you.

 

[nitsirk987]

DH and i go every year!! we always go to the fantasia gardens. it's themed very well. they have little sayings at each hole to describe what you need to do. mickey squirts water at you and everything!! i would go! we end up going at least twice every year we visit!!

 

[Eeyore2003]

We've played the two at Fantasia Gardens several times and also the winter course in Winter/Summerland and Winter/Summerland we think is sooooooo much better. Very very cute things happen. Your son will love it. I don't know if they do the same little things on the summer course, but I do know that the winter course was really cute and awesomely themed. We've always used our "freebee" for miniature golf and last time was the first time we chose Winter/Summerland.

 

[Minnie Mi]

Thank you. I know that Disney's offerings are always a little better than the real world and I'm glad to hear that the mini golf courses are no different. I found it odd that none of my Disney guide books cover them and I haven't seen anything about them on the Dis before.

 

[Rob_b]

Winter-Summerland is really good for a beginner. It can really boost your confidence. Most of the holes are setup for hole in ones. My mom got 5 holes in ones and has never played golf before. It was a lot of fun but no challenge.

 

[SuzieQMomof3]

We also enjoyed Winter/Summerland mini golf. It was part of our hotel package in February of 2003.

Just remember, those tickets weren't free, you've already paid for them. Take andvantage of it.

Have a wonderful trip.

 

[JRoglitz]

Just wondering how hard it is to get to these. We will be staying at the Polynesian.

 

[SuzieQMomof3]

We got ours when we booked our trip. When I made the reservation, I unknowingly bought a vacation "package" which included the mini-golf or some sort of sports-complex thing which I can't remember.

You can still go play mini golf even if you weren't given complementary tickets. The cost isn't too much and if you're a DVC member there is a discount.

 

[Minnie Mi]

My tickets were included with the AAA package. Anyone know what the dollar value is?

 

[Gupsmom]

What about crowds.... We'd like to take our kids this time. Will there be a wait to play? Is there a slow time? I see that the parks (Mk/MGM) are closing around 8:30pm. We'd likely go to play mini-golf around 8pm. Will the early park closings make it busier?

Thanks...
Jess

 

[dis4fun]

We always take advantage of the minigolf when it is included in our reservation. (Was always included with bookings through my very missed Disney Club, boo hoo!!)

We always go to Winter/Summerland at night because they are open late (11:00, I think). It is cooler at night and crowds have never been a problem, even in mid summer and Christmas week. The kids look forward to it as one of their highlights of the trip.

It is also a good first night thing to do if you don't have park admission for your first day.

 

[mmccoy]

We played on our trip that surrounded the Memorial Day weekend. The courses weren't crowded before or after.

Its seem like the cost is around $8-$10 per adult, with a 50% discount if you play a second round on the same day.

WinterSummerland is next to Blizzard Beach. Fantasia Gardens is next to Swan and Dolphin.

As other have said, this is more than your typical putt-putt course.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the "other" course at Fantasia Gardens. Its putt-putt, but the layout is like a real golf course. The holes have a lot of little hills and sand traps (you just take your ball out if it goes in a trap), and undulating "greens". You have to lay-up on some of the holes. Signage at the beginning of each hole gives you pictorial suggestions of the direction you should hit. My DS5 LOVES putt-putt, but this course is designed for older kids and adults.

 

[karemore]

DH wanted to take advantage of our free mini golf in April, but I didn't want to give up any resort time or park time for mini golf...not even Disney mini golf.

What we decided to do was play after we checked out.

It was great.

It helped us not feel as sad that we were checking out and leaving...it was a sort of transition out of WDW......lol

Of course we had our own car so it was easy for us to pack the car and drive over to play and then depart.

I wouldn't take time out from anything else to play though.

What we like were the little surprises, water shooting out from different places, music playing etc. We went to the Fantasia course.

Karen

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

karemore,
We did the same thing last trip: played mini-golf before heading to the airport for our departure. Then we went over and ate a late lunch at the Boardwalk. It gave us a little transition stage before having to completely leave the "world" and made it a little bit easier to say good-bye.
We plan on doing this again next trip if at all possible (depends on what flight times we can get!)

 

[bballmom56]

Originally posted by mmccoy

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the "other" course at Fantasia Gardens. Its putt-putt, but the layout is like a real golf course. The holes have a lot of little hills and sand traps (you just take your ball out if it goes in a trap), and undulating "greens". You have to lay-up on some of the holes. Signage at the beginning of each hole gives you pictorial suggestions of the direction you should hit. My DS5 LOVES putt-putt, but this course is designed for older kids and adults.

We did this course and I found it frustrating with all the "undulating" greens. I'm used to putting through windmills, barns, loops, and other obstacles! I missed that on this course. Does the other one at Fantasia have obstacles, or the Winter/Summerland course?