Winter Summerland vs. Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf in Disney World

Disney World’s parks are packed with fun things to do — and it seems like we’re getting new things all the time.

Magic Kingdom

There’s a new coaster opening soon in Magic Kingdom: TRON Lightcycle / Run, Roundup Rodeo BBQ is officially taking reservations, and construction on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is really taking off. But did you know there are tons of things to do around Disney that don’t require a park ticket?

Just outside of the parks, there are a few miniature golf courses for you to check out — and in true Disney fashion, they have some fun theming! Winter Summerland Miniature Golf and Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf both have two mini golf courses that you can try without a park ticket. Let’s take a look at what they’re like!

Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf

This area features two courses based on the classic film Fantasia — one more suited to families and beginners, and one that’s a little more challenging.

Fantasia Gardens entrance

Fantasia Fairways is a more challenging course that focuses more on skill than chance. You’ll find sand traps, water obstacles, and sloping greens in these par-3 and par-5 holes that range from 63- to 109-feet long.

©Disney

Fantasia Gardens is still challenging, but it focuses more on whimsy. You’ll find pirouetting gators, tutu-clad hippos, and dancing water fountains as you putt your way through five musical sequences from Fantasia. Each hole has a name and coordinating theme, like Toccata and Fugue, where good shots are rewarded with music, and The Nutcracker Suite, which has dancing mushroom obstacles.

These picturesque courses are right around the corner from the Swan and Dolphin and the BoardWalk, so you could easily make a day of this by hopping over to the BoardWalk or one of the hotel restaurants for lunch!

Winter Summerland Miniature Golf

Winter Summerland is designed by Santa Claus himself! According to Disney, late one Christmas Eve, Santa was flying over Florida when he noticed some snow and decided to build a vacation destination for his off-duty elves.

Winter Summerland Mini Golf

He then built two 18-hole golf courses: one for the elves that preferred the Florida sun, and one for the elves that preferred the North Pole’s snow.

Winter Summerland Miniature Golf

The Summer Course is filled with beachy decor like surfboards, sandcastles, and palm trees. You’ll find peppermint-striped inner tubes, snapping clamshells, and a melting snowman as you putt around this 18-hole course.

Summer Course

The Winter Course is a whimsical experience where you’ll find obstacles like giant peppermints, hockey sticks, and the drawbridge of a melting castle. You might even get sprayed with water by Squirty the Snowman if your ball passes beneath him!

Winter Summerland Miniature Golf

These two courses mirror each other, so they are the same in terms of skill and layout. It’s as if you’re playing the same course at different times of the year! The courses combine for the last hole, and after you sink your ball, you’ll receive a special message from Santa Claus.

You can find Winter Summerland near Blizzard Beach, and it currently costs $14 per adult or $12 per child ages 3-9. Both of these sets of mini golf courses are a great way to have some Disney fun outside of the parks, but we have all kinds of recommendations for Disney fun that don’t require a park ticket. Make sure you check out our video below to see our favorites!