Fantasia Gardens- a golfing fantasy at Walt Disney World. Keep it a Fantasy?
Written: Sep 02 '02 (Updated Jan 21 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The Fairways Course was a nice challenge.
Cons: The Gardens Course was disappointing.
The Bottom Line: This is a hard rating because I recommend The Fairways Course but not the Gardens Course. Please read the review.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Disney's Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf |
My husband and I took our 3 adult children, 21, 23 and 27 and one 21-year-old friend to the Orlando area over Thanksgiving. The day we got to Orlando we didn’t have time to go to a theme park so it seemed a perfect time to fit in miniature golf. The two young men are both golfers and we always took the kids miniature golfing when they were young. I am reviewing Walt Disney World’s Fantasia Gardens –“a golfing fantasy.”
Location, hours, fees:
~They are located within Disney World. Fantasia Gardens is a Disney attraction. It is across from the Disney-MGM Studios and are within walking distance of The courses are within walking distance of Disney's BoardWalk, Disney's Yacht Club and Disney's Beach Club Resorts. There is plenty of free parking.
~Fantasia Gardens is open 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., seven days a week (Note: this can be changed due to the season or weather conditions so if you are driving a distance, you may want to call first.) It was a beautiful day when we went and we didn’t even think that it might not be open. If it hadn’t been open there are other non-Disney miniature golf courses around.
~The fee is $9.25 for an adult and $7.50 for children ages 3-9. for either course. You can get a 50% off discount for a second round if you play it on the same day with proof of purchase.
Which course did we pick?
~We actually went here twice! The first time was with “the kids” and the second time was just my husband and myself. When we were there the first time we chose what is called The Fairways Course but The Gardens Course looked like fun from a distance so when all the kids left and we had a day alone we did that. I will discuss both courses.
~With the kids we didn’t even have to make a decision. We just looked at who was in line and it was clear that The Gardens Course was attracting children or elderly people. I was impressed with The Fairways Course, as was my stepson, who is very difficult to please. This course is really challenging. It has par-three and par-four holes ranging from 40 to 75 feet long. You’ll find water hazards such as water on both sides of the green, sand traps, grassy areas and bends that were very, very difficult. There are eighteen holes that are really well maintained. The courses are almost totally flat (except for the sand traps, etc.) just as a full-sized range would be.
~Half way through the course you will come to a soda machine that will run you $2.00 for a 20-ounce soda so you may want to bring your own drink. Because of the difficulty of the course and the fact there were 6 of us, we spent about 2 hours at The Fairways Course.
My rating: 4 stars for a miniature golf course because it is very different than others.
~I loved Fantasia 2000 (I reviewed the video.)and when we were playing at the Fairways Course I heard Fantasia music coming from The Gardens Course, which abuts The Fairways Course. On the way out I saw one of the last holes which looked like fun. Thinking about the music playing and what I thought was a fun hole I wanted to go play at The Gardens Course. My husband and I had a day alone when all the kids had gone home so off we went and were very disappointed. The Gardens Course might be fun for a toddler. Children who have played miniature golf before will be disappointed as I was.
1. The music is just one song from the video and it only plays occasionally. Note: on the score card which I am referring to but which says little, it does say, 㥾 holes of whimsical challenges take the player through 5 orchestral movements of the Disney Classic, Fantasia. Perhaps the other 4 were broken. See #2.
2. It was run down. The themes that were on the very, very simple holes needed painting. Some didn’t even work well and the water which surrounds some of this course is really disgusting looking. It isn’t attractive at all!
3. This is from the website
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ and go to sports and activities. They won't let me put in the whole url. It says it is too long.
“Hippos dance, fountains leap, and broomsticks march at this 36-hole miniature golf adventure, based on Disney's classic animated film "Fantasia." Choose Fantasia Gardens for a fantastic escapade complete with music and interactive obstacles from the film's most famous scenes.”
Where were 36 holes? I didn't see 36! I guess they added the two courses together but the hippos were only at Fantasia Gardens. Their idea of hippos dancing and broomsticks marching is a far cry from mine and will be even for a 7-year-old. There are fountains that leap! There are a couple of courses that when you walk by, for example, the animal will shoot water on you and one of the last ones, which was the one that looked so cute and got me to go back, had water coming from the top of it after you got the ball in the hole.
If this sounds cute, I am not doing a good job reviewing it. It is not worth the money. My husband and I went through it in 1/2 hour and that was taking our time.
General information:
1. If you go, wear a hat. It can get very warm in the sun and there is no shade, though there are a lot of places to sit down in both courses.
2. We were told that if we started one and didn’t like it, we could switch courses, so again if you go with your child and he or she hates one of them, you can try the other since you won’t get your money back. The Fairways Course will be too hard for a very young child although there was a boy in front of us about 10 years old who was enjoying it. Many children play golf at 10 and would enjoy it. You know your child best and his abilities will be the key to whether The Fairways Course is one he would enjoy.
3. If you go to The Fairways Course, put an extra ball or two in your pocket. There is a really good chance that you will lose it in the water!
4. There is a one-person restroom for each gender. It is easily reachable wherever you are on either course.
5. Both times we went there was no line and few people. This was in November. There was a slow family in front of us the second time we went, so we just went ahead and then came back.
6. You are told that there can only be 3 people to a course but at The Fairways Course all 4 kids went together and my husband and I followed. It wasn’t crowded and it was a non-issue.
7. There are some souvenirs for sale there. It is not a gift shop, they are sold where you pay.
My final thoughts:
As in Cape Cod and Myrtle Beach, the Orlando area is filled with miniature golf courses that have waterfalls and windmills that work. They looked very nice as we drove by them, but didn’t go. My recommendation is to skip Walt Disney World’s Fantasia Gardens and go to a more traditional one. They would have to do a lot to The Gardens Course to make me give it anything but 2 stars. I was really expecting a different song at each hole!
I am rating this whole experience 3 stars and recommending it because it will appeal to some.
The links below are to many of my Orlando/WDW reviews:
Islands of Adventure
Going to Disney World? Orlando? Need a Place to Stay? Look No Further"
Sleuths Myster Dinner Theater
Fantasmic at MGM
Boston Lobster Feast in Orlando
Fantasia Gardens-a golfing fantasy
Honey I Shrunk the Audience at Epcot
Recommended:
Yes
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