For our July trip we were gifted free passes to miniature golf. Despite plenty of trips over the years, we have never done any of the miniature golf at WDW. For those who have played them, which have you preferred?
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Fantasia Gardens and Fairways vs. Winter Summerland
- Thread starter woodardfamily
- Start date
WorldExplorer
Well-Known Member
I would have to give the edge to Winter Summerland. The theme is adorable and it's got a lot of super cute details.
I really like Fantasia Gardens, it has a few really fun novelty holes (not to spoil anything). Winter Summerland just has more "oh, look at that!" to me.
(I also, unfortunately, find that Fantasia Gardens has a much harder time keeping clean; last time I went like half the holes had trash left at the start (each has a "book" on a stand, which people seem to think is a trashcan). Hopefully that's just bad luck and not a normal problem, though.)
I really like Fantasia Gardens, it has a few really fun novelty holes (not to spoil anything). Winter Summerland just has more "oh, look at that!" to me.
(I also, unfortunately, find that Fantasia Gardens has a much harder time keeping clean; last time I went like half the holes had trash left at the start (each has a "book" on a stand, which people seem to think is a trashcan). Hopefully that's just bad luck and not a normal problem, though.)
ajrwdwgirl
Premium Member
I have played both and I like WinterSummerland better, it has a cute theme. But both were fun.
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
What are the ages of those playing? How much of a challenge are you looking to have? We prefer Fantasia for the more challenging holes. Winter / Summer for the fun and more play. Both mini golf spots are worth the money and time, what would draw me to one over the other would be what kind of experience I’m up for.
Since all of us play golf from time to time, plus our kids are 18 & 14, perhaps Fantasia might do the trick. But I honestly think we would enjoy either course equally. My just come down to a coin toss. Lol!
Weather_Lady
Well-Known Member
We've played Fantasia Gardens twice and Winter Summerland ("summer" side) once.
Our personal preference is Fantasia Gardens, because thanks to its remote location (still easy to get to), it's less crowded and busy. Our experience at Winter Summerland was admittedly marred by some additional problems that may have biased us against it a little (we'd specifically reserved a tee time for the winter course, only to show up and be unapologetically told that it would be a 40-minute wait, whereupon we were basically bullied by the CM into doing the summer course instead). Still, we felt like the Winter Summerland holes were more crowded together, and because their more convenient/central location means many more people are trying to play, we were constantly having to wait for the party ahead of us to finish, or being rushed by the party behind us. Fantasia Gardens was just way more relaxing.
As for theming and fun details and special effects, both courses were first-rate.
If you're trying to fit in a round between other plans, the convenience of either course may dictate your choice. Winter Summerland is a no-brainer if you were already going to be going to Blizzard Beach, while Fantasia Gardens is a convenient stroll over from any of the Crescent Lake resorts, or a nice detour from a Friendship Boat from HS or EPCOT. (You'd get off at the Swan/Dolphin boat dock. Fantasia Gardens is a few minutes' walk from there, next to the Swan Reserve.)
Our personal preference is Fantasia Gardens, because thanks to its remote location (still easy to get to), it's less crowded and busy. Our experience at Winter Summerland was admittedly marred by some additional problems that may have biased us against it a little (we'd specifically reserved a tee time for the winter course, only to show up and be unapologetically told that it would be a 40-minute wait, whereupon we were basically bullied by the CM into doing the summer course instead). Still, we felt like the Winter Summerland holes were more crowded together, and because their more convenient/central location means many more people are trying to play, we were constantly having to wait for the party ahead of us to finish, or being rushed by the party behind us. Fantasia Gardens was just way more relaxing.
As for theming and fun details and special effects, both courses were first-rate.
If you're trying to fit in a round between other plans, the convenience of either course may dictate your choice. Winter Summerland is a no-brainer if you were already going to be going to Blizzard Beach, while Fantasia Gardens is a convenient stroll over from any of the Crescent Lake resorts, or a nice detour from a Friendship Boat from HS or EPCOT. (You'd get off at the Swan/Dolphin boat dock. Fantasia Gardens is a few minutes' walk from there, next to the Swan Reserve.)
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erasure fan1
Well-Known Member
I prefer Winter sumerland. I thought it was a bit more fun to play. That said, if you're a fan of mini golf, either one is worth playing.
DisneyFanatic12
Well-Known Member
Fantasia Fairways is good nowadays, but Fantasia Gardens constantly has a line of 60+ minutes. Winter Summerland seems to hover around 0-10 minutes for the summer side and 10-35 minutes for the winter side. Fantasia Fairways rarely has a wait. Mostly because it isn’t deemed “fun” by many. Still, when Fantasia Gardens has a two hour or more wait, people are more willing to try the other side…
The wait time is high at Fantasia now though because of the Swan Reserve…
Weather_Lady
Well-Known Member
Thanks for pointing that out. I had no idea the Swan Reserve had had such a huge impact on it!
DisneyFanatic12
Well-Known Member
It is crazy, but it’s a fairly cheap and easy thing to do if you’re staying there. After 4:00pm the lines also go down (because AP can’t get in for free after 4:00). Winter Summerland is great when Blizzard is closed and moderately good when Blizzard is open (crowd wise). Winter Summerland is often worst around Christmas though… mostly due to large crowds overall, but it is also a Santa-themed course.
Club Cooloholic
Well-Known Member
Have played at both. While Winter/Summerland was fun, I thought the holes were better at Fantasia. It was a little more skill driven yet whimsical, where as I felt Winter/Summer was very themed but cramped I recall how well you did on each hole was sometimes just luck(which I realize is, pardon the pun, par for the course in mini golf but it seemed more prevalent in Winter summer.
If you are walking from Swan to FG you walk on a marked crosswalk on the main road. Use extreme caution. Cars speed through that road around 45 mph.