On Monday we did something for the first time at Walt Disney World…we mini-golfed at Winter-Summerland! My boys have mini-golfed at Fantasia Gardens before but none of us have ever played at Winter-Summerland. Normally we wouldn’t drive the 90 minutes to Walt Disney World just to mini-golf but we went to visit with some friends we originally met via the Sorcerer Radio chat room, who were vacationing at Walt Disney World from up north.
In case you don’t know about Winter-Summerland, here is the story from the Disney website:
Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course is a miniature, elf–sized golf course consisting of 2 Santa Claus–themed courses: the Snow Course and the Sand Course. Although subject to change, prices are $12.00 USD per 18–hole round for adults, and $10.00 USD for children 3 to 9 years of age.
Late one moonlit Christmas Eve, as Santa was flying over Florida on his way back to the North Pole, he glanced down and discovered snow in a place that is usually hot. After surveying the strange location, he decided to build a vacation destination for his off-duty elves—a Winter Summerland.
Seeing that the only thing Winter Summerland lacked was a golf course, the Santa Claus and his elves divided into two camps, one that enjoyed the warm Florida sun and another that preferred the snow and cold of the North Pole. The elves then built two distinctly different 18–hole golf experiences — a sand course and a snow course.
- Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course—Winter Course: The Snow Course invites you to participate in 18–holes of challenging fun — which, in addition to Santa and his elves, includes some of your favorite Disney Characters — as you putt your way to the North Hole. Additionally, watch out for Squirty the Snowman: he sprays water when golf balls pass beneath him.
- Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course—Summer Course: The Sand Course promises fun in the sun for everyone, compliments of a delightful beach theme with sandcastles, surfboards and ornaments hanging from palm trees. Delightfully themed holes include a sleepy Santa buried beneath a large sand mound and a giant sand castle.
After sinking the last putt on Hole 18, receive a special greeting from Santa Claus, thanks to the WinterNet and a computer.
Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Gold Course also features Santa’s “Winterbago,” a converted trailer home to the starter booth, gift shop and snack stand.
We had a great time mini-golfing and getting to know Jess & Chris in real life. After obtaining our private country club membership, we chose to play the winter course because we hoped the fake snow drifts would help us feel cooler…it was 96 degrees with a heat index of 106! We were dripping with sweat the entire game, it was crazy! Chris and Jordan will tell you that the Toboggan hole is evil! (I think they both scored 6 on that hole). 
You never know what…or who is going to pop up on each hole. The course was challenging enough for the 5 of us to play. I have misplaced the score card but I do know that Ron, my husband, won, Chris came in second, I was third, Jess was fourth and Jordan was last.
If you have some free time while you are visiting Walt Disney World, try a round of golf a Winter-Summerland. I’m sure you’ll have a s much fun as we did.
Myself, Jordan, Jess and Chris…Ron was the photographer. To see the rest of my pictures from our golf adventure click here.
winter-summerland, seems like a fun concept. i think disney is a great place and that’s not too far of a drive for a fun day of putt-putt.
I’d love to do mini golfing at Disney but I’m so rubbish at it I think I’d end up spending most of my time hunting down balls. The last time I played I was a teenager and I had no idea I was that bad! Still I guess that’s all part of the fun.
This sounds great! My husband pretty much grew up at Disney World and he is always talking up Fantasia. He tried Winter Summerland once but it’s still Fantasia for him. We’re planning on getting in some Disney mini-golf before our son is born. Maybe I can get him to do both courses since I haven’t been to either.