Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf and Garden Pavilions

The Main Street Gazette continues to follow the tragic events of this morning's monorail collision, and will present any news that becomes available, and is appropriate, in as timely a fashion as possible in the coming days. In addition to this coverage, beginning this evening, the Gazette will also return to regular feature content.



I may have mentioned once or twice (okay, several times) how much pleasure I take in putting a round of miniature golf at Fantasia Gardens on every trip to Walt Disney World. I may even have a friend who was there for the courses’ grand opening. So it should come as no surprise that I couldn’t help but share this article on Fantasia Gardens just as soon as it came across my desk. The article, Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf and Garden Pavilions originally comes from The Disney Magazine’s Winter 1995 issue.

Disney’s Fantasia comes to life! Disney’s newest experience, Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf and Garden Pavilions, is located on an 11-acre site to the southwest of Walt Disney World Dolphin and Walt Disney World Swan Hotels, near the BoardWalk Resort. The project will provide a wonderful Disney style experience for two distinct markets, a convention facility and a recreational amenity for Disney Resort guests.

Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf is a unique recreational experience with two 18-hole miniature courses that will appeal to both children and adults. An animated Starter Shack, that includes a snack bar and arcade, greets our guests and sets the stage for the theme.

For the family, the 18 holes of Fantasia Gardens, designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, is a fallback to the era of traditional miniature golf in a classical garden setting. Rolling grassy hills, sculpted hedges, elegant topiaries, sparkling ponds and formal flower beds work together to create an environmental garden setting reminiscent of “The Pastoral Symphony” sequence from the Classic Disney animated feature, “Fantasia.”

While beautiful and tranquil in setting, Fantasia Gardens also offers up a healthy dose of fun. Guests interact with whimsical, animated statues and dancing fountains. There are surprises around every corner as guests are challenged by the cleverly themed hazards based on five sequences from the film:

Toccata & Fugue, the introduction that sets a musical tone;
The Nutcracker Suite, that celebrates the seasons of the year;
The Pastoral Symphony, with its mythological cast of characters;
The Dance of the Hours, famous Alligator and Hippo ballet;
and of course, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, starring the one and only Mickey Mouse.

Focused more for the adult children, Fantasia Fairways is a one-of-a-kind challenge putting course. In a landscape setting that harmonizes with Fantasia Gardens, the par three and four putting holes will thrill and entertain the best of golfers. Exaggerated contours, water hazards and sand traps together with dogleg bends will demand both skill and luck to overcome.

Designed by noted American architect Michael Graves, the Garden Pavilions will extend the variety of spaces available for convention functions. In its open air, circus tent style, the pavilions will capitalize on Central Florida’s outdoor environment with patio decks, a sandy beach with lush landscaping. The two connected pavilions will accommodate a single large function or two groups simultaneously.

A golfing fantasy

Fantasia Gardens physically sits between Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios and in the shadow of the Swan and Dolphin resorts. When it comes to attention, however, Fantasia Gardens rests in the middle of four of the world's most popular theme parks, two water parks, and a multitude of meticulously manicured and designed resorts. It is safe to say that, while offering an amazing golf experience, Fantasia Gardens is often overlooked due to the facts that there are countless other activities vying for guests' attention and a majority of guests have a miniature golf course near their own homes. Despite all of these preconceived notions, Fantasia Gardens offers an experience unlike any other on property.

Fantasia Gardens, A Golfing Fantasy, offers two courses, The Fairways Course and The Gardens Course. The Fairways Course is a standard golf course, complete with water hazards, sand traps, and impeding crests, that has been shrunk down to miniature golf size complete with a shrunken par of 61 for the course.

The Gardens Course, a 53 par course, “turns miniature golfing into a symphony of fun,” by including elements and characters from some of the major movements of Walt Disney's animated orchestral concert, Fantasia. Like most miniature golf courses, Fantasia Gardens' Gardens Course has trick pathways, obstacles, and holes that attempt to make the game a bit simpler for the novice golfer. Along the way, interactive elements, such as lighting, music, water effects, and animated statues make this a one-of-a-kind miniature golfing event.In addition to a unique miniature golfing experience, Fantasia Gardens offers something rare in the world of Walt Disney World, something for nothing. No, the round of golf is not free (18-holes for an adult currently runs $11.75, while children between ages 3 – 9 can putt around for $9.75), but you walk away with a free souvenir. All guests who complete their round, no matter their final score, will receive a Limited Edition golf ball. While the image printed on the golf balls change from time to time, in keeping with the tradition of 'Limited Edition,' it will always contain a Disney character posing somewhere along the course.Fantasia Gardens offers some great photographic opportunities. Even without a camera, the courses and their spirited figurines offer guests memories and laughs to last a lifetime.

Rolling Symphony

We talked earlier this week about words and their power and place within the parks of Walt Disney World, but words are just as powerful no matter where they are found. Say, for instance, on a miniature golf course. While Fantasia Gardens may putt around with the theme of music and animation, it is the words here that could make or break your game and spirit.

Comprised of two 18-hole miniature courses, Fantasia Gardens has offers a challenge to every level of golfer. While the Gardens Course may play to the whimsy inherent in the feature Fantasia, the Fairways Course is composed of holes that play with the science and art of the music included in the film. However, both courses use wordplay, an element rarely used throughout Fantasia, to give players a glimpse into the future of the holes and how they should be played.The Gardens Course use the motion of words in poetry to move the game along and pass along clever hints. Just as the course’s design is more serious in nature than the Gardens Course, so too are the clues that are presented along the Fairways Course. Not surprisingly, however, both courses contain a fair amount of wit and riddles to uncover while you plot your next putt. Let’s play through and see what each hole has to offer.

Gardens Course: Hole 1 – Tocatta and Fugue
Our musical game
has just begun
And here comes
treble for everyone
Up to the top
the ball must run
For any hope of
a hole-in one


Gardens Course: Hole 2 – Tocatta and Fugue
The notes upon the
staff you see
May seem quite
lovely musically
But now, as you
begin to play
You'll see they may
get in your way

Gardens Course: Hole 3 – Tocatta and Fugue
Before our little
fugue concludes
The music swells and
changes mood
Avoid the rests and
you will hear
Chimes a ringing
sweet and clear

Gardens Course: Hole 4 – The Nutcracker Suite
Spring is here
and just beyond
Blossoms float
upon the pond
The open bud should
be your goal
Its dainty petals
surround the hole

Gardens Course: Hole 5 – The Nutcracker Suite
These lively mushrooms
circle 'round
White one is hopping
up and down
At the feet of
little hop low
Is where you want
the ball to go

Gardens Course: Hole 6 – The Nutcracker Suite
As winter arrives,
the fairies create
A frost covered pond
where they can skate
Their path on the left is
where it should roll
Then watch as it waltzes
down to the hole

Gardens Course: Hole 7 – The Nutcracker Suite
And so this musical
suite we close
Amidst the flurry
of winter snows
Weather the storm
where snowflakes fall
Or easily putt
around them all

Gardens Course: Hole 8 – The Pastoral Symphony
Within mount olympus
the opus unfolds
And what mythological
creatures it holds!
When putting the ball
be careful to go
Straight through the pillars,
to the caverns below

Gardens Course: Hole 9 – The Pastoral Symphony
The impish faun
loves to tease
As he plays his
pipe with ease
So if you can putt
straight and true
Perhaps he'll play
a tune for you

Gardens Course: Hole 10 – The Pastoral Symphony
In all of the land there’s no
one more raucous
Than the fell here,
the infamous Bacchus
He’s poured you a path that
you simply putt up
Hit it just right and it
spills to the cup

Gardens Course: Hole 11 – Dance of the Hours
You will notice
in a glance
These graceful ladies
love to dance
This bird ballet
is lovely, but
They may distract you
as you putt

Gardens Course: Hole 12 – Dances of the Hours
And here, the dance
grows even greater
Enter now:
Ben Ali Gator
With hippo high,
he strains beneath
Now simply putt
between his teeth

Gardens Course: Hole 13 – Dance of the Hours
After they dance
their amusing duet
Hyacinth hippo will
now pirouette
Carefully watch as she
spins here for you
Time it just right and the
ball will go through


Gardens Course: Hole 14 – Dance of the Hours
Twilight brings a
mood of romance
The perfect time for
an elephant dance
So while she strikes
this beautiful pose
Aim for the path
beneath her toes

Gardens Course: Hole 15 – Dance of the Hours
Before we can finish
this silly ballet
This fanciful fountain
is ready to spray
So keep an eye out
for each little jet
They're hopping and hoping
to get the ball wet

Gardens Course: Hole 16 – The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Mickey's in trouble for
casting a spell
Meant to assist him
in filling the well
Now armies of brooms
with a water supply
Are ready to douse
anything that goes by

Gardens Course: Hole 17 – The Sorcerer's Apprentice
When Mickey is dreaming
he's brave and he's brash
Conducting the stars
and creating a splash
From high on a cliff,
he's on top of it all
He'll show you his stuff
when you're putting the ball

Gardens Course: Hole 18 – The Sorcerer's Apprentice
The wave has grown bigger
with magic it stirs
When up from the bottom,
a whirlpool occurs
A putt to the left will
spin it, and then
We hope you'll return here
again and again!

Fairways Course: Hole 1 – Rolling Symphony
Brave the ups and downs of this hold and your score will be off to a melodious start

Fairways Course: Hole 2 – Chernabog's Revenge
Carefully choose your line on this hole or you could end up with a night on one of these four Bald Mountains

Fairways Course: Hole 3 – Pastoral Simplicity
Like a Beethoven symphony, this hole looks easy but in fact is very difficult to play

Fairways Course: Hole 4 – The Nutcracker
A precise and well-aimed first shot will make this nutcracker sweet

Fairways Course: Hole 5 – Ave Maria
You'll be saying a few of these if you end up in the large sand trap to the right

Fairways Course: Hole 6 – The Legend of Yen Sid
You don't need to be a sorcerer's apprentice to ace this hole but it sure would help

Fairways Course: Hole 7 – Ballet of the Bunkers
Ben Ali Gator - You're ball will have to twist and turn like that dancing gator to avoid this trio of traps.

Fairways Course: Hole 8 – Zeus' Thunderbolt
Mere mortals will be at the mercy of this mythological predicament

Fairways Course: Hole 9 – Bacchus' Corner
The green is just a stone's throw from the tee, but this can be a very sobering hole for the careless

Fairways Course: Hole 10 – Dance of the Crown
The key to this hole is to step lightly and gracefully down the middle of the fairway

Fairways Course: Hole 11 – Skeleton Dance
This hole can be downright ghoulish if you fail to dance around that large sand trap on the right of the fairway

Fairways Course: Hole 12 – The Rite of Spring
That's exactly where you want to stay on this rambling hole of prehistoric import

Fairways Course: Hole 13 – Pegasus
You'll have to wing it on this hole to avoid those nasty bunkers on the right and left

Fairways Course: Hole 14 – Brooding Brudus
Like the centaur from the Pastoral Symphony, you'll do a slow burn if you end up all wet and lonely on this one

Fairways Course: Hole 15 – Ostrich Island
The trick here is to make like a plumed ballet dancer from Dance of the Hours and get Upanova the bridge

Fairways Course: Hole 16 – Rock'n'Roller
This hole will make you want to roll over Beethoven and tell Tchaikovsky the news

Fairways Course: Hole 17 – Hippo Bend
The weighty issues on this hole are avoiding the large trap on the right and staying out of the water

Fairways Course: Hole 18 – The Grand Finale
Here's your chance to finish your symphony of strokes with a flourish. Bravo! Encore, encore

Chernabog's Revenge

We love miniature golf in our household. It has been a longstanding tradition that while visiting Walt Disney World we would always make sure to play at least a single round of miniature golf on one of the four courses available. Heck, when we’re at Disney’s Hilton Head Island we venture down the road to Pirates Cove just to get in a round. Of the four courses at Walt Disney World, I’ve always been partial to the Gardens Course at Fantasia Gardens, but I have no ill will against either of the charming courses over at Winter Summerland either. The one course I have typically shied away from, however, is the Fairways Course of Fantasia Gardens.

It’s challenging, and that’s putting it mildly. Each hole appears to be a miniaturized hole from a professional golf course, which means that those gentle slopes on an actual course are going to eat your putt alive here. There are bunkers and hazards, including rocks and water, but the course is looking for those with skill, not those playing a game of chance. Think I’m joking? Do you know another miniature golf course that actually lists the distance from tee to pin? It’s so difficult, that the signs not only give you riddles for clues as to how to play the hole, which is par for a Walt Disney World course, it also gives you a map detailing precisely how, and to where, you should hit your ball.

Have I scared you away yet? No? Good.

Earlier this year the Fairways Course received a massive amount of refurbishment. The course was entirely resurfaced. The new turf, while not a miracle worker, is slower than the previously trodden down surfacing that covered each hole. The traps and tees were spruced up, and even the wooden borders were replaced. It is like an entirely different course. It is still the most challenging miniature golf course in Walt Disney World, by a mile, but there is an element of mirth and fun to be had while on the course now that had been missing for a while.

There are no gags to be had on this course. The only humor you’re going to find is the riddles on the tee box signs or when someone in your party makes a woefully bad shot. I, myself, have been known to chase a putt down the green yelling at it to stop and jumping up and down when it lands in a gully. But I digress. The Fairways Course does have something that its Gardens counterpart does not, and that is the blessing of a lot of shade. There are oaks all around this course, along with some flowing water, which also adds to the aesthetics. This is great, because you’ll have plenty of time to take all of that scenery in, and the cars passing by, and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, as you make your way through holes that range anywhere from 63 to 109 feet in length.

I used to have a real burr in my side for Fantasia Gardens’ Fairways Course, but after my last round, it is rapidly becoming a course that I want to return to again and again. There are tricks to be learned on the Gardens Course or the pair of courses over at Winter Summerland, but here it is only practice, practice, practice that will give you mastery over the miniature course. If you were like me and could dream of having a fun afternoon on the Fairways Course, I’m begging you to give it another chance. The result may be the same, but you might just gain a newfound appreciation for the trial.

Easily putt around them all

Since the first putt was stroked in 1996, Fantasia Gardens has been a showering, giggle-inducing diversion to guests young and old alike. The underestimated popularity of miniature golf, expected attendance during its first week of operation was 800 to 950 putters per day, well over the 400 to 600 estimated guests, spawned the creation of other courses down the road at Winter Summerland.

In the planning stages concepts such as Roger Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland and Storybook Land were discussed, but in the end, the idyllic scenes set by Fantasia won out. The story of Fantasia Gardens was broken down into five distinct stories (with a quick nod to Night On Bald Mountain): Toccata and Fugue, The Nutcracker Suite, The Pastoral Symphony, Dance of the Hours, and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. With the muted backdrop of a garden Fantasia segments such as Rite of Spring found themselves on the outside looking in, as a tromping dinosaur appearing near a pirouetting ostrich could have made for an uncomfortable disconnect.

With the gardens selected, an appropriate weenie could be sought out. Fittingly, the home of mighty Zeus was selected. Mount Olympus complete with a columned palace draw the eyes of passerbys and golfers alike. Unfortunately, the home of Zeus, perched atop Olympus, vanished several years ago, but the spirit of the mountain still remains.

I feel like it is time for me to head out and pick up my putter, so I’ll leave you today with this concept illustration of Fantasia Gardens, which comes pretty close to the course that can be played today.

No one more raucous

The tenth hole of the Gardens Course at Fantasia Gardens features an unusual colored green. In fact, the grass has been stained entirely by the spilt wine of the jolly fellow at the top of the hill, Bacchus. The course calls for guests to put up the knoll and watch their ball drop down amongst the bubbles, towards the cup. Here’s the poetic preview and hint of the hole:

In all of the land there’s no
one more raucous
Than the fell here,
the infamous Bacchus
He’s poured you a path that
you simply putt up
Hit it just right and it
spills to the cup

So, who is this spirited character? Bacchus is the Roman name given to the Greek god Dionysus, the god of wine and intoxication, and from the looks of things he definitely has intoxication under control! In the world of Disney he, obviously, appears in the 1940 classic Fantasia. Bacchus first appears during the third movement of The Pastoral Symphony. In this scene the jolly, rotund, clearly intoxicated Bacchus rides in on his donkey-unicorn hybrid, Jacchus (no, I’m not making this name up), who seems equally willing to partake in a drink or two… or three. He is clearly drawn to the centaurettes and pursues them tirelessly, until he final believes he has caught up to one of the lady centaurs and puckers up for a kiss. Wine goggles were obviously firmly in place, as the centaurette he plants a kiss on is none other than Jacchus. The duo return later in the piece, delighted with a flood of wine unleashed by the destruction of a wine vat by one of Zeus’ thunderbolts. Their antics are some of the more memorable moments of the Fantasia segment.

It is worth noting that Bacchus returns in an altered form in 1997’s Hercules. Hercules also features Philoctetes pursuing nymphs in much the same fashion as Bacchus did the centaurettes in Fantasia, and with the same result.

In the scene set up on hole ten at Fantasia Gardens, Bacchus obviously remembers the Zeus instigated wine flash flood and is seeking to recreate it for passing putters!

EPCOT '94 Springs into Bloom

Later this week, the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival will blossom for its sixteenth year. This festival is the most family-friendly of the events held at Epcot, and aside from the shoots, sprouts and blooms that will erupt with color and fragrance, the Flower and Garden Festival is never the same festival twice. Today’s Back Issue takes a look at the first festival, as presented in the April 28, 1994 issue of Eyes & Ears, for glimpse into what the Cast Members thought about the event that was about to unfold.

EPCOT ‘94 will bloom with the color and beauty of floral wonders during the inaugural EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival Presented by Better Homes and Gardens, April 29 through June 5.

During the five-week festival – a first for the Walt Disney World Resort – more than 30 million buds will burst into bloom throughout World Showcase and Future World. Flower and garden lovers will be able to participate in daily conducted tours of the gardens, as well as backstage growing areas and greenhouses. Lectures will be presented by internationally known horticulturists and Disney experts. During the flower festival, Guests can go behind-the-scenes to see where topiaries and other floral exhibits come to life. The “Backstage Horticulture” tour – offered each Friday through Sunday during the festival – will take Guests from the Theme Park to the Walt Disney World Tree Farm and Nursery. Garden enthusiasts also can enjoy a guided “Gardens of the World” tour each Monday through Thursday during the festival.

Guest speakers include Dr. Marc Cathey, President of the American Horticultural Society (April 29 – 30); Roger Swain, host of television’s Victory Garden (May 6 – 7); ethnobotanist, conservationist and author Mark Plotkin (May 13 – 14); noted garden author Suzanne Bales (May 20 – 21); Rayford Redell, author of the best-selling Growing Good Roses (May 27 – 28); and Tom MacCubbin of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (June 3 – 4).

Disney horticulturist will discuss and demonstrate “Gardening with Mickey” in a series of presentations, from the fascinating way in which gardens help tell a story to Environmentality in the garden of the ‘90s. Other sessions will focus on everything from the basics of gardening to the art of topiary gardening.

Even top Florida artists who celebrate the beauty of flowers in their paintings are planning to participate during a weekend focusing on “art in the garden.”

“Horticulture has always been integral to our ‘show’ – that is, to the Guest experience at our resort,” said Katy Moss Warner, Director of Horticulture and Environmental Initiatives. “Usually it’s a subtle complement to theming, but this festival brings our very special horticultural traditions – and our Horticulture Cast Members – to the forefront. More than 60 Horticulture Cast Members,” Katy explained, “will be giving lectures, and conducting tours during the five-week event. Of course, our talented Horticulture Cast Members have been working hard for months to make the event a reality. In addition to EPCOT Horticulture Cast Members, those from other areas were also tapped for their creative ideas, which will be showcased throughout EPCOT Center. The festival is a great way for Guests to see the variety of gardening techniques used at Walt Disney World Resort – from dainty hanging baskets to giant topiaries.”

Some of the extraordinary visual features of the festival will be Fantasia Gardens, with twirling topiary hippos, ostriches and alligators plus World Showcase Topiary Plaza with 25 other animated Disney characters “sculpted” of living plants. Brand new topiary creatures “born” just this spring will depict favorite characters from Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. At the EPCOT festival, Guests will see Belle’s beauty like never before: an 8-foot-4-inch topiary, a shapely growth of ivy covering a metal frame. Standing in the garden near Belle and the Beast will be their ever-faithful servants, Lumiere and Mrs. Potts – the latter weighing in at 1,200 pounds. Other guests at this floral affair include Aladdin on his flying carpet and Genie. The new topiaries are joined by a host of classic Disney character topiaries, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Winnie the Pooh.

An amazing horticultural display, including perennials, flowering trees, award-winning rose gardens, flowering baskets and exotic bonsai trees – plus some 165,000annuals in more than 250 freshly planted outdoor beds – will highlight the nations of World Showcase and pavilions of Future World. Even flowering fruits and vegetables in The Land’s greenhouses are part of the show. All are being planned for a maximum bloom during the festival.

“Thirty-four million Americans turn to Better Homes and Gardens each month for inspiration and guidance, and gardening is one of their greatest passions,” said Garden Editor Douglas A. Jimerson. “We’re delighted to be celebrating gardening at EPCOT ‘94 this spring.”

Disney This Week - 20 May 2012

Twenty years on, and Fantasia Gardens still looks gorgeous to these eyes! Nate Rasmussen and the Disney Parks Blog take a look back at the early days of Fantasia Gardens.

Sarah Holodick finds some tasty treats in the TerritoryLounge at the Wilderness Lodge for Eating WDW.

Are there healthy options to be had at Karamell Küche? AJ Wolfe finds something a bit fruity at the caramel house for The Disney Food Blog.

Matt Hochberg dives into the history of younglings beingtrained at Disney's Hollywood Studios for Studios Central.

Gorilla 101 is in session at Makin’ Memories with professor Melissa Loflin.

 

Another weekend, another round of great ‘I spy’ action with Andy Jackson and Eating (and Drinking) around the World.

 

Susannah DiMarzio reveals the latest from the Her Universeclothing line, just in time for Star Wars Weekends, at Zannaland.

Want to see Walt Disney World in 1971? Head on over to Passport to Dreams Old & New to see what FoxxFur has dug up.

Along that same line of thought, George Taylor takes readers of Imaginerding on a historical tour of Walt Disney World, via souvenir guidephotographs.

Sam Gennawey says his goodbyes to Snow White’s ScaryAdventures at Samland.

A Day of Putting Around

I talk about it a lot, but I love the miniature golf courses of Walt Disney World. Even the incredibly trying Fairways Course of Fantasia Gardens, on which I once used the putter as a pool cue to get out from underneath a bush, there is nothing I find more fun than spending an afternoon or evening puttering around Fantasia Gardens or Winter Summerland. Miniature golf, or goofy golf depending on where you call home, is such a crucial part of the vacationing experience that you can find a world of miniature golf courses all around Orlando. Putting on my Imagineering hat, and aiming high in the blue sky, I’ve often wondered what kind of course I would create if I had my way.

I should apologize now that, because of the conceptual nature of this article and the fact that my ability to sketch is not what I would like it to be, all the imagery in this piece is going to be verbal and require your imagination.

If I were designing a course for Walt Disney World the first thing I would have to address is the number of courses. As with most miniature golf destinations, which includes the two Walt Disney World destinations, I would opt for two courses. I’d love to dedicate one course to the parks of the world, or at least those in the United States, but you’d run the risk of guests not understanding what they are putting through or around. Therefore, we’d have one course dedicated to the parks of Walt Disney World and a second dedicated to the vast Disney film, both animated and live action, library.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Four Parks, One Putter

1 – Transportation and Ticket Center This hole would feature a water hazard with two ways around. One would take you up a ramp and around the hazard before dumping you at the hole, but may require a couple of shots to make the distance. The second would be to take the ferry, which would require a timed shot when the ramp was down.

2 – Space Mountain A series of three black holes in the side of a miniature Space Mountain decide your ball’s fate, as each comes out at a different point along the bottom green.

3 – Pirates of the Caribbean A tiered drop leads to a well where the ball is dunked in the hole. A pirate ship along the walkway features a motion trigger that activates cannons which blast passing guests with air.

4 – it’s a small world Several figurines from around the world stand in a circle around the hole, with stragglers also standing along the green, inviting guests to putt between their feet.

5 – Haunted Mansion A series of tombstones from the graveyard sit atop the hill, with a hole behind them. A perfectly timed shot will catch the hidden hole, and easier path to the empty grave hole, that appears when the happy haunt pops up from the tombstone.

6 – Cinderella Castle The classic drawbridge gag gives the ball an easy route through the castle and to the hole.

7 – Imagination A golf gear clad Figment becks to guests from the end of the long, straight hole. The hole itself appears to be a slight decline, but it is an optical illusion as the green actually runs up hill.

8 – Test Track A sweeping, banked curve around a miniature of the Test Track pavilion.

9 – Norway A hit beneath the three-headed troll activates a sound clip of, “You are not the first to pass this way,” before dumping the ball out on the lower green.

10 – Mexico A put from the top of the pyramid will have the ball bouncing down the pyramid’s steps to the green below.

11 – Spaceship Earth A steep climb up one leg of Spaceship Earth and down another leads to the hole.

12 – Tower of Terror A ball can be hit around the Hollywood Tower Hotel or in through the lobby. Once inside, the ball will climb up through the hotel where it can pop out at different floors, the higher the fall the less likely the ball is to land in the hole.

13 – Catastrophe Canyon A miniature Catastrophe Canyon features a sliding tanker truck that can knock a shot off course.

14 – Disney’s Hollywood Studios Water Tower Water pouring over from the miniature Catastrophe Canyon spills across the course at random as it makes its way to the grate beneath the Water Tower. The ball will have to travel across the grate to get to the hole.

15 – Expedition Everest A putt is aimed up the Forbidden Mountain to the temple, if it is not hit strong enough it falls back to the broken tracks that lead to the lower green. If it is hit hard enough, it will change course and spiral down to a better spot on the green.

16 – DINOSAUR A ball going through The Dino Institute will trigger the roar of a Carnotaurus, but putting around the building is also a possibility.

17 –Tree of Life To get to the green, the ball bounces around the animal sculptures like a plinko board.

18 – Walt Disney World Arch Mickey waving with the ‘See You Real Soon!’ text stand at the end short hole. A guaranteed hole in one.

MATINEE MASTERS

Box Office Holes in One

1 – Steamboat Willie Putt straight onto the boat to trigger the steamboat’s whistles.

2 – Flowers and Trees Plants in mid dance populate the course and their roots make for a tricky route through the green.

3 – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Gems have been spilled all over this mine hole creating lots of obstacles.

4 – Toy Story Putt around Andy’s Room, a shot into Woody’s Boot triggers him yelling ‘There’s a snake in my boot,’ and launching the ball directly towards the hole.

5 – Alice in Wonderland The green splits at the sign for This Way and That Way, leading to two holes inside trees, one lets out closer to the hole than the other.

6 – Nightmare Before Christmas Putt up the graveyard hill and the ball loops around to the hole’s green.

7 – 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Putt the long way around the docked Nautilus or through the nose of the Nautilus straight through to the other side.

8 – Sleeping Beauty The course goes up and over the ravine where Philip and Maleficent are battling. A strong putt will cross the ravine and roll down towards the hole, a not so clean strike will have the ball fall down and have to putt around to the hole.

9 – The Little Mermaid Avoid spitting fish as you make your way towards Ariel singing from her rocky perch and the hole.

10 – TRON Pick the color of lightcycle trail you want to follow to reach the green. The hole is surrounded by a raised identity disc, so the putt has to be strong enough to get over it.

11 – Who Framed Roger Rabbit Hit the ball towards the ACME Gagworks, where Portable Holes line the wall. Hit the ball through the right hole to get a better spot on the green.

12 – DuckTales Putt up a steep hill lined with Duckberg locations and into Scrooge’s vault.

13 – Peter Pan A twirling Tinker Bell can deliver your ball in the direction of the hole or in the entirely wrong direction depending on how long your ball rattles around in her platform.

14 – The Lion King Bones of the elephant graveyard sound like a xylophone as the ball bounces through them towards the hole.

15 – Davy Crockett A campsite of Davy Crockett, the ball makes its way by tents and around campfires before finding the hole where his coonskin cap acts as a backboard.

16 – Up Balloons lift up Carl’s house, revealing a shortcut to the hole. Mistimed putts will make it a longer course to the hole.

17 – Lilo and Stitch Stich playfully swats at balls sending them in various directions around the green.

18 – Mickey Mouse Ears Send the ball underneath the hat in a simple hole in one to trigger the Mickey Mouse Club song.

There were lots of other thoughts as I put my courses together, such as a Germany hole where you would have trains and a miniature Germany pavilion (ah, the irony) or Swiss Family Robinson hole featuring the famous treehouse, but these were the final selections. The question is how would you design a course?

I wish tonight

Up to six months in advance we schedule our dining reservations for a trip to Walt Disney World. Then we pencil electrically lit parades, over the top fireworks displays, and other nighttime spectaculars into our itineraries. Yet, it never seems to fail, there is always an evening left open or a night you decide you’ve simply had enough of the crowds of firework gawkers. The question then becomes, what do you do with a night off in Walt Disney World?

Well, fear not dedicated reader, the Gazette Roundtable is here with their thoughts and suggestions.

Roundtable Topic: What do you do in Walt Disney World when you need a night away from the parks?

Roundtable Contributors: Greg Grimsley (The Disney Obsession), Matthew Sedler (the geekTicket), Elizabeth Caran (Take the Monorail), George Taylor (Imaginerding), Fiona (DF’82), AJ Wolfe (The Disney Food Blog), Andy Jackson (Eating (and Drinking) around the World), Eric Hoffman (Netmongrel), and yours truly.

Greg – A night away from the parks? Is there such a thing? It is at night when I love the parks all that much more since it gives me the opportunity to set up a tripod and hope to capture some nice nighttime shots. But, I do admit that I do get out of the parks during the evening now and then.

In fact, I feel no trip to Walt Disney World is complete without spending a few hours in Downtown Disney. An hour or so in The Art of Disney is a "must do" on any visit, as is some time spent in Once Upon A Time. Rarely will I leave either of these shops without a merchandize shipping receipt tucked nicely in my wallet. The Pin Trading shop and World of Disney are also on the list, and lately, I have really enjoyed browsing Mickey's Pantry. I can spend a half hour experiencing the spice blends.

I like to visit Downtown Disney on an evening when the park I am in closes early. This gives me a chance to get there while it is a bit less crowded. Once the shopping is done I can grab a drink and find a place to set and indulge in another Disney pass time; people watching.

So, at night, if I am not taking photographs, you'll find me milling about Downtown Disney.

Matthew – This is such an easy question for me, because I think I could spend every night away from the parks at Sanaa at the Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village. It's my favorite restaurant on property. Period. And when you're done, you can check out the wildlife roaming on the grounds nearby. Just thinking about it makes me want to book a trip. 

Elizabeth – I enjoy being creative for a "down" night. I am fortunate enough to have a good friend in the area and we have taken in a bit of the local theater scene together. As you can imagine, there's a rich pool of talent in the Orlando area and I am constantly impressed by the high caliber performances both inside and outside the parks. But when I'm not out prowling the arts scene, there are plenty of choices closer to the parks for a quiet evening away. My favorites include dining at one of the fine resort restaurants or enjoying an evening at the spa. As a Vacation Club member, I've even hosted a dinner party in our villa. That's one of the fantastic things about Disney World. The options are limited only by your own imagination.

George – I'll be honest, Ryan, I don't understand the question.

A night away from the parks? 

That usually only happens when I visit in the winter months and the Magic Kingdom closes at 6:00pm. Then I head over to Epcot. The only time I am not in a theme park at Walt Disney World is when I am sleeping or driving to and from the park. Occasionally, I will eat at a Disney hotel.

I guess that is as good of an answer as any. When I am at Walt Disney World and I need a night away (shudder) from the parks, I will visit a Disney hotel  to eat at a restaurant and enjoy the grounds. Preferably, it is a hotel restaurant with a theme park view (like the Polynesian or the Contemporary) so I can still see the Castle. I will even visit the beautiful Animal Kingdom Lodge to eat at Boma since it is great food and a gorgeous atmosphere. Of course, I tend to like places with good atmosphere; dining some place without oxygen might be a little difficult.

Even if I am in the middle of a trip and I have to leave the Magic Kingdom (you know, because Security is making me leave so they can clean the place), I will feel really sad and not want to leave. It is that odd moment when you approach the exit turnstyles and you don't know if you will ever be able to come back. Friends will have to promise me special treats and surprises to get me to leave the entrance area.

So, yeah, I do have a problem. But don't we all?

Fiona – When I need some time away from the Parks in the evening, I will usually head away to one of the Resorts. Some of the best dining on property can be found at the Resorts, in my opinion. When Ryan posed this question, the first place I thought of was the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It is one of the most beautiful Resorts in the evening, and has one of my favourite restaurants on all of property – Boma. You can spend some time at the bar if you are too early for your dining reservation (and yes, reservations are recommended!), and then when it’s time to have your meal, you can spend hours enjoying the different tastes on offer. And whilst everyone raves about the meats and deserts (which I second as being delicious), they serve some of the freshest fruit too, and their pineapple is divine...

After dinner, be sure to walk around the Lodge itself. You can walk out into the night-air and enjoy the views of the animals in the evening. On my past visits (and it’s been a while), I have been able to have a look through the night-vision binoculars, and see the animals enjoying the evening on the savannah. Be sure to take some time to sit outside, if the evening is pleasant enough, and enjoy the sounds and the smells of the area. The lobby is also a gorgeous area to spend time in, and to people watch.

If you’re not an animal lover, or want a change from the wilderness as such, my other suggestion would be to go to the Boardwalk area. One of my perfect evenings in this area includes a dinner in the Yachtsman Steakhouse (which can pass the time most enjoyably!), then wonder around the Boardwalk, perhaps taking in some ice cream at Beaches and Creme, if you have room for it. I can just about taste the ice cream as I write...

AJ – Ha ha! Usually I SLEEP! But some of my other favorite past times are heading to Jellyrolls on the Boardwalk, watching the fireworks and the water pageant from the beach at the Polynesian, and escaping to dinner at a resort. Or maybe all three! In fact, let's do this: dinner at Citricos in the Grand Floridian, walk over to the Polynesian to watch the fireworks from the beach, then head over to the Boardwalk for an Alabama Slamma' and a night requesting Journey songs over and over and over again. Ah... perfect! Oh, you'd like to join me? But of course!

Andy – A night away from the parks... most visitors to the World probably can’t imagine all the possibilities that exist on property outside the confines of the four parks.

I’m sure the other respondents here will mention several ideas I’m not familiar with, but some of the “usual suspects” are great choices: an evening listening to (and participating with) the amazing performance of Yeehaw Bob Jackson; testing your putting skills at Winter Summerland or Fantasia Gardens (I’ll actually be pretty shocked if a certain person here doesn’t bring this one up); taking in a movie at Downtown Disney, or one of the movies shown outdoors at many of the resorts; having a campfire sing-along with Chip and Dale - or a more adult sing-along at Jellyrolls - and on and on and on...

But for me, it will be no surprise that my de facto “outside the parks evening” will involve a great meal, some adult beverages, and then a bit of a Lagniappe...

So we’re going to head to a resort, have a pre-dinner beverage or three (along with a few during and after the dinner), and then explore the resort area for a little something extra (that’s your Lagniappe) to top off the evening...

For one night we can head to Animal Kingdom Lodge - a visit to the Victoria Falls Bar is a great way to start - for a romantic evening Jiko is the choice for sure, for variety the buffet at Boma can’t be beat... after a wonderful meal, we head outside for a bit of night vision viewing of the savannah to top things off... if it’s cool outside, a sit-down around the fire pit could also in order...

If you’re more in the Island mood head over to the Polynesian one night - you can start with a Lapu-Lapu at the Tambu Lounge, then have some great sushi (or order from the complete Kona Cafe menu) at the Kona Island Sushi Bar. After dinner head down to the beach to watch Wishes - one of the best ever places to view fireworks from!

How about the Boardwalk area? Start your evening at the often overlooked Bellevue Lounge, one of my favorite bars in all of WDW. Great dining possibilities abound here: the Greek-influenced dining at Iron Chef Cat Cora’s Kouzzina, a traditional steakhouse menu at Yachtsman, seafood and more at Flying Fish. For more casual dining (and some great in-house brewed beers) Big River Grille is worth a try... or take a short walk over to the Swan/Dolphin for even more dining options: bluezoo, Kimonos, Il Mulino and even the surprisingly interesting items at the poolside dining at the Cabana Bar & Beach Club.

After dinner you can wander the Boardwalk and enjoy in the entertainers that make that area their home - you may find a juggler or a magician... If you like hire a surrey-bike and take a ride...

And that’s just for a start... you can find some great dining and before/after dinner fun also at the Wilderness Lodge (try taking a boat ride to or from the Magic Kingdom), Kidani Village (Sanaa is one of the best, and most under-rated restaurants in WDW), drinks, food and fireworks at the California Grill on top of the Contemporary or at any of the great restaurants at the Grand Floridian (again, you can have great food at Narcoossee's, and if you time it right, a great view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks).You don’t have to settle for delivery pizza and some TV if you don’t want to stay in a park all night... have some fun, eat some great food, explore...

Eric – If we are in the mood to spend time on property but outside the parks, we will invariably be drawn to the resorts.  My wife and I are in love with the Disney resorts and never tire of touring them.  A great way to spend some non-park time for us would be to catch a meal at a Boardwalk Resort restaurant, Kouzzina is always a good choice for us.  An evening reservation allows us to then spend time at dusk watching night fall on Crescent Lake.  The atmosphere in the Boardwalk area is truly magical!

In order to fill in some mid-day time, a dip in the pool at your Disney resort (you are staying on-property of course) and then some miniature golf at Fantasia Gardens is a perfectly acceptable way to spend a day at WDW.

Some other suggestions:

1. Rent boats from the Polynesian marina and tour the Seven Seas Lagoon
2. Parasailing
3. Shopping and dining at Downtown Disney
4. Take a DVC presentation - informative, low-key, and interesting
5. Take advantage of resort tours

There are endless things to do outside the parks, all worthwhile, many free, and all are full of Disney magic.

Ryan – I’ll keep my thoughts simple, miniature golf or Electrical Water Pageant.

What, that needs more of an explanation? Okay, fine…

One of my time-honored traditions stems from partaking in a round of miniature golf on each visit to Walt Disney World. While I prefer the whimsy of the Garden Course at Fantasia Gardens, any of the four courses make for a chuckle-filled evening. Oh, and playing after the sun has set also means it’s a bit cooler and you are less likely to end up as red as an apple.

My other evening pastime is grabbing a spot on Bay Lake and awaiting the arrival of sea serpents, octopuses, dolphins and other creatures of the deep. While I usually precede the watery parade with something off of Trail’s End’s take-out menu and some roasted marshmallows at the Camp Fire Sing-A-Long, these are not necessarily required.

Last but not least, over the course of a very long research trip, I have been known, on occasion, to simply hit the sack a little early.

As you can see, there is enough to do after hours away from the parks to fill a trip itinerary unto itself. Which idea from our distinguished panel hit the right note with your itinerary? Or, better yet, what other activities do you find to occupy your evenings in Walt Disney World?