Other Sports Options
Boating
Boating is a very popular activity at Walt Disney World.
Virtually every Disney resort has a marina and some watercraft for rent.
Canoes, pedal boats, pontoon and canopy boats, sailboats, and water
sprites (miniature speed boats that are just a blast to ride) are available
at many of the resorts. Of course, depending on the body of water
one which a given resort is located, the selection of watercraft may
vary. Sprites, for example, are not available at Port Orleans
where the Sassagoula River just isn't suitable for that type of craft.
Reservations are not necessary...just show up at the resort marina of
your choice, and prepare to board!
Here's a list of watercraft rentals, all prices are approximate and
can vary slightly from resort to resort where you rent the craft:
Canoes (Fort Wilderness Campground, Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans,
Villas at the Disney Institute): $6/half hour
Canopy Boats, eight (8) adult capacity (Downtown Disney, Contemporary,
Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Yacht Club, Old Key West,
Port Orleans, Caribbean Beach Resort): $20/half hour
Pedal Boats (Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans, Villas at the Disney
Institute, Old Key West, Coronado Springs, Swan & Dolphin): $8/half
hour for single boats, $16/half hour for double boats.
Pontoon Boats, ten (10) adult capacity (Contemporary, Polynesian,
Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge):$29/half hour
Sail Boats, two to six (2-6) adult capacity (Contemporary, Polynesian,
Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge):$6-10/half hour
Water Mice (Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Wilderness
Lodge, Yacht Club, Fort Wilderness Campground, Caribbean Beach, Coronado
Springs, Downtown Disney):$19/half hour
Fishing
Fishing is available at several Disney resorts, too.
All fishing is catch & release (no frying up the catch for dinner),
but can be very fun nonetheless. Bass is stocked in Bay Lake and
Seven Seas Lagoon, the Fort Wilderness canals, World Showcase Lagoon
(and connected waterways), and the Sassagoula River. Fishing expeditions
on the lake are available or you can put a pole in the water from land
at Fort Wilderness or Port Orleans Riverside.
Costs for this activity vary from $3.00 to rent a pole
to $150.00 or more for a two hour (for up to five people) trip.
Reservations for guided trips from the Grand Floridian, Polynesian,
Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, or the Marketplace
must be made at least 24 hours in advance by calling WDW-PLAY (939-7529).
Health Clubs / Spas
Many of the Disney resorts have health clubs available
for a nice workout. Four of them are available to guests that
are staying at other WDW resorts: the Fitness Center (Contemporary Resort),
La Vida Health Club (Coronado Springs Resort), Muscles & Bustles
(Boardwalk Resort), and Ship Shape (Yacht & Beach Club Resorts).
Passes (which allow access to all four clubs) cost about $10 per day,
$20 for an individual for the length of their stay, or $35 for a family
(of up to five people) the length of their stay.
R.E.S.T. at OKWR is available free of charge to all WDW
guests, but is much more limited in machines and facilities than the
above listed health clubs.
Also, the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa and the Disney
Institute both have spas that are available for your enjoyment.
Horseback Rides
Fort Wilderness is the place to go if you want to enjoy
a short trail ride. The cost is approximately $25 for a ride lasting
about an hour. Information and reservations can be made by calling
calling WDW-PLAY (939-7529).
Miniature Golf
Two courses are currently available. Fantasia Gardens
is a typical miniature golf course themed according to the 1940 Disney
classic film. Fantasia Fairways is a very interesting course.
It's much more challenging than a typical miniature or adventure golf
course. It truly is a "fairways" course, but you still
play the entire 18 with a putter. The typical fee is $9.00 per
round (a little less for kids).
My favorite fairways hole is the fourteenth, where I had
a beautiful hole in one a couple of years ago. It was a nice
air shot that struck the pin several inches above the hole and just
dropped in...it was gorgeous, if I do say so myself. PMGA here
I come...
Parasailing
Parasailing, water-skiing with a hang glider (so you soar up into the
air) is available at the Contemporary resort. Prices cost about
$75/person or $115/tandem ride for ten minutes of air time. Parasailing
is limited to a few time slots in the morning, so make your reservations
early if you want to do this!
Stock Car Racing
The "Richard Petty Driving Experience" is an
expensive, but unique, hands-on tutorial on stock car driving.
Only a handful of attendees are permitted, so make reservations early
if you're so inclined. Options include a ride-along (about $100.00),
a rookie three-hour session (up to approximately $400.00), and a three
session "Experience of a Lifetime" (as much as $1100.00).
Information can be gleaned and reservations made by calling (800) 237-3889.
Tennis
Although WDW is not well-known as a tennis resort destination,
with 25 courts spread about, you can surely get in a match if you want
to. Also of interest, the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships
are held in the Spring at the Wide World of Sports Complex. Reservations
for court time, lessons, and/or equipment rental (ball machines and
racquets) can be made by calling WDW-PLAY (939-7529). Court hours
are typically 7:00am to 7:00pm.
Clay courts are available at Disney's Racquet Club (WDW's
premier tennis spot) located at the Contemporary resort (6 courts),
The Disney Institute (4 courts), and the Grand Floridian (2 courts).
Clay court time costs $15.00 / hour.
Hard courts can be found at Old Key West Resort (3 courts)
and the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, Boardwalk Resort, and Fort Wilderness
(2 courts each). Hard court time is free of charge. (Note:
There are also 4 courts shared by the Swan & Dolphin.)
Water-skiing, Boarding
Arrangements for the water daredevil can be made at the
Contemporary Resort's marina or by calling calling WDW-PLAY (939-7529).
Most of the water-skiing slots are in the late morning (before the worst
of the guest-guided marine traffic hits the lake). Time slots
are limited, so don't delay if you want to enjoy these activities.
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