Living in Orlando for most of my life, I’ve grown up in the theme parks. Although the tourist area of the “City Beautiful” often gets a bad rap, I’ve leaned into the convenience of its proximity and found activities beyond thrill rides and park snacks.
From niche dining to sports and crafts, the Walt Disney World Resort has a ton of activities beyond the theme park walls. Over the last couple of years, I’ve participated in several of these experiences and found some favorites.
Sangria University
One of my favorite resorts on Walt Disney World property is Coronado Springs. It’s a large resort located in the Animal Kingdom Resort area, complete with all the Disney amenities but also specially themed dining, activities, and experiences. One of the best experiences is their Sangria University.
Offered on select weekend afternoons, this experience pairs a lecture on wines and sangria-making techniques with a taste test and an opportunity to create a custom sangria. Available to guests 21 and over, this is perfect for an afternoon date, a friend outing, or a celebration. The very knowledgeable professionals provide a fascinating history lesson and guide you in creating the best sangria for your palate. It’s a ton of fun and well worth the price point of $69–$79. Reservations are required and can be booked on the Walt Disney website.
Pro Tip: Make a weekend out of this event and book a room at Coronado Springs. We spent the afternoon at Sangria University and used Disney transportation to bus to Epcot for the evening. It was a great way to continue our celebration!
Mosaic tile class
This summer, my daughter, sister, mom, and I participated in a Mosaic Tile Class at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort. For a nominal fee of $35, we spent a Sunday afternoon crafting beautiful Mickey mosaic tiles that are now proudly displayed in each of our homes.
After checking into the class, held at the Riverside Resort’s Boatwright Dining Hall, we paid our fees and chose our tile shapes. In addition to the Mickey head, there were other options, including a Minnie tile with a bow and a Mardi Gras mask. The very helpful cast members guided us from start to finish.
We selected small, colorful tiles and began designing how they’d be featured on our larger Mickey head. It was so much fun planning our patterns and swapping tiles with one another to create the perfect Mickey mosaic!
Once our designs were ready, it was time to glue. We carefully transferred our designs from paper to the Mickey-shaped tiles and affixed each piece with glue.
Pro Tip: Don’t use too much glue during this step, or you’ll delay the rest of the process — oops!
While waiting for the glue to dry, we were each treated to a yummy Disney cupcake. Crafting and sweets? Can it get any better?
Finally, it was time to grout our designs. After donning gloves, we used brushes to place black grout on top and around our colorful tile designs. Like any good craft, we got a little messy and had a TON OF FUN! Since this process takes time to dry, our Mickey heads were carefully boxed for easy transport home. To complete our projects, we wiped off the excess grout later that night.
We had an AWESOME time participating in this activity. The class was full but not overcrowded, allowing us to share laughs and make memories during this girls’ outing.
Like most bonus activities on Walt Disney World property, advance reservations are recommended. While several resorts offer mosaic tile classes, calling 407-934-5507 will book you a reservation for the class at Boatwright’s Restaurant on the Port Orleans Riverside property.
Winter Summerland Miniature Golf
Miniature golf is a classic activity enjoyed by all ages, and playing it on Disney property makes it even more special! This dual course neighbors Blizzard Beach, one of Disney’s water parks, and offers two separate 18-hole mini-golf courses themed around Winter and Summer, respectively.
Specifically designed to be Santa’s retreat, these courses offer plenty of fun and challenging holes for the whole family. The Summer Course is full of sandcastles, surfboards, and palm trees depicting a warm Christmas scene, while the Winter Course incorporates hockey sticks, ice castles, and all the joy of a white Christmas.
My daughter and I played a very entertaining round of mini-golf on New Year’s Day. Although the wait was about 45 minutes, we enjoyed the beautiful weather and competing with one another. We opted for the Winter Course and vowed to return soon to play the Summer Course.
Advance reservations can be made by calling 407-WDW-PLAY, or you can walk up and play on the same day. Wait times can be lengthy on busy days, but I found they are shorter in the morning. Admission is $19 per adult and $12 per child. However, if you have an annual pass with the Water Park and Sports add-on, mini-golf is FREE before 4 PM.
Explore Disney beyond the parks
So much magic lies beyond the gates of the theme parks on Walt Disney World property. Take the opportunity to explore these lesser-known areas of our tourist hub and discover your own favorite Disney activities in Orlando!
