Have You Tried These Activities at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels?

If you’ve ever been a Guest at a Walt Disney World Value Resort, Moderate Resort, Deluxe Resort, or Deluxe Villa Resort, you might be familiar with some of the amazing amenities and recreational opportunities that come with a stay on Disney property.  

To mention just a few, you’ll find highly-themed feature pools, quiet pools, jogging trails, movies under the stars, and campfires at every Disney Resort Hotel, free for all Guests at that Hotel to use.

But did you know that there are other activities, from fishing to volleyball to canoeing, that are available at select Disney Resort Hotels?  

Some of these activities haven’t yet resumed because of the pandemic, but many have, and there are enough diverse options to make a Resort day a priority on your next Walt Disney World vacation!  

Here are a few of our favorite activities currently offered at Disney Resort Hotels:

Carriage Rides

Imagine taking a relaxing horse-drawn carriage through the forest (watch for animal life like rabbits, deer, and armadillos!) or along the scenic Sassagoula River, creating unforgettable moments for you and your family.

Carriage rides are available at two Disney Resort Hotels: The Cabins and Campsites of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside (note: the Riverside carriage rides resume February 4 of this year, while the Fort Wilderness carriage rides are already running).

Rides last for 25 minutes, cost $55, and fit two adults and three small children, or up to four adults.  If you visit Walt Disney World during the month of December, you can also enjoy a seasonal sleigh ride through the woods.

Horseback Riding

If simply riding in a carriage pulled by a horse isn’t quite hands-on enough for you, you’re in luck!  Guests who are at least 9 years old and over 48 inches tall can try riding a horse themselves at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.  Younger or smaller Guests aren’t left out – they can try a pony ride guided by a parent or guardian.

Trail rides last for 45 minutes, cost $55 per person, and you don’t have to have any prior experience riding a horse, though you will have to have closed-toe shoes with you (as someone who has been stepped on by a horse, I can tell you you’ll be thankful for them!).  

While you’re at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch, drop by the stables to say hello to Cinderella’s famous horses and the horses of Main Street, U.S.A..

Surrey Bikes

I get it, you’re in Walt Disney World, clocking 20,000 steps a day, the last thing you want to do is exercise, right?  Hear me out!  

Surrey bikes are so much fun, they’ll hardly even feel like work. Plus, you can ride with your family and share the pedaling, and take in the sights in a fun new way. 

Guests can rent Surrey bikes at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn (and Villas), Disney’s Old Key West Resort, both Disney Port Orleans Resorts, and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort.  

There’s no age restriction, and you can rent bikes for two or four people for $25 per person.

Tennis

Missing a tennis lesson while you’re in Walt Disney World? Book one of the seven tennis courts at Disney Resort Hotels to practice that backhand, or introduce the kids to tennis.  

As long as you’re a Guest at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, you can access the courts and check out equipment (there’s a fee involved unless you’re a Disney Vacation Club Member) with your MagicBand.  You can even book a private or group lesson with a tennis pro at various Resorts across the property. 

Miniature Golf

Walt Disney World boasts four golf courses where more than 200,000 rounds of golf are played each year. But did you know you can also play miniature golf at one of Walt Disney World’s Resort Hotels?  

Head to the EPCOT Resort area for a friendly game of putt-putt at Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf Course at Walt Disney World Swan Hotel.  

Credit: Disney

There are two 18-hole courses available here for Guests, and both are themed after the classic Disney film Fantasia. Fantasia Gardens is for miniature golf newbies and families, while Fantasia Fairways is for Guests seeking more of a challenge.  Fees are $14 for adults and $12 for kids.

Archery

Bet you didn’t know you could learn archery at Walt Disney World!  

The Fort Wilderness Archery Experience is available for Guests aged 7 or older. If that sounds a little scary, fear not – class sizes are limited to only 10 Guests, and an Archery Guide will teach budding Meridas and Hawkeyes everything they need to know to fire a compound bow in just 75 minutes.

Once the teaching portion of the class has been completed, you’ll spend the rest of the session honing your target practice skills. So go ahead, let your inner superhero out to play!  Disney’s Fort Wilderness Archery Experience can be yours for $45 per person.

Bottom Line

On your next Walt Disney World vacation, if you’re feeling a little more ambitious than chilling by your Disney Resort Hotel pool or visiting the theme parks (not that there’s anything at all wrong with that!), why not explore the various activities offered by your Resort?  

Better yet, hop on a bus, boat, gondola, or monorail for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at another Resort Hotel on property.

Check online for current pricing and availability, as those are subject to change, and have a fabulous Resort Day!