We all know that there are literally hundreds of fun things to do all around the Disney World resort. The list is almost endless: attractions, shows, dining, shopping, characters, gardens, and on and on.
Some people might mistakenly believe that there isn’t much for the sports fan. You know, the guy (or maybe girl) who is always on the court or glued to the TV and the day’s hottest game.
If you are married to one of these sports fans, or if you are one yourself, you will be glad to know that Disney offers plenty of options to keep sports fans happy.
There is a wide world of sports to explore (punny reference to Disney’s Wide World Of Sports complex intended). Let’s take a look at some of the more popular sports-related activities at Walt Disney World.
ESPN Wide World of Sports
If you like sports, you will love the ESPN Wide World Of Sports complex. It hosts dozens of different types of sporting events each year, including football, dance, lacrosse, soccer, track, cheerleading, tennis, gymnastics, and baseball – including the Atlanta Braves spring training camp. Entering the grounds requires a separate admission fee of about $16, and you can check out the schedule of sporting events online.
Water Sports
The marina that is part of Disney’s Contemporary Resort hosts the Sammy Duvall Water Sports Center which offers all kinds of sporting fun, including wakeboarding, water skiing, and parasailing.
Boat Rentals
Disney owns a literal fleet of boats, from small to huge – and you can rent many of them. You can rent a Sea Raycer for two, a Boston Whaler Montauk boat for six, and a Sun Tracker pontoon boat for ten. In addition, there are plenty of canoes, kayaks, sail boats, and pedal boats. You can rent boats at many resort marinas (including Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa) and at Disney Springs.
Fishing
Disney offers both dockside fishing and guided excursions. All are catch and release. Excursions set sail on Bay Lake (near the Contemporary), the Seven Seas Lagoon (in front of the Magic Kingdom), Village Lake (at Disney Springs), World Showcase Lagoon (in Epcot), and Crescent Lake (near Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and Disney’s BoardWalk Resort). You can also rent a fishing pole at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.
Mini Golf
We’ve talked a lot about activities on the water, but there is plenty of fun to be had on the grass, too. Disney has two different miniature golf courses – Winter Summerland near Blizzard Beach, and Fantasia Gardens near the Walt Disney World Swan and Walt Disney World Dolphin.
Championship Golf
Disney has five different golf courses: Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course, the Palm Golf Course, the Osprey Ridge Golf Course, the Oak Trail Golf Course, and the Lake Buena Vista Course.
Do you participate in any sports activities at Disney World?