RECREATION
What to do when you're not in a
Theme Park: (these are items that usually cost extra - the
free activities can be found on the
Disney Resort Extras page).
Recreation: Disney World offers many forms of
recreation. Fort Wilderness offers a large array of recreation
that you can participate in even if you aren't staying at that
resort (see below). Information on renting electric carts at
Fort Wilderness can be found on my
Fort Wilderness page.
There are a number of watercraft that you can rent from
various resorts. There is
waterskiing,
parasailing,
wakeboarding, tubing, fishing, fishing
excursions, golf, excursion cruises,
miniature golf, tennis, biking, fitness centers, and spas.
Recreation PRICES:
These prices current as of June 2010 and are subject to change
without notice.
ACTIVITIES
Bass fishing excursion
2-hour (up to 5 guests) -- *$235-$270
4-hour (up to 5 guests) -- *$455
Horseback riding -- *$46 (min. age 9 yrs)
Carriage rides -- *$45 per 1/2 hour
Wagon rides -- $8 age 10+; $5 age 3-9
Parasailing
Single -- $95
Tandem -- $170
Surfing -- $150 for 2 1/2 hours
Scuba diving (DiveQuest) -- $175 for 3 hours
Dolphins in Depth -- $194 for 3 hours
Epcot Seas Aqua Tour -- $140 for 2 1/2 hours
Tennis
court time (Grand Floridian) -- $12.50 per hour
court time (other resorts) -- first come basis
private lesson -- $90 per hour
play the professional -- $90 per hour
group clinic -- $15/person
Archery -- $25 for 1 1/2 hours
Wakeboarding -- $165 per hour
Water skiing -- $185 per hour
EQUIPMENT RENTALS
Bicycles -- *$9.59 per hour; $19.17 per day
Canoes/Kayaks -- *$6.93 per 1/2 hour
Sea Raycer by Sea Ray -- *$34.08 per 1/2 hour
Pedal boat -- *$6.93 per 1/2 hour
12' Sailboat -- *$21.30 per hour
SunTracker pontoon -- *$47.93 per 1/2 hour
Surrey bikes -- *$21.30-$23.43 per 1/2 hour
WATER PARKS
Blizzard Beach -- $46
child (ages 3-9) -- $40
Typhoon Lagoon -- $46
child (ages 3-9) --$40
DISNEYQUEST
General (ages 10-up) -- $40
Child (ages 3-9) -- $34
RICHARD PETTY DRIVING EXPERIENCE
Riding Experience -- *$116.09
Rookie Experience -- *$478.19
King's Experience -- *$904.19
Experience of a Lifetime -- *$1,383.44
MINIATURE GOLF
Fantasia Gardens -- *$12.78
Child (ages 3-9) -- *$10.65
Winter Summerland -- *$12.78
Child (ages 3-9) -- *$10.65
Surfing: Here is a reprint from a
post on a board that anyone interested in surf lessons will find
helpful: "Surf clinics for beginners are offered every Tuesday
for and always before regular park hours. Reservations can be
made up to three months in advance by calling 407-WDW-Surf. I
made my reservations 2 days prior. They require a credit card number
to hold the reservation and there's a 24 hour cancellation policy.
We were told to arrive at the park's entrance at 6am. At 6:15am a
cast member opened the gates and did a roll call of participating
guests and asked to see our charge cards for payment processing.
Then we were escorted to the lifeguard towers to the right of the
deepest section of the lagoon. There we met our instructors, Craig
and Chip. They're from the Cocoa Beach surfing school and drive down
once a week for the classes. They go over technique and safety
precautions and allow everyone to practice on dry land the basic
physical movements required to stand on the board during the wave.
There are three different board sizes (6ft, 8ft and 9ft lengths)
depending on your height and weight. All of them are provided and
are made of hollow fiberglass.
Craig and Chip, who look in good enough shape, jump in the water
and give us a demonstration. They perform flawlessly and make it
look too easy. Two students surf at the same time in the lagoon.
Each instructor positions himself at either side of the lagoon near
the back wall. The first two throw their boards in the water and
dive in. They get on the boards face down and paddle to their
designated instructor. Your ankle gets strapped to a cord which is
attached to the board. If you're "regular" (righty) then they attach
it to your right ankle. If you're "goofy" (lefty) then they attach
it to you're left ankle. After positioning yourself facing away from
the wave, with the instructors help of course, you wait for the
swoosh of the wave to signal that you have to start paddling hard.
Once your lifted from the water by the wave you need to jump into
position and balance yourself properly or face a wipe out in the
wave. The waves come in 90 second cycles and after each run you need
to paddle back to the starting point for a second try with your
instructor. After that you move to the other instructor where you
get two more runs back to back. So all told, you get 4 runs in a
row,2 with each instructor. Then each student after you goes in
order until your turn comes up again where you'll get 4 runs all
over again.
There were 10 students in our class and all told I got to surf 12
times in a 2 hour and 15 minute time span. They did allow spectators
so I brought my wife along to videotape the experience.
I have to say that the experience was wonderful. Living in the
northeast I don't think I would ever have the chance to surf in a
controlled environment like this. I must say I'm sold on the sport.
It is however very physically demanding. I really did appreciate our
instructors physical conditioning after paddling back and forth. My
shoulders were fatigued after the first couple of runs and my whole
body was sore for 2 days. I used muscles that I haven't used in a
long time. I would suggest anyone trying this to do some swimming or
shoulder exercises in the months prior to condition your muscles for
the demand. I had so much fun though, it was a memorable experience.
I highly recommend it and can't say enough good things about the
instructors. They were always in the water with us and offered lots
of words of encouragement and helpful advise.
I wiped out on most of the runs. I would manage to get up on the
board but fall shortly after that. When I finally got a complete run
in I felt this great sense of accomplishment. It's not nearly as
easy as it looks, but the fun is in trying and watching everyone
else struggle along with you. I have some great video shots which
I'll cherish forever. I never would have thought a city boy like me
had it in him, but you never know until you try.
An additional bonus of the program is that you can opt to stay in
the park after class. Admission to typhoon lagoon is included in the
fee so I guess you can deduct 26.95 from that price to get a final
cost.
The lagoon can also be rented out after park hours for private
parties for $1000. You can get a group of ten friends and split the
cost, but you have to bring your own equipment. For that price you
get 100 waves total. Apparently there are many people who do this."
Surfing reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance by
calling 407-939-7529.
Note: The price for surfing does not include general
admission to Typhoon Lagoon. You will need purchase a separate
admission if you want to stay after the event is complete.
Fireworks Cruises.
Cruises can be arranged to view either Wishes or Illuminations.
Pontoon boats can carry up to 12 people (no more than 10 adults) and
The Breathless (a mahogany Cris Craft) can carry 6-7 people.
You can bring your own food and drink on board, or have your event
catered by WDW. On the Wishes Cruise, you can see the
Electrical Water Pageant from the boat. Call 1-407-WDW-PLAY to make
a cruise reservation. These must be booked 90 days out. Cost
for the whole boat is $300 plus tax (as of Oct 08).
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