Children’s Miracle Network Classic Comes to Walt Disney World

Guys, get those funky plaid polo shirts ready; ladies, don’t forget your sunscreen. The most popular event of the PGA tour and its longest-running event, the 2008 Children’s Miracle Network Classic, is returning to Orlando from November 6th to November 9th. The Classic, presented by Wal-Mart, brings 128 world-class golfers to Walt Disney World for four days of fun, golf, and charity.

Come watch the excitement as some of the best golf players in the world battle it out on the championship Palm and Magnolia courses, located near Disney’s Shades of Green Resort in Magic Kingdom. The tournament will begin on the beautiful Palm course, considered the toughest of the original Disney golf courses. It features nine water holes, heavily wooded fairways, and one of the most challenging 18th holes on the PGA Tour. The final round of the tournament will take place on the 4-star Magnolia Course, named so for the abundance of Magnolias throughout its 175-acres of thick Florida wetlands. The Magnolia course features 97 bunkers, including the world-famous Mickey-shaped “Mouse Trap.”

This will be the event’s 38th year since the first one in 1971, the same year Walt Disney World opened its doors. Past events have crowned golf champions such as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Vijay Singh, and Mark O’Meara. This year, the 2007 champion Stephen Ames will return to defend his title.

Though the actual tournament begins on Thursday, November 6th, the week actually begins on Sunday with check-in and the Miracle Makers Club Hospitality Open, which continues through the whole week. You can also catch the Pro-Am Practice Rounds on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Though Orlando has been home to the tournament for 38 years, it was formerly known as the FUNAI Golf Classic. It wasn’t until the fall of 2007 that the Children’s Miracle Network teamed up with the PGA to create today’s event, which will continue to be named the Children’s Miracle Network Classic until 2012. The Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization committed to saving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals across the nation. Though the organization is international, the funds they raise in one area always benefit that area’s local Children’s Miracle Network hospital. Proceeds from the sale of general admission tickets to the Classic will go straight to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida, which are both Central Florida Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.

Though the Golf Channel will broadcast all four rounds of the competition, you should definitely grab a ticket and head down to Disney’s Palm and Magnolia courses for four incredible days of golf. Tickets range from $20 to $30, and parking for general admission is free. Be sure to get there early to score the perfect spot on the green, and don’t forget to grab a map and guide at the entrance. The Children’s Miracle Network Classic is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to watch amazing golfers in action, and it’s for a fantastic cause.

Plenty of Outdoor Fun at Awaits at Walt Disney World Resorts

Whether they want to stay in shape or just have some fun away from the parks, guests of the Walt Disney World Resorts will find there is more than enough to keep them occupied outdoors. From tennis to horseback riding and waterskiing, the range of options is unbelievable.

If you are into sports, you will be more than happy with the tennis and volleyball facilities available at multiple Disney resorts. Better yet, you won’t have to bring a thing – equipment is available for checkout. And if you want to brush up on your tennis game, you can even get instruction from a pro at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

Perhaps you’re more of an exerciser than an athlete – several of the Walt Disney World Resorts offer jogging trails with varied scenery and terrain. You can jog through wilderness, around lagoons, or past scenic shores, all at your own pace. Bikes are also available for rental, with multiple winding paths, waterfront walkways, and scenic trails for bikers to enjoy. You can even make the outing a family event with four-passenger surreys. Don’t bother bringing a helmet – Disney has got you covered.

Need the kids to burn off some extra energy from that gigantic mountain of cotton candy they ate at the park? Plenty of Disney resorts offer playgrounds, some open specific hours and some open 24 hours a day. Children can run, climb, slide, and swing to their hearts’ content, all in a fun, safe environment filled with imaginative sculptures and creative play areas.

There’s also plenty of opportunity for family bonding with outdoor activities such as miniature golf and horseback riding. Experience Disney’s two miniature golf courses, Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course and Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course, for some fun through these musical and interactive courses that will have the whole family smiling. Or, ride a horse or pony, or horse-drawn carriage through Central Florida’s wilderness.

Finally, guests of the resort should be sure to take advantage of all the water activities available. Guests can reel in some fish, sun, and fun with two-hour excursions in the lakes of the Walt Disney World Resort. Up to five guests can trek out with Disney’s experienced guides, who also provide rods and reels, tackle, artificial and live bait, beverages, and a one-year BASS membership. Specialized cruises are also available for parties, as are a fleet of motorized and non-motorized watercraft for rental. Or try your hand at wakeboarding, waterskiing, parasailing, or tubing – there’s no end to all the fun in the water.

So no matter what you choose, there’s plenty of fun and adventure to be had in the outdoors of the Walt Disney Resorts. And getting started is easy when you book your discount Disney tickets at DWTickets.com – it’s deciding which activity to do after a day at the park that’s hard!

Windermere Country Club - Championship Golf !

Good Wednesday - This is the DW Ticket Blog Man here, and I have some exciting, almost unbelievable news. There is a great golf course in Orlando, very close to Universal Studios called the Windermere Country Club. We have put together a package for DWTickets customers and created a 1-day pass for only $94 per day.

To purchase tickets to the Windermere Country Club, Click Here !