Horse enthusiasts rejoice! At Walt Disney World you can take your fantasies from fairy tale to reality. Saddle up your steed for a heroic jaunt through the forest, cozy up for a sleigh ride or sweep your prince or princess away for a night in the French Quarter. If a truly elegant evening is what makes your heart sing, you can feel as though you have your very own fairy godmother while riding in a horse-drawn carriage that's guaranteed not to turn into a pumpkin.
Trade in your glass slippers for riding boots at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch. Meet Cinderella's noble steeds and enjoy an hour-long guided tour through the woods on horseback. For rookie jockeys (those under 48 inches tall and weighing less than 80 pounds), daily pony rides are available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If saddling up isn't your style, a nightly wagon ride through the resort should spark some magic and, on select evenings, will have you seeing fireworks above Cinderella's castle.
Add a little spook to your vacation with a 25-minute haunted carriage ride through Fort Wilderness. Riders get up close and personal with the Headless Horseman while the "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is narrated by the driver. This seasonal ride is available in September and October. At only $60 per ride (carriages can hold four adults comfortably), the haunted carriage is sure to get you in the Halloween spirit without spooking your bank account.
If you prefer Snow White to snowflakes, the Holiday Sleigh Ride is sure to please. Because snow is a rarity in Florida, wheels hide behind the runners of these horse-drawn sleighs. Like the haunted carriage rides, sleigh rides are seasonal and last from November through December. The fire-engine red sleighs come complete with garland and holiday light decorations. Riders are whisked away from the Blacksmith's shop in Fort Wilderness and taken for a 25-minute journey through the backwoods of the resort.
Your lover's heart will be aflutter during an intimate carriage ride amid the picturesque backdrop of Disney's French Quarter. Departing from Boatwright's Dining Hall, a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through Port Orleans is the perfect after-dinner activity for couples. Grab a blanket, cuddle up and enjoy the 30-minute ride up and down the Sassagoula River. Afterward, take a stroll with your prince or princess through the charming cobblestone streets or share a slow dance under the fragrant magnolia trees.
After a day of carriage rides and horseback tours, what better place to lodge than Walt Disney World's equestrian-themed Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa? Check in at the carriage house and enjoy roaming the lush green hills and exploring the vast water features available on this 65-acre resort. Modeled after the famous late 19th century retreat, this Victorian styled resort is the lap of luxury. True to Saratoga's racing history, horse statues and images adorn the courtyards, parks, springs and villas.
