Creating My Own 5 Legged Goat Mosaic at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World offers so many different experiences beyond the theme parks and I have been making it a priority to try some on each visit.
I was standing at the desk at Bay Lake Tower checking in for my reservation when I looked over and saw the sign “The Magic Of Mosaics” and noticed that it was available Monday and Friday’s. (You can check the resort activities schedule usually found in each resort’s lobby – times may vary so check when you’re there!).
Given I was on a solo trip and I like to try and experience ‘new’ things I figured this might be worth a shot. I headed to the community hall to ask about it before I decided for sure that I was going to do it. The cast member was fantastic and told me lots of people do it solo and it would be fun, so I signed up. We made my reservation for the Friday and I was all set.
That Friday I had some work to do at lunch time so it was perfect for me to arrive at 3pm. This one was at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and located in the buildings down by the water of Bay Lake behind the Sand Bar near the pools. The room wasn’t ‘huge’, but I didn’t feel cramped. The cost was $25 USD and I paid when I arrived.
I was seated at a table with another woman who was there with her mother and two young boys that were probably 12 years old. Their mother was at another table with other kids. It was a unique experience seeing something “creative” being done by both kids and adults and how differently we approached it. The lady next to me was filming for a video so I tried to stay “out of her shot” for most of this process.
The Cast Member explained to me what we were doing – but only one step at a time. To be honest, when it was over I wish I had understood the WHOLE process before I started! I might have done things a bit differently.
1. First – you choose your design.
The options that we were given were the Monorail and the 5 legged goat.
I chose with the 5 legged goat, it has so much history for me. This goat can be found in the main concourse of the Contemporary Resort and has been there since opening day, but it is hard to find. As a kid we had heard of this mysterious goat and my Mum spent HOURS looking for it. Of course back then there was no internet so we just kept searching. Years later when I found it I realized we had been staring at the wrong wall the whole time.
2. Then you select your tiles
The Cast Member told me to go and select some tiles from the bowls along the wall. I had NO idea at that point what I was doing so I just picked some random stuff based on the different colors I liked. I didn’t think about getting different kinds of shapes and sizes, just what was pretty.
3. Next you start the process of organizing
This is where I got lost – and wish they had told me step 4 in advance.
They give you a paper template with the shape on it and tell you to arrange your tiles on the laminated paper. I don’t know why, but I assumed that was the ‘final’ product – but it isn’t. You’re lining them up to see what it would LOOK like before the next step.
4. Put the tiles on the actual board
Yep – now you take all the tiles you put on the paper and put it on the board with glue. They don’t fit the same way and don’t line up the same way, so I spent a ton of time lining up the mosaic pieces on the paper only to do the SAME thing on the actual board. (I don’t know what to call the board – it’s the actual backing that you’re gluing the glass tiles to). If I had thought ahead to step 5 – I also wouldn’t have put them so close together, or so close to the edge and would have left room for the grout.
5. Then you grout
Once all of the tiles are in place, the cast member will check that they are solid enough for you to do the grout. They have fans that they use to help expedite that process. Putting the grout on is fun, they give you a bowl with the grout and a plastic spoon to spread it over your mosaic. You can use your gloved hands to help spread it too. (thank goodness for the gloves, I would have been a mess without!). I have the white grout but they also had black, I assume it depends on what color board you selected in the beginning.
6. Time to wait
The Cast members will put your new masterpiece in to a box for transport back to your room. This is because you need to let it sit and dry for 4-6 hours before you can use the wet wipes they give you to clean the top of the stones and remove any excess grout from them. This is where they start to sparkle and shine and you see your own Disney mosaic come to “life”.
7. Take it home and showcase your own art!
With the final result at home I realized what a fantastic souvenir I have. I am going to be hanging mine up at home because it’s the only piece of art I have made as an adult, and I love the fact I’ll have my own 5 legged goat to show.
My finished mosaic
What you need to know about your mosaic experience:
- It is recommended for ages 12 and up, but younger guests can participate
- It is available at many different resorts with different mosaics to choose from (next time I might try the one at Coronado Springs in the Dahlia Lounge)
- Wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little messy. They do give you gloves and paper towel, but just in case – dress appropriately
- Plan to be there for about 90 minutes on average
- Advanced reservations are recommended but they will accept others if space permits
This mosaic class was such a fun activity and I even thought about doing it again on the same trip with all of the things I learned and I would have done it differently. I decided to save it for another trip where I would try a different location. If you have time and are looking for something to do outside of the theme parks, this is a fun one!
Have you done one of the mosaics before? What fun activities have you done at the resorts?
