Sandtastic Weekends coming to Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort

in Hotel, Walt Disney World

It doesn’t get much better than a Disney weekend of summer fun in the sun, mixed in with surf and sand. And that’s just what you’ll get at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort’s Sandtastic Weekends on Aug 26-28 and on Labor Day Weekend from Sept. 2–4.

According to their press release, the event will feature “100 tons of sculpted sand, sand sculpting clinics, amateur sculpting contests, speed sculpting demonstrations, food, entertainment, games and more”.

Guests will be able to experience first-hand the incredible creations from Team Sandtastic, a professional sand sculpting team recognized as one of the best in the world that have won competitions.

In celebration of the upcoming event, the holders of the world record for the tallest sand sculpture ever hand built are sharing some of their top tips for novice sand builders to take their skills to the next level:

Make the most of household items
You likely already own most of the best sand sculpting tools available. They are common household goods that can typically be found in your garage and your kitchen. In the garage look for a 2-foot section of a 2”x4”, small paint brushes and gardening spade shovels. In the kitchen, look for spatulas, melon ballers, cake icing spreaders, measuring spoons, straws and wooden shish kabob spears. All of these are great carving tools.

Use a bigger bucket
If you want a bigger sculpture, you’ll need a bigger bucket. Those plastic children’s sand buckets offer the right idea – put sand inside a bucket and turn it upside to start your sculpture – however they aren’t nearly big enough to get a good starting block to carve. Instead, take a 5-gallon bucket and cut the bottom out. Filled with sand, the bucket would be too heavy to flip. But with the bottom removed, you can pack it with sand from the bottom up once you place it upside down in the sand.

Sand consistency is important
As you pack your sand, be mindful of the consistency. The sand should be wet, but not too soupy and not too dry. Pack in the sand 3 inches at a time, tamping it down with the 2”x4” piece to make sure it is packed in tightly. Keep adding sand 3 inches at a time until you’ve filled your bucket. If your sand consistency is good, you should be able to tap the sides of the bucket with your piece of wood and remove the bucket to have your starting sand block.

Tell a story
As you decide what to create, remember that creating a collage of several shapes is easier and more interesting than holding yourself to one shape. Instead of a person saying, “It’s a dog,” try to get them to say, “It’s a dog that’s dug a hole where a you can see a snake has been because there’s a snake coming out of a hole on the other side of the plot and it’s biting at the dog’s tail.”

For more, visit www.sandtasticweekends.com for event info and pics of some of their most incredible creations.

in Hotel, Walt Disney World

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