Everyone has a favorite Pixar movie, no matter if they are a kid or an adult. Now you can express your love for Pixar out on the golf course. This summer, The Wharf in Washington, DC, hosts Pixar Putt, an 18-hole Pixar movie-themed mini golf course.
As someone who obsessively watches everything Disney and Pixar, I knew I had to try it out, so we hopped on the Metro and headed down to The Wharf. The course is set up at the end of The Wharf on a plaza next to the building that’s home to The Atlantic.
Once you grab your putter and head into the outdoor course, you are met with a sea of color, iconic characters, and music from your favorite soundtracks. Each hole is designed with a different movie in mind, including scenes from the Toy Story franchise, Cars, Monsters Inc., and more.
Seeing almost all of the movies featured at the course, I can say that each design accurately depicts a scene within the movie or the overall aesthetic. If I had to pick a top three, it would have to be the Toy Story hole with the claw scene (and alien sound effects), The Incredibles hole with the omnidroid, and the recreation of the floating house from Up.
And don’t come in thinking this is your typical mini golf course. Each hole has a completely different obstacle, whether it’s putting the ball down the neck of a giant guitar, down a cascading set of piano key stairs, or into the winding path or a rocket ship. And those wouldn’t even be considered the hardest holes to complete.
While the course is open to all ages, there are definitely some holes that prove to be a lot more challenging than others. When you come across the Ratatouille– or the Finding Nemo-themed holes, make sure to strategize before you start racking up the putts.
Also, know that those prime time slots will be packed. My golf excursion took place at 3 p.m. on a Sunday, and even though we arrived 10 minutes early it still took us 20 minutes before we started playing. Those difficult holes also tend to create a bottleneck when that many people are trying to make their way through.
Overall, Pixar Putt is definitely something to add to your summer bucket list. And if your little ones are tagging along, they have a blast running around the life-size character cutouts and entering the scene of their favorite Pixar world.
The mini golf course will be open daily through August 4, with times from noon to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. Time slots run every 30 minutes. Friday and Saturday nights after 7 p.m. will be reserved for golfers 18 and older.
Tickets for this pop-up event are $29.50 for children ages 3 to 12 and $32 for adults during non-prime times and $32 for children and $34.50 for adults during prime times. The course also offers a family four-pack for $108. The Wharf: 580 Water St. SW, Washington, DC
Feature image by Michele Kettner
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