It's a Solo DISventure for DIS20! Update 9/9 **Complete**

I interrupt this TR for a fun experience!

Okay so this experience is in no way related to Disney but it was awesome so I have to share. I will have a TR update right after!

On Wednesday June 14th I had the opportunity to go to the US Open Golf Tournament. Wednesday was only a practice round day but it was still fun and really once in a lifetime. I was lucky enough to have a friend who had tickets he wasn't using so I got in for nothing. The 2017 US Open was being held at Erin Hills in Erin, WI. This is the first time WI has hosted this event and who knows if we will ever get it back. Erin Hills is a relatively new golf course having been built in 2006.

So on Wednesday, I left my house around 9 and headed to the parking for the event which is about 20 minutes away at a local fair grounds. From where I live it took me about 45 minutes.

Upon arriving I loaded into a coach bus and was off to the event. About 2 miles from Erin Hills is Holy Hill. It is a beautiful very well known basilica that sits atop a huge hill overlooking everything around it.



You are immediately in the fan central area when entering the course.

I really liked the logo for the event.





I first hit up the merchandise tent. I had to check this out considering the magnitude of the event and needed something to show I had been there. I ended up getting a Under Armour polo, and got my dad some golf balls.

I headed towards the practice range and putting areas next. During practice is the only time you can take pictures of the golfers.

Brandt Snedeker



Dustin Johnson (early favorite)



Someone I really wanted to see, Steve Stricker. Steve is from Madison, WI so I had to root for the home town guy.



In the practice area there were a on of golfers, many whose names I didn't even know. I even saw the eventual champion Brooks Koepka.

After watching practice for a bit I went off to the course. I first went and watched two groups tee off on hole 1.



After a while I found myself heading towards hole 17. My goal was to find some of the big name golfers. Here I ended up seeing Sergio Garcia (Masters winner) and Rory MCilroy.





Next on the 17th hole was Jordan Spieth. Jordan is my favorite golfer. Many people tell me I look a lot like him so I have accepted him as my doppelgänger.



And here comes the best part! I stood right in the cross walk area where the golfers walk and Spieth was known for signing autographs at each hole. I was lucky enough to be in the right spot at the right time and got his autograph!!!



I was kind of on cloud 9 for a while then...

I followed him through his finish on the 18th hole.





While I was at the course I saw quite a few people I knew so that was nice. I ended up going back to the merchandise tent to get a ticket holder to protect my new autograph and I got each of my grandfathers a hat as a Father's day gift.

All in all it was a fantastic day. I headed out around 4PM.





I really hope WI can get a major tournament like this again. Congrats to Brooks Koepka on his win!
 
Back to Pandora I go!

After my Safari my next FP would be for Flight of Passage. Of course I was really excited for this new ride but I had to wait a bit. My FP was at like 5:20PM. So to kill time I got in line for Pongu Pongu. I waited maybe 5ish minutes and ordered a lumpia and a night blossom beverage.

If you look up at Pongu Pongu you can see dog tags. These dog tags feature pictures of those who worked on Pandora. If you look at this picture you can see the one and only Joe Rohde.



I thought this gear thing was cool looking.



Here is my order.



I really liked the drink. I ordered the seed light up ice cube with it as well. The lumpia was good but a bit much. Next time I will share it with someone.

Finally I was ready to head into Flight of Passage! As I was heading in it was starting to rain a little bit.



The entry way into FoP is beautiful. Unfortunately with FP you miss out on the queue for the ride. Luckily I get to experience that later...









It took about 5ish minutes before I was in the pre-show. This kid in front of me kept telling people they must stand on their numbers or the pre-show wouldn't work. I just kind of rolled my eyes.



I was in seat 15 for this journey.



And thats the end of pictures for FoP. Upon entering I saw the seating and sat down. I thought the fit was fine, I didn't even feel the leg restraints. Nobody was removed due to not fitting in the seat either. The transition into the start of ride is fantastic. You don't even really notice the door raising up. From start to finish my jaw was dropped. I loved every minute. Being on the end didn't really affect my experience at all either. It truly is a fantastic ride and will be a must do for every trip going forward.

After FoP it was raining or I mean pouring! So I quickly ran over by Nomad lounge to wait it out a bit. Once it stopped NRJ was about a 120 minute wait and I had nothing planned so I said what the heck and got in line. I ended up waiting about 110 minutes which is long but I was fine with it.

In line there was this trash can... I tweeted at WDWToday saying this needed to be taken care of. They said it would be. This was just unacceptable to me for a new land.



I don't really have any photos of the queue in my photobucket for some reason. I will have to add some in later.

Upon loading I didn't mind the intimate size of the boats but can see why they are an issue.

I really liked the details and some of the affects of the ride. This one where the leaves are moving above from creatures moving on them is really cool.





And then there is the Shaman... This AA is incredible. She is so fluid and so graceful its almost too realistic.





I wish we could get a longer look at her though.

The ride is pretty much done after that. I wouldn't wait 120 minutes for it again but a good 30 minutes I would. Its a nice ride but a bit short.

Up Next: I got a dining package for this?
 
My husband is very jealous of the golf event, that was an awesome bonus! Loved the Pandora pics, some different shots.
 


Amazing that you got to visit the US Open and get the autograph!!!

I read the end of your Pandora post and said "uh oh, we are going to hear about the Rivers of Light next!."
 
Very cool that you got to go to the golf tournament. We have the Masters at Augusta not too far from us but tickets for it are impossible to get.

Your pictures and descriptions of Pandora are making me so excited for next January. I'm still trying to figure out how to approach the day since I'm pretty sure we will only have 1 AK day. I want to ride FOP twice and NRJ once so we may have to rope drop and FP FOP and then just stand in line for NRJ. I plan on watching the wait times closely between now and our trip to see if they stay long.

I'm also hoping that FOP does not make me sick. I do fine on Soarin' but more intense simulators like Star Tours and Simpsons at US make me a bit nauseous.
 
My husband is very jealous of the golf event, that was an awesome bonus! Loved the Pandora pics, some different shots.

Thanks!

Amazing that you got to visit the US Open and get the autograph!!!

I read the end of your Pandora post and said "uh oh, we are going to hear about the Rivers of Light next!."

It was awesome!

Yes we are ;)

Very cool that you got to go to the golf tournament. We have the Masters at Augusta not too far from us but tickets for it are impossible to get.

Your pictures and descriptions of Pandora are making me so excited for next January. I'm still trying to figure out how to approach the day since I'm pretty sure we will only have 1 AK day. I want to ride FOP twice and NRJ once so we may have to rope drop and FP FOP and then just stand in line for NRJ. I plan on watching the wait times closely between now and our trip to see if they stay long.

I'm also hoping that FOP does not make me sick. I do fine on Soarin' but more intense simulators like Star Tours and Simpsons at US make me a bit nauseous.

The Masters would be incredible to go to but yeah it's very hard to get tickets and it's a very exclusive tournament.

One thing that could help your AK day is if there is EMH. Otherwise yeah rope drop FoP and FP it. Line have died down a bit for NRJ.

I think you'll be ok with FoP. It's not jerky at all but definitely has more movement than Soarin.
 


Very cool that you got to attend the golf tournament and get a special autograph!

I'm so excited to ride FoP!! I'm glad you thought it was great. I can't wait to give it a try.
 
That sounds like a really cool experience at the US Open - and so cool you got Jordan Spieth's autograph. (I wouldn't have initially thought of it but now that you mention it I do see the resemblance between he and you). Was listening to some of the reports from people in the industry at the event and it sounds like they did a great job with logistics and the course was in great shape. I know the scores were a bit low for what they typically have at the US Open so not sure what that means for getting the event again in the future

*******************

You definitely noticed more details around Pongu Pongu than I did (I think those dog tags are in between the two windows so i think that is why I missed them - but a very cool detail!)

Great shots of the mountains as you were entering the queue for FoP

We had similarly had a few people in our group of 16 that were telling others they had to stand on their numbers, etc. - in their defense it did seem like there was a connection to if you were standing on the number or not and your number on the screen being green or gray at the beginning (don't get me wrong, I am sure the preshow would work fine, but whether it was coincidence or not I could see why they thought you had to stand on the numbers)

Fully agree with everything you said about FoP - they just did a great job with it!

I really liked the river ride as well - and I feel like if they just slow it down a little bit so you have more time to take in the details it would also take longer and I think people would complain less. I definitely would wait 20-30 mins no problem for it
 
Wow! Quite the summer home! I'm impressed.

The garbage situation is just unreal. People keep posting about it, and it keeps happening.

Really dig the photos in Pandora, can't wait to see it in 4 days.

The walking safari section had much more fencing than I remember last time I was there. Hopefully it's just catching my eye in the photos as opposed to being more visually present. Keep the animals safe is obviously more importantly but I felt their ability to do so without caging them in was a really magical thing.
 
Great updates!

We have to do Tiffins on our next trip! That dish looked really delicious!

Amazing hippo photos!

Your Pandora photos are excellent - I've seen some here and there, but yours are the first I've really checked out.

Sounds like your trip is off to a great start!!
 
I interrupt this TR for a fun experience!

Ryan - That is so awesome, thanx for telling us about it/posting pics. Even though not into golf myself, I enjoyed feeling your excitement, and you are so sweet for picking up gifts for folks! I'm also glad you weren't anywhere around that blimp tragedy. When golf events are at the Orchard Hills Golf Club in Paramus, NJ (one of the major stops every year, not sure of what "leg", or tournament or whatever) I would see the blimps over residential areas from my job, and my apartment. While very cool, I always had worry in the back of my mind, it's how I've become in my decrepit, paranoid old age. :)
 
Loved your Pandora update too - you definitely take some INCREDIBLE pics, and I can't WAIT to see this new land someday! I also hope I fit on FOP, that sounds SO cool! Glad you tweeted out about that refuse can, and they said it would be taken care of. No excuse for that anywhere at WDW, IMHO, and especially not in a new land that they KNEW would be off the charts busy, and especially not in a land themed all about man's disastrous effects on the environment. If it weren't so ad, it would almost be ironically amusing. Looking forward to the rest of your report!
 
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Very cool that you got to attend the golf tournament and get a special autograph!

I'm so excited to ride FoP!! I'm glad you thought it was great. I can't wait to give it a try.

You're going to love FoP!

That sounds like a really cool experience at the US Open - and so cool you got Jordan Spieth's autograph. (I wouldn't have initially thought of it but now that you mention it I do see the resemblance between he and you). Was listening to some of the reports from people in the industry at the event and it sounds like they did a great job with logistics and the course was in great shape. I know the scores were a bit low for what they typically have at the US Open so not sure what that means for getting the event again in the future

*******************

You definitely noticed more details around Pongu Pongu than I did (I think those dog tags are in between the two windows so i think that is why I missed them - but a very cool detail!)

Great shots of the mountains as you were entering the queue for FoP

We had similarly had a few people in our group of 16 that were telling others they had to stand on their numbers, etc. - in their defense it did seem like there was a connection to if you were standing on the number or not and your number on the screen being green or gray at the beginning (don't get me wrong, I am sure the preshow would work fine, but whether it was coincidence or not I could see why they thought you had to stand on the numbers)

Fully agree with everything you said about FoP - they just did a great job with it!

I really liked the river ride as well - and I feel like if they just slow it down a little bit so you have more time to take in the details it would also take longer and I think people would complain less. I definitely would wait 20-30 mins no problem for it

Some were originally concerned with the parking and such but I felt everything worked out great for the Open. We won't get it back for the next 8 years at least but hopefully it does come back sometime soon. Another course in WI is hosting the Ryder Cup in 2020.

I always try to look for the details and I heard about the dog tags a few days before.

Yeah I definitely understand their thought process into thinking you had to stand on the numbers but knowing what I know it was just kind of a "really?" Moment.

Yeah maybe slowing it down would work by I wish it had just maybe one more scene.

Wow! Quite the summer home! I'm impressed.

The garbage situation is just unreal. People keep posting about it, and it keeps happening.

Really dig the photos in Pandora, can't wait to see it in 4 days.

The walking safari section had much more fencing than I remember last time I was there. Hopefully it's just catching my eye in the photos as opposed to being more visually present. Keep the animals safe is obviously more importantly but I felt their ability to do so without caging them in was a really magical thing.

Yeah they need to do something about garbage in queue lines.

You're going to love Pandora!


Great updates!

We have to do Tiffins on our next trip! That dish looked really delicious!

Amazing hippo photos!

Your Pandora photos are excellent - I've seen some here and there, but yours are the first I've really checked out.

Sounds like your trip is off to a great start!!

Tiffins was fantastic, I highly recommend it.

Thanks!

WOW!! You have mad patience!

Since I didn't know if I was going to get to ride it at a different point I thought what the heck.

Loved your Pandora update too - you definitely take some INCREDIBLE pics, and I can't WAIT to see this new land someday! I also hope I fit on FOP, that sounds SO cool! Glad you tweeted out about that refuse can, and the said it would be taken care of. No excuse for that anywhere at WDW, IMHO, and especially not in a new land that they KNEW would be off the charts busy, and especially not in a land themed all about man's disastrous effects on the environment. If it's weren't so ad, it would almost be ironically amusing. Looking forward to the rest of your report!

Thanks! I hope you get there sometime soon Heidi. Yeah that garbage was definitely that needed to be taken care of.
 
Sounds like you had a good time at the US Open. So cool that you got Jordan Spieth's autograph!!

I like the dog tags at Pongu Pongu - that's such an awesome way to honor the people who worked on Pandora. I'm really impressed that Disney did that!

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed Flight of Passage so much! That seems to be one of those rides that everyone loves (at least from what I've seen and heard). I'm excited to (hopefully) eventually check it out ... even though I'm a little nervous about the seats (not that I think I won't fit, because I'm sure I will, but between the leaning forward bothering my back sometimes and not liking having things pushing against my knees, it could get a little uncomfortable).
 
Sounds like you had a good time at the US Open. So cool that you got Jordan Spieth's autograph!!

I like the dog tags at Pongu Pongu - that's such an awesome way to honor the people who worked on Pandora. I'm really impressed that Disney did that!

I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed Flight of Passage so much! That seems to be one of those rides that everyone loves (at least from what I've seen and heard). I'm excited to (hopefully) eventually check it out ... even though I'm a little nervous about the seats (not that I think I won't fit, because I'm sure I will, but between the leaning forward bothering my back sometimes and not liking having things pushing against my knees, it could get a little uncomfortable).
Yeah the Open was a lot of fun!

The details to honor those who worked on things are some of my favorites.

You don't have to lean forward as much as you may think. It's just enough for the back restraint to lock.
 
Great pictures can't wait to see it in person.
I can't believe the garbage overflowing that's horrible.
 
Looks like an amazing experience at the US Open- so cool!

Flight of Passage sounds cool!! I can't wait to ride in January! And you got some more great pictures of Pandora. That place just looks beautiful.
 

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