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The baseball playoffs have begun and tonight the Braves play in their first post season game since 2005, you might not know this fact about them, but they started this season at the Walt Disney World Resort, as they do every year. Their Spring Training facility is at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The ESPN Wide World of Sports complex* is an enormous multi-sport venue, where Pro and Amateur athletes can come to compete. This is a neat fact, but an Unknown Magic that Sports Fans may need to know more about when they are in Walt Disney World is the only ESPN Zone that is still open is on Disney’s Boardwalk.
The ESPN Zone is all the way at the end of the Boardwalk, on the side that is closest to the International Gateway leading into Epcot. The ESPN Zone on the Boardwalk is the last surviving ESPN Zone of the Franchise Bar/Restaurants that ESPN used to own and operate. The others were in Los Angles, Las Vegas, Anaheim, Chicago, New York, D.C. and Baltimore. The one in Disney World is a little smaller than the others were, but just as great.
The Bar area is great for watching a game, with TV’s all around and plenty of sports memorabilia, much of it with a Florida feel; i.e. Florida Marlin and Tampa Bay Buccaneer Jerseys which enhances the atmosphere. The bar has ample seating for the big game and the food is your typical bar fare with Wings and sandwiches. They also offer soup and desserts. The ESPN Zone is on the Disney Dining Plan, but the reason you will go here is definitely for the sports.
There is a Small dining room, (The food in the dining room is the same food that is offered in the bar) with a stage, that is home to special guests and radio shows from time to time. Once when I was in Disney they were taping an ESPN show for Television about former players and what they were doing now. That week they had Rick Barry, Grant Fuhr, and other former players every afternoon at the ESPN Zone, for the filming of the show. It was free to go in and watch and be part of the studio audience, and you could eat an early supper too. It was a neat Magical Experience that I got to have.
My son’s favorite thing about the ESPN Zone is that they have televisions in the bathroom so that you don’t miss any of the game, although he also likes the arcade/gift shop. The Arcade is a nice size, works on Token Cards and has enough different games to entertain the kids or the family for a while and create a Magical Experience for all of you . Over all this is a great place to go and watch a game, because even the kids will be able to hang out here for a while, without getting antsy.
So, now that you know, for sports fans, there is chance for a Magical Experience if your team is in the big game and you’re dying to see it while you’re in Disney World, or if you just want a decent meal at an ESPN themed Sports Bar. All you need to do is head down to the Boardwalk and go to the last of the Zone.
*You can click here to find out more about the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
unknownmagicwithinwaltdisneyworld 