Best Activities for Sports Fans at Disney World
Do you have to watch every baseball game? Can’t miss your favorite football team when they are on television? Afraid that your trip to Disney World is going to put a wrench into your sports fun? Think again. Yes, Disney is filled with princesses, parades and rides galore, but they also cater to you, the sports fan!
As a matter of fact, did you know that Disney owns the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex? It started out as the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex, but Disney rebranded it with their own ESPN brand back in 2010. The 230-acre complex now hosts more than 60 sporting events throughout the year, from cheerleading competitions to soccer camps and exhibitions and so much more.
Later this year, from November 30th through December 8th, you can watch the 2018 Pop Warner National Cheer & Dance Championships at the complex.
Do you prefer baseball? Then plan a Disney trip between February 15 and March 31, 2019 and take in a game when the Atlanta Braves will be holding their spring training. You can watch the current players practicing for the new season and watch other hopefuls vie for a shot to be on the Major League roster. The minor league affiliate for Atlanta, the GCL Braves, play games throughout the summer months too.
The complex includes a 9,500-seat ballpark, 16 softball fields, 18 multi-purpose outdoor fields, a track and field complex, 10 tennis courts and three indoor arenas. Over the years, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has also hosted the NFL Pro Bowl Week and the Invictus Games here too and such notable athletes as Lionel Messi, Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, Mia Hamm, and Shaq have been here. You never know who you’ll see! Check the ESPN event schedule and plan accordingly.
You don’t just need to be a spectator. Compete with your team or challenge yourself in a marathon in a variety of competitions — baseball, softball, football, soccer, basketball, cheerleading, dance, martial arts, and track — that ESPN hosts throughout the year. Or how about becoming a volunteer? This year, the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, the Special Olympics Florida Fall Classic, the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend and the Star Wars Rival Run are all looking for volunteers.
Once you’re done competing or volunteering, enjoy a meal at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill where she can watch the game on one of the seven HDTVs. Enjoy wings, burgers, pizza and other game day food! And don’t forget your souvenir game day selfie!
Stay at a Disney sports-themed resort when you book a room at the All-Star Sports Resort. It’s so much fun walking through the 200-foot tall football helmets on the way to your room in one of the five themed sports areas — baseball, basketball, football, surfing and tennis. The kids will love the Huey and Dewey ball-playing statues out on the field and the Grand Slam Pool, a pool shaped like a baseball diamond, which features a Goofy fountain that squirts water!
Attention NASCAR fans! There’s something for you too. Head over to Epcot and get a thrill on Test Track, a 6-passenger “simulation car” that you created. Design your own car based on capability, responsiveness, efficiency and power (speed) Add some finishing touches to your design before boarding a special “SIM Car” – you won’t be hitting 200 miles per hour, but it’s a fun ride regardless!
So, sports fans, turn off the television, get off the couch and, like many Super Bowl winners have done, shout “I’m going to Disney World!”
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