DWWS Sports Experience no longer Operating

[ImaYoyo]

Here's some FAQs from the release minutes ago. Just in case anyone was taking a trip and wondered why it was not open...

The Sports Experience at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex

1. Is The Sports Experience located at Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex operating?
The Sports Experience located at Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex will not operate until further notice as we evaluate operating options for this venue going forward.

2. When will The Sports Experience operate?
Future operating information is not available at this time as we are in the process of evaluating operating options for this venue going forward.

3. What is available for me to do when I visit Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex?
Guests can continue to enjoy and immerse themselves in exciting general admission events in an exhilarating atmosphere, amidst world-class venues within Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex.

4. What are the general admission events?
Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex hosts youth and amateur events that occur on many dates throughout the year, such as the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union), Pop Warner (football and cheer & dance) and USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) events and more. Certain other events like Atlanta Braves Spring Training and the Old Spice Classic (men's collegiate basketball tournament) are separately priced.
5. What are Disney's Wide World of Sports®Complex and its world-class venues?
Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex encompasses 220 acres and hosts over 180 amateur and professional sporting events every year. It features 8 different fields of competition for over 30 different sports, like The Milk House, HESS Sports Fields, the Ballpark, softball diamondplex and more.


I personally never found this experience to be very exciting. It had potential, but a lot of the things were never kept in good repair or available to use. I'll be interested to see what happens; if it should turn into something else, or just gets demolished. I'm also willing to bet that no one cares.

 

[mkt]

Did anyone actually go there?

 

[ImaYoyo]

Did anyone actually go there?

Not really. It was more of a place for kids to burn energy while their big brother/sister/mother/father competed.

 

[Horizons1]

How the heck do you even get there? Besides driving yourself I mean.

 

[MacDuffieMuppet]

i remeber diong it once when it first opended.

take a bus to i believe it was animal kingdom, then hope on a bus to wide world of sports. but the bus only runs every 45/50 minutes on non event days. I remeber we had to wait a long time to get a bus adn a long time to get back to the park. it might have changed. i think if you go to the all star sports u can get a bus from there. basically if u have a car its the quickest method othe wise your at the mercy of the bus system which is a pain in the butt for that location.

 

[joshwill]

How the heck do you even get there? Besides driving yourself I mean.

i believe that you could take a bus from MGM to the sports complex

 

[sknydave]

Wish I would have known about this sports experience.. I would have checked it out

 

[JLW11Hi]

I went to the complex once or twice during my CP. Basically just to eat at the All Star Cafe and look around a little bit. I am guessing that most of the people that go there are the ones who travel there to compete or maybe locals that go to see some of the games. I don't see the WOS being connected to the parks/vacationing experience of WDW at all. I mean, I am sure that most athletes that travel there to compete probably end up visiting the parks while they are there, but as for the regular vacationers, it appears to be pretty disconnected.

I guess with the Jostens addition the place is getting, the complex must operate well on its own end of WDW, and I think its kind of cool for Disney to be using its property for more than just the basic vacationing experience. (Like the golf courses)

I always thought it was wierd how intensly connected the Disney company is to sports. That was Eisner's doing, wasn't it?

 

[Scar Junior]

I, for one, love WWS. If not for utility, then for the general theory of Walt's master plan for Epcot/WDW. Sports is one of this county's greatest industries as well as passtimes. I have been to WWS only about 1/2 dozen times, but I love the attraction that it is. Walt's Epcot is more than just Epcot Center... WDW is a hybrid community. And what community is complete without sports?!

What Disney is doing is creating a destination beyond a midwest, southwest, northeast small town with tons of ball fields and courts. They are an giving unparalleled incentives for people to rent out their beautiful facilities - the parks, resorts, DTD/Boardwalk, other entertainment. Thus, the park attendance increases, as does the bottom line.

I love sports. One of my close family friends that I have grown up with is currently the director of the MN Twins new ballpark development. I have a history with the production of sports broadcasting. Thus I'm aware of, and excited for, the economic potential of sports..... Look at ESPN. It makes tons of money for the company. Why? Because sports sells.

On a random note... For a long time I have wanted them to change the name from DWWS to something incorporating ESPN.

The Jostens addition is welcome. I will visit more because of it (more sports to watch).... I just wish the All Star Cafe wasn't a rip-off.

 

[Sticky51]

I went to DWWS back in '04 and I stayed at pop century. We took a bus to MGM and waited one hour just to go see a Braves spring training game. it would have been faster if we walked

 

[DisneyMusician2]

Never even went there....is this related to all of the upgrades proposed for the expasion to the complex?

 

[mkt]

I haven't been there since my High School graduation was held there

 

[Ralphlaw]

I have thought for a while that Sports might be a good theme for a fifth park. With the latest developments in simulation technology, cool attractions could be put together, like Michael Vick's commercial from a couple year's ago to scramble for a touchdown. It might be a good place for outdoor roller coasters that would otherwise disrupt the theming at the other parks, and and other thrill rides that could be sports themed.

Imagine getting a nerf ball before boarding a roller coaster or some other ride, and getting some small prize for making a shot while the coaster is moving. Just an idea, maybe crazy, but I am sure the imagineers could make it work if they wanted.

The park could also be a hub for extreme sports, and attract people who seek bigger thrills, as well as teenagers who want a bunch of thrill rides, not just one or two or three per park.