ESPN Club

[Jokercoaster]

I'm visiting WDW in June and of all the restauraunts we wanted to eat here. So can anyone tell me from experience what the place is like and about prices? I heard about tv monitors in the bathroom, is this true? Also would anyone reccomend priorty seating and by the way what is priority seating, would we have to pay more or no for it? One last thing what time of day is best to visit?

 

[tigsmom]

Reservations (no ps) are not accepted. We waited on line about 15- 20 minutes to get in last August. (it was about 5pm or so)
The food was very good, TV monitors all over (yes even in the stalls in the bathrooms, also by the sinks). The food is good, a little pricey, but not too bad. Check out this website:

http://allearsnet.com/menu/men_espn.htm

 

[MadameCheshire]

It is a nice place. The food isn't bad. And yes, there are monitors in the bathrooms. they are everywhere. It is probably a good idea to go either in the afternoon or around 7:00 once the majority of people have left or at the parks.

 

[surfsupdon]

The restaurant is usually filled for dinner by 6--630 on a normal night with no LARGE sporting events taking place. After that, you hate in a line similar to a theme park attraction line. When someone leaves, you get the table if your next.

It's tradition for us to go to ESPN for our first dinner at Disney each trip. It's a fun place with really good food that gets you set for the vacation.

Spring for the bucket of buffalo wings for appetizers. So excellent.

And afterwards take a loop around the BoardWalk and fellow Epcot Resorts. It's so pretty. You may even get to see Illuminations form your walk if you plan it right to be outside!

 

[TheOneVader]

You HAVE to go to the ESPN Club! IT is aweosme. yes, they have TVs everywhere, includign the bathroom. Presonally, I liek their chicken sandwich. I'm leavign tonight for the World and we'll be eatign there oen day!

 

[BoBoJacks]

I got to meet Howard Johnson there!

 

[DigitalDisney]

Surprisingly, the ESPN cafe at Boardwalk is nothing like the ESPN Zones around the country. The ESPN Zones have higher end food, and a large dining room that looks like a sportsbook (this is true for Las Vegas and Atlanta, the two locations I've been to).

If I remember correctly, the menu at the ESPN restaurant at the Boardwalk is lighter and cheaper than the other ESPN Zones. It has items like hot dog baskets, burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc.

 

[Scooter]

My wife and I eat LUNCH at the ESPN club at least once every trip.

It's never crowded during the week at lunchtime.

It's like we have the whole of Boardwalk all to ourselves.

 

[NemoRocks78]

I have to agree with DigitalDisney. The ESPN Zone restaurants are a lot better than the ESPN Club, as they have a bigger menu and a really good arcade. The Club's arcade here is nothing more than a few of your normal arcade games. ESPN Zone contains games such as ones that could be found in restaurants like Dave and Busters. They even have some interactive games.


As for ESPN Club, I still think it's great. Last time I was there was Thanksgiving Day, we got there after a day at Epcot at around 5:00, just in time to beat the crowds coming in for the Dolphins-Cowboys game which they broadcasted. The whole place has that something which makes you feel like you're actually at an arena or stadium. Everyone cheers during the games, and it's a lot of fun. The food is great, and the bathrooms do have televisions :lol: . I definitely recommend it!

 

[riess424]

A good buy

The ESPN Club is the best restaurant at Disney World and my personal favorite. I try to eat their twice in a typical trip.

It is loud and crowded at times so you might have to wait 15 minutes. I wouldnt go around 7 if you dont like sports because it will be crowded if there is a sporting event on, but if u like sports it is a good time.

 

[surfsupdon]

The food is really good here, yes, and portions are large, as customary at WDW. I find the menu most similar to like a neighborhood grill. Fried foods, salads, steaks, wings, all that good stuff. Very tasty, and very exciting! It is a great place, but not high dining. Yet super fun!!!

 

[Badger Brent]

Try the bloody marys. I had a very good steak there last time. Also hit it late one night for the nacho's. The nacho's can fill you up pretty easily. I also say early or later. Nfl sunday was a nightmare to get in the one time I tried.

 

[tigsmom]

Originally posted by surfsupdon
The food is really good here, yes, and portions are large, as customary at WDW. I find the menu most similar to like a neighborhood grill. Fried foods, salads, steaks, wings, all that good stuff. Very tasty, and very exciting! It is a great place, but not high dining. Yet super fun!!!

I agree on all points. We have all agreed to head back when we go in July.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Sorry to break trend, but I didn't have such a great experience when visiting the ESPN club last September.

Was probably due to timing more then anything, I think our visit tied in with the same night your american football season starts and seeing as me and my fiance don't care for it, we didn't really fit in. Quite loud, TV cameras everywhere... and I thought our football fans (soccer) were bad!

Food was good mind, but I wouldn't say it was the best on property. Kind of like a Planet Hollywood style menu.

 

[tigsmom]

Originally posted by Hank Scorpio
Sorry to break trend, but I didn't have such a great experience when visiting the ESPN club last September.

Was probably due to timing more then anything, I think our visit tied in with the same night your american football season starts and seeing as me and my fiance don't care for it, we didn't really fit in. Quite loud, TV cameras everywhere... and I thought our football fans (soccer) were bad!

Food was good mind, but I wouldn't say it was the best on property. Kind of like a Planet Hollywood style menu.

We were there during baseball season. All the monitors were tuned in to the different games. There was a table of young couples by us & the women kept complaining how they were on vacation & didn't want to watch baseball. They had let the guys pick the restaurant (their first mistake) and they (the guys) were very happy! We were happy because we wanted to watch the game & it was on the monitor right across from opur table.

 

[FanofDinsey1981]

we go there at least once a trip to catch one of our chicago teams playing. the food is good, with moreof a 'bar food' feel than a nicer resteraunt.

and if you want ot have a great time, get there early for a big game situation. We caught the Illini-LSU Sugar Bowl game at the ESPN club, and we got there for the game prior to that. we spent 8 hours there, and the staff was great, the food was great, the people who came to watch the games were so much fun to talk to. (ok, except for the really mean and rude LSU fan. even the other LSU fans hated him.) the atmospehere is like you were at the game.

other times, we go for a baseball game or sometimes a basketball game, and you never miss a minute of the game, thanks to the MANY tvs around.

If there is a game you HAVE to see while you are there, definatly check it out. it is so very worth it.

 

[Ergens2]

Great eats!!! My husband and I usually travel during NHL season and god for bid he goes one week without the action. (It is so funny to see him get all itchy while we are standing in line and he can just about see the t.v. :lol: ) The wait can be long, esp. during peak dining times. 6-9pm on any day. We usually stay in the Epcot Resort area so we are there a lot.

 

[lamarvenoy]

COLD bud light, HOT buffalo wings! This is all I can tell you,but its a close second to the Outer Rim as my favorite "drinking hangout" on property.

 

[wdwjmp239]

Originally posted by lamarvenoy
COLD bud light, HOT buffalo wings! This is all I can tell you,but its a close second to the Outer Rim as my favorite "drinking hangout" on property.

I agree! The Outer Rim in the Contemporary Resort is a good place to go for a few drinks. It would also be a great place for NTN (National Trivia Network -- http://www.ntn.com) and compete with some of my other trivia pals in Naples while I'm in Orlando visiting "The Mouse" and stuck indoors on a rainy day or something.

But, I don't see NTN going in there anytime soon, so I guess I'll have to drive up to Uno's Pizzeria on SR 535 (Crossroads Shopping Center) to continually beat the players in there (and someday hope for a free pizza) LOL

When's the next Disney trip for me? Sometime in late May.

 

[sarajo]

I'm not a sports fanatic- I can tolerate watching some games of just about any sport--- but if there's a chance of getting to watch a game at the ESPN club, I'm there! The atmosphere is really fun. We were there a few years back for the Cotton Bowl with Arkansas and Texas, and the cheering from the rival fans was really cool! It was almost like being at the game, without having to deal with the stadium crowds. It REALLY helped out that Arkansas won and all my family was happy (GO HAWGS!)

But, I digress... the wings are the best wings I've ever eaten anywhere. It's not "fine" dining, by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a fun and pleasant place to catch a game and a bite to eat.