ESPN... the weekend, trip report

Well, I decided to see what it was like... so I went. And apparently I showed up too late. In the AM, apparently they had NFL/NBA Cheerleaders welcoming guests (note to myself... WAKE UP AT 6 ON SUNDAY!!!!!), but that was missed... oh well.

The event wasn't as intensive and all encompassing as Star Wars, or even Super Soap Weekends, but it definitely was well done. The park was covered in a sea of Blue and Blue/Gold WDW Suit ID's, and the plaid of VIP tour guides escorting Hall of Famers around the park. The interaction between the Sportcenter people and the guests was very nice, and the "Ask an NFL hero" portion was very cool.

I was expecting the event to me more like a Disney Tailgate Party, but there was not Beer... nor Beef... nor Brats there. It was far more high brow than that, but still cool. Seeing NFL heros riding down Hollywood Blvd in Saab convertibles flanked by Disney Characters was something I've never seen in my life, so that was a new experience needless to say.

The fireworks.. OMG. THEY ARE THE BEST FIREWORKS EVER DONE AT THE DISNEY/MGM STUDIOS. Period. For a 5 minute show, this encompassed more emotion than Wishes, with all of the quality of it. If they were to make this permanent, I would not mind at all. Sorcery in the Sky is a joke in comparison.

All and all a good day. Crowded, but everyone seemed to be in good spirits. Very laid back people, made new acquaintances from across the US and the World. Talking to strangers has never been so much fun.

If I'm up early enough tomorrow... I'll be going in for a quick sneak before work.

 

[mkt]

afterthoughts (since it's easier to post again than to edit a post)...

1- I wish I was better at photographing fireworks, since the pics I got, only 10 out of over 100 came out to my satisfaction

2- I hope this becomes a recurring event

3- THEY NEED BEERS, BRATS, BEEF, AND MORE CHEERLEADERS!!! Sorry.. venting.

4- WHY NO NHL?!?!?!?!!?

5- VIP Plaid is the only good looking Plaid there is

those are my afterthoughts.

 

[mkt]

more afterthoughts...

Jock Jams doesn't sound right being broadcast in a Disney Park

 

[TnkrBelPixiDust]

Seeing NFL heros riding down Hollywood Blvd in Saab convertibles flanked by Disney Characters was something I've never seen in my life, so that was a new experience needless to say.

OMG.. gotta love them Saab convertibles!!! Lol Great trip report... When did they have fireworks @ MGM? The only one's i've ever watched were in Fantasmic and that doesnt even count...

 

[PhotoDave219]

more afterthoughts...

Jock Jams doesn't sound right being broadcast in a Disney Park

Yeah, i nearly threw up when i heard it. But the band was a nice touch earlier on in the day.

 

[careship]

I was thining about the NHL thing myself as that as the only huge sport in our house. I had heard Scotty Bowman was going to be there as well as Grant Fuhr. Were they not there? Or maybe you didn't see them. I was thinking about it though, I wonder if it is due to the contract dispute with the players that they couldn't get anyone to come. Maybe they just don't think that hockey is a big deal even though the Ducks did so well a couple years back. This does disturb me as the other sports were so respresented.

 

[speck76]

From disneyworld.com

It's the ultimate fanfest! Be a part of this first-ever, one-of-a-kind ESPN event featuring unique entertainment and interactive experiences for sports fans and sports families at the Disney-MGM Studios Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1, 2004.

NEW! The following celebrities, plus many more, are scheduled to appear:

Athletes ESPN Personalities
Scotty Bowman Linda Cohn
Caron Butler Lee Corso
Rob Dibble Chris Fowler
Eric Dickerson Peter Gammons
Dorothy Hamill Kirk Herbstreit
Rip Hamilton Dana Jacobson
Michael Irvin John Kruk
Bruce Jenner Dan Patrick
Mike Metzger Karl Ravech
Joe Namath Harold Reynolds
Mary Lou Retton Stuart Scott
Dave Stewart Trey Wingo


Event highlights include:
Live and Taped ESPN Telecasts
A stage set in front of the Sorcerer's Hat will feature popular ESPN shows: College GameDay, Baseball Tonight, ESPN Deportes, and SportsCenter segments.
Motorcades and Conversations
ESPN personalities and sports celebrities will motorcade up Hollywood Blvd. to the Sorcerer's Hat for an exclusive conversation. You can get a close up look and the chance to ask questions of your favorite sports heroes.
Inside ESPN Talk Show featuring SportsCenter and Cold Pizza
Get a true "behind-the-scenes" look at how your favorite ESPN shows, like SportsCenter, Cold Pizza and NFL Live, come together as ESPN personalities take you "inside ESPN."
Who Wants to be a Millionaire - Play It! Sports Edition
The popular Disney-MGM Studios attraction gets in on the action with sports trivia and sports personalities who will play along with contestants.
ESPN Interactive
Hands-on area where you can try your hand at fun, interactive sports experiences including ESPN The Truck and the NBA Rhythm 'n Rims Van.
ESPN Dream Job Behind-the-Scenes
You can get into the act as finalists from the first season of ESPN's popular reality show reunite to reveal dramatic and comedic parts -- some never-before-seen -- from last year's competition.
Finale Tribute to 25 Years
Video and audio tribute to the last 25 years of sports accompanied by a fireworks salute.
Celebrate 25 years of sports with ESPN25.
For a close-up, in-depth look at the greatest sporting moments and achievements of the past 25 years, check out "Who's #1" and "The Headlines" all summer long on ESPN every Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Check back for more event details.

 

[Kevin]

The fireworks.. OMG. THEY ARE THE BEST FIREWORKS EVER DONE AT THE DISNEY/MGM STUDIOS. Period. For a 5 minute show, this encompassed more emotion than Wishes, with all of the quality of it. If they were to make this permanent, I would not mind at all. Sorcery in the Sky is a joke in comparison.

Any chance anyone got this on video?

 

[Atta83]

I didnt find them that great.....

 

[Pixie Duster]

Not criticizing just wondering..... were the fireworks sports themed? What was done to convey such emotion?

 

[mkt]

Ashley, from what I recall you only saw the end of the show, while you were eating dinner. Dani, they were sports themed, but rising above adversity always seems to have a good emotional curve to it... regardless of in which arena it takes place in.

 

[TravisMT81]

Rob where are the pictures???

NEVERMIND I am looking at them now LOL!! :hammer:

 

[PhotoDave219]

Ashley, from what I recall you only saw the end of the show, while you were eating dinner. Dani, they were sports themed, but rising above adversity always seems to have a good emotional curve to it... regardless of in which arena it takes place in.

*Ahem* ... If i may interject, we saw most of the 5 minute show. Just took a few minutes to get to hollywood blvd. (Besides Rob, weren't you drunk?) It consisted of mainly low level effects with some higher aerial shells. Definetly not of Eric Tucker Quality. In fact this didnt even ring up with July 4th over DC quality, however it was much better than DC fireworks at the Milennium. Nowhere near the best Ive seen, and nowhere near what Disney has to offer.

As for adversity, why does it have to be sports related for it to be good? (No offense to Mike Eruzzione) Didnt Philip rise up against adversity to slay Malificent? Didnt Nemo face adversity when he escaped from the tank? Didnt Jack Sparrow face adversity when he had a whole casche of rum to drink in one night?

Personally, i believe that the growing ESPN hype of sports contributes to the growing ignorance of society, insomuch that million dollar athletes with five cent heads (Quincey Carter anyone????) are celibrified and worshiped while no one seems to care about real progress within society or america. Sure, lots of Americans can name the starting quarterback for the New York Giants (cuz he was on The Bachelor, right?) but can anyone name the guy who cured polio? Speaking of health care, i was in a florida centra-care place today and after spending over an hour waiting to have my ankle examined, simply by sitting with the uninsured and people whith little insurance, there's a major health care crisis in this country.

So, in short, 1) Adversity is good when you can rise above it. What doesnt kill you makes you stronger (unless you use it as an excuse). 2) Those fireworks just went of standard Disney Caliber and 3) Florida's health care system needs help.

 

[Pixie Duster]

Wish I could have seen the fireworks. I personally have a hard time getting emotional over sports. I really do not feel it is that important, however, just because I feel that way doesn't mean other people feel differently. So I am sure it was a great event for people who enjoy sports.

Dave I agree health care is a sad, depressing, and disgraceful situation in America. What happened to your ankle man?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Depends on who you ask..... :lol:

 

[Atta83]

Ashley, from what I recall you only saw the end of the show, while you were eating dinner. Dani, they were sports themed, but rising above adversity always seems to have a good emotional curve to it... regardless of in which arena it takes place in.

Yes, Rob we were eating dinner but got out as soon as the fire works started. We did not move to hollywood blvd. until the last few seconds (which we thought were going to be more) which was what i thought a horrible finale. I mean I could not hear the music where i was standing which would of given it a much more deserved show. The screen showing the sports footage was not that clear where we were standing. I am sure if you were standing up to that screen you possibly could not have seen the fireworks. This clearly was not done by any disney but an other person. I did not care for them, but if you did then kudos to you. And thats just my opinion.