I guess I don't understand how deeply and seriously some consider this so called "bubble". I enjoy staying inside the Disney sphere and having less of the "real" world to deal with - that is what vacations are for. With the exception of my high school senior trip, we have stayed on Disney property on every visit. But at what point is the "bubble" considered popped? Is when one hears people cheering for their sports teams? Is it when taking a bus to a theme park, you pass a common Speedway gas station? Is it seeing a marked delivery trucks from outside companies on the roads making deliveries? Is it seeing marked Orange County sheriff's vehicles parked outside park entrances? Is it hearing CNN on a TV? I suppose that I do not understand getting so deeply into the "bubble" that any of those would bother me. In one way I wish I was. In another way I am glad that I am not. Glad that an otherwise great day would potentially be ruined by simply hearing a TV news channel or people cheering for a sports event. To each their own.
I assume being in the "bubble" would mean being surrounded by all things Disney 24x7. I get that that. But by that criteria, with ESPN being part of the Disney family, wouldn't an ESPN themed eatery be part of that "bubble"? Where does one draw the line at which Disney brands belong inside the "bubble"? Some have argued that the ESPN Club was out of place on the Boardwalk. In my opinion, it fit very well. Having grown up outside of Philly, I have spent many weeks/weekends at the boardwalks in NJ and also in Ocean City, Maryland. Boardwalks are full of life and activity - plenty of lights, music, games, amusement piers, ice cream shops, t-shirt shops, salt water taffy stores, pizza shops, pedicabs, etc. There is a lot of kinetic energy. ESPN gave that sort of energy to that end of the boardwalk. I enjoyed spending evenings on my balcony at the Yacht Club looking over the water and seeing the lights and activities on the boardwalk - I think a lot of that will go away. Some have said that it did not belong at a "$400/night hotel". It was located at a far corner location that was very much out of the way. The only time someone would pass it would be when walking to Epcot. If one was worried about it not fitting the theme and popping the "bubble", one could take the boat to Epcot while looking at the Yacht & Beach Club so as not to see ESPN Club. I would say if sports bar does not belong in a deluxe hotel neither does a hot dog stand, take out pizza window, funnel cake cart, margarita stand or dueling piano bar. All of those are on the boardwalk. In my opinion, they all fit the theme of the area where the hotel is located. In my opinion, one cannot say that ESPN does not belong at a $400/night hotel while the others do.
As far as the Cake Bake Shop replacing ESPN, in my opinion, looking online at their other locations, it would seem to be a better fit at the Grand Floridian than the Boardwalk. Who knows, maybe it will be built with a more casual theme to better fit the area but online photos of the other locations make it look too "fancy". I will reserve my opinion until the project is finished. My fear is that it will be another overpriced restaurant - $100+ cakes don't do it for me. Hope everyone enjoys their future visits no matter what happens with the Boardwalk.
Baked in house bagels, bread. Dill pickles also made in house!
