NFL Pro Bowl to be in Orlando will effect WDW

Gelatoni

Gelatoni

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I normally visit around this time now I know what week to avoid...

"Practices will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort simultaneously with youth football events and a fan fest."

"There will be a Pro Bowl-themed 5K run, a parade of Pro Bowl players in the Magic Kingdom and Pro Bowl-themed elements throughout Disney Springs, Disney's newest entertainment and dining destination."

(Game date: Sunday, January 29, 2017)

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...o-pro-bowl-returning-to-afcnfc-format-in-2017
 
No Name

No Name

Well-Known Member
The Pro Bowl has obviously been struggling over the last few years. So I think this is a great way to help the bowl and the resort at the same time. It's synergy, but in a good way. I also like the return to the AFC-NFC format. And I think the idea of practices alongside fan events is pretty cool.

So to whoever thought of this: I think it's a great idea, and I hope it works out well.

On another note, I'm still waiting for the fifth gate... ESPN Park.
 
matt9112

matt9112

Well-Known Member
egg said:
The Pro Bowl has obviously been struggling over the last few years. So I think this is a great way to help the bowl and the resort at the same time. It's synergy, but in a good way. I also like the return to the AFC-NFC format. And I think the idea of practices alongside fan events is pretty cool.

So to whoever thought of this: I think it's a great idea, and I hope it works out well.

On another note, I'm still waiting for the fifth gate... ESPN Park.
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I think a sports park would be a dumpster fire....have you seen the shape of some of these guests? Not to mention i currently hate how espn is even on property...garbage station with garbage media....like disney ESPN lives off its name alone and not substance. They keep ruining what little slow season we have left with this crap.
 
NearTheEars

NearTheEars

Well-Known Member
This is a smart move for the event organizers, and a big win for OTown tourism.
None of it will help the TV ratings of this game, but you better believe the stands at the Citrus Bowl will be full for this event, unlike the empty venue in Hawaii.

It actually has me excited for the game. Hopefully I'll be able to attend some of the events.
 
ShoalFox

ShoalFox

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
Yes
Very interesting indeed. I wonder how the players feel about losing their free trip to Hawaii? I was excited when the Pro Bowl came to Miami, and I'm rather intrigued by the decision to move it back to FL.

And as you said, what was once a prime time to visit WDW is now ruined...
 
thehowiet

thehowiet

Wilson King of Prussia
ford91exploder said:
Loved by who?, The Pro Bowl has always been a free trip to Hawaii for the players and their entourage and even then the top players would look for excuses not to go.
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Agreed. I was being sarcastic ;) Maybe if it's a bust next year they'll finally just scrap the whole thing, but I doubt it. I don't think I've watched a Pro Bowl game since the early to mid 90s, and I watch a lot of football...
 
Retroman40

Retroman40

Well-Known Member
I'm not too convinced that this event will have much of an impact on the average guest experience. The parade of NFL Stars will be no different than the FoF or EP and the ESPN WWOS is so far away from parks that it won't matter. The run will be held at zero dark thirty like most runDisney events again not impacting too much. Bottom line is I wouldn't let this event impact any plans for a WDW visit. If I had to bet I would guess that unless they give tickets away that there will be a lot of fans at the game disguised as empty seats.
 
Gomer

Gomer

Well-Known Member
Retroman40 said:
I'm not too convinced that this event will have much of an impact on the average guest experience. The parade of NFL Stars will be no different than the FoF or EP and the ESPN WWOS is so far away from parks that it won't matter. The run will be held at zero dark thirty like most runDisney events again not impacting too much. Bottom line is I wouldn't let this event impact any plans for a WDW visit. If I had to bet I would guess that unless they give tickets away that there will be a lot of fans at the game disguised as empty seats.
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I think the biggest issues are in transportation. I missed an early entry Crystal Palace reservation a couple years ago because it took 90 minutes (from pickup to drop off) for our bus to get from AKL to MK due to a half marathon. Also had to change plans at the last minute to get on Magical Express early due to the full marathon the next day because of altered bus routes.

I'm guessing the parade will be similar to the Superbowl MVP parade. Maybe if you have an option don't chose MK that day due to a mild bump in crowd level. And if you do go to MK definitely don't arrive during the parade. But these are minor inconveniences that can be planned around. I've been in MK on the day of that parade and didn't even know until after I got home.

I'm scheduled to fly out on Pro-Bowl day for my next trip. At this point I'm more worried about crowds at the airport that morning than any impact on the parks.
 
DznyGrlSD

DznyGrlSD

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
Yes
matt9112 said:
I think a sports park would be a dumpster fire....have you seen the shape of some of these guests? Not to mention i currently hate how espn is even on property...garbage station with garbage media....like disney ESPN lives off its name alone and not substance. They keep ruining what little slow season we have left with this crap.
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Tell us how you really feel :D:D

I GET Disney trying to get more guests in during the off-season. This is one of the only situations where I'll say: they're a business

I think this is great. I'm a huge NFL fan and this may prompt a visit to WDW to check out all of the hoopla.
 
DznyGrlSD

DznyGrlSD

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
Yes
Joshua Farley said:
I normally visit around this time now I know what week to avoid...

"Practices will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort simultaneously with youth football events and a fan fest."

"There will be a Pro Bowl-themed 5K run, a parade of Pro Bowl players in the Magic Kingdom and Pro Bowl-themed elements throughout Disney Springs, Disney's newest entertainment and dining destination."

(Game date: Sunday, January 29, 2017)

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...o-pro-bowl-returning-to-afcnfc-format-in-2017
Click to expand...

So where is the actual game going to be played? UCF stadium? I wonder if they'll offer shuttles to/from the game from Disney? I'm kind of excited about this.
 
dreamfinder

dreamfinder

Well-Known Member
Gomer said:
I think the biggest issues are in transportation. I missed an early entry Crystal Palace reservation a couple years ago because it took 90 minutes (from pickup to drop off) for our bus to get from AKL to MK due to a half marathon. Also had to change plans at the last minute to get on Magical Express early due to the full marathon the next day because of altered bus routes.
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Won't be an issue. The 5ks don't cause any road closures that a guest would notice. They can use any of the existing 5k courses in Epcot or AK, or setup a new one that never leaves WWoS.
 
X

xstech25

Well-Known Member
thehowiet said:
Iger couldn't lock down the stadium deal, but at least he gets the much loved Pro Bowl.
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Bob Iger has nothing to do with this (though it will bring some marginal benefits to WDW). This is more of a Buddy Dyer thing, who over the years has been able to allocate a lot of money from the tourist development tax to spend on stadiums to bring more events like this to Orlando.

Not going to lie when the stadium renovation was announced I thought it was a waste of money and thought the stadium should have been removed because its in a bad neighborhood, and as we know stadium's never really fix bad neighborhoods (unless gentrification is a major part of the equation). Also with UCF building a new stadium awhile back I didn't see why the Citrus Bowl was necessary.

I will admit it has done what it's supposed to do. Having the Pro Bowl accessible in the east coast vacation market, compared to isolated in the west, will increase the games attendance. Also WDW/UO, the areas primary employers, will see some benefits as well (never hurts to have publicity).

The Dolphins/Falcons game was a nice little surprise as well. I think the obvious choice for a game in Orlando was between the Jaguars and Buccaneers but with Miami's stadium under renovation it looks like the Dolphins were probably shopping around for a venue.

IMO the Jags should play a game every year in Orlando kind of like how the Packers used to play in Milwaukee every year. With Blake Bortles being under center they already have increased their fanbase in Orlando, it would do a lot of good for TV ratings and merch sales to have a big city like Orlando as a Jags town. The team would have to convince the city to allow another home game outside of Jacksonville when they already have one in London.
 
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