Eating at the ESPN Zone

[JenDisneylandlver]

Anyone eat there before? My two sports loving guys want to try it this time. They want to eat a late dinner (7pm) to watch a certain baseball game apparently.

Just wondering how the food was, and should I call and make a reservation? Not sure how hard it is to get a table. Thanks!

 

[pumpkin5156]

Anyone eat there before? My two sports loving guys want to try it this time. They want to eat a late dinner (7pm) to watch a certain baseball game apparently.

Just wondering how the food was, and should I call and make a reservation? Not sure how hard it is to get a table. Thanks!

It's good food, but like all Disney, expensive. Was one of the best tasting meals we had all weekend when we went.

I would make a PS, as we made the mistake of not doing so on a busy weekend during football season. We ended up in the bar (we don't drink) with our baby. Was still fine, but we would have preferred a table away from the loud people.

 

[MMSS]

WHen I was there in April, I was told they do not take Reservations (PS) past 5pm. Despite be prepared to wait as even with a PS, we were given a pager and sent upstairs which took sometime. The kids had fun playing with the various video games ($$) before getting buzzed.

As to your question, yes the food was good in both taste and proportion.

Can be crowded an noisy too, but I take that as part of the enviroment that you are in

 

[kaoden39]

We went to ESPN Zone in December 2005. I will never do it again without PS. We had a pager and it didn't work. Thankfully at that time they gave you game cards with Disney Travel packages. We waited over an hour to eat. But an upside to it all was the food was really good. We really felt we got our moneys worth and it was really good. The funny thing is we were there at a time that Disneyland was really slow. The first week of December and they were that busy. I guess that says something.

Michele

 

[ironpig70]

how do you make priority seating for dtd is it the same as a park resturant???


ate at the dtd at wdw and loved the espn their. i think its a guy thing.

 

[kaoden39]

http://www.espnzone.com/anaheim/

Here is their website. You can make priority seatings on the website I believe. It's not just a guy thing!

Michele

 

[bulldoggrl]

We eat there every time we go to DL (which is a lot). With the APs is makes it very reasonable.

Like any restaurant, there are expensive things and more affordable things on the menu. We usually go for the burgers or sandwiches. The food is awesome, as is the atmosphere. There is the sports side and a less loud 'family' side. The sports side is the one with the giant TV, and tvs at every booth, so thats what we usually go for.

If it is dinner time, on a weekend, or with a big game playing, expect to wait. If the game they want to watch isn't a big deal, and there isn't anything playoff related going on (like basketball and hockey right now) it should be okay.

 

[DoomBugger]

ESPNZone seems like a cool place and in some ways it is but having been there countless times I think their food is marginal.

Sometimes I gotta go eat there because there is a game I need to see but if it wasn't for that I would never eat there. The place is nice but I swear the entire dining area smells like dog water or dish water or something.

Don't bother if it is busy unless you have a reservation unless you don't mind waiting 45 minutes for a table by the aisle and so so service with OK food. There are better options if you don't have a game to watch and if you decide to eat there don't treat it like it is your big looking-forward to dinner meal of the day, you will be disappointed.

Just my feelings about the place.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Thanks everyone! I'll call and see if I can make a PS, maybe we'll have to go earlier so that we can make one. I would really rather not wait an hour!

Sounds like something we should try once! I don't have huge expectations about it, other then it sounds like fun, and something my guys will really enjoy. Oh and thanks for reminding me about the AP discount, gotta remember to use those at all these places!

 

[pumpkin5156]

We went to ESPN Zone in December 2005. I will never do it again without PS. We had a pager and it didn't work. Thankfully at that time they gave you game cards with Disney Travel packages. We waited over an hour to eat. But an upside to it all was the food was really good. We really felt we got our moneys worth and it was really good. The funny thing is we were there at a time that Disneyland was really slow. The first week of December and they were that busy. I guess that says something.

Michele

This is exactly the time we were there. It was so super busy, but I think it was because of the games going on. We talked with a few people inside that said they just came to DTD to eat and watch the games.
They take reservations on the weekends as of December 07, because that's when we went. I asked the hostess if they took ressies (after the fact) and she said yes.

 

[dbanzai]

Yes, it is expensive, and I disagree that it's "reasonable" with an AP. It's the one place on property I feel I seldom get my money's worth. The house wine was seven dollars, and beers were pricy too. The food is also expensive, but the portion isn't so bad.

The last time I was there, two other parties had problems with their checks, apparently both being double-billed for drinks, and by different waiters.

It's cool that you can watch so many games on tv, but I wouldn't say that makes it worth the money.

Mind you, that's with the whole chain, as well as with FOX Sports Grille.

 

[sunshinemummy]

We ate at the ESPN zone when we were there in April and got a nice booth with our own private TV to watch our hockey team...we had fun, food was good. We waited over an hour for the table as people really do hang out to finish watching their game before leaving.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Does anyone know if there is any way to sit in on a show taping? Are they even doing that there? I saw it on their website, but didn't see any tapings planned on their calendar. That would be cool.

From looking at their menu we'll probably go with burgers/sandwhiches. Seems to be the less expensive route. Which is okay, we like that kind of goodies!

 

[bulldoggrl]

Yes, it is expensive, and I disagree that it's "reasonable" with an AP.

We get burgers everytime, as I said, and I think they are around 8 bucks...that with the AP discount and no alcohol...cheaper than anything you'll get in the parks, and better too.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We get burgers everytime, as I said, and I think they are around 8 bucks...that with the AP discount and no alcohol...cheaper than anything you'll get in the parks, and better too.

Exactly what we plan to do! Only I'm guessing DH will be getting a beer. Even then my guess is it's going to be cheaper then a lot of other meals we have (including the Character breakfast we have planned, and maybe even cheaper then the RFC).

 

[disneychrista]

Please note that last time a tried they did not make reservations on weekends (Fri-Sun).

 

[jemilah]

the cheese fries are to die for!

 

[momto2nenas]

We've eaten there twice and enjoyed it! Their chicken tortilla soup is very good!

We were not able to make reservations, they told me over the phone they don't take them... It was VERY busy when we went in the evening, I think we had a 2 hr. wait.

 

[dizzyami]

Does anyone know if there is any way to sit in on a show taping? Are they even doing that there? I saw it on their website, but didn't see any tapings planned on their calendar. That would be cool.

From looking at their menu we'll probably go with burgers/sandwhiches. Seems to be the less expensive route. Which is okay, we like that kind of goodies!

The food is great - last time we were there we were told PS before 5:30, and call the restaurant after that for a ressie. Not sure if that will work or not. I know when we were there the 1st time in 2002 it was during a live taping, and we were up close and got to see the whole thing. This was also the same time we found our DD had a cheese allergy - during the live taping

It is a fun place though - my DH loves it