ESPN Club at BW and Disney Quest to close

[slp87]

I read an article on Jim Hill Media today that said DQ will be closed in early 2008 and turned into an ESPN Zone and the ESPN Club at BW will be closed at that time.

 

[Dan Murfman]

A double hit for me. I love going to Disney Quest and really love having the ESPN Club at the Boardwalk. I loved going down there after eveyone else was ready for bed and would watch all the different games and a couple of beers before heading up to the room for the night.

 

[CarolMN]

I hope he's wrong!.

We like eating at ESPN. If they close the BW location, I sure hope they replace it with a restaurant that has a similar menu!

Best wishes -

 

[tomandrobin]

Well my son will be disappointed!

That'll be the second closing this year of an attraction that he absolutely loves. The other (not Disney related) is the Pavillion at Myrtle Beach.

On the other hand, I love the ESPN Zone.

 

[tomandrobin]

Oh yeah, just realized that is another perk for SSR! BWV lost is SSR gain! LOL

Sorry BWV, not trying to rain on your day, just joking around. But I do hope that they replace the ESPN Zone with something that is comparable.

 

[bicker]

That's okay... lots of us don't really consider it a loss.

 

[Bmwdsny]

well as long as they include the resturant in ESPN zone, i am ok with it. It proabarly like the ESPN zone in Disneyland DTD. They were great.

However, i will miss the resturant at the BW though...hope they will replace with another resturant.

 

[littlestar]

I hope that is wrong info on ESPN at Boardwalk closing. My son-in-law loves ESPN at Boardwalk. Besides, ESPN is pretty economical to eat at if you want a sit-down place and just need a sandwich. Now Beaches and Cream will be more crowded then ever.

 

[CarolA]

Well keep in mind that Jim Hill posted an article in 2002 that said COP was closing within the next six months..... So while he may have his facts right, he may not... (Didn't he also post that there would be a DVC at CR... no sign of it either)

 

[bicker]

Yup, that's what I meant, in the other thread about this, about the difference between when Jim says something about how things were (in which case he's generally correct) versus when he prognosticates (in which case he's generally wrong).

 

[Sherri]

We will miss ESPN when we visit the boardwalk. I'm sure the one at DTD will be very crowded.

 

[DrTomorrow]

In general, we just don't enjoy many WDW dining establishements (and I'll agree that it's probably "us", not Disney). Still, we enjoyed the BW ESPN Club when we went last Dec. with DS25 - he's a sports nut and they were doing some live radio show that he'd actually heard of.

Of course, I would be terribly impolite if I mentioned that this is another in the growing pile of SSR/DTD jewels - so I won't.

 

[bigsmooth]

I think Jim is right this time around. It really fits in with what other sites have said about the future of DTD in general. It makes more sense for ESPN to be in DTD from their perspective- more convenient access to a larger population. The BW location is a very small ESPN zone compared to most.

I do hope that the ESPN zone on the BW is replaced with something that is a bit more moderate in price. It is nice to have a balance of options around the BW.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Creating an ESPN Zone at DTD is a great idea. One that I'm amazed took Disney this long to do (or at least be rumored to do). But the ESPN restaurant at the Boardwalk is not an ESPN Zone. There is no comparison between "Zones" and the Club at the Boardwalk. I see no reason why they couldn't keep the current restaurant at the Boardwalk and open a "Zone" in DTD. It would seem like a great way to capitalize on the name and locations.

At least that's what I hope they do.

HBC

 

[cobbler]

No one in my family has ever visited DQ and personally we don't think its a loss. ESPN to replace it? Has its benefits and drawbacks. Great for a quick bite, walking distance for us - if we are at SSR - and hubby loves sports. But couldn't they think of anything more original?

Oh and have we heard anymore on that dinosaur type restaurant they are supposed to be bldg in DTD? Seemed like that dropped of the radar.

 

[dbm20th]

The ESPN is gone to DDT. Cool! I will love having that enhancment for SSR...eh...I mean DD.

Those at the BW, don't get upset until you know what they are replacing it with. Anyone know why this is happening?

 

[rogerram]

you never know. They might keep ESPN at BW anyway. it does very well usually and if you compare it to another place, Rainforest cafe, which has a DD local and another on property, then tt has been done before and worked out well. I hope they keep it at BW. We go every time there.

 

[DebbieB]

The Boardwalk location was an "ESPN Club" not an "ESPN Zone". I think alot of people were looking for the large ESPN Zones like in other cities, with lots of games. By moving to Disney Quest, they will have the room to make it an ESPN Zone.

http://www.espnzone.com/

 

[bigsmooth]

Here is an older Miceage article (from late 05) about the changes coming to DTD (references the struggles of DQ)

http://www.miceage.com/kevinyee/ky112205a.htm

Seems that some of the predictions in this are coming true. Wondering if the Bellagio style water fountain will come to pass, heard several rumors on that one.

Oh and have we heard anymore on that dinosaur type restaurant they are supposed to be bldg in DTD? Seemed like that dropped of the radar.

Miceage also had an update on the dinosaur restaurant from March of this year. It references it as pretty much a done deal. But you never know.

http://www.miceage.com/kevinyee/ky032306a.htm

 

[dvc_john]

Not surprising if true.
DTD in Anaheim has an ESPN Zone, and the only other DQ (in Chicago) closed quite some time ago.