ESPN Club seating & service?

[Colleen27]

There are a couple evenings that I'm not making ADRs for just yet, and I'm looking at the various options for if we do feel like having a sit down dinner. One of those days is our MGM day - we have lunch ADRs for Sci-Fi and plans to catch Fantasmic. DH wants to check out the ESPN Club, so I'm thinking that might be a good plan for if we are up for a sit-down dinner after Fantasmic. So my question is, since they don't take ADRs how long does it usually take to get seated for a late dinner (MGM closes at 8 and we'll walk over)? How is the service? How long would a meal there generally take? We go to a lot of sports bar type places at home and the kids are fine with eating late, but I'm a little concerned that since it is Disney, it will take much longer than I'm anticipating.

 

[madalex]

I've been there a couple times for lunch and service has always been fine. For a late dinner, wait should not be long (if any). That all being said, food at ESPN is not good. After my last visit a couple years ago, I vowed never again!

YC Galley would be my recommendation for a late dinner in the Epcot Resort area. Sevice and food are very good and there will be no wait for a table at that time of night.

 

[Colleen27]

I've been there a couple times for lunch and service has always been fine. For a late dinner, wait should not be long (if any). That all being said, food at ESPN is not good. After my last visit a couple years ago, I vowed never again!

YC Galley would be my recommendation for a late dinner in the Epcot Resort area. Sevice and food are very good and there will be no wait for a table at that time of night.

Honestly, I'm not looking for great food out of the place. DH is a sports nut (and I'm only slightly less of one) so we want to try ESPN Club for the sports appeal & atmosphere. If I was going by menus and looking for good food, I'd be looking at YC Galley or Spoodles or Cape May rather than ESPN!

 

[motofox4]

My fiancee and I ate at ESPN on the boardwalk last september. if you're going to sit in the "bar area" where they do have tables, it's on a first-come, first-serve basis and you do not have to wait. Personally, we enjoyed the food and thought it was very good. we both got steak of some kind (can't remember the exact name now!) and both commented as to how good it was. i would recommend it and actually we're going to back again this year when we're in WDW.

 

[Traveliz]

The dining area is also first come/first serve -- I like it there and like the food. Generally we have never had to wait more than a few minutes but I know that is not the case if a big game is on.

Liz

 

[TigerKat]

ESPN is plain and simple "great bar food"! The nachos, wings & burgers are top notch. If there is a "big game" especially during football season it will be packed, so check the sporting event calendar.

 

[Epcotgal]

Everyone's opinions differ but we have eaten at ESPN Club a dozen times and we have always had a great time. Last year our group of 9 ate there twice and we all ordered different things and enjoyed what we had. Wings (got kudos from the wing expert of the group), burgers, nachos, chicken sandwich, chicken salad, hot dog, and a cheesesteak sandwich. Hope you like it too.

 

[Alltiggeredout]

How far in advance of a game(NFL)would you recommend getting there?

 

[tednvon]

HI, ESPN has two sides....one is wait for a table and the other is wander in and find what you can...there are about 6 booths in the bar area and a lot of small round high tables with high stools that seat up to 4...Menu is the same for both sides...and there are actually more TVs and better viewing in the bar area if you are looking for an obscure game or event.

If it is really crowded and a line for dining area is beyond the canopy, send one of you into the bar to scope out tables or booths and have one wait in line...If a bar table opens go for it, and if seating in the dining area opens, go for that...

A friend from Wisconsin said he had the "best Rueben" ever at ESPN!
I think the fresh fish grilled sandwich is always good. (We go about 2 times a week in the winter to watch the Iowa Hawkeye basketball team!)
The Hot Dog is beyond description...could serve two easy...
Salads are huge and good...

FOR NFL, TWO HOURS FOR A DINING TABLE AND ONE HOUR TO FIND A PLACE IN THE BAR...IT IS VERY VERY BUSY FOR NFL!

Enjoy...be sure to wander around and check out all the memoriabilia (sp)!!

Enjoy...Ted

 

[ADP]

How far in advance of a game(NFL)would you recommend getting there?

If its Sunday and NFL games start at 1:00PM I would get there before Noon or even 11:30. It will be crowded.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We love the food at the ESPN club. When we go in the fall, we always make sure the Steelers are playing during our trip so we can catch the game there.

Make sure you check to see if there is a night football game the evening you plan to walk over to the ESPN club, if there is, it will be packed. People get there an hour or so prior to the game and don't leave until its over. If there is no game, there are usually tables available. As others have said, one side is the restaurant part, the other,is the bar part , first come first serve.

The nachos are the best!!!

 

[jfelcie]

They even have TVs in the bathroom. We stay at The Board Walk and we eat at ESPN at least two times!!! We are . . . Grand parents, parents and kids and we all love the place!!!

 

[Faerie]

ESPN opens at noon. For a choice of tables in the bar area (AWESOME for football games) get there at noon. It's packed by 12:30. The dining side always has a very long line on sunday afternoons.

If you want to catch a 4 PM game on a Sunday, arrive at 3:15-3:30 and walk around. You can then grab a table when someone watching an early game leaves. Most people stay for the entire early game(s) or the late game(s) depending.

Of course if you're like my DBF and I, we spend almost an entire day there last year. His Dolphins played at 1, my Patriots at 4.

 

[DisneyWisher]

Last time we went we waited a while because of a big college game. But if you its a weekday night you should be fine. Get a booth in the bar area. Last time we did gave hostess my license and DD played nintendo (license in exchange for controller). Great way to keep the kids entertained. Love their nachos, chicken tenderloins in buffalo sauce, in fact we will be eating there a few times this trip because they don't require ADRs.

 

[thepwa]

I think the food there is terrible, but it is a great atmosphere. My own personal plan would be to visit during an event, stick to simple bar food and order lots of drinks.

 

[LYNSUE]

DH and I spend a great deal of time there whenever we are at WDW. We are both big sports fans. For our Sept visit, we will try to catch the Brewers every evening. (The main reason we stay at Beach Club is because it is a short walk to ESPN). Sundays during football season are totally crazy. Sometimes we sit in the bar area and sometimes the dining area. Really depends on our timing. Oh, the food..... mediocre at best. But true sports fans are not there for the food. It's all about the games.

 

[kelleigh1]

We're planning on hitting ESPN for a late lunch / early dinner on a Thursday afternoon in November (not Thanksgiving) before MVMCP.

I'm guessing that we won't have too much trouble getting a table since we'll be there probably around 3:00, I'm guessing. Am I right?

 

[TigerKat]

We're planning on hitting ESPN for a late lunch / early dinner on a Thursday afternoon in November (not Thanksgiving) before MVMCP.

I'm guessing that we won't have too much trouble getting a table since we'll be there probably around 3:00, I'm guessing. Am I right?

I would think you'd be fine!

 

[mb4cy]

We ate at ESPN for the first time last trip around X-mas. We ate in the bar area because we didn't have to wait. We had the nachos and a cub sandwich and enjoyed them. Service was good. If there's a game on, tables don't turn over quicklybut the bar area was fine (not too large for seating tho)

 

[OntFamily]

If its Sunday and NFL games start at 1:00PM I would get there before Noon or even 11:30. It will be crowded.

We stayed at BWI last Fall, and our room overlooked ESPN Club. On Sunday morning, by 11:00am, there was already approx 50 -60 people in line (and some of those where holding space for more people).