ESPN Club???

[mom2AidanAndEli]

How hard is it to get a table? I know they don't take ADRs but don't want to spend hours waiting for a table either. Plan right now is for Saturday, August 29th, for lunch. If we get there very close to opening (which I think is 11:30) will we be able to be seated fairly quickly? I know certain game times can be crazy, but I'm thinking an early Saturday afternoon might be okay.

And any thoughts on the food? As the only female in a household full of sports junkies, I'm giving in and trying it. Just hope at least the food is okay!

 

[cluvsdisney]

As long as there are no big games on, it should be pretty easy to get a table at that time. DH & I enjoy the food. It's sports bar food - wings, burgers, nachos, etc. and they do it pretty well. I tried the steak last time and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. The only thing I did not enjoy there was the pulled pork sandwich.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

I thought there food was hit or miss, sort of typical pub food. We've been a couple of times to try and watch and sporting event but weren't willing to wait several hours for a table. I think if you get there close to opening you'll be ok though. Problem is when you arrive later and people are camped at their tables for an entire football/hockey/soccer match.

 

[DrivenByDisney]

The food is actually better than a standard sports bar's fare in my opinion. My wife and I eat there quite often after watching Illuminations at EPCOT and she is always surprised at the quality of the food (for what it is).

Hey, it's not gourmet or Victoria & Albert's but like I said, better than most sports bar food to me. There flat bread pizzas are one of our favourites as well as the Pub Nachos (they are huge).

 

[richmo]

Close to opening you should be fine. As others have mentioned, when there's a major sports event, that's when it gets hosed up since people tend not to leave...

 

[Tigger's ally]

The food is actually better than a standard sports bar's fare in my opinion. My wife and I eat there quite often after watching Illuminations at EPCOT and she is always surprised at the quality of the food (for what it is).

Hey, it's not gourmet or Victoria & Albert's but like I said, better than most sports bar food to me. There flat bread pizzas are one of our favourites as well as the Pub Nachos (they are huge).

I would agree with this. I think of bar food as greasy spoon but filling. I think ESPN fits more into the TGI's and in Walt Disney world vernacular the TRex, Rainforest and Jungle Jims of the world. Better than bar food.

 

[WEDWDW]

as well as the Pub Nachos (they are huge).

Totally agree-must have for nachos lovers!

 

[DrivenByDisney]

Here's a shot I found of the Pub Grub Nachos ... Love these things!! Definitely for sharing

 

[m3owbox]

We went on a Sat afternoon back in Feb and had no trouble getting a table at all. No wait either.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) ESPN is just like your home town bar & grill.
2) On games days, people come to watch the entire game.
3) Thus, the tables do not become available often during the game.
4) This is the way it should be.
5) Patrons should not be asked to leave their game-table.
6) The option is to make an advance ADR and pay the rate for the VIP table.
7) Your ressie and table are guaranteed.

 

[gcmeyer2]

1) ESPN is just like your home town bar & grill.
2) On games days, people come to watch the entire game.
3) Thus, the tables do not become available often during the game.
4) This is the way it should be.
5) Patrons should not be asked to leave their game-table.
6) The option is to make an advance ADR and pay the rate for the VIP table.
7) Your ressie and table are guaranteed.

Scupper. How do you make an ADR for a VIP Table? I didn't see that option on the MDE app page. My family is looking for a place to watch the Women's World Cup game on June 16. Assuming it will be hard to get a table but might consider an ADR for our party.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Scupper. How do you make an ADR for a VIP Table? . . .

1) Call the restaurant directly.
2) When there, just eat/drink the minimums (per-person) to meet the requirements of the VIP table.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

VIP tables are quite expensive, aren't they? Is there a breakdown somewhere?

 

[smcabee]

VIP tables are quite expensive, aren't they? Is there a breakdown somewhere?

Believe its $55.00/person and its per game so be prepared to settle the bill and leave when your game is over.

 

[Lee & Kerry]

It a fun break to go there, foods good, beers are great, longest we ever had to wait was maybe 10-15 minutes.

 

[PantherPete]

College football Saturday's don't start until the following weekend and NFL usually doesn't play preseason games on Saturday afternoons. So other than baseball (some Saturday afternoon games are played, but most games are at night) and perhaps an overseas futbol match, you shouldn't have much competition for a table. The U.S. Open tennis tournament will be going on in late August, but it will just be hitting the quarter final stage at that point, so no one will be there to watch it. Overall, the very last dull sports weekend of the year, so I'd be shocked if there was much of a wait (if any).

Regarding the food - it is a lot closer to an Applebee's or TGIFridays as some suggested, than it is to your local non-chain sports bar. Nothing appears to be freshly made. I think they go from freezer to fryer with just about everything on the menu. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being a hot dog off the rotisserie at the Quickie Mart and 10 being Le Cellier), the ESPN Club rates about a 3. There are only 3 reasons to ever go here while at Disney: 1. To watch a game; 2. You don't have ADR's and EVERYTHING else in the Epcot resort area is booked; or 3. You love highly processed and frozen then fried food.

 

[vicb]

As long as there are no big games on, it should be pretty easy to get a table at that time. DH & I enjoy the food. It's sports bar food - wings, burgers, nachos, etc. and they do it pretty well. I tried the steak last time and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. The only thing I did not enjoy there was the pulled pork sandwich.

My 2 cents: don't order pulled pork... last time I ate there my DS and I had pulled pork, he felt "yucky" but I got full out food poisoning and the worst was we ate there before eve. emh at HS and I was sick in HS. I should have known better than to eat it because it wasn't very warm when it was served, probably not kept at the correct temp that night. IF I were to eat there again I'd order something fresh cooked like a burger but I have not been back since. We sort of switched to Big River Grill as an alternate stop on the BW. But I do think ESPN is fun, we've been there for live events and trivia.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

College football Saturday's don't start until the following weekend and NFL usually doesn't play preseason games on Saturday afternoons. So other than baseball (some Saturday afternoon games are played, but most games are at night) and perhaps an overseas futbol match, you shouldn't have much competition for a table. The U.S. Open tennis tournament will be going on in late August, but it will just be hitting the quarter final stage at that point, so no one will be there to watch it. Overall, the very last dull sports weekend of the year, so I'd be shocked if there was much of a wait (if any).

Regarding the food - it is a lot closer to an Applebee's or TGIFridays as some suggested, than it is to your local non-chain sports bar. Nothing appears to be freshly made. I think they go from freezer to fryer with just about everything on the menu. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being a hot dog off the rotisserie at the Quickie Mart and 10 being Le Cellier), the ESPN Club rates about a 3. There are only 3 reasons to ever go here while at Disney: 1. To watch a game; 2. You don't have ADR's and EVERYTHING else in the Epcot resort area is booked; or 3. You love highly processed and frozen then fried food.

Thanks for the schedule breakdown! A dull sports weekend sounds perfect to me!

And I have to add one more reason to your list. A 15-year-old who lives and breathes everything sports-related. Whose goal in life is to work at ESPN one day. Or perhaps for a professional team's business office. Whose favorite movie of all times is MoneyBall. Who makes up spreadsheets in Excel to put in baseball stats and figure out who has the best percentage according to the formulas used in Moneyball. Just. For. Fun. He's just an all-around sports stats junkie.

I'll suck it up and eat the processed food so that he can be "in his element" for the afternoon!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Vicb--sorry to hear of your experience! We'll definitely steer clear of pulled pork!

Do you have any idea where we could find a schedule of live events and trivia? I know my son would LOVE it!

 

[Wood Nymph]

I don't think you will have any trouble getting at table for the lunch hour.

Do you have any idea where we could find a schedule of live events and trivia? I know my son would LOVE it!

We have run into the trivia game twice now, and both times were in the early part of dinner hour - maybe 6pm, maybe 5:30pm. It was fun and most people don't know the answers.