ESPN Weekend

[Gabby&Liv's Mommy]

I just saw an ad for the ESPN Weekend at MGM, March 2-4. Has anyone ever been before? My husband is a huge sports nut and I was thinking of leaving our DDs home this trip and taking him for a long weekend. Unfortunately, the flights that time of year from Milwaukee, WI to Orlando are not cheap and DW resorts aren’t at their lowest either. I am trying to decide if it’s worth it. Has anyone been and can you share your experiences?

Thanks!

 

[jennyl772003]

Me and DH were there that time last year. We were there accidently though. So I won't comment on that aspect.

I WILL comment on airfare though!!! Last year we flew Midwest for $196 pp. We are almost ALWAYS able to find this fare when we travel. Just keep watching it.

 

[Bill From PA]

First, this surprises me as I was told ESPN Weekend 2007 would be a week or two earlier than this year, mid Feb or so. At any rate, except for PSU football and golf, I'm not much of a fan anymore so I paid little attention this March. Most or all of the activities were at MGM where we observed various broadcast shows happening 'live'. I don't recall vast crowds around the stages, nothing ESPN related seemed to interfer with 'normal' WDW goings-on. You're right about airfare and resorts being expensive. This is our usual time to go and our airfare broke a record for us and we couldn't get the Swan or Dolphin on a Teacher's Rate as they're not offering them or else we missed them. Hopefully a real Fan-atic will answer this concerning how it appeals to a sports nut.

Bill From PA

 

[Gabby&Liv's Mommy]

Thank you very much. I will hold on for better prices. We have enough FF miles for one ticket but not two.

 

[Faerie]

I've done all three previous ESPN the Weekends and I'll be at the '07 version.

I'm a total sports junkie so I have a great time. There are live tapings of Mike & Mike in the Morning (ESPN Radio/ESPN 2), Baseball Tonight, SportsCenter and ESPN Desportes.

There are seminar type deals with behind the scenes of the different programs with the anchors (and at times athletes). Athletes do Q&A on a stage set up in front of the hat. There are games and freebies back behind RnRC.

If you like ESPN and Sports, it's a really fun weekend

 

[Gabby&Liv's Mommy]

Faerie,
Thanks for your feedback. Do any of these events/tapings require a special ticket or hours of waiting. It sounds like my husband would have a great time.

 

[Shubunk]

Good info, i have always wanted to go

 

[Gabby&Liv's Mommy]

One more question…..where/when is the schedule of events published?

Thanks!

 

[Faerie]

The schedule in the past has only been available beginning on Friday - all the weekend events are on the schedule

Everything is included in your regular admission to MGM No extra tickets needed

 

[The Mick]

We went this past ESPN Weekend and it was AWESOME (if you're a sports nut).

They had live taping of certain ESPN shows and question/answer sessions with different athletes. For example, they had a stage set up under the huge fantasia hat and interviewed athletes like Tony Gonzalez and JERRY RICE.

The funniest part was when they had the audience ask Rice questions...he had maybe a handful of football-related questions, but the majority of them were about the Dancing With The Stars show he was on recently. Here, we're talking about the greatest wide receiver in the history of the NFL, and all people cared about was his dancing!

Anyway, they also had competitions set up where you could win stuff (basketball shoot-outs, hockey slap-shots, football passing accuracy, pitching MPH, etc.). That was a lot of fun too (didn't win anything though).

It's definitely a great reason to visit MGM though (that and Star Wars weekends).

 

[NJDad18]

We were there for ESPN weekend in 2005. We had a good time. The one thing that I remember was a Q&A session with athletes. They also had celebrity millionaire with the sports stars. As the OP stated everything is at MGM. They have a lot of things set up behind RNR. They open the fence that's there.

 

[Gabby&Liv's Mommy]

My husband would love it!!!! I'll have to keep my eye out for a good deal on flights.