How's the food at ESPN on the Boardwalk?

[MammaMoe48]

I've heard mixed reviews but most of them are in the "meh" or "so-so" range. I was thinking of booking the VIP seating for one night while we're down there but now I am wondering if it's worth the price tag. If I'm going to spend $210 for the three of us (which with tax and tip would come to about $260) on a meal, would I be better off going to a place like the Yachtsman or Artist Point and maybe spending a little bit more for a better meal?

My other idea was to stay with ESPN and order as much food as we can while staying in our pre-paid price and taking back all the extra food to our room to eat the next day or two.

 

[bcarey2k]

The food is basically like a Chili's.

In my opinon, yes, The Yachtsman would be a much better choice.

Brian

 

[MammaMoe48]

I just realized that we will be down there during the Olympics. Wondering if it will be crazy trying to get in.

And speaking of the Olympics, would something like that cause attendance to go up higher than normal? August is in the 5-7 range according to Easy WDW.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I like the food at ESPN and we go there on almost every visit but we would only do the VIP deal if there was some game DH or I HAD to watch which quite frankly would never happen. If it came to a better meal to spend that kind of money on, it would be Yachtsman or Shula's.

 

[JZCubed]

I've heard mixed reviews but most of them are in the "meh" or "so-so" range. I was thinking of booking the VIP seating for one night while we're down there but now I am wondering if it's worth the price tag. If I'm going to spend $210 for the three of us (which with tax and tip would come to about $260) on a meal, would I be better off going to a place like the Yachtsman or Artist Point and maybe spending a little bit more for a better meal?

My other idea was to stay with ESPN and order as much food as we can while staying in our pre-paid price and taking back all the extra food to our room to eat the next day or two.

Should even the best spicy chicken wings in a beer hall with patrons cheering at TV's that can be seen at every angle be compared to cedar-plank cooked salmon in a romantically charming dining room with carpeted floors and waiter(esses)/servers wearing something other than a referee costume?

You're comparing apples-to-oranges.

ESPN is not Signature dining....no matter how mediocre Disney Signatures can sometimes be.

We enjoy the nachos and cold beer at ESPN; we enjoy Artist Point for a quiet dinner.

Value to see the 'big game' - priceless....even of they served cold left-over pizza and stale pretzels.

And some people put both apples and oranges into their pitcher of sangria.

 

[MammaMoe48]

Should even the best spicy chicken wings in a beer hall with patrons cheering at TV's that can be seen at every angle be compared to cedar-plank cooked salmon in a romantically charming dining room with carpeted floors and waiter(esses)/servers wearing something other than a referee costume?

You're comparing apples-to-oranges.

ESPN is not Signature dining....no matter how mediocre Disney Signatures can sometimes be.

We enjoy the nachos and cold beer at ESPN; we enjoy Artist Point for a quiet dinner.

Value to see the 'big game' - priceless....even of they served cold left-over pizza and stale pretzels.

And some people put both apples and oranges into their pitcher of sangria.

I'm not comparing atmosphere or decor, and I know the quality will not be the same, it's more about value. I'll pay $260 - or more - for great steaks and seafood, amazing desserts and top notch wines but I don't know if I'm willing to pay that much for mediocre (by most accounts) wings, an "okay" burger and tap beer. When we are in WDW it will be mid august so not really any "big games" going on, especially the way the Yankees have been playing

 

[D Morggggg]

ESPN club for lunch, nothing else.

 

[crabbygal902]

It is no better or worse than our local Buffalo Wild Wings, but the atmosphere during a game is fun.

 

[JZCubed]

I'm not comparing atmosphere or decor, and I know the quality will not be the same, it's more about value. I'll pay $260 - or more - for great steaks and seafood, amazing desserts and top notch wines but I don't know if I'm willing to pay that much for mediocre (by most accounts) wings, an "okay" burger and tap beer. When we are in WDW it will be mid august so not really any "big games" going on, especially the way the Yankees have been playing

You are effectively prepaying for up to $70 worth of food & beverage.

What ever portion you do not spend then becomes the cost of your seat.

In other words, if you have a big appetite for food and/or beverages, you are paying nothing for your seat.

The food for the particular price point of any menu item - whether for a steak, wings, and/or burger - is what you might expect.

Personally, we find the pub grub to be pretty tasty.

If there was a game I wanted to see while on vacation - $70 seems fair.

$40-$50 for food & $20-$30 for drinks....over three hours.....

Is it easy to eat and drink that much - not for me anymore, but I was young once.

P.S. I'm in NY - I cheer for both the Met's (I was born in Flushing about the time of the Met's and it's a small world) and I also cheer for the Yankees....but in the subway series, I cheer for the Met's. Right now, however, you'd have to pay me to watch the Yankees stink up the field.

 

[MammaMoe48]

You are effectively prepaying for up to $70 worth of food & beverage.

What ever portion you do not spend then becomes the cost of your seat.

In other words, if you have a big appetite for food and/or beverages, you are paying nothing for your seat.

The food for the particular price point of any menu item - whether for a steak, wings, and/or burger - is what you might expect.

Personally, we find the pub grub to be pretty tasty.

If there was a game I wanted to see while on vacation - $70 seems fair.

$40-$50 for food & $20-$30 for drinks....over three hours.....

Is it easy to eat and drink that much - not for me anymore, but I was young once.

P.S. I'm in NY - I cheer for both the Met's (I was born in Flushing about the time of the Met's and it's a small world) and I also cheer for the tYankees....but in the subway series, I cheer for the Met's. Right now, however, you'd have to pay me to watch the Yankees stink up the field.

I'm a Mets fan too but I will root for the Yankees (DS & DH are fans). It's nice to be the winning team getting all the love for once though!

 

[JerseyJanice]

OP, unless there was a specific game we wanted to watch there, I wouldn't even consider it.

You are correct that your money could be spent on far better dining experiences.

 

[jimmytammy]

We really like ESPN and I tend to not go for these type places. I prefer going on a non big game day though as it can get loud, and be really crowded

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I just had lunch there this past week. The burger and fries were tasty and my friend enjoyed the nachos. I'd have it again but wouldn't seek it out, specifically, if that makes sense. They also seemed to have a pretty good selection of beer. If there was a sports event I was interested in seeing, I wouldn't hesitate to make plans to go to ESPN. As someone else said, good pub food. But if you're purely focused on the food, I think you could find better options.

 

[Hikergirl]

Its not bad but its nothing special. I wouldn't seek out a dinner ADR there with all the other better choices Disney has to offer.