NFL & Disney????

[Kristineamb]

My DH & DS just discovered that their favorite NFL team (Pittsburgh Steelers) have a game while we will be at Disney in December. I was thinking they could go to the ESPN Zone @The Boardwalk since we are scheduled to be at EPCOT that day. Would this be a good place for a nine year old and his Dad to watch the game or is it more of a bar scene? I read on All Ears that they do not accept reservations...how crowded might it be on a Thursday evening???

 

[colinsdad]

I have gone to the ESPN Zone on a Sunday to watch the NFL during the Food and Wine Festival months and have gotten in (but was very busy). And that was when they were showing 7 different NFL games (and there is always fans from EVERY team at Disney at one time).

I would expect that since you say it is a Thursday night game, you will not be competing with any of the other NFL fans except those fellow Steelers fans and whomever they are playing because it will be the only game on.


You should have no problems at all.

It is not so much a "bar scene" and is appropriate for a 9 yo. Have your DH and DS ask for a table in the rotunda. It is away from the bar, and there are T.V's everywhere. Again since this will be the only NFL game on, it should be on most t.v.s (including the largest Main TV as well).

 

[Colleen27]

It is fine for a 9yo. My kids loved it, even though the only games on when we were there were the Red Sox and the Monday night preseason kick-off. I don't know how crowded you can expect it to be, but I would think that it being a Thursday night game would work in your favor since there will only be fans of those two teams trying to catch the game. And Dec isn't high season for any other sports that are likely to draw large crowds. We were there at 6PM on a Monday night and were seated in about 10 minutes. Hopefully you'll have the same luck!

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd (31) and I will be there on Jan 12/13...of course she wants to watch the playoffs if the Patriots are playing. And of course, her dad (my ex) has told her the ESPN is 'the' place to watch a game!!! Arrgghhh....doesn't he know how incredibly crowded and hard to get into it will be those days???? But, we'll give it a shot and see what happens. Otherwise, we'll be watching from a lounge someplace, or our room!!!

 

[PghLybrt]

They like a very good team


Just so you do know it is a Steeler game, and Steeler nation reaches everywhere. Last time I went to watch a Steeler game at ESPN zone we were playing against Cincinnati. There were all of about 4 tables that were not Steeler fans. Get there very early!!! As for it being a kid place……?
(You might want to get them a couple of terrible towels before you go!)

 

[disnut8]

OP - the ESPN Club restaurant side if not a bar type of situation. The bar side is, though. For a Thursday night game, you might want to get there about a half hour before kickoff just to be on the safe side. Also note that the entire area, including the bar is non smoking.

Goofy4tink - Good luck! The bar side is easier to get into so you might want to check that out. But the plyoffs are usually on in several of the lounges around Disney World and, like you said, there's always back in your room.