NFL Playoffs?

[SarahInMN]

Hopefully I have chosen the right forum!

Any suggestions on where to watch NFL play off games (specifically Packers vs Cardinals on Sunday)? We're staying at Boardwalk so I was thinking ESPN Club. Will they have all the games on? How early do we need to arrive to claim a table? Or is it better to head to the hotel bar and "commandeer" the tv? We could watch in the room but I'd rather be some place that serves food and beverages.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jimham4]

ESPN will have all the games on but if they're like the ESPN here at Disneyland they will be packed and have drink/food minimums to hold your table. Last year I was able to find space up in the arcade/bar area upstairs without a hassle. If the Boardwalk ESPN is set up the same way it might work for you.

You know it would be much easier for you if your team had a BYE like the Chargers!!!

 

[disrev]

Hopefully I have chosen the right forum!

Any suggestions on where to watch NFL play off games (specifically Packers vs Cardinals on Sunday)? We're staying at Boardwalk so I was thinking ESPN Club. Will they have all the games on? How early do we need to arrive to claim a table? Or is it better to head to the hotel bar and "commandeer" the tv? We could watch in the room but I'd rather be some place that serves food and beverages.

Thanks in advance!

IN 2005 we watched the Colts/Steelers Monday Night Football game at ESPN club. We got there at 7:30. We ate a full meal and the waitress let us know we were free to stay as long as we wanted. The environment was great. I imagine the playoffs would make it even more fun.

For our game there were far too many Steelers fans around me (I'm a diehard Colts fan). The Colts won, so it was a pretty sweet feeling. Of course, the Steelers came back and broke my heart in the 2006 AFC Championship...

 

[SarahInMN]

Cool...thanks for the advice/info! Hopefully I can convince DH (and my MIL and FIL) to head to ESPN Club for the game. Go Pack go!

 

[JohnnyB2]

Hi! While we're there in Oct. we always watch the game @ESPN.If it is the 1st game we arrive 45min early.If it'sthe 2nd game usually 45 min to 1hr and have to wait outside in line as they let you in as people leave. Sometimes a slow process sometimes not.Have not been there for the play-offs but, I would go early! (at least an hour? but maybe not as much interest in the 1st round play-offs if your team is not there

 

[ktbugsmom]

There is a great bar in the Yacht Club (Next to the Yachtsman Steakhouse - the name escapes me!) where my husband and I watched NFL playoffs two years ago. We got a booth. Ordered some appetizers, beverages and had a ball! It was less crazy that ESPN. The bartenders were happy to put on the game. We watched the Packers play there and really enjoyed the intimacy of the place over ESPN. Most people at that bar were just there for a cocktail before dinner - so it was not crazy crowded. Don't get me wrong - we love ESPN, but it was a ZOO on playoff game day.

This year, we are staying at Animal Kingdom and plan to go to Victoria Falls and have them put on the game. That should be fun! If that doesn't work, we may head back to the bar at the Yacht Club again!

 

[SarahInMN]

JohnyB2- I too was thinking there would be less interest in the first round playoffs; the Packers and the Cardinals I don't think have much appeal beyond their region.

KT- Great tip on the Yacht Club bar. I'll suggest that to the rest of my fam who were leery of the crowds at ESPN (they're staying at YC while we're at BWI).

Thanks!!

 

[Callie]

IN 2005 we watched the Colts/Steelers Monday Night Football game at ESPN club. We got there at 7:30. We ate a full meal and the waitress let us know we were free to stay as long as we wanted. The environment was great. I imagine the playoffs would make it even more fun.

For our game there were far too many Steelers fans around me (I'm a diehard Colts fan). The Colts won, so it was a pretty sweet feeling. Of course, the Steelers came back and broke my heart in the 2006 AFC Championship...

Diehard Colts fan here as well.
I've been to an ESPN zone on football day, great atmosphere, although they sometimes enforce min. on the amount you must buy per hour.

 

[skunk]

On 12-13, we left EPCOT and walked over to ESPN to watch 2nd half of Packer-Bear game. There was a line for both the bar area and the dining room. No entry until someone left. They also have 2-3 tv's outside with some seating. Suggest you arrive shortly after halftime of the first game Sunday.

We ended up walking over to the Dolphin Cabana Bar. They have 4 tv's and we were able to watch the Packers game there. Nice menu as well.

Go Colts!!

 

[SarahInMN]

Skunk-
Thanks for the info on the non-ESPN bar! All I want are drinks and apps with my game and it will be much easier to convince the family to go somewhere less crowded than ESPN.

Callie-
Knowing my family, we'd have no trouble with an hourly (drink) minimum.

 

[abubu919]

Yah ESPN can get extremely crowded! We went there one time and we could only stand and obviously they wouldn't serve us. Most people stay in there and watch the games. I would check around and see if there is another place. Usually there is a line out the door at ESPN so you would have to get there early.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

For our game there were far too many Steelers fans around me (I'm a diehard Colts fan). The Colts won, so it was a pretty sweet feeling. Of course, the Steelers came back and broke my heart in the 2006 AFC Championship...

Another hardcore Colts fan here! I know EXACTLY what you are talking about during the 2006 AFC game...BOO!!!! At least the 2007 game made up for it.

If the Colts make it to the AFC championship game this year, I'm going to be at MK during it. I'm hoping that I'll be able to catch the last part of it. The resorts carry CBS, right?

Go HORSE!!!!

 

[FireDancer]

The ESPN club is your best bet to see a variety of games but get there early. The food was much better than I thought it would be at a chain and I never had a bad meal there.

If you are looking for something more low key check out the little bar area that is a half level below the lobby at the AKL. They only have 2 televisions so get there a bit beforehand and make sure to give the bartender a good tip on your first drink to get your game on and keep it on. I think they have appetizers but not food so if you want to eat and watch the game it might not work.

 

[rubato]

We were at Disney 2 years ago during the superbowl. I was told that Wilderness Lodge has a fantastic area to watch the game in their lobby. I didn't try it out and missed the game, and, of course, that was the amazing win in the last seconds by the Giants.

As a fellow Packer Backer, I sympathize. Don't worry, we'll be meeting those Vikings and kicking Favre's ****!

 

[KatMark]

The Rix Lounge at the CSR also shows the football games if I'm not mistaken (I know they have a Super Bowl party every year). My team is out of it (what else is new), so I'll be pulling for Favre all the way!

 

[kirkblitz]

The bar at the Poly shows the games as well, when we were there during the playoffs you could either sit at the bar or the tables in front of the game. You should be fine.

 

[ktbugsmom]

We were going to hang at Victoria Falls bar at AKL and I just realized I promised my daughter we would go to Magic Kingdom on Sunday night for EMH... so it looks like I will be hitting up a bar on the monorail line to watch the game. However, it sounds like the Poly might be a good choice (thanks Kirkblitz!).

I can keep DH happy and he can watch the Packers play - then we can head to Magic Kingdom after the game. How cool is that?

Plus - since we are DVC members, if my daughter gets bored, I can take her swimming at the Volcano pool for a bit. Yes - it will be cold, but we are from Wisconsin - so it will be warmer than home!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

IN 2005 we watched the Colts/Steelers Monday Night Football game at ESPN club. We got there at 7:30. We ate a full meal and the waitress let us know we were free to stay as long as we wanted. The environment was great. I imagine the playoffs would make it even more fun.

For our game there were far too many Steelers fans around me (I'm a diehard Colts fan). The Colts won, so it was a pretty sweet feeling. Of course, the Steelers came back and broke my heart in the 2006 AFC Championship...

And what a game that AFC championship game was . Oh my!

The ESPN club is the best place on property to watch a football game, IMOP. We love being with a bunch of screaming football loving fans when we watch a game. The louder, the better. Can you tell I'm a Steeler fan? We have been many times and a minimum was never enforced. Though I'm sure we ate and drank well beyond a minimum if there was one.

Since our guys are out. I hope the Colts or Vikings win it all!

 

[Mad Hattered]

Ahem.....

If you try to get into ESPN make sure you get there EARLY!!! We tried to get in there in 2005 during the playoffs and it was a 3 or 4 hour wait!! We ended up driving over to Hooters which didn't end up all that bad.

 

[KateMW]

So how bad of a wait do we think it will be for the Super Bowl?