UKDEB
Moderator Emeritus
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2000
- Messages
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You don't say whereabouts in Kissimmee you're staying, but my observation would be that, given that the term covers a pretty big area, you'd potentially have to drive a fair way from your accommodation, so do you really need to limit yourself to Kissimmee? The reason I ask is that there are plenty of good sports bars around, but the best aren't necessarily in Kissimmee, and as someone already pointed out, if you choose a bar near other attractions you won't necessarily have the problem of persuading the rest of your party that it's a good idea. 
The British pubs (run by ex-pats) will definitely be showing the match. The American sports bars are almost sure to be, too, but even if they're not, you only need to ask and they'll switch one of the screens for you. Bearing in mind that they'll be showing different sports on different screens, you might have to ask for one near you to be switched anyway. It's never a problem, so don't be afraid to ask. If you want an unadulterated experience in the company of like-minded individuals where the match won't be competing with sports on other screens, you'll be better off going with a British pub. The one sport neither of us can stand is soccer, so we prefer to mix with Americans watching American sports! None of the American sports bars will charge you to enter. I don't know about the British pubs.
The Orlando Ale House is one of our favourites. They have multiple locations and both the beer and the food are dead cheap! The one we frequent most is at Lake Buena Vista near Downtown Disney. The one at the Florida Mall could be a good option for your party. You could all eat there and then the others could go shopping while you watch the game. It's a standalone unit on the edge of the mall (in the parking lot) and easy to miss so it might be worth Google mapping it. There are also new locations at the bottom end of I-Drive near the Convention Center (with a nice outdoor seating area) and on west 192 in Kissimmee near the junction of the new 429 Expressway.
Someone's already suggested the ESPN Club at the BoardWalk. The rest of your party could visit Epcot, or just mooch around the BoardWalk area.
There are two new places we're definitely going to be trying out in November. The first is The Pub at Pointe Orlando (again, at the bottom end of I-Drive near the Convention Center). It's an American chain designed to look like a British pub (albeit a very large one!). The second is Wreckers Sports Bar which has just opened at the Gaylord Palms as part of their $50 million renovation. If you don't know it, it's a huge themed hotel just outside the boundaries of WDW and a stone's throw from the 192 at its junction with the Osceola Parkway. Again, your party could join you to eat and easily find enough to keep them occupied within the resort while you watch the match.
One of the most popular ex-pat run pubs, the Cricketers Arms (originally at the Mercado and then Festival Bay) has now re-opened along restaurant row on Sand Lake Road. It seems a strange fit to me, but hopefully they'll be able to make a go of it there. I've never been - a British pub abroad isn't my idea of a fun thing to do on holiday - but I do know that it has a big following. If a British pub is what you're looking for, there are several along the 192 (and some have already been mentioned), but I've never been to any of them. Even though they're not my thing, I was sad to hear that Best of British on I-Drive has had to close its doors.
Universal's CityWalk has two sports bars, Nascar Sports Grille and NBA City. Of the two, I prefer Nascar. Again, plenty to keep the rest of your party occupied.
Others that might be of interest are The Tilted Kilt at the top of I-Drive just north of the junction with Sand Lake Road, and Buffalo Wild Wings (multiple locations including west 192 at Formosa Gardens, LBV and I-Drive).
The British pubs (run by ex-pats) will definitely be showing the match. The American sports bars are almost sure to be, too, but even if they're not, you only need to ask and they'll switch one of the screens for you. Bearing in mind that they'll be showing different sports on different screens, you might have to ask for one near you to be switched anyway. It's never a problem, so don't be afraid to ask. If you want an unadulterated experience in the company of like-minded individuals where the match won't be competing with sports on other screens, you'll be better off going with a British pub. The one sport neither of us can stand is soccer, so we prefer to mix with Americans watching American sports!
None of the American sports bars will charge you to enter. I don't know about the British pubs.The Orlando Ale House is one of our favourites. They have multiple locations and both the beer and the food are dead cheap! The one we frequent most is at Lake Buena Vista near Downtown Disney. The one at the Florida Mall could be a good option for your party. You could all eat there and then the others could go shopping while you watch the game. It's a standalone unit on the edge of the mall (in the parking lot) and easy to miss so it might be worth Google mapping it. There are also new locations at the bottom end of I-Drive near the Convention Center (with a nice outdoor seating area) and on west 192 in Kissimmee near the junction of the new 429 Expressway.
Someone's already suggested the ESPN Club at the BoardWalk. The rest of your party could visit Epcot, or just mooch around the BoardWalk area.
There are two new places we're definitely going to be trying out in November. The first is The Pub at Pointe Orlando (again, at the bottom end of I-Drive near the Convention Center). It's an American chain designed to look like a British pub (albeit a very large one!). The second is Wreckers Sports Bar which has just opened at the Gaylord Palms as part of their $50 million renovation. If you don't know it, it's a huge themed hotel just outside the boundaries of WDW and a stone's throw from the 192 at its junction with the Osceola Parkway. Again, your party could join you to eat and easily find enough to keep them occupied within the resort while you watch the match.
One of the most popular ex-pat run pubs, the Cricketers Arms (originally at the Mercado and then Festival Bay) has now re-opened along restaurant row on Sand Lake Road. It seems a strange fit to me, but hopefully they'll be able to make a go of it there. I've never been - a British pub abroad isn't my idea of a fun thing to do on holiday - but I do know that it has a big following. If a British pub is what you're looking for, there are several along the 192 (and some have already been mentioned), but I've never been to any of them. Even though they're not my thing, I was sad to hear that Best of British on I-Drive has had to close its doors.
Universal's CityWalk has two sports bars, Nascar Sports Grille and NBA City. Of the two, I prefer Nascar. Again, plenty to keep the rest of your party occupied.
Others that might be of interest are The Tilted Kilt at the top of I-Drive just north of the junction with Sand Lake Road, and Buffalo Wild Wings (multiple locations including west 192 at Formosa Gardens, LBV and I-Drive).
