Are you often found engrossed in cheering and jeering for your favorite team or athlete battling it out on your TV, tablet, PC, or phone? Are you the sports enthusiast who prefers to go beyond observation to participation?  Are you known to spend your free-time engaged in recreational activities?  If any or all of these apply to you, it is likely that you regularly catch yourself daydreaming about one or both of the following:  1) making a pilgrimage to your favorite team or athlete’s battleground, or 2) embarking on a trip that offers endless opportunities to participate in sports and recreation activities.  However, much to your chagrin, your traveling companions want to go to Walt Disney World.  So what do you do? Fight for your right to tailgate and/or play to your heart’s content or give-in to the theme park fans?  Don’t put your jersey, golf clubs, racket, or tennis shoes away too quickly.  There are more than a few ways to get your sports on at Walt Disney World.   (Note: Any opportunities that lean more toward the enjoyment of the great outdoors have been held over for a later post.)

Included with Admission

It isn’t unrealistic to state that sports enthusiasts—intent on a recreation based getaway—can easily fill an entire WDW vacation with activities and events without ever setting foot inside the four main theme parks.  Even so, it is a safe bet that some or all of the members of your travel party will want to take in the parks at some point, so it becomes very important to select the ticket package that will meet all your needs.  When it comes to the sports and recreation enthusiast, it is essential that you purchase a Magic Your Way Ticket with the Water Park and More Option included.  This choice gives the ticket holder the opportunity to visit Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, ESPN’s Wide World of Sports, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf, and Disney Quest.   This ticket allows the barer the number of visits equal to the length of his or her ticket (e.g. 4 day ticket = 4 visits).

Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are world renowned water parks offering water slides, wave pools, and lazy rivers designed to lure, relax, and thrill water-lovers of all ages.   While both parks afford visitors wide-ranging levels of adventure, 56-acre Typhoon Lagoon offers the opportunity to snorkel with sharks in a coral reef surrounding a sunken tanker.  Those who enjoy a little less water with their sports activity may want to consider going to a golf course that was designed for everyone to play.  Disney’s Oak Trail 9-hole, par-36 walking course was created for beginner to pro level golfers (preschoolers, kids tweens, teens, and adults).  Maybe you want to share your passion for golf with your family but not everyone is ready to hit the links.  If that’s the case, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, situated next to Blizzard Beach, and Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf, near the Epcot resorts both offer two 18-hole courses with varying degrees of difficulty.  If other waterless excitement appeals to you, the 220-acre ESPN Wide World of Sports is the place to be. There guests can attend a wide array of amateur events such as baseball, basketball, softball, field hockey, football, lacrosse, martial arts, soccer, track & field, volleyball, cheer,  and more.  (Note: For professional event opportunities, see the “Something Extra” section.)

If you are a sports enthusiast, there’s a good chance you also enjoy shopping for team and sports related merchandise.  There are several must stop shops scattered throughout WDW.  Two are located in the Downtown Disney:  Team Mickey Athletic Club—with its locker room feel—offers sports clothing, active wear and sports equipment (some can be customized) and Curl by Sammy Duvall, which is a shop for everyonein search of the ultimate in watersport related apparel, accessories and equipment.  (Just a quick note for the non-waterskiing aficionados, Sammy Duvall is the world famous eighty-time water-skiing champion hall of famer.)  

For more sports merchandise, a trip to the dock of Disney’s Boardwalk Inn (near Epcot) is well worth a boat ride or stroll.  On the boardwalk you will find The Yard, which is attached to the ESPN Club.  This shop offers an impressive selection of authentic ESPN merchandise.  If you venture to the other side of the “World” into the Magic Kingdom, be sure to stop by the Main Street Athletic Club.  This shop’s décor harkens back to the by-gone days of the turn of the century athletic clubs.  Here patrons can enjoy shopping for sports related gifts and apparel all while being tempted by baseball-themed Casey’s Corner specialty hot dogs (whoa… that’s discussed in the What to Eat section).

Where to Stay

               The amenities and opportunities offered to guests of the deluxe level Contemporary Resort put it at the top of the list for the sports and recreation enthusiasts.  While this may not seem like the obvious choice; a closer look at the recreation offerings and transportation accessibility give it a clear advantage over the rest.  The Olympiad Fitness Center along with two tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, jogging trails and two swimming pools are only the beginning of what the Contemporary has to offer.  The marina is home to Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre where guests pay by the half hour or hour to Jet Ski, waterski, wakeboard, tube, waterskate or parasail.  Beyond these recreational opportunities, the Contemporary Resort boasts a unique benefit—its location makes it the ideal choice for traveling around the entire Walt Disney World Resort.  While there are many recreational options available at other resorts on the WDW property, transportation between resorts and parks is not as quick or easy as is offered at the Contemporary.  Within walking distance of the Magic Kingdom, guests can take advantage of all resort-bound buses as well as the Magic Kingdom monorail resort loop, which is direct to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where a quick monorail transfer can take you to Epcot, which (with park entry) is a walk, bus or boat ride to the aforementioned ESPN Club and The Yard.

For sports lovers who prefer to stay, play and save, the value level All-Star Sports Resort is the one for you. This resort boasts five themed areas: football, basketball, baseball, tennis and surfing.  There are two resort room buildings for each theme that are decked out with three-story helmets, basketball hoops, baseball bats, surfboards and tennis balls.   Guests of this resort can enjoy fun-in-the-sun and fitness on a one-mile jogging path as well as in either of two sport-themed pools.

While either of these resort options is excellent for the sports and recreation enthusiast, every WDW resort offers opportunities and access to sporting events, activities, and fitness for the casual fan and fanatic.

Where to Eat

There are three dining locations that the Sports and Recreation Enthusiast should not miss.  The award-winning Shula’s Steak House at Disney’s Dolphin Hotel is themed to celebrate the 1972 Miami Dolphin’s perfect season under Coach Don Shula.  Here the menu—which is painted on a football—includes crab cakes, lamb chops, filet mignon, lobster tail and more.  No steak restaurant menu would be complete without a porterhouse offering.  At Shula’s, it comes in the form of a 48-ounce challenge to patrons.  Everyone who can finish the monster steak is eligible to join the now 35,000+ member Shula’s 48oz. Club®.  While there are no 48-ounce hot dogs (thank goodness) at Casey’s Corner on Main Street at the Magic Kingdom, this small restaurant does offer specialty hot dogs, French fries, nachos, brownies and soft drinks, and is named after the title character of the classic poem “Casey at the Bat”.  Ragtime music and old-time ballpark décor offer patrons a glimpse of the early days of America’s greatest pastime.  There is seating available outside; however, for the full experience, enter the back room and find a seat in the bleachers facing the movie screen scrolling vintage baseball cartoons.  If viewing sports while you dine completes your ultimate meal experience, do not skip the ESPN Club at the Boardwalk Inn near Epcot.  With 100 screens, a global satellite feed and a 108 square foot video wall, patrons will not miss a second of any live sporting event.  Menu items include Red Wings, Macho Nachos, Tailgate Pulled Pork and much more.  The Club is also home to the Sports Central television and radio studio that has been host to live broadcasts of shows like Mike & Mike in the Morning, Sports Reporters and Up Close. 

Something Extra

               If you are willing to spend extra money, opportunities abound for those wanting to ramp up their sports and recreation experience at WDW.

• As previously noted, Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre does offer a wide range of activities; however, for those who enjoy spending time in the water without watercraft involvement, I encourage a trip Typhoon Lagoon for surfing lessons.  At a cost of $150 per person, certified instructors offer 30 minutes of out-of-water instruction along with 2 hours of in-water instruction prior to park hours.  The combination of certified instruction and a wave pool with consistent waves every 90 seconds provides a great opportunity for those who have never surfed.  One of the largest wave pools in the world, Typhoon Lagoon’s Surf Pool can be fun for all skill levels.
• The recently opened Splitsville Luxury Lanes at Downtown Disney, is a retro inspired two-story bowling alley that boasts 30 lanes, live music, dancing, billiard tables and upscale dining options.
• In addition to the numerous amateur sporting events held at ESPN Wide World of Sports, you can also take in several professional sporting events throughout the year.  The 2013 Atlanta Braves Spring training games start on February 22 with tickets from $10 to $49.  The Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic also takes place in February.  This event typically features eight pro teams with per person tickets priced at $20 for a single session, $30 for two sessions, and $99 for the entire Classic.
• There are several runDisney opportunities throughout the year on the Walt Disney World property.  These character or park attraction themed races are offered in distances from 5K to full marathon.  For more information on cost and registration visit www.rundisney.com.
• In addition to the aforementioned 9-hole Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, there are four 18-hole courses on the WDW property.  All five of the courses are under Arnold Palmer Golf Management.   Each of the 18-hole courses—which include: Disney’s Lake Buena Vista, Disney’s Magnolia, Disney’s Osprey Ridge, and Disney’s Palm —are rated at 4 stars or above by Golf Digest.  The Palm and Magnolia courses are home to the PGA Tour: Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic held in November each year.  Tickets for this event are available at a cost of $20 per day or $30 for the week.  For tweens, teens, and adults who would rather be playing on the fairways than observing from behind the ropes, reservations can be made in advance at any of the five courses.  (Note: Fees vary depending on the course and time you choose.)

This month, my goal is to provide you with plenty of information to get your Sports and Recreation Enthusiast Disney Skeptic to beg you to go with them to Walt Disney World for a “sports” vacation.  Your goal—after sharing this information with them—is to resist the urge to tell them, “I told you so.”

If you have any questions or comments regarding the topics discussed, please leave them in the comments section below.  Have you participated in any of these events or activities?  Please let readers know what you thought of your experience.  Be sure to check in next month for More to the “World” for Those Who Prefer the Comforts of Home.

Kendall began visiting Walt Disney World in 1991 with her family and has continued to visit the resort with her husband.  As a child, she and her family filled vacations with challenges such as “How many times can we ride Splash Mountain during SpectroMagic and the fireworks?” (Answer: 7)  Now, after marrying a converted Disney skeptic, she and her husband enjoy challenges such as “How many hours can we eat nonstop at the Food & Wine Festival?” (Answer: 4)

The post More to the “World” for a Sports and Recreation Enthusiast appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

by Don Myers

The Springtime thaw is on the horizon, and with it comes news and happenings from the Vacation Kingdom of the World. So let’s get to it, time for the latest edition of the WDW Radio Newswire…..

We begin this edition of the Newswire inside Magic Kingdom, as there’s some exciting news to report on one of the park’s most iconic attractions: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Back in the October 3rd edition of the Newswire, I detailed plans for a series of new interactive elements coming soon to Big Thunder Mountain’s queue. Well, it looks like the residents of the tiny town of Tumbleweed are nearly ready to delve into the interactive era, as several new props have begun to spring up around the mountain. The tarps have all been removed to reveal a series of new elements, including wooden crates, mining equipment, and other large pieces of machinery. In addition, several new signs are now in place throughout the queue to tie these new interactive elements in with the attraction’s existing storyline. The interactive additions are not functional as of the writing of this article, but all indications seem to hint that things may be getting quite “explosive” at the mountain in the very near future! There’s no official word on when the interactive elements will be operational, but with the vast majority of the props now in place it shouldn’t be too long before the preview stages begin.

For more news out of Magic Kingdom, it’s time to shift our focus over to exterior refurbs, as a pair of buildings have recently been covered in decorative tarps. Let’s start things on Main Street USA, where the exterior of the Hall of Champions is now undergoing a cosmetic facelift. Following the hub over to Liberty Square, we also find the exterior of Sleepy Hollow Refreshments under construction. In both cases it’s still business as usual inside, as the two locations will remain open to Guests throughout the duration of the refurbs.

Time to park-hop over to Hollywood Studios now, as there’s a pair of newsbits to address. Let’s begin with The Great Movie Ride, which has just received some new film props inside the queue. Guests waiting in line can now catch a glimpse of the chess table used by R2-D2 and Chewbacca in Star Wars Episode IV, as well as the infamous striped sweater worn by Freddy Kruger in the second installment of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.

For our second Studios newsbit, we make our way over to Animation Courtyard for an update on Disney Junior- Live on Stage. The show has been on hiatus for about a month now, but the attraction is scheduled to resume operations later this week. Cast member previews have already taken place, and the attraction is currently in a state of “Soft Open.” The official re-opening date is set for Friday February 15th, at which time Guests will be able to get a look at the revamped cast of characters which now includes Sofia the First and Doc McStuffins. Unfortunately these additions lead to a few subtractions, as the duo will serve as replacements for the characters Handy Manny and the Little Einsteins.

For our final stop on today’s Newswire, we head out of the parks and venture over to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Major League Baseball is nearly ready to begin its 2013 Spring Training schedule, which means its time once again to welcome in the Atlanta Braves! Champion Stadium has been the Spring Training home field for the Braves since 1998, with the 16th season set to get underway on Friday February 22nd at 1:05 pm against the defending American League Champion Detroit Tigers. Atlanta’s home schedule features 18 games at Wide World of Sports in total, with the Braves taking on rivals such as the New York Mets, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies. Here’s a look at the complete schedule:

Fri Feb 22nd    Detroit Tigers     1:05pm

Sat Feb 23rd    N.Y. Yankees    1:05pm

Mon Feb 25th  Miami Marlins    1:05pm

Tue Feb 26th   Washington       1:05pm

Fri Mar 1st       Washington       6:05pm

Sun Mar 3rd    Detroit Tigers     1:05pm

Thu Mar 7th    Detroit Tigers     6:05pm

Fri Mar 8th  Toronto Blue Jays  1:05pm

Sun Mar 10th  Miami Marlins    1:05pm

Tue Mar 12th     St. Louis         1:05pm

Fri Mar 15th      N.Y. Mets        1:05pm

Sat Mar 16th  N.Y. Yankees     5:05pm

Mon Mar 18th  Philadelphia     1:05pm

Wed Mar 20th   Pittsburgh       1:05pm

Thu Mar 21st   Washington      6:05pm

Sat Mar 23rd  Houston Astros  1:05pm

Mon Mar 25th    N.Y. Mets       1:05pm

Thu Mar 28th  Houston Astros 1:05pm

Well, that’s gonna do it for today’s update. But before we call it a wrap, let’s take a look at the results of our last poll. The question was:

What is your favorite decade at WDW?

. 1970′s

. 1980′s

. 1990′s

. 2000′s

. 2010′s

And the winner is……

The 1990′s with 43% of the total vote! Second place was a tie, as the 2000′s and 2010′s, finished deadlocked at 22%. The 1980′s followed with 11%, and the 1970′s brought up the rear with just 2%. Once again, a big thank you to everyone that took the time to vote! Okay, now it’s time for this week’s question:

The post WDW Radio Newswire: Big Thunder Mountain Nearly Ready To Get “Interactive” And Great Movie Ride POLL appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Atlanta Braves Spring Training is back at Walt Disney World at the ESPN Wide World of Sports and we thought it would be fun to spend the day at the ballpark with the WDW Radio family! We’ll have a picnic on the lawn and make it an afternoon of fun with friends!

Join us:

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Game starts at 1:05pm, but we will arrive at the lawn at 11:30am

as the Atlanta Braves host the New York Yankees!

Please note that you will need to purchase tickets (lawn seats) to the event via Ticketmaster HERE 

NOTE:

• Gates open three hours prior to start time.
• Ages 3 and older require a ticket.
• Outside food and drink are not permitted.
• Umbrellas and chairs are not allowed inside the stadium.
• For the safety of our guests, strollers are prohibited inside Champion Stadium.
• All packages, parcels, backpacks and small bags (purses and hip packs) will be subject to inspection prior to entering the stadium.
• The following noise makers are not allowed: air horns, whistles and cow bells.
• Tickets are an additional $5 each when purchased on day of the game.

See you at the ballpark!!!!!

Champion Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports
700 S Victory Way, Kissimmee, FL 34747
Directions   Parking

The post WDW Radio Day at the Disney Ballpark appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

This past week was an exciting one for Disney fans and sports enthusiasts, as Walt Disney World kicked off the seventh annual ESPN the Weekend with the grand re-launch event at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Athletes, celebrities and ESPN personalities were on hand at the event and all weekend long, and we’ll recap not only the events, but look at how and why Walt Disney World is truly a sports vacation destination.

I’ll welcome on our first contestant for Listener Fact or Fiction, as he tests his knowledge of Walt Disney World for a chance to win prizes, and I’ll tell you how you can get your chance as well.

Listen for more of your voicemails at the end of the show, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.

You can email the show at lou@wdwradio.com or call the voicemail TOLL FREE at 888-703-2171.

Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week!

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The post Show # 159 – February 28, 2010 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.