What do you think?  Will changing the name of Disney’s Wide World of Sports to ESPN Something or Other help the complex or hurt it?

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Post from: The Disney Traveler

If you need a break from the parks during your Walt Disney World vacation or simply love baseball, catching an Atlanta Braves spring training game is a lot of fun.  The crowd is always very involved during the games, and children even get a chance to run the bases!  Not only that, but there are often chances to get autographs from the players.

Here is the schedule for the 2008 Atlanta Braves spring training games at Walt Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex: 

All games are at 1:05 p.m.

• 2/27 vs. University of Georgia
• 2/29 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
• 3/2 vs. Houston Astros
• 3/4 vs. Philadelphia Phillies
• 3/7 vs. Detroit Tigers
• 3/8 vs. Houston Astros *SS
• 3/9 vs. St. Louis Cardinals
• 3/10 vs. St. Louis Cardinals
• 3/11 vs. Washington Nationals
• 3/12 vs. Cleveland Indians
• 3/15 vs. Tampa Bay Rays *SS
• 3/20 vs. Detroit Tigers
• 3/21 vs. New York Mets
• 3/23 vs. Houston Astros
• 3/26 vs. Washington Nationals
• 3/27 vs. New York Mets

* SS means it’s a split squad game. 

Here are the individual ticket prices for 2008 Atlanta Braves spring training games at Walt Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex:

• Lower level reserved = $23.50
• Upper level reserved = $20.50
• Bleacher reserved = $20.50
• General admission = $14.50

Ticket packages are also available that allow you to purchase a complete season ticket, 3 or 5-mini game plan tickets (for specific games only) or group tickets.  You can follow the link to find the pricing for different types of Atlanta Braves spring training tickets, or you can call 407-939-GAME.  To purchase individual tickets, call 407-839-3900.  You can also visit the box office at Walt Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex.

Have you been to an Atlanta Braves spring training game at Walt Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex?  If so, leave a comment and share your story with The Disney Traveler’s readers.

If you’re planning a trip to a Disney theme park, or simply love Disney, take a moment to subscribe to The Disney Traveler’s feed, so you can stay on top of all the news, information and tips.

Post from: The Disney Traveler

On September 15-16, 2007, the 20th Annual U.S. Open of Waterskiing will be held on the lake at Downtown Disney.  There is no admission fee to Downtown Disney, and I haven’t seen any mention of a ticket requirement to view the Waterskiing Championships.  It looks like anyone can stop by and check out the action. 

According to the U.S. Open of Waterskiing website, the seeding round will take place on Spetember 15th and the finals will be held on September 16th.  Qualifying rounds will take place earlier during the week from September 13th-15th in Polk City, Florida (not far from Downtown Disney).  Rumor has it the events will take place from 7:00pm-10:00pm on the 15th and 16th at Downtown Disney, but the U.S. Open of Waterskiing website hasn’t posted the times yet.

Male and female contestants will compete in slalom, tricks and jumping events in addition to the overall U.S. Champion title.  There will be additional food and beverage carts and locations open for spectators and viewing will be available around the lake.  Sounds like a fun evening!

Post from: The Disney Traveler

Here’s a warning, there are no gears on the surrey bikes, so you can only pedal up to a certain speed.  That means you can only gain a certain amount of momentum as you prepare to ascend a hill.  There are two large hills on the route around the lake at the Boardwalk Inn, so if you’re not in great shape, you might want to rent a surrey bike at a different location with a flatter path.  Surrey bikes are also available for rental at the Caribbean Beach Resort, Coronado Springs Resort and Port Orleans Resort - Riverside and French Quarter.  They are also available for rentals of various lengths of time and in various sizes to accomodate larger groups.  Of course, prices vary based on the length of time and bike size you rent.

If you need a break from the parks, renting a surrey bike is a great diversion and a lot of fun!

Post from: The Disney Traveler

In a parasailing excursion, guests are taken by boat to the center of the Seven Seas Lagoon, hooked up to a parachute and hoisted up to 450 feet in the air for ten minutes while the boat below cruises around a designated section of the lake.  When it’s time to come back down to earth, guests are reeled back onto the boat and land without ever touching the water.  It is possible for two people to parasail in tandem if they meet the maximum weight restrictions, which can vary based on how windy the weather conditions are.  There is a significant cost to parasail, but the views are beautiful, and it’s a memory that will last a lifetime for any family.

Jet skiing is another exciting water sport families can try at Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre.  Guests can enjoy an early morning guided tour of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.  This is a great time to take pictures of the Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian Resort and Magic Kingdom from the water.  A second option for jet skiers is called the Free Ride which gives guests the opportunity to take their jet skis into a special area on Bay Lake where they can speed through obstacles, race each other and just have fun.

Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre at the Contemporary Resort also offers waterskiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding and tubing.  Whether you’re a watersports novice or expert, you’re sure to have a great time. With all these water activities there will undoubtedly be something to please every member of the family including older children and teenagers.

For details, restrictions and pricing, visit www.sammyduvall.com.  You can book your Sammy Duvall water activities at the Contemporary Resort online or by calling (407) 939-0754 before your vacation even begins.

Post from: The Disney Traveler

The team usually schedules between 10-20 games during the month with teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros.  A game with a college team (usually Georgia Tech) is usually included in the schedule, too. 

The most expensive tickets are under $25.00, but in this small stadium (just 9,500 seats), any seat is a good one.  Admission to the Wide World of Sports Complex, itself, is also required.  As of January 2006, adult admission (ages 10 and up) is just $11.95 and admission for children (ages 3-9) is $8.50.

Of course, since the Wide World of Sports Complex is on Disney property, the Atlanta Braves spring training games include fun for the kids.  There are opportunities for kids to get players’ autographs and a lot of crowd participation during the games.  A highlight for children comes at the end of the game when all kids in the crowd are invited to run the bases where the pros just finished playing.  Children of all ages have a great time taking a lap around the infield.

While attending a game, guests enjoy comfortable seats in a fairly new facility, and to remember the visit once the vacation is over, guests can purchase a variety of merchandise at the baseball-themed stores within the complex.  A great way to end the day is with a visit to the Official All Star Cafe (also within the Wide World of Sports Complex) for a satisfying meal and more sports.  Big screen televisions broadcast sporting events throughout the restaurant.  It’s a fun atmosphere accompanied by an affordable menu.

Post from: The Disney Traveler