Disney is aiming for a slam dunk as it opens the NBA Experience — the newest entertainment offering at Disney Springs, Walt Disney World’s retail, dining and entertainment district.
The “first-of-its-kind destination” officially opened Monday, August 12, 2019 to NBA fans and celebrity guests. Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger joined NBA Commissioner Adam Silver along with numerous NBA and WNBA players.
Guests enter the facility through a tunnel similar to the ones that players walk through as they enter arena courts. Once inside the two-story, 44,000-square-foot facility, guests will find 13 interactive experiences, including:
- Dribble! – Test ball-handling skills with an interactive coach who leads a variety of dribbling routines
- Dunk! – Execute the perfect slam just like a superstar, captured by cameras surrounding height-adjustable baskets
- Slingshot –Use an oversized slingshot to launch balls at hoops of varying heights, making as many baskets as possible before the clock runs out in this thrilling timed challenge
- Shoot! – Step onto the court and hear the roar of the crowd while maneuvering through a series of last-second shots before the clock expires
- Combine – Compare wingspan and vertical leap to NBA or WNBA players with this series of tests that replicates NBA Combine drills
- Draft – Experience one of the biggest milestones for a basketball player at the NBA Draft with a photo moment that re-creates the electric atmosphere of the Draft stage
- Replay – Take a seat at an interactive, multi-screen module to watch replay clips from NBA games and use tools at the station to make the right calls
- Players –Enter the off-court sanctuary of the locker room and explore current team rosters, records and highlights
- Champions – Be immersed in the rich legacy and history of NBA and WNBA championship teams and take a photo with replicas of the NBA championship and MVP trophies
- Arcade –Play interactive games, from the fan-favorite Pop-A-Shot to the latest NBA video games
The Experience is also educational in nature, giving guests of all ages the opportunity to learn more about the NBA and WNBA leagues through interactive displays, films and trivia:
- “Game Time” – Watch a heartwarming film about the in-arena game experience and the impact it has on a young woman and her father
- “Together” – Discover the amazing on- and off-court story of an NBA superstar in this inspirational, 180-degree cinematic presentation
- Trivia –Demonstrate knowledge of the NBA and WNBA – past and present – during a multi-player, real-time contest
“When we were young, we played basketball in our driveways or in the park, creating those imaginary moments of making the game-winning shot for a championship,” said Stan Dodd, executive producer, Walt Disney Imagineering.
“We want to take that energy and help you feel what it’s like to be an actual NBA or WNBA player.”
Tickets give guests access to all activities as many times as they choose. The Experience also allows guests to customize many of those experiences to showcase their favorite NBA and WNBA teams. The adjacent NBA Store offers official NBA gear, collectibles as well as Disney-branded NBA Experience items.
The opening of the NBA Experience marks an ongoing partnership between Disney and the NBA. Over the weekend, the second annual Jr. NBA Global Championship concluded at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World, which featured the top 13- and 14-year-old youth boys and girls basketball teams from around the world. Walt Disney World also has a long-standing relationship with the Orlando Magic and the NBA.
To learn more and purchase tickets, visit the NBA Experience website. As of this posting, NBA Experience tickets were on sale for $34.99 (ages 10+) and $29.99 (ages 3-9).
Have you visited NBA Experience at Disney Springs yet? Share your thoughts about it in the comments section below.
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