ESPN Club removal begins at Disney's BoardWalk

Jul 14, 2022 in "ESPN Club"

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ESPN Club demolition - July 14 2022

Posted: Thursday July 14, 2022 10:30am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Demolition crews have moved into the ESPN Club on Disney's BoardWalk to remove the theming elements from the former ESPN building.

ESPN Club demolition - July 14 2022

Crews are using high-reach lifts and saws to cut through the steel supports of the large decorative pieces.

ESPN Club demolition - July 14 2022

The BoardWalk remains open to guests during the work.

ESPN Club demolition - July 14 2022

Disney has announced that a new table service restaurant and bakery, The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers, will be taking over the space. Learn more about the BoardWalk updates.

The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers

ESPN Club opened at Walt Disney World in July 1996 and offered classic American pub cuisine, sports entertainment and shopping, along with live tv coverage of sporting events. The club closed along with the rest of Walt Disney World during the pandemic and did not reopen.

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lewisc1 hour ago

The lunch price at Space is $55-$60 without dessert. My experience...the food was edible, not bad enough to send back, but not great. Looks like CBS pricing isn't much (any?) Higher. Would you say CBS has better food?

Chef idea Mickey`=5 hours ago

That can be said for a lot of places one perfect example is Space 220.

lewisc18 hours ago

I haven't dined at CBS. I'll limit my comments accordingly. Creative menus haven't done well at Disney. Artists Point had a more creative menu, became more mainstream and is now a character meal. Skippers Canteen dropped the creative items. I agree, it would be nice if they tried an item or 2. 10 -20 % price premium is normal for Disney.

JoeCamel18 hours ago

If they offered mimosas and avocado toast on Sundays it would be a hit

Purduevian21 hours ago

blink twice if you need help.

Bocabear21 hours ago

Oh Brother.......You thank her for me.....lol

Chef idea Mickey`=21 hours ago

How much food did you have. I get annoyed when seeing reviewers go somewhere have two things and then review it for the whole. Many times you somehow taking the first time what is not good selections, not a highlight from there and then long later you return and come across something that changes how you rated it. Yes a lot of sparkle. The food dining is comfort French dining. You've got some New Orleans dishes because of her roots where she came born in New Orleans. The whole mood is care and comfort, not luxury. Do I prefer quality over creativity yes, does the prices not merit some better presentation within the dishes better why not. However for what your dining on the setting, us should in ways one way just appreciate/ thank her for allowing us a way to dine in that setting and atomospheric experience of itself alone that we won't find anywhere close and will always remember. She could of done it the way of Summer House did and then all we would then be doing is just compare here to there or just see it as a another restaurant setting.

TrojanUSC1 day ago

Yes, I've been. The food is fine, but nothing to write home about. I've also read and seen many reviews. It's the atmosphere + service that makes it special. If the food was just 20% more creative and 5-10% less expensive it'd be a home run (though I continue to believe it'd be most home at GF). When you're in a place that looks as beautiful as it does, paying $27 for a plain ham & cheese sandwich or a single solitary crab cake the size of a Reece's, it's just not matching the quality of the experience. My friend went separately and joked "all that money to make it so pretty, you think they could have spent some one creative chef," which is what I thought too. There's just a lot of sparkle and little creativity in the food.

Chef idea Mickey`=1 day ago

I agree with how it be perfect setting for The Grand Floridian, however the setting of CBS is a setting, and very opposite of Victoria & Alberts. Victoria and Albert's entire purpose is experiencing a taste of the finest cuisine. Cake Bake Shop is a setting for an occasion whether amongst family or friends, celebration, ceremony with delightful etiquette food. The quality is respected for you're special occasion of visit.*

lewisc1 day ago

Have you dined at CBS? People who dined at CBS, posters and reviewers express opinions that might have value to those considering dining at CBS. Discussion focusing on just the menu offerings and pricing has little real value in deciding if I want to eat there.People can read the menu and make their own valuations. Character meals tend to have not so great over priced food. Guests go for the characters. CBS has expensive ( overpriced?)food. Unlike character meals food at CBS is good, according to people who ate there. Will enough people pay a price premium for location and atmosphere to keep it.going? Time will tell.

TrojanUSC1 day ago

Yes, I'm well aware? My point is that if the opportunity could present itself, the Cake Bake Shop feels like it could fit in more at GF than at Boardwalk, especially if they took over the tea service. My other point is that they are trying to present this like a truly fine "special" dining experience, which is what the pricing is so crazy. The atmosphere there feels very fancy and the service is great. However little about the food feels very upscale. It's ham & cheese sandwiches, a croissant with chicken salad, a basic cheeseburger, a glorified Mac & cheese, a chicken caesar salad (for $35!). That's where the miss is to me. It's like they're trying to be V&A in decor & service, but offering you glorified hotel lobby food. Obviously it shouldn't be V&A in food, but it should be a couple steps up from plain sandwiches and an unremarkable burger.

Chef idea Mickey`=1 day ago

GFC is Disney. Cake Bake Shop is not. What do you mean by doesn't match the quality of the food?......

TrojanUSC1 day ago

100% I think she was eager for a WDW location, BW space was open and the theme ever so loosely fit. I just think the food is basically very overpriced cafe food with some fancy cakes. The atmosphere and price point mostly doesn't match the creativity or quality of most of the food. Breakfast is a slightly better value proposition.

lewisc1 day ago

I'm sure the decision was 100% Disney. Does anyone think Gwen turned down a GF location? Disney keeps the lucrative GF location and gets rent from an empty restaurant. WIN for WDW