• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About/Hire Me
    • About Me
    • Hire Me
    • Contact
    • Family
    • Faith
    • FAQ
    • My Running Story
    • Recipes
  • Disney
  • Fitness
    • runDisney Information Page
    • Fitness
    • Races
  • Parenting
  • Travel

Through Heather's Looking Glass

  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • family
  • About Me

Youth Sports Events to Remember at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

July 26, 2018 | blogging, Disney, family, Travel

Disclosure: For this media trip I was hosted by Disney and visited the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, however all opinions are my own.

When I was growing up, I played on several different youth sports teams. I played recreational soccer in my town, and I played basketball, volleyball, and ran track at my school. I still remember how excited I became when it was time to “travel” to tournaments. I’m fairly certain the farthest we ever traveled was a couple of hours away, but to me it was a very special experience.

That being said, after learning about all of the amazing youth sports opportunities at the “Florida Picturesque” designed Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, I know that grade school Heather would have been jumping  out of her skin with excitement. Let me help you understand what I’m talking about.

Let’s say your youth baseball team is coming to play in a tournament at the complex. Just a few of the options available to you and your team/family include:

-Team meals: You can place orders in advance for fast and healthy meals, snacks, and beverages. The meals are delivered right to your competition venue so parents and coaches don’t have to stress.

-Equipment drop: For certain events, teams are able to drop their equipment off at a special drop zone to be transported to their field instead of lugging it all around the large complex. So fancy!

-Gameday photography: I love this one. For teams and parents who would like professional photos of their child playing in their game, you can schedule a photographer to take hi-resolution pictures for you so that you can sit back and enjoy watching. There are many packages available, as well as posed photos in front of a green screen. Then you can have your child’s picture put on a blanket, ball, or many other fun options. (Great Christmas gifts for grandparents!)

 

-Print-on-Demand Custom Tees: You can have a shirt printed on the spot to commemorate your game, tournament, first place win, and more. Customize with your name, team name, number, and sport. We had the privilege of having shirts made and they are so fun!

-Welcome Center: Here you can find cast members to help you find your way around the complex, help with theme park information, reservations assistance, and more.

Also, while I was visiting the complex, two huge soccer tournaments were just starting for the week, and we had the privilege of attending the opening ceremonies. These young athletes were treated like olympians with their own “parade of nations” of sorts.

As each country was announced, the teams marched onto the field singing, waving flags, and grinning from ear to ear as their fans and parents cheered from the stands. There was also a closing ceremony at the conclusion of the tournament to honor and acknowledge the players one last time. Talk about the royal treatment! Of course, Minnie and Mickey were on hand to celebrate.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Some of the events that happen at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex include:

-International Championships Cup Futures Tournament

-Jr. NBA World Championship

-runDisney race weekend expos

-Disney Cup international

-AAU National Basketball Championships

-NFL Pro Bowl Week

-National High School Cheerleading Championship

-Atlanta Braves Spring Training

-AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships

-Pop Warner Super Bowl

 

Now for a little information about the complex itself, because y’all, it’s massive.

There’s Champion Stadium, The Arena, HP Field House, Visa Athletic Center, Track and field Complex, Production center, as well as baseball, softball, and tennis areas and more. The parking lot has over 5,000 spaces, and there is even a grill so you can sit down and eat after a long and fun day out on the fields or courts. (They were using 30 fields for the soccer tournaments!) Also the fields are totally versatile and can be flipped to a different sport in as little as 24 hours if need be.

The production center is pretty spectacular. It’s a 3,200 square foot facility with two control rooms including three jumbo screens. They are now using 8k camera systems and have 24 channels of replay. They save and store so much footage, over 1,100 hours so far in 2018 to be exact.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Of course while heading to Walt Disney World for your child’s sporting event, if only makes sense to stay for a few extra days and hang out at the parks right? There is so much to explore including the all new Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as well as Avatar, the World of Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Make it a trip for the whole extended family and I’m sure your little athlete will never forget any of it.

Did you know all of this existed right on Disney property? Have your kids participated in an event at ESPN WWOS? Stay tuned for more of a play by play post of what I did during the Disney sports FAM.

Like this:

Like Loading...

Sign up for my newsletter

Primary Sidebar

I am Heather Montgomery, a 30 something southern girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband Bobby, 10-year-old daughter Emma Kate, and our goldendoodles Dolly and Luna. I’m just a regular girl who likes to workout, travel, hang with my family, text, and eat chips and queso. Be sure to check out my “about me” page for more info!
Thank you for visiting, and feel free to contact me with questions, (or for PR inquiries or press trip invites) at Support@HeathersLookingGlass.com.

Please, no guest post requests. 🙂

More about me

Privacy Policy

You can also find me here:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • 5 Reasons to Try a New Way of Travel
  • Experience Superhero-Sized Fun at Gaylord Opryland DC Summer
  • Digital Nomads: Safely Working Remotely While You Roam
  • Tips for Surviving (and Thriving) as a Travel Ball Mom
  • Protecting Your Kids’ Eyes In the Digital Age

 

Search

How to Start a Blog

How to start a blog
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • Family
Nature, but make it happy hour. 🍹 ✨ #SipSipH Nature, but make it happy hour. 🍹 ✨

#SipSipHooray #notoutdoorsy #happyhour #margaritatime #pigeonforgetn
☀️ Cabin mornings, lakeside afternoons, and a ☀️ Cabin mornings, lakeside afternoons, and a little bit of learning in between… that’s our kind of summer!

I partnered with IXL to help keep Emma Kate’s brain just as active as her body this season — and the IXL Ultimate Summer Workbooks have been a total win. Each one includes fun, colorful activities across math, language arts, science, and social studies, and it only takes 2 pages a day to stay on track. ✏️📚

What makes them even better? You also get access to IXL’s online learning platform, with bonus practice, personalized growth plans, and instant feedback to keep kids motivated — whether you’re at home or on the go. 🙌

No long, boring lessons… just engaging learning that fits into real life.
💡 Grab yours using my 🔗 in bio! 

Let’s make this a summer of fun and growth. 🌲📖💕

#ixllearning #summerlearning #momlife #summerslide #learningonthego #homeschoolmama #ixlpartner #ixl 

Stay sharp this summer, exclusive workbooks in bio!
POV: You’re a busy mom juggling travel, pool day POV: You’re a busy mom juggling travel, pool days, snacks, sports, and sanity… and you finally find the bag that keeps up. 🙌🏼

This Simple Modern Getaway Bag fits everything I need—without tipping over, soaking through, or making a mess. It’s water-resistant, easy to clean, has a removable waterproof pocket (because kids), and comes in multiple sizes for whatever chaos the day brings. 💦🎒

If your summer plans involve going everywhere and doing everything, you need this in your life.

👉🏼 Tap the link in my bio to check it out!

#SimpleModernPartner #GetawayBag #paid @shopsimplemodern
#MomLife #SimpleModern #PoolDayEssentials #TravelWithKids #FlourishAndGlow #EverydayOnTheGo
✨ S U M M E R G I F T I N G ✨ I’ve teamed ✨ S U M M E R  G I F T I N G ✨ 

I’ve teamed up with @best.day.ever.giveaways and some amazing accounts to make this blessing possible for someone. 

I N C L U D E S: 
Luggage set
Simple Modern XL beach bag 
Simple Modern 40 oz tumbler 
Turkish towel
Roe Wellness mineral sunscreen
Summer Fridays lip gloss
Thread crossbody bag
Threat minimalist wallet
$200 cash

👇T O  E N T E R👇

1️⃣ F O L L O W @best.day.ever.giveaways and everyone they  f o l l o w 
2️⃣ L I K E + save this reel 
3️⃣ T A G a friend

⭐️ B O N U S ⭐️ 
1️⃣ C O M M E N T  your favorite item
2️⃣ S H A R E  to your stories and tag @best.day.ever.giveaways 

Ends on 5/31 at 11:59 pm EST.  The randomly chosen recipient will be announced by @best.day.ever.giveaways on 6/2
•
This is not affiliated with Instagram or any of the brands pictured. Must be 18+ to enter. Open USA/Canada.

#travelgirlshub #summertravel #familyvacation #momliferocks
I used to think dairy-free desserts were “just o I used to think dairy-free desserts were “just okay.” Like, fine in a pinch… but never something I craved. 👀

But then this little picnic happened—just me, my girl, and a sweet treat we both loved enough to fight over the last bite. 😅

We’ve been trying to be more mindful with food choices lately (especially with summer travel coming up), and I grabbed these So Delicious treats at Kroger kind of on a whim. The new packaging caught my eye, but it was the taste that totally surprised us. Creamy. Indulgent. No weird aftertaste. And no, we’re not fully dairy-free—and we still loved them.

It’s one of those little swaps that doesn’t feel like giving anything up.

And that? That’s a win for both of us. ✨@So_Delicious

#SoDeliciousDairyFree, #DairyFreeYourMin #SoDeliciousPartner #KrogerFinds #PlantBasedTreats #BackyardMoments
🚨 Homeschool decision!! If you have been aroun 🚨 Homeschool decision!!

If you have been around here since Christmas time, then you know we pulled Emma Kate out of her private school after the first semester and put her in a hybrid homeschool for the spring. The main reason being we wanted more absences than the school allowed. 

What is a hybrid? In our case, she went to a school all day 3 days a week, and we taught her at home two days a week. 

It seemed like the best of both worlds, not having absences count since we were also her teachers, being able to stay home some, sleep in, and travel. 

Well, it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. For one, the school we sent her to ended up not being what we thought. We were told being absent wouldn’t be a problem, but it became clear very early on her teacher was not a fan and she was not kind or accommodating to Emma Kate. There’s a lot of other reasons we didn’t blown the school I won’t go into. (If you are local and considering hybrid feel free to dm me and I will share my concerns and grievances.)

Teaching your kid is hard. There were lots of tears and frustrations, and she got bored since Bobby and I also work from home/I’m not a stay at hoke mom. We couldn’t just sit with her all day and teach her with our crazy long hours owning two businesses. 

It was tough to keep a schedule and while getting to travel a lot was great, she didn’t thrive on not having a routine and struggled with the randomness of everything.

She is also a very social only child who missed her friends and also wants to play sports for her school.

 In the end while there were a lot of pros to hybrid homeschool, the cons outweighed them for us so we are returning to her old school in the fall. 

Am I glad we did it? Yes! I always would have wondered otherwise and now we know. We will still be pulling her out of school some to travel in the fall, just not as much. 

If you have any questions feel free to drop them in the comments below and I will be happy to answer the best I can! 🩷

#hybridhomeschool #homeschooler #homeschoolquestions #homeschoolplanning #homeschoolfail #knoxvillelife #knoxvilletn
✨ Staying steps from the magic! ✨ We loved our ✨ Staying steps from the magic! ✨ We loved our visit to Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel—especially with Disneyland celebrating its 70th anniversary! 

🏰 From the dreamy castle-themed rooms to the lush gardens, on-site dining, and a pool perfect for post-park relaxation… this place has it all. And the free shuttle to the parks? A total game changer! 🎉 

@anaheimmajestic 
#AnaheimMajesticpartner #anaheimmajestic #anaheimmajesticgardenhotel #Disneyland70 #HotelNearDisneyland #CastleRoomVibes #FamilyTravel

Copyright © 2025 · Through Heather's Looking Glass · Theme by Bella Creative Studio

 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d