Banana Ball is coming to Walt Disney International for the primary time ever! Those high-energy baseball video games popularized by means of Savannah Bananas are a fan-favorite, promoting out MLB stadiums across the nation and having an enormous following on social media. In 2026, WDW fanatics can have the risk to observe video games on the ESPN Vast International of Sports activities–this covers how, together with what Banana Ball is within the first position, and why we’re happy to peer the WWoS get some large league use!
Let’s get started with the ultimate level, which is that I merely need to see extra skilled wearing occasions on the ESPN Vast International of Sports activities. A part of that is clearly selfishness, as I’d like to catch a MLB recreation or every other wearing match with stakes whilst visiting Walt Disney International. I used to like observing Spring Coaching on the ESPN WWoS.
Phase could also be that it will make sense as a industry determination for each Disney and the MLB, or no matter league took its skills to Central Florida. The Stadium is a brilliant venue, and it’s nearly prison how underutilized it’s at this level. (Any person must inform Jeff Vahle–I pay attention he hates that kind of factor!)
In ultimate yr’s put up, Will Walt Disney International Grow to be House to a Primary League Baseball Workforce?, I made the case for the Tampa Rays shifting to Walt Disney International this season after Storm Milton hit and led to irreparable harm to the roof of Tropicana Box in St. Petersburg. Clearly, it didn’t occur. However judging by means of their ongoing attendance woes, possibly it must’ve!
I additionally watched “As soon as Upon a Time in Anaheim” on ESPN+ about how the Disney film The Mighty Geese impressed the introduction of an NHL franchise. That’s an ideal documentary in regards to the length all through which Michael Eisner pulled the corporate again from the threshold, then hugely grew it all through the “Disney Decade.” It’s mainly the highs and lows of that technology instructed in the course of the lens of the Mighty Geese of Anaheim.
The takeaway of a median sports activities fan from that documentary may well be that Disney overextended itself by means of obtaining stakes in MLB and NHL groups for the sake of Eisner’s self-importance. That Disney used to be out of its intensity, and not must’ve finished owned professional groups within the first position. That’s no doubt a logical conclusion.
The takeaway of this Disney fan, on the other hand, is that Disney by no means must’ve bought their pursuits in the ones franchises. That they have been forward in their time, and the verdict would’ve labored out neatly if simply given extra time.
Possibly it’s bias or rose-colored glasses, however this standpoint is vindicated by means of the luck of the groups next to the gross sales and the skyrocketing worth of professional groups. And I say this as somebody who thinks Disney has overexpanded, and must dump or spin off some property (ABC!).
If the rest, the large “mistake” Eisner made used to be finding the Mighty Geese in Anaheim versus Orlando. (Although, as a sensible truth, the NHL wouldn’t have long past for three Floridian enlargement groups within the Nineteen Nineties.) Hindsight is 20/20, however within the ultimate a number of years, professional groups and stadiums in “vacation spot” places has received a large number of momentum. That’s exactly how lots of the new groups in Las Vegas and Los Angeles are promoting out–and when you watch video games, the seats are most commonly filled with visiting fanatics.
Walt Disney International may’ve had the very same dynamic with a professional crew. It’d be fantastic for the very same causes as runDisney, conventions, or the opposite occasions they do to strategically fill lodge rooms all through off-peak occasions. As a lodge industry that still operates theme parks, Walt Disney International being house to a crew can be a large draw!
Suffice to mention, webhosting video games of Banana Ball is a superb get started and possibly it’ll turn out to be a area take a look at for Walt Disney International getting extra competitive in attracting different professional groups. Let’s flip to information about the Banana Ball announcement and find out how to watch video games…
Banana Ball is coming to ESPN Vast International of Sports activities Complicated at Walt Disney International for the primary time ever, striking fanatics first and immediately into the middle of the motion with various laughs, pleasure, and an plain calories that can have you ever dancing to your cleats all night time lengthy. Banana Ball video games can be performed at Walt Disney International on Might 29 and 30, 2026.
Ultimate yr, the Savannah Bananas traveled around the nation for plenty of in their high-profile matchups, competing towards the Firefighters, the Birthday celebration Animals, and the Texas Tailgaters. Visiting a variety of mythical venues like Fenway Park in Boston, Kauffman Stadium in Kansas Town, and Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Banana Ball has endured to talk over with iconic ballparks and top locations completely have compatibility for buddies and households, bringing the display to a brand new lineup of keen fanatics.
Subsequent season, with the addition of 2 new groups competing within the Banana Ball Championship League, Walt Disney International will welcome the slugging Loco Seaside Coconuts in a dynamic fight towards the always-entertaining Birthday celebration Animals on Might 29-30, 2026. (To not belabor the purpose, however simply need you to remember that the Savannah Bananas crew may not be enjoying in those Banana Ball video games. It almost certainly shouldn’t topic as the game is the leisure product being bought, versus any particular crew.)
Banana Ball can be hosted on the 220-acre ESPN Vast International of Sports activities Complicated at Walt Disney International, the place the Loco Seaside Coconuts and Birthday celebration Animals will play within The Stadium, that includes greater than 9,500 seats, 4 luxurious sky containers, open-air suites, and an entire bunch of glad hijinks at the diamond.
How Do I Purchase Banana Ball Tickets?
For fanatics itching to peer trick performs, diving catches, and various on-the-field shenanigans, make sure you safe your seats for subsequent season, together with the Banana Ball recreation at Walt Disney International, by means of getting into the Price ticket Lottery Record ahead of it closes on November 1, 2025.
Becoming a member of this listing does no longer ensure the chance to shop for tickets (therefore the time period “lottery”), however it is going to input you right into a random drawing that takes position ahead of the development for the risk to buy to be had tickets. In case your identify is drawn, you are going to give you the option to proceed in the course of the verification procedure ahead of with the ability to acquire your tickets to witness the thrill up shut.
Don’t get stuck in a pickle with this chance to sign up for the Price ticket Lottery Record by means of visiting BananaBall.com, as same old tickets get started at $35 while you acquire them from the web site. Irritating because it may well be when you arise empty passed, this lotto is an effective way to stay costs inexpensive for moderate American households, and it simply feels honest. Walt Disney International may take some notes!
The place Else Can I Watch Banana Ball in 2026?
If you wish to have much more fast paced Banana Ball content material, you’ll want to track into their video games subsequent season on ESPN+, Disney+, ESPN2, and extra ESPN platforms around the international chief in sports activities.
For a complete listing of Banana Ball matchups that you’ll be able to input to wait in-person, you’ll want to talk over with BananaBall.com for brand new updates and the most recent ballgames coming quickly to a town close to you.
For much more occasions coming quickly to ESPN Vast International of Sports activities Complicated, take a look at the upcoming occasions calendar to determine which game you’ll be capable of see for your subsequent talk over with to Disney International.
What is Banana Ball?
Most definitely must’ve responded this one first for the uninitiated. Continuously preserving fanatics and avid gamers on their ft, Banana Ball is readily turning into the fastest-growing and maximum entertaining recreation in sports activities, that includes high-octane performs and laws aimed toward keeping up a handy guide a rough tempo.
Whether or not a fan catches a nasty ball (it counts as an out within the recreation) or a participant tries to thieve first base (sure, you learn that appropriately), this curveball on conventional baseball has endured to develop around the country at house and in ballparks! For a concise comparability, the Savannah Bananas are mainly the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball.
I’ll be truthful with you, I had by no means even heard of the Savannah Bananas till a phase on 60 Mins. Because it seems, the crew is amazingly common, with ~10 million TikTok fans, or greater than each and every considered one of ultimate yr’s Primary League Baseball playoff groups mixed. This reputation roughly speaks to the attraction of Banana Ball–it’s baseball for the social media era, for higher or worse.
I’ll admit to being skeptical of the Savannah Bananas to start with, however I used to be intrigued as each a Disney and baseball fan. The crew’s charismatic proprietor is Jesse Cole, who were given uninterested in baseball so he invented a brand new game dubbed “Banana Ball.” It is a sooner, livelier, extra dynamic twist on baseball that’s turn out to be an enormous hit with fanatics and a viral sensation on social media.
Cole stuck my consideration for a few causes. As a baseball fan since adolescence who got here of age within the mid-90s, I’ve lengthy held the reputedly unpopular trust amongst fanatics that Primary League Baseball has gotten dull. The sport peaked for me then, with the high-water mark being the summer time of Sosa and McGwire’s exciting house run chase–an technology and avid gamers that at the moment are tainted for plenty of fanatics because of PEDs.
On the time, although, that used to be one thing particular. I beloved observing as many baseball video games as I may and catching The Large Display each and every morning. Seeing the Atlanta Braves play on the Stadium, consuming on the Respectable All Famous person Café at Disney’s Vast International of Sports activities, and working into Braves nearer Mark Wohlers at Downtown Disney used to be the spotlight of my 1997 Walt Disney International commute!
I’m a staunch proponent of latest rule adjustments that accelerate the sport, and if the rest, suppose they don’t cross some distance sufficient. Baseball isn’t drawing new fanatics and doesn’t have sufficient recognizable superstars. Till ultimate yr, its two largest generational skills have been languishing away in Anaheim.
The sport’s marquee participant shifting ~30 miles up the street used to be nice for the sport, and there were some refreshing tendencies for the MLB within the ultimate season. Nonetheless, no longer sufficient. It speaks volumes that it’s been very tricky for any individual underneath the age of 40 to observe the present MLB playoffs up till now, however I will simply watch a half-dozen common season NFL video games every week on streaming (and each and every unmarried playoff recreation, as soon as the ones get started).
It will be great if one thing, the rest introduced extra younger fanatics into baseball. I’d love for children to get hooked at the MLB like I used to be, and it will be excellent for Walt Disney International to in truth use the ESPN Vast International of Sports activities once more. The synergistic chances are unending!
Observing the 60 Mins piece and listening to that Cole attracts inspiration for the Savannah Bananas from his idols, showmen P.T. Barnum and Walt Disney, had me additional intrigued. Principally, Cole needs to do for baseball what Walt Disney did for theme parks.
He’s reinventing and reinvigorating the game with a fan-first way that reaches new audiences and specializes in leisure that’s a laugh for the entire circle of relatives, bridging era gaps between youngsters, folks and grandparents. Sound acquainted?!
Whilst a little of a curmudgeon, I used to be instantly bought at the Savannah Bananas after listening to this. I don’t see Banana Ball ever having an everlasting house at Walt Disney International (nor would I would like it to–I’m absolutely on board with Banana Ball, however must admit that I nonetheless suppose it’s a fade that’ll be a “keep in mind when?” matter in a decade), however am happy by means of the 2026 season that includes a few video games on the ESPN Vast International of Sports activities!
I nonetheless haven’t been ready to catch a recreation in consumer, however will completely be becoming a member of the lottery to observe on the ESPN Vast International of Sports activities on Might 29 and 30, 2026. That are supposed to be a good time to talk over with Walt Disney International, too. Expectantly ahead of the worst of the summer time warmth begins, however after the vacation weekend and whilst crowds are low. It’ll even be after the brand new Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run debuts (one week previous) and most likely across the kickoff of a summer time birthday celebration!
Making plans a Walt Disney International commute? Find out about inns on our Walt Disney International Resorts Evaluations web page. For the place to devour, learn our Walt Disney International Eating place Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or resolve which kind to shop for, learn our Pointers for Saving Cash on Walt Disney International Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel take a look at artful pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney International Trip Guides will lend a hand. For complete recommendation, the most productive position to start out is our Walt Disney International Travel Making plans Information for the whole thing you wish to have to understand!
Your Ideas
What do you call to mind Banana Ball being performed at Walt Disney International? Have you ever observed a Savannah Bananas recreation? Are you keen on Banana Ball or do you prefer the ‘dignity’ of standard ole dull baseball? Had you ever even heard of the Bananas ahead of this? Do you settle or disagree with our evaluate? Any questions we will mean you can resolution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas under within the feedback!
