The Savannah Bananas visited Disneyland and Disney California Journey for a unique look and, in becoming model, they knocked it out of the park. This takes a have a look at the Largest Display in Sports activities storming the Happiest Position on Earth forward in their Anaheim video games, together with the particular cavalcade, dances, and extra.
I’ll be fair with you, I had by no means even heard of the Savannah Bananas till a phase on 60 Mins final month. (Facet observe: that’s how you realize you’re getting previous–whilst you first know about a craze from 60 Mins or, similarly as not unusual for me, CBS Sunday Morning.) Because it seems, the workforce is amazingly in style, with ~10 million TikTok fans, or greater than each considered one of final yr’s Primary League Baseball playoff groups blended.
Regardless, I used to be intrigued as each a Disney and baseball fan. CBS targeted at the workforce’s charismatic proprietor, Jesse Cole, who were given uninterested in baseball so he invented a brand new game dubbed “Banana Ball.” This can be a sooner, livelier, extra dynamic twist on baseball that’s develop into an enormous hit with lovers and a viral sensation on social media. If you happen to’re unfamiliar with the Savannah Bananas and don’t wish to watch that phase (you must–it’s actually just right!), they’re principally the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball.
Cole stuck my consideration for a few causes. As a baseball fan since early life who grew up taking note of Ernie Harwell and Al Kaline whilst looking at Cecil Fielder, I’ve lengthy held the reputedly unpopular trust amongst lovers that Primary League Baseball has gotten uninteresting. Despite the fact that I nonetheless apply the sport, the MLB peaked for me within the Nineteen Nineties, 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 lots of lovers because of PEDs.
I’m a staunch proponent of latest rule adjustments that accelerate the sport, and if the rest, assume they don’t cross a long way sufficient. Baseball isn’t drawing new lovers and doesn’t have sufficient recognizable superstars. Till final yr, its two greatest generational skills had been languishing away in Anaheim. The sport’s marquee participant transferring ~30 miles up the street was once nice for the sport, and Shohei Ohtani-mania plus Grimace had been refreshing traits for the MLB final season. Nonetheless, now not sufficient.
Looking at 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 desires to do for baseball what Walt Disney did for theme parks.
He’s reinventing and reinvigorating the game with a fan-first method that reaches new audiences and specializes in leisure that’s amusing for the entire circle of relatives, bridging technology gaps between youngsters, folks and grandparents. Sound acquainted?!
At the same time as a little bit of a curmudgeon, I used to be right away bought at the Savannah Bananas after listening to this. I sought after to turn my ‘improve’ for the workforce–and any individual with this sort of fan-forward philosophy impressed through Walt Disney–through attending considered one of their video games in California and seeing what Banana Ball is all about for myself.
In reality, the Savannah Bananas should not have my improve. There’s a lottery simply to buy tickets (that are slightly affordable when bought for his or her face price costs–some other fan-first transfer!). The workforce manages to promote out huge venues–even Angel Stadium. Nobody sells out Angel Stadium–now not even Shohei Ohtani! Bet I’ll watch on ESPN+ as a substitute.
Anyway, I figured I may improve the workforce a unique means–through bringing their day at Disneyland to the eye to my fellow previous folks who’re likewise unfamiliar with Banana Ball. Right here’s a have a look at all of the amusing the Savannah Bananas had all through their day at Disneyland…
All through their discuss with, the Savannah Bananas had been desperate to journey Giant Thunder Mountain Railroad and Tiana’s Bayou Journey.
No longer solely did they’ve a blast, however Disney made positive to seize their just right facet with some a-peeling footage:
The Bananas aren’t the one workforce that visited Disneyland – the Firefighters are on the town, creating a pit forestall prior to their large recreation at Angel Stadium.
They couldn’t move up the chance to fulfill the well-known Disneyland Fireplace Division, together with Hank, the longest status worker on the Walt Disney Corporate:
The Bananas placed on their yellowest apparel and danced to the Jonas Brothers Disneyland seventieth anniversary theme track, “Have a good time Satisfied” in entrance of Napping Good looks Fortress.
In true Bananas model, the Firefighters then got here out and danced with them to fan-favorite “Hiya Child!”
To have a good time the Savannah Banana’s thrilling discuss with, Bananas avid gamers danced their means down Major Boulevard, U.S.A for a unique cavalcade.
If you’ll’t get sufficient of the Savannah Bananas, music into their upcoming video games at Angel Stadium on Might 30-31, 2025.
ESPN and the Savannah Bananas are becoming a member of forces for a summer time stuffed of Banana Ball, offering lovers a chance to witness considered one of sports activities’ quickest rising sensations throughout ESPN and Disney platforms, proceeding every month thru August.
MLB and soccer stadiums will host every of the 10 video games of the brand new settlement, together with ancient Fenway Park, picturesque Camden Yards and raucous Memorial Stadium, house of the Clemson Tigers, including to the electrifying environment that has develop into synonymous with Banana Ball.
The summer time of the Savannah Bananas can be showcased on Friday and Saturday nights on ESPN or ESPN2, with all ten video games additionally simulcast survive Disney+ and ESPN+.
Listed below are a pair extra must-watch fun movies of the Savannah Bananas at Disneyland:
Banana Ball meets @Disneyland 😎 percent.twitter.com/b90AHL3phN
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) Might 28, 2025
We had the most efficient time at Disneyland🤩 percent.twitter.com/BXAydUGB8M
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) Might 29, 2025
All in all, looks as if the Savannah Bananas had a amusing day at Disneyland. The movies they’ve posted to social media so far had been numerous amusing, and it’s simple to look why they’ve cultivated this sort of unswerving and passionate fanbase–the parallels to Disney are fairly transparent, even with out the landlord being impressed through Walt. (Makes me ponder whether Bob Iger may “pull an Eisner” and set his points of interest on obtaining the Bananas!)
As an enormous fan of the “Bizarre Disney” style, I really like this sort of factor. In final week’s Celebrated Prison Sew Bathroom Papers Cinderella Fortress Once more submit, I remarked how Disney doesn’t actually do this sort of factor anymore. They’re so cautious and regarded as with advertising that hardly is the rest zany or oddball. Not up to one week later, they ship this–proving me mistaken.
It’ll be amusing to mention glance again at the movies of the Savannah Bananas at Disneyland in a decade or two as a “be mindful when?” time tablet of 2025 (proper right down to the seventieth Anniversary persona costumes) and a amusing ‘Bizarre Disney’ revel in. Now, we want to have the option to get the Savannah Bananas to play some video games on the ESPN Huge Global of Sports activities and discuss with Walt Disney Global. Perhaps they may revive KiteTails for a one-day-only encore, smashing dingers and appearing trick catches because the Lion King kites crash. Now that may in reality be a ‘Bizarre Disney’ day for the historical past books!
Making plans a Southern California holiday? For park admission offers, learn Pointers for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site motels in our Anaheim Lodge Opinions & Ratings. For the place to devour, take a look at our Disneyland Eating place Opinions. For distinctive concepts of items that’ll beef up your travel, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Holiday Making plans Information. After all, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and heaps of different puts!
Your Ideas
What do you call to mind the Savannah Bananas visiting Disneyland? Are you keen on Banana Ball or do you like the ‘dignity’ of normal ole uninteresting baseball? Be fair: had you by no means even heard of the Bananas prior to this? Do you compromise or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we will be able to mean you can solution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas beneath within the feedback!
