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Orlando's not a one-mouse town and this is the site that proves it! |
In Spring Training circles, there are few stadiums with as much hype as Cracker Jack. Perhaps it’s the Disney magic. Here’s the recipe for Spring Training a la Mickey:
That’s the feeling you get at this beautiful ballpark in Walt Disney World® Resort’s Wide World of Sports Complex. It’s not really Spring Training as fans generally think of it. It’s corporate America bringing its influence to bear on one of the last bastions of what’s great about baseball. Yet it does it so well that if you aren’t looking for a traditional Spring Training experience, you’re likely to be happy here.
When you first get to Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex, you’ll see corporate America all over the place, starting with the names of the venues. Cracker Jack Stadium sits next to the Milk House, so named after a generous donation from the “got milk? ” people. The corporate name brings an automatic feeling of Major League Baseball, not Spring Training. Of course, like much in Spring Training that spells Major League, corporate naming is moving into Florida in a big way. In 2003, Cracker Jack Stadium was one of only three ballparks with a corporate name. Now it is one of six, meaning that a third of all Grapefruit League ballparks have a corporate name. That’s not to say that Cracker Jack is a terrible stadium. In fact, it’s not. It’s one of the most comfortable and picturesque ballparks in all of Florida. Cracker Jack is the only double-decker stadium in the Grapefruit League. Watching from the second deck is an experience you’ll find only at Walt Disney World® Resort (WDW), but it’s not necessarily the heart of Spring Training. The outside of the stadium is themed to look like a Spanish town, complete with a lengthy promenade. Along the promenade are sponsored exhibits, some souvenir stands, and security check points (don’t worry, you’ll only have to pass through one of them on your way to your seat). Inside, you’ll find roomy seats, great hot dogs, lots of other concessions, and a tremendous amount of fun. This is a large park by Grapefruit League standards, with 7,500 seats, the majority located between first and third base. A great place to watch the game, however, is from the bleacher seats on the right field line, as far out as possible. Sitting here gives you a good chance to catch a foul ball (one hit a woman sitting two seats down from me). It is also one of the only places to get an autograph. On the left field side, the park has a large berm where you can enjoy the Florida sun while the kids run around. The top of both the right and left field grandstands include corporate picnic areas. During some games, you will find basketball hoops and other game paraphernalia in the picnic areas. Feel free to use them. Didn't find what you were looking for? Try a Google search.
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The
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