History was made at Walt Disney World on Friday night. Banana Ball, the fan-first baseball phenomenon created by the Savannah Bananas organization, made its official Walt Disney World debut at The Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and it was every bit the party fans hoped for.
What Happened At The First Game
Friday’s matchup featured the Loco Beach Coconuts, one of the newest teams in the Banana Ball Championship League, taking on the always-rowdy Party Animals. The ballpark, best known as the former spring training home of the Atlanta Braves, traded traditional baseball formality for Banana Ball’s signature blend of trick plays, back flips, dancing umpires, sing-alongs, and nonstop crowd participation. The Coconuts capped the night with a ninth-inning comeback to take the win.
Disney characters got in on the action too. Stitch made a special appearance at the end of the first inning set to “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride,” a perfect match for the Coconuts’ island theme, while Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse joined the “Hey Baby” singalong later in the game, marking their first official Banana Ball appearance together at Walt Disney World.
The Teams Played Tourist Before First Pitch
Both squads made the most of their Disney World trip before the game. The Party Animals spent the day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom riding Kali River Rapids, Expedition Everest, and Kilimanjaro Safaris, while the Loco Beach Coconuts leaned all the way into their tropical branding with a visit to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, surfing the wave pool and riding Crush ‘n’ Gusher.
What Is Banana Ball?
If you have never seen it, Banana Ball is baseball turned up to eleven: games are played on a two-hour clock, fans who catch foul balls record outs, batters can steal first base, bunting is banned, and every half inning comes with choreography. The Savannah Bananas have been called the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball, and the format has been selling out MLB stadiums across the country. The Walt Disney World stop was announced during the Banana Ball City Selection Show and detailed on the Disney Parks Blog.
One More Game This Weekend
The Coconuts and Party Animals run it back Saturday night, May 30, to close out the first Banana Ball series ever held at Walt Disney World, with the broader Disney partnership continuing this year through a 25-game streaming package across Disney+ and ESPN platforms. Between this and the new Grumpy’s Gauntlet statue over at Magnolia Golf Course, it has been a big stretch for Disney’s sports side. Here’s hoping Banana Ball becomes a Disney World tradition.
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