The NBA Experience at Disney Springs will not reopen and is permanently closed

Aug 16, 2021 in "The NBA Experience"

Tour of The NBA Experience at Disney Springs
Posted: Monday August 16, 2021 12:06pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

According to Disney via reporter Scott Gustin, The NBA Experience at Disney Springs will not reopen and is now permanently closed.

The NBA Experience opened on the West Side at Disney Springs in August 2019 replacing DisneyQuest, and struggled to gain a footing among guests. Operated by Disney, several attempts were made to boost attendance, including discounted tickets and bundling admission with other passes.

There were more than 13 interactive basketball activities available - including dunk, shott, dribble, slingshot, and arcades. Pricing was $34 at the time of closing.

Both the retail store and the NBA Experience itself closed along with Walt Disney World in COVID pandemic in March 2020, and neither reopened with the rest of Disney Springs in the summer of 2020. Both the store and the experience remain closed.

Disney has not yet released any details on what will replace The NBA Experience.

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SoFloMagic14 hours ago

$

Cmdr_Crimson1 day ago

We had that at Woodfield mall at one point... Let's just say...

MisterPenguin1 day ago

Starfleet forbids it.

Cmdr_Crimson1 day ago

So, why haven't they brought it back to WDW? I recall pop century having a redemption booth at one point but, then they were removed..Same thing when they had the Midway on the moon section at Disneyquest..It was weird laying redemption games but no prizes.,Thus also happened in the Chicago based one as well..

MisterPenguin1 day ago

Old article. Law was changed to allow such penny ante stuff that was 'skill based' and not having a random element.... Are arcades legal in Florida? That depends on what games they offer. Arcades that offer video or physical games of skill that allow you to win tokens or tickets to be exchanged for prizes are covered by Florida's Family Amusement Games Act, so heading out to Chuck E. Cheese or Dave & Buster's is fine. But if the game includes a randomized element, such as a random chance as to which prize you can win — even if the outcome relies on skill — it's considered a game of chance and is illegal under the regulations against slot machines. In 2016 a court ruled against the Palms II internet cafe in Ocala that featured such games, saying that the random element brought them under the law against “any game . . . of chance, at any place, by any device whatever, for money or other thing of value.” https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/state/2023/09/15/gambling-florida-sports-betting-adult-arcades-seminole-tribe-casinos-whats-legal-illegal/70861454007/

Cmdr_Crimson1 day ago

Only problem is that they can't have redemption based games on Disney Property anymore... (how the Dinoland games are still running is beyond me). https://www.vendingtimes.com/news/disney-is-removing-redemption-games-and-crane-machines-from-its-florida-fecs/ So, it would be the first Redemptionless D&B's..Or make it To Wreck It Ralph's BarCade..

ToTBellHop1 day ago

I don’t know the characters but I assume Dave & Buster’s, which would do great at DS and Disney wouldn’t be tasked with replacing the arcade games. Everyone wins!

peng9 days ago

You know, I feel like its the most likely, that or it becomes another space for disney merch (but personally I'd take another crack at an arcade).

MisterPenguin9 days ago

If you don't watch the straight to video sequels, hand in your Disney Adult Card!!

cookiee_munster9 days ago

I'm questioning my own Disney nerdiness with struggling trying to work this out...

MisterPenguin10 days ago

How about a... and ?

lunchbox117510 days ago

Please....Please....Please put in some sort of Wreck It Ralph arcade and gaming experinece....DisneyQuest was great, not sure why they got rid of it.

Unbanshee12 days ago

Some more photos from Blog Mickey https://blogmickey.com/2024/04/disney-world-begins-de-theming-failed-nba-experience-at-disney-springs/

Disstevefan112 days ago

Or the worlds biggest DVC preview and sales center!!