ESPN College GameDay is a Saturday tradition unlike any other. Whether you watch it from bed, wake up early to attend, or anything else in-between, the show kicks off the college football weekend for every fan. However, there will be some serious changes to the first show of the 2019 season.
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The vast majority of us will be watching Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, David Pollack and Maria Taylor from afar while they preview the Week 0 Camping World Kickoff showdown between the Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes. But for those wanting to attend the famous football show, there's a few things you must know.
In order to attend the event in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, August 24, you have to follow a set of rules that is beyond mind-blowing.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION for fans interested in attending @CollegeGameDay at Magic Kingdom on Aug. 24: pic.twitter.com/i6JqFi45VW
— Camping World Kickoff (@CWKickoff) August 13, 2019
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ESPN, which is owned by Disney, has answered some questions that will undoubtedly upset a lot of fans who love the the show as it is throughout the college football season.
Q: Can fans attend College GameDay at Magic Kingdom Park?
A: Guests visiting Magic Kingdom Park on Aug. 24 may catch a glimpse of the live broadcast as it takes place at the elevated train station on Main Street, U.S.A. Valid theme park admission is required. There will be no special access for just College GameDay viewing.
Basically, you have to pay close to or over $100 per person just to get into the theme park. Additionally, you can only get a small peak at the show and can't show up just to watch it, which is what most fans generally want.
Q: Can I bring a sign or other prop to College GameDay at Magic Kingdom Park?
A: Walt Disney World Resort Property Rules prohibit flags, banners, signs, horns, whistles, large megaphones and artificial noisemakers.
There's a long list of rules for any Magic Kingdom goer to follow. This is not overly surprising. However, no signs means no signs, and no flags means no flags. That means the Washington State flag run is technically over unless they sneak it in (they probably will). The Florida and Miami rivalry deserves some classic jabs, but we will have to wait until after the pregame show to get those.
Q: Will there be access to the ESPN commentators and/or College GameDay set?
A: No designated access to ESPN commentators or College GameDay set is planned at this time.
If you don't really have access to watching the full show for $100 and without your clever sign at Disney World's Magic Kingdom, why would you get a meet-and-greet with ESPN's College GameDay crew?
The football game between the University of Florida and the University of Miami at Camping World Stadium should be a fun one. However, the first big pregame show of the year might not be.
UPDATE (August 22):
After college football fans moaned and groaned about the Week 0 College Gameday not allowing signs into Disney's Magic Kingdom Park on Saturday, August 24, ESPN changed its policy at the last minute.
Signs will now be permitted for @CollegeGameDay at Magic Kingdom on Saturday! pic.twitter.com/7RRJOCb5tu
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) August 22, 2019
ESPN Press Room said they are making an exception for signs to be permitted at the theme park.
— Supporting the time-honored tradition of handheld signs during "College GameDay" broadcasts, we are making an exception for Guests to bring college football signs to Magic Kingdom Park on Aug. 24 only. Signs are only permitted in the broadcast viewing area until noon. After the broadcast, signs may be recycled in the park or returned to a vehicle or resort room.
— Signs must be handheld (no poles, sticks or extensions) and may not contain commercial, derogatory, vulgar or political content. Blank signs or dry erase boards will not be permitted. Signs may not exceed 3' x 5' in size. Guests bringing signs to the park will not be able to board the Epcot and Resort Monorail and will be screened at the Transportation and Ticket Center or the Magic Kingdom bus loop. Signs are subject to approval and may not be allowed.
— Valid theme park admission is required.
So there you have it. Signs are allowed, but the expensive $100 cover charge still remains. At the end of the day, it's better than nothing.
