The Savannah Bananas visited Disneyland and Disney California Journey for a particular look and, in becoming vogue, they knocked it out of the park. This takes a have a look at the Best Present in Sports activities storming the Happiest Place on Earth forward of their Anaheim video games, together with the particular cavalcade, dances, and extra.
I’ll be sincere with you, I had by no means even heard of the Savannah Bananas till a section on 60 Minutes final month. (Aspect observe: that’s how you’re getting previous–if you first find out about a craze from 60 Minutes or, equally as frequent for me, CBS Sunday Morning.) Because it seems, the staff is extremely common, with ~10 million TikTok followers, or greater than each one among final 12 months’s Main League Baseball playoff groups mixed.
Regardless, I used to be intrigued as each a Disney and baseball fan. CBS centered on the staff’s charismatic proprietor, Jesse Cole, who obtained uninterested in baseball so he invented a brand new sport dubbed “Banana Ball.” It is a sooner, livelier, extra dynamic twist on baseball that’s turn into an enormous hit with followers and a viral sensation on social media. Should you’re unfamiliar with the Savannah Bananas and don’t need to watch that section (it is best to–it’s actually good!), they’re mainly the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball.
Cole caught my consideration for a few causes. As a baseball fan since childhood who grew up listening to Ernie Harwell and Al Kaline whereas watching Cecil Fielder, I’ve lengthy held the seemingly unpopular perception amongst followers that Main League Baseball has gotten boring. Though I nonetheless observe 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 thrilling dwelling run chase–an period and gamers that are actually tainted for a lot of followers as a consequence of PEDs.
I’m a staunch proponent of current rule adjustments that pace up the sport, and if something, suppose they don’t go far sufficient. Baseball isn’t drawing new followers and doesn’t have sufficient recognizable superstars. Till final 12 months, its two largest generational abilities had been languishing away in Anaheim. The sport’s marquee participant transferring ~30 miles up the highway was nice for the sport, and Shohei Ohtani-mania plus Grimace had been refreshing developments for the MLB final season. Nonetheless, not sufficient.
Watching the 60 Minutes 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. Mainly, Cole needs 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 focuses on leisure that’s enjoyable for the entire household, bridging era gaps between youngsters, mother and father and grandparents. Sound acquainted?!
At the same time as a little bit of a curmudgeon, I used to be instantly offered on the Savannah Bananas after listening to this. I needed to point out my ‘assist’ for the staff–and anybody with such a fan-forward philosophy impressed by Walt Disney–by attending one among their video games in California and seeing what Banana Ball is all about for myself.
Truly, the Savannah Bananas don’t want my assist. There’s a lottery simply to buy tickets (that are pretty cheap when bought for his or her face worth costs–one other fan-first transfer!). The staff manages to promote out huge venues–even Angel Stadium. Nobody sells out Angel Stadium–not even Shohei Ohtani! Guess I’ll watch on ESPN+ as a substitute.
Anyway, I figured I might assist the staff a distinct approach–by 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 enjoyable the Savannah Bananas had all through their day at Disneyland…
Throughout their go to, the Savannah Bananas had been desirous to experience Large Thunder Mountain Railroad and Tiana’s Bayou Journey.
Not solely did they’ve a blast, however Disney made certain to seize their good facet with some a-peeling pictures:
The Bananas aren’t the one staff that visited Disneyland – the Firefighters are on the town, making a pit cease earlier than their massive sport at Angel Stadium.
They couldn’t move up the chance to satisfy the well-known Disneyland Hearth Division, together with Hank, the longest standing worker on the Walt Disney Firm:
The Bananas placed on their yellowest apparel and danced to the Jonas Brothers Disneyland seventieth anniversary theme track, “Have a good time Glad” in entrance of Sleeping Magnificence Fortress.
In true Bananas vogue, the Firefighters then got here out and danced with them to fan-favorite “Hey Child!”
To rejoice the Savannah Banana’s thrilling go to, Bananas gamers danced their approach down Predominant Avenue, U.S.A for a particular cavalcade.
Should you can’t get sufficient of the Savannah Bananas, tune 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 crammed of Banana Ball, offering followers a chance to witness one among sports activities’ quickest rising sensations throughout ESPN and Disney platforms, persevering with every month by August.
MLB and soccer stadiums will host every of the ten video games of the brand new settlement, together with historic Fenway Park, picturesque Camden Yards and raucous Memorial Stadium, dwelling of the Clemson Tigers, including to the electrifying environment that has turn into synonymous with Banana Ball.
The summer time of the Savannah Bananas will likely be showcased on Friday and Saturday nights on ESPN or ESPN2, with all ten video games additionally simulcast dwell on Disney+ and ESPN+.
Listed below are a pair extra must-watch amusing movies of the Savannah Bananas at Disneyland:
Banana Ball meets @Disneyland 😎 pic.twitter.com/b90AHL3phN
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) Might 28, 2025
We had one of the best time at Disneyland🤩 pic.twitter.com/BXAydUGB8M
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) Might 29, 2025
All in all, appears just like the Savannah Bananas had a enjoyable day at Disneyland. The movies they’ve posted to social media so far have been a variety of enjoyable, and it’s straightforward to see why they’ve cultivated such a loyal and passionate fanbase–the parallels to Disney are fairly clear, even with out the proprietor being impressed by Walt. (Makes me surprise if Bob Iger may “pull an Eisner” and set his sights on buying the Bananas!)
As an enormous fan of the “Bizarre Disney” style, I really like one of these factor. In final week’s Celebrated Legal Sew Bathroom Papers Cinderella Fortress Once more submit, I remarked how Disney doesn’t actually do one of these factor anymore. They’re so cautious and thought of with advertising that not often is something zany or oddball. Lower than one week later, they ship this–proving me improper.
It’ll be enjoyable to say look again on the movies of the Savannah Bananas at Disneyland in a decade or two as a “bear in mind when?” time capsule of 2025 (proper right down to the seventieth Anniversary character costumes) and a enjoyable ‘Bizarre Disney’ expertise. Now, we have to discover a method to get the Savannah Bananas to play some video games on the ESPN Vast World of Sports activities and go to Walt Disney World. Possibly they might revive KiteTails for a one-day-only encore, smashing dingers and performing trick catches because the Lion King kites crash. Now that would really be a ‘Bizarre Disney’ day for the historical past books!
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site resorts in our Anaheim Lodge Opinions & Rankings. For the place to eat, take a look at our Disneyland Restaurant Opinions. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and tons of different locations!
Your Ideas
What do you consider the Savannah Bananas visiting Disneyland? Are you a fan of Banana Ball or do you prefer the ‘dignity’ of standard ole boring baseball? Be sincere: had you by no means even heard of the Bananas earlier than this? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
