Last week Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex was host to the 2008 Disney Channel Games, or as I like to call them, the “Jonas Brothers Games.” Clearly most of the audience was made up of pre-teen girls screaming incessantly for Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas. They were thrilled when any celebrity came by, but the handmade posters, concert T-shirts, and CDs to sign were all about the Jonas Brothers.
The Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World was set up with numerous white tents as part of the 2008 Disney Channel games. Photo by Nancy Scala.
The Disney Channel Games were open to the public and free. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday were scheduled to be available for fans to watch. I stopped in on Monday and Tuesday and later heard a rumor that Thursday subsequently got closed to the public over concerns of photography. Bags were searched upon entry and security guards sought out anyone they caught taking pictures in the stadium. One guard told me that Disney was concerned about YouTube and pictures leaking onto the Internet before the shows air this summer on the Disney Channel. Even when Radio Disney showed up on Wednesday and broadcast live through the weekend, they claimed the participants were “practicing” for theDisney Channel Games and didn’t mention that any live filming was going on.
The Cheetah Girls member Adrienne Bailon signs an autograph for an enthusiastic fan during the Disney Channel Games. Photo by Nancy Scala.
Upon entering the stadium, the baseball field was all set up with the stage for Saturday night’s concert. Surrounding the field were large white tents which blocked most of the action from the seats. The tents were air conditioned and gave the participants a cool place to rest from the heat. The dugout was reserved for beverages and food when they needed a break. There was also media tents that the celebrities would visit for interviews and while we couldn’t see the farthest tents on the field, it was suggested that some of the actual games were taking place inside. There were cheerleaders, each representing one team (Red, Blue, Green, Yellow) whose left the stadium earlier in the day after shooting their segments.
Kiely Williams of The Cheetah Girls takes a pen from a fan as she prepares to sign an autograph during the 2008 Disney Channel Games. Photo by Nancy Scala.
On Monday very little happened and fans gathered along a line in the stadium to get a glimpse of the stars when they came out. By Tuesday we saw the Disney stars in their team colors and early reports of which stars were on certain teams were proven inaccurate. Interestingly enough, the Jonas Brothers were split up on separate teams with Joe being on the Green team, Nick on Red and Kevin on Yellow. The Cheetah Girls were also split among three teams, more cheering power perhaps than stacking them all on the same team.
Sabrina Ryan of The Cheetah Girls looks up to answer a question from a fan while she signs an autograph during the 2008 Disney Channel Games. Photo by Nancy Scala.
Some Disney teens were present at the game but not taking part in them. For example, Cody Linley (Jake Ryan of Hannah Montana) was a special correspondent, coming out at one point and interviewing several pre-chosen kids from the audience. He asked similar questions of each and when he got stuck, received some off-screen prompting of what questions to ask next. Lovable handyman Arwin (Brian Stepanek) from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody was present this year again as a host (though I didn’t see Phill Lewis). Brian even came out to sign autographs to the awaiting crowds. Michael Seater (Derek of Life with Derek) was seen walking around the fields and signing autographs but I didn’t see him doing any “work” for the games.
The Disney Channel Games dominates the signage at the Wide World of Sports. Photo by Nancy Scala.
The scoreboards and outfield displayed the Disney Channel Games logo and it was practically impossible to see any of the games taking place. It was only upon randomly stopping at the gift shop that we realized there was a live feed from the games being broadcast on their TV monitors. There was merchandise for eager fans to buy, and some smart teens bought T-shirts or water bottles to have the celebrities sign.
A lot of parents were complaining about the forcefulness of the teen fs and how some kids were downright violent when trying to get to the stars. Some were blocking out other kids from getting to the fence for an autograph while some were dropped off by their parents leaving them with no supervision. There is plenty of speculation that next year’s event will probably not be open to the public at all. And although I saw none of it first-hand, I heard a lot of screaming and running to every end of the stadium once a rumor caught on that a celebrity was there—even though they usually weren’t!
I’m not sure why Disney did open the games to the public. As fans, we couldn’t see the games going on, and there weren’t enough people in the stands to make a crowd shot. Many people suggested that Disney create a “Fan Fest” and allow the kids to pay a certain dollar amount and get all the celebrities’ signatures instead of the hunting and craziness that ensued. Maybe that would be a good way to handle things next year or simply leave the event closed.
At the end of Tuesday, most of the celebrities came out and walked along the fence to sign autographs and say hi to the fans. They were gracious to their fans and thanked them for all the nice words, even “newbie” Demi Lovato was impressed by the fans and kept reminding everyone to “watch Camp Rock this summer!” Jason Earles (Hannah Montana’s Jackson) got into the fun at one point walking the line before the Jonas Brothers and commenting, “Man, these Jonas Brothers keep following me around!”
Selena Gomez meets with some fans during the Disney Channel Games. Photo by Nancy Scala.
Other Disney Channel stars who signed autographs for the crowds and kept the fan appreciation alive were Selena Gomez, David Henrie, and Jason Dolley. All three Cheetah Girls were there and happy to talk to the fans when they walking around the field in between games. One lucky fan even got Kiely’s arm band right off her arm! Jake T. Austen (Wizards of Waverly Place) was another generous signer ,as was Moises Arias (Rico), who kept the girls screaming.
David Henrie chats with some fans during a meet-and-greet at the Disney Channel Games. Photo by Nancy Scala.
The last group of celebrities to appear at the end of Tuesday was the Jonas Brothers. If you didn’t know it was them from the loud screaming, the six security guards and Big Rob (body guard) flanking them would have been a tip off. No one elicited the response like the boys and they all walked down the line of fans to give autographs. It was complete pandemonium but exciting for everyone that got close. After talking to their father, Paul Jonas, Sr. earlier in the day, one could almost feel bad for the kids. He mentioned that they had a tight schedule for the entire week while they were at the DCG. They were scheduled every minute with shows, press and even a parade at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Joe Jonas visits with fans during a very busy schedule at the Disney Channel Games. Photo by Nancy Scala.
Not so lucky on the fan-love side were the Sprouse brothers. They kept to their tents and whisked by the line of fans when all the celebrities went to the side of the field at the end of Tuesday. But I did read on some message boards that they were signing earlier that morning. Also, while I heard Kyle Massey was signing and talking to kids in the morning, I didn’t see him approach the fans later that day. And I heard of no one that got an autograph or even a glance from Mitchel Musso (of Hannah Montana). It seems as though some of the participants realized that the fans made them popular and were appreciative of their turnout.
The friendliest celebrity to visit with fans during the 2008 Disney Channel Games, Alyson Stoner shares a big smile as she chats with fans in the crowd. Photo by Nancy Scala.
While arguably the friendliest and most accommodating teen of the DCG was Alyson Stoner. She’s been a Disney darling for some time, originally starring in the Mike’s Super Short Show. She’s also guest starred on That’s So Raven, Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and has a role in the upcoming Disney Channel movie, Camp Rock. She was so nice to all the fans, signing autographs whenever she had a free second. Even when she was pulled away by handlers or in the middle of talking on her cell phone, she came over to the fence and happily signed away. All the kids kept saying how nice she was and how they couldn’t believe how much she was into the fans.
No matter what, the experience was one part frustrating, one part deafening and one part exhilarating! Can’t wait to see the Disney Channel Games on TV this summer.
