Spectator Sports

Disney doesn't want to give the competition a sporting chance. In May 1997, it branched out with the multimillion-dollar Wide World of Sports Complex, a 200-acre facility. The Mouse hit a home run with a 7,500-seat baseball stadium -- dubbed Cracker Jack Stadium in 2002 -- that's the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves. In addition, there's a 5,000-seat field house featuring six basketball courts, a fitness center, and training rooms; major-league practice fields and pitching mounds; 4 softball fields; 12 tennis courts, including a 2,000-seat stadium center court; a track-and-field complex; a golf driving range; and more. The newest addition, the Hess Sports Fields, includes baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and football fields. A variety of events, from tennis tournaments to band competitions, have been held here since the center opened. For information about events taking place during your stay, call tel. 407/939-1500 or visit www.disneyworldsports.com.

So if you and your kids are sports nuts, you won't have to forgo your fix while in Orlando. Even taking the above into account, Disney isn't the only show in town.

Arena Football

The Orlando Predators play from February through mid-May. For the uninitiated, arena football is a wide-open sport played by eight-man teams on a much-abbreviated field. You don't necessarily need to know the rules to enjoy the up-close crunching and beer-fest atmosphere. The Predators have a loyal and rowdy following, not to mention a few championships under their belts. Sold-out games are common, but single tickets ($7-$85) are often available the day of the game at the Amway Arena, formerly the TD Waterhouse Centre. Call tel. 407/447-7337 or surf the Web to www.orlandopredators.com.

Baseball

The Atlanta Braves began spring training at Disney's Wide World of Sports in 1998. There are 18 games played during a 1-month season that begins in March. The smaller setting makes for a far more intimate experience for kids than a regular stadium game would, and the atmosphere is usually a lot more relaxed. Tickets are $14 to $23. For information, call tel. 407/828-3267. You can get tickets through Ticketmaster (tel. 407/839-3900).

Basketball

The 17,500-seat Amway Arena -- known in a prior life as the TD Waterhouse Centre -- is the home court of the NBA's Orlando Magic (tel. 407/896-2442; www.nba.com/magic), which plays 41 of its regular-season games here from October to April. To get there, take I-4 east to Exit 83B, Highway 50/U.S. 17/92 (Amelia St.), turn left at the traffic light at the bottom of the off-ramp, and follow the signs. Single-game tickets ($10-$115) can be hard to get. The team schedules special theme nights and promotions throughout the season, many of them family-related, and mascot Stuff (that really is his name) the Dragon is a hit with kids. For up-to-the-minute parking information, turn your car radio to 1620 AM. Onsite parking runs $8 (and can be prepaid), but spaces are limited.

The Multisports Experience

In 2002, Disney replaced its NFL Experience at the Wide World of Sports complex with an expanded multisports venue that not only lets you test your skills at football, but also at baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, and volleyball. Admission is $11 for adults and $8.25 for kids 3 to 9. It's open on select days. For information call tel. 407/939-1500.

If you're a true sports fan, your best bet is to write in advance for a package of information about the facilities and a calendar of events at Wide World of Sports. Write to Disney's Wide World of Sports, P.O. Box 10,000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000, or call tel. 407/939-1500.