Following Sunday’s Super Bowl LX, ESPN and Disney unveiled “We’re Going,” a high-energy, fast-paced, cameo-filled marketing campaign for ESPN’s inaugural Super Bowl, set for February 2027. The spot, which debuted on Good Morning America Monday, reimagines the “I’m Going to Disney World” Super Bowl tradition through a modern lens, bringing together more than 60 iconic characters from across the worlds of Disney, all in their familiar worlds and settings, united by a single destination: Super Bowl LXI.
Buzz Lightyear and Woody kick off the cascade of Disney appearances, setting the tone for a rapid-fire series of cameos that includes Darth Vader; Iron Man; Frozen’s Anna, Elsa, Sven, Olaf and Kristoff; Moana; Deadpool & Wolverine; Grogu; Stitch; The Muppets; Zootopia’s Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde; Bart Simpson; and R2 D2 and C-3PO, among many others. Maui from Moana appears in the final scene, transforming into an eagle as he joins Lightning McQueen and a host of Disney characters together on the road to Los Angeles.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman — who will call their seventh Super Bowl together in 2027 — are featured in their broadcast booth. ESPN’s Jason Kelce, and Peyton and Eli Manning also all make appearances.
The creative concept is more than 40 years in the making, drawing inspiration from the legendary “I’m going to Disney World” phrase famously declared by Super Bowl champions moments after winning America’s biggest game. The tradition began in 1987 when former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms first delivered the now iconic line after being named Super Bowl XXI Most Valuable Player. Over the ensuing decades, the phrase became a defining element of Super Bowl celebrations — and now serves as the creative foundation for ESPN’s first Super Bowl marketing campaign.
“Few phrases are as instantly recognizable in sports as ‘I’m going to Disney World,’” said Asad Ayaz, Chief Marketing and Brand Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “This campaign brings together the scale of ESPN, the global power of Disney’s brands and characters, and the excitement of the Super Bowl to create a shared moment that signals just how big this milestone is for our company and fans.”
Added Tina Thornton, Executive Vice President, Creative Studio and Marketing at ESPN: “‘We’re Going’ is just the beginning of a year-long adventure to our first Super Bowl. It sets the tone for how we’re approaching Super Bowl LXI — by bringing together the storytelling power of Disney with the scale, voice, and passion of ESPN. Together, it allows us to build momentum, create emotional connection, and bring fans with us every step of the way.”
In addition to the creative campaign, ESPN is currently airing a 24-hour, multi-platform event dubbed “The Handoff,” which began at SoFi Stadium — host of Super Bowl LXI — and continues today at Disneyland Park.
Together, “We’re Going” and “The Handoff” represent the opening chapter of ESPN’s broader Super Bowl initiative, with additional details to be announced in the coming days.
