New Things At The Pleasure Island Site...

[Snowy-girls]

Hi All,
I have just received this email and thought i would share it with you all,sorry if some of this has already been mentioned.x.

Walt Disney World Resort announced Friday that it will be completely "re-imagining" Downtown Disney, with new shopping, dining and other experiences, including a completely re-imagined Pleasure Island. Also planned are numerous enhancements to popular Downtown Disney locations, as well as additional theming and storytelling brought to life by Walt Disney Imagineers. Over the next year, the 120-acre entertainment-shopping-dining complex will add a number of one-of-a-kind, immersive experiences for guests. Downtown Disney will even get its own attraction, a giant, tethered balloon that will take guests 300 feet into the air to view the amazing vistas of Walt Disney World Resort. Other new experiences include:

-- In fall 2008, T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure, will open. The dinosaur-themed family eatery will serve up pizzas, pastas, seafood and more, and will feature life-size animated dinosaurs that dwell among bubbling geysers, waterfalls and a fossil dig site.


-- Also this fall, a design-your-own t-shirt store from Hanes will add to the growing collection of merchandise guests can personalize at Downtown Disney.


-- E-brands Restaurants, an Orlando-based, multi-concept restaurant group, will premier its newest concept at Downtown Disney in spring 2009. The high-energy, casual eatery will feature authentic Central and South American cuisine, specialty drinks and live music along the waterfront.


To make way for the new offerings, all of the clubs currently on Pleasure Island will close on September 27. Other locations on Pleasure Island, including Raglan Road, Fuego by Sosa Cigars, Curl by Sammy Duval, Orlando Harley-Davidson and outdoor food and beverage locations, will remain open during the transition.

[UKDEB]

Thanks, Michelle. :thumbsup2

Orlando Attractions magazine has some artist's impressions on its blog (http://www.attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=587).

[Deedee]

I hope they don't close the big disney store thats our last day blowout treat. We always go and blow any money we have left there :lmao:

[Snowy-girls]

Cheers for the link Deb :thumbsup2 .x.

[Red-Snapper]

I hope they don't close the big disney store thats our last day blowout treat. We always go and blow any money we have left there :lmao:

They are closing the clubs in Pleasure island - the store I think you mean is in Marketplace so is unaffected.

[luke]

The giant balloon sounds like DLRP's one, tho i'd be much more intersted in the views over florida than over DLRP :goodvibes

[AlanUK]

I like the Balloon idea :)

[wideeyes]

I think I have only seen that balloon at DLRP off the ground about twice in 4 trips, hope it is up more in Orlando.

[Pinky166]

I think I have only seen that balloon at DLRP off the ground about twice in 4 trips, hope it is up more in Orlando.

Really....when I was there two weeks ago it was up in the air everyday loads of times.

[wideeyes]

Really....when I was there two weeks ago it was up in the air everyday loads of times.

yeah, I have hardly ever seen it up.:confused3

[anthony2k7]

we've been up in the balloon on two of our three trips to dlrp. its quite cool - and great for photos, especially at night!

[natalielongstaff]

The balloon idea sounds like a good one :thumbsup2

[Goofysmate]

Balloon & t/shirt shop good idea :thumbsup2

[Minniespal]

Thanks Michelle:thumbsup2

[Strommie]

Some of the planned changes sound quite good.

[Belle68]

Thanks Michelle:thumbsup2 Interesting read, I for one am not sad to see PI go, I dont think the clubbing scene is disney. Looking forward to the design your own Tshirt shop:)

[Morgstar]

I am still not convinced.

I'm upset that Disney have decided to shut this area. Dont get me wrong, I see the arguements for closing the area. We have all read the reports of increased unsocial behaviour in the car park and I admit that this is not what we want to see. I just think that Disney could have done more to try and curb the problem before shutting it down.

Personally it is an area I enjoy a great deal. Although I like its position, I admit for family who are out late in the evening/night its position in between market place and west side is unfortunate. However it is ment to be 'an Island' and surley they could have invested some money and put a larger walkway across that 'corner' of the lake to take families a further distance form the fun.

I hope this isnt a sign of things to come. I have always been very quick to tell people that WDW is more than a place to take your child. I believe it is a place where there is something to entertain everyone from toddlers to teenagers, to twenty somethings right the way through to grand parents. Whilst i agree there is still a lot to entertain everyone at the moment, i hope that Disney arent going to give in to what certain people think the 'Disney style' is and be done with places that cater specifically for adults like PI, Jelly Roles etc. I would not be a happy chappy if that happened!:mad:

I'm not sure i buy that this is a financial decision either. If it was they surely wouldnt have shut all the clubs? You cant tell me the Adventurers club doesnt make a profit?

I for one will probably try City walk now which will mean a one/two night stay at a universal hotel (added benefit of the universal express pass) which will mean Disney lose business! I suspect a number of people will do the same. Dont get me wrong I doubt that the Disney balance sheet will be hit by this but I honestly believe they will be loosing a niche in the market that they had. Opinions?

[matty624]

I am still not convinced.

I'm upset that Disney have decided to shut this area. Dont get me wrong, I see the arguements for closing the area. We have all read the reports of increased unsocial behaviour in the car park and I admit that this is not what we want to see. I just think that Disney could have done more to try and curb the problem before shutting it down.

Personally it is an area I enjoy a great deal. Although I like its position, I admit for family who are out late in the evening/night its position in between market place and west side is unfortunate. However it is ment to be 'an Island' and surley they could have invested some money and put a larger walkway across that 'corner' of the lake to take families a further distance form the fun.

I hope this isnt a sign of things to come. I have always been very quick to tell people that WDW is more than a place to take your child. I believe it is a place where there is something to entertain everyone from toddlers to teenagers, to twenty somethings right the way through to grand parents. Whilst i agree there is still a lot to entertain everyone at the moment, i hope that Disney arent going to give in to what certain people think the 'Disney style' is and be done with places that cater specfically for adults like Jelly Roles. I would not be a happy chappy if that happened!:mad:

I'm not sure i buy that this is a financial decision as if it was they surely wouldnt have shut all the clubs? You cant tell me the Adventurers club doesnt make a profit?

I for one will probably try City walk now which will mean a one/two night stay at a universal hotel (added benefit of the universal express pass) which will mean Disney lose business! I suspect a number of people will do the same. Dont get me wrong I doubt that the Disney balance sheet will be hit by this but I honestly believe they wil be loosing a niche in the market that they had. Opinions?
I agree with you. We'd not been much in recent years due to the kids, but anywhere which takes youths/young adults who want to party away from me and my family cant be a bad thing!;)
Have to admit, the only place i've ever felt slightly unsafe in Orlando is the parking lot near PI, but only the once...
Ah well, lets hope we do all really need more shops and places to eat!!!!
Matt