So What's Coming to the New Pleasure Island?

[Luv2Roam]

I never even thought of that. Could be I misspelling and it's Sombo. Maybe Somba.
SAMBA!! I will correct my post. Sorry! (Obvious I am not into dancing... )

 

[Luv2Roam]

Saturday night we were at AC at the 6 p.m. opening.
We stayed and then went to CR to watch the pyrotechnics display. Did not make it back to PI just after 10:30, and timed it perfect to get in CW.
Afterwards had no issues at all getting back into AC, where we stayed to the end.
Friends arrived at PI just less than a half hour ago and confirmed there is no handicap entrance on the lower level at CW. And the line to AC was incredibly long. (But consider the club had not yet opened, and was right before opening at 8:00.)
Should be an interesting night to see how the crowds are, even for mid week.

 

[zulemara]

I sent an email to just about every exec that could be involved in this decision. I know it does no good, but it makes me feel better.

Universal looks better every day....

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Mannequins on Thursday night was the most crowded I have EVER seen it. Around midnight the dance floor stopped revolving; don't know if it broke from the sheer weight of everyone on it or if they simply stopped it so that it wouldn't break. Entry is on the near side of the building and requires climbing the side stairs up to the second floor. Haven't seen that in 10 years. Re-entry is the same line. Capacity was reached around midnight and no one else could go in until people left.

Hip Kitty was looking good! Quite a few people standing around listening plus those in line for Mannequins got to listen during the wait.

PI closing getting media attention locally on the various newcasts.

2 nights to go. Such a shame!

BobK/Orlando

 

[JudithM]

I sent an email to just about every exec that could be involved in this decision. I know it does no good, but it makes me feel better.

I talked to many CMs over the last few nights of PI being open. A few CMs mentioned Disney management is waiting to read feedback from guests. The CMs said Disney management knows there is a lot online, but they want to see who will actually take the time to write a letter. Who knows?

 

[asianway]

In the largest twist of irony yet to date in this tale, as of this afternoon, there is now a merchandise cart set up outside in front of the Adventurers Club library stairs. I still cant believe my eyes....

 

[zulemara]

I talked to many CMs over the last few nights of PI being open. A few CMs mentioned Disney management is waiting to read feedback from guests. The CMs said Disney management knows there is a lot online, but they want to see who will actually take the time to write a letter. Who knows?

I still plan on sending out a snail mail letter to everyone I possibly can. I just didn't get time to do it(pathetic, I know)

I didn't know about the merchandise cart, but I know they slopped paint on 8-trax and took down the illuminated signs outside mannequins by Sunday afternoon. They also have purchased the black things to put in the windows and those are expensive. There isn't going to be any announcement on the future of the place until January. Why let it be empty for all that time That's the question.

There was a PI CM "party" to "celebrate" PI and Kevin Lansberry(the exec largely responsible for the decision) was there. He was also on the island the last night. They are extremely tight lipped about exactly what will be replacing it. Who knows, maybe it's all a huge marketing/publicity stunt. Maybe they'll outsource it all and reopen it as PI V2.0 Wishful thinking, but what else could they possibly be doing that's so "new and exciting"

 

[asianway]

They removed the light boxes in front of Mannequins as well as the awning, but not the frame for the awning. Very bad show, it looks like looters went through.

 

[Jason71]

In the largest twist of irony yet to date in this tale, as of this afternoon, there is now a merchandise cart set up outside in front of the Adventurers Club library stairs. I still cant believe my eyes....

Curiosity gets the best of me...what type of merchandise?

 

[jfinke]

Curiosity gets the best of me...what type of merchandise?

Probably selling AC cups or tshirts.

 

[doconeill]

Curiosity gets the best of me...what type of merchandise?

I would guess clearance-errrr, "collectors items"

If it is still there this weekend, I'm picking up some stuff...

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Heard a rumor from a different source today that a replacement for Pleasure Island is definitely coming next year and it will be way bigger than what was left behind. It's been purposely not announced in order to maximize the revenue generated from everyone coming to the closing of the original PI.

Like one rumor after another on here, can't say how valid it will turn out. But wouldn't it be cool if CM's advising patrons to write more letters was a ploy? Then suddenly Mickey announces that "guest feedback" tells us there is a need for evening entertainment for adults and therefore we're going to open a new PI called Island of Pleasure. And it will open right after the AC characters return from their 1-yr yacht cruise. Hmmm. Bits and pieces could fit here.

I wish, I wish, I wish!

BobK/Orlando

 

[Luv2Roam]

I have heard an Island of Pleasure rumor, and thought it had even been mentioned on a post on this board.
What I heard was it would be near WDW, but not Disney, who would have no ties to it.
I just took it for what's worth until something concrete came up. Much of the rumors I have heard turned out to be false or what I consider wishful thinking

 

[jfinke]

I wish, I wish, I wish!

BobK/Orlando

When you wish upon a star...

 

[zulemara]

Heard a rumor from a different source today that a replacement for Pleasure Island is definitely coming next year and it will be way bigger than what was left behind. It's been purposely not announced in order to maximize the revenue generated from everyone coming to the closing of the original PI.

Like one rumor after another on here, can't say how valid it will turn out. But wouldn't it be cool if CM's advising patrons to write more letters was a ploy? Then suddenly Mickey announces that "guest feedback" tells us there is a need for evening entertainment for adults and therefore we're going to open a new PI called Island of Pleasure. And it will open right after the AC characters return from their 1-yr yacht cruise. Hmmm. Bits and pieces could fit here.

I wish, I wish, I wish!

BobK/Orlando

This is...honestly...the ONLY thing that seems to make sense to the way they did things. They closed all the clubs at once when they could have phased things out, they haven't announced what is actually going in the clubs, and the AC storyline might be offering a clue. The only thing that doesn't make sense is all the staff, specifically entertainers, that they are letting go. Of course they are probably confident they can either re-hire them or simply find new people. It could be a HUGE marketing stunt to bring PI back in another form.

As far as the "off property" idea, that stems from flamingo crossings. I spoke to someone who knows one of the planning people for flamingo crossings and he said no night time entertainment is going there.

only time will tell. I sure hope they make this wrong a right. It is often true that Disney doesn't make a decision without calculating every aspect. Hopefully they are looking to give PI a rebirth and make it rise to the top of night time entertainment.

 

[Scurvy]

I have a theory. I think that Disney killed PI to try to do damage control because of the bad reputation the area had gotten. I think the reputation was completely unwarranted and there wasn't much they could do to combat it, so they killed it all off to make a clean new start.

I firmly believe that the concept of the Adventurers Club will be back someday, and I find it hard to believe they would not also bring back at least one dance club.

As for all the people that were let go - I know that most (though not all) of the "fan favorites" at the Adventurers Club have been given other positions within Disney World. So were most of the bartenders and servers, apparently. Maybe this is in part to keep them on hand for the time when they choose to reopen the Adventurers Club and other nighttime entertainment.

And maybe I am in denial, but I am taking the "Adventuring for a year" thing as a reason to hope that the Adventurers Club will return at some point. It's too popular a concept to be abandoned completely!

 

[Luv2Roam]

I know not all the players have found other positions. And one even told me he was moving out of state.
I don't get the bad reputation. I think many assume alcohol = bad behavior. If that is the case, watch out Epcot!
If there has been a place of concern in DTD IMO it is the AMC theatre. Sady, it seems like movie theatres equate to unwanted issues.
If there were PI issues, I think they arose from allowing anyone and everyone on PI at any time. At least recent we saw minors without an adult were turned away.
This is something they should have considered when opening it up for all.
Week nights esp PI was slow. Even in Saturday we use to attend the first CW show where the place was maybe 1/3 full. I can see if attendance was going down. But you would have thought they would have considered WHY was it down?
I recall when the west side stage was removed. Anyone else remember the news was there would be bands playing on the lower level behind CW in an open stadium like seating? And notice that area has only been used as a passage for CMs to walk from back stage to on stage.
PI suffered from:
* allowing anyone in the clubs w/o setting an age limit.
* dismantling the stage with no replacement
* no food sales, either in or out of the clubs
* empty store fronts, and not just for awhile -- for several months and empty even to this day.
* no PI or club souvenirs to buy
* no advertisement of any club

And that's what I think of just of the top of my head. These are so blantant you can't come up with anything but intentional doom. It was made a sitting duck.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I have a theory. I think that Disney killed PI to try to do damage control because of the bad reputation the area had gotten. I think the reputation was completely unwarranted and there wasn't much they could do to combat it, so they killed it all off to make a clean new start.

I firmly believe that the concept of the Adventurers Club will be back someday, and I find it hard to believe they would not also bring back at least one dance club.

As for all the people that were let go - I know that most (though not all) of the "fan favorites" at the Adventurers Club have been given other positions within Disney World. So were most of the bartenders and servers, apparently. Maybe this is in part to keep them on hand for the time when they choose to reopen the Adventurers Club and other nighttime entertainment.

And maybe I am in denial, but I am taking the "Adventuring for a year" thing as a reason to hope that the Adventurers Club will return at some point. It's too popular a concept to be abandoned completely!

I'm buying your theory 100%..
I just hope we're right!!

MG

 

[asianway]

The cart had generic WDW Tshirts, thermal mugs and Mickey plush.

It must be the new shopping option they were talking about

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Notice when I posted my new rumor above earlier today, I underlined the word "definitely".

But if this was really definitely, could they build something like a PI and supposedly bigger than a PI......in a year?

Could they keep something like that a secret? Keep in mind that DVC timeshares at Contemporary were hardly Disney's best kept secret! The cat was out of the bag on that due to county permits. A large project couldn't be hidden.

Consider this though. The prior mention of this rumor referred to Osceola County. Does anyone know if the county has a later closing time than Orange? Certainly Disney as it's own cities could have closed bars whenever they wanted. But the reality in Orange County is that liquor sales end at 2am.....everywhere. The last holdout was Eatonville and there was huge pressure to get the license revoked of the hold out club that felt they were grandfathered in. Putting something like this over the border in Osceola might be a way to politically allow a later closing time if Osceola allows such a thing.....and I don't know because I've never hung out down there.

BobK/Orlando