So What's Coming to the New Pleasure Island?

[rpmdfw]

please know a tremendous amount
of thought went into the decision to bring the bold new vision for
Downtown Disney to life. Taking the Downtown Disney experience to the
next level is consistent with our commitment to provide our Guests with
new, exciting and one-of-a-kind experiences.

Their commitment to provide guests with one-of-a-kind experiences?!?!?!?


BULLSPIT!

They CLOSED the one-of-a-kind experiences! There is NOTHING in the whole world like the Adventurers Club! Comedy Warehouse, while not completely unique, is still not terribly common. And 8-Trax and Mannequins were first of their kind, not common places as well!

They don't give a good goshdarn about providing "one-of-a-kind" experiences. They don't care about guest experience AT ALL any more. All they care about is the bottom line.

And frankly, I hope that attitude comes back to bite them right on their . . . bottom line.

 

[zulemara]

Their commitment to provide guests with one-of-a-kind experiences?!?!?!?


BULLSPIT!

They CLOSED the one-of-a-kind experiences! There is NOTHING in the whole world like the Adventurers Club! Comedy Warehouse, while not completely unique, is still not terribly common. And 8-Trax and Mannequins were first of their kind, not common places as well!

They don't give a good goshdarn about providing "one-of-a-kind" experiences. They don't care about guest experience AT ALL any more. All they care about is the bottom line.

And frankly, I hope that attitude comes back to bite them right on their . . . bottom line.

I love your passion...I really do. Amen to that, I hope it bites them right in their bottom line.

 

[mitros]

I love your passion...I really do. Amen to that, I hope it bites them right in their bottom line.

Nothing seems to be biting them on their bottom line. Folks continue to flock to WDW in record numbers......bad economy? I wonder. And whether it's us Americans or, because of the economy, foreigners {no offense, I must remain politically correct} but the crowds continue to grow.

 

[angelmav]

Not necessarily, the stock is worth about $10 less a share today than when they opened the AC. Not linking the two, but it seems as if a whole bunch of poor decisions are coming back to bite their bottom line.

 

[zulemara]

Nothing seems to be biting them on their bottom line. Folks continue to flock to WDW in record numbers......bad economy? I wonder. And whether it's us Americans or, because of the economy, foreigners {no offense, I must remain politically correct} but the crowds continue to grow.

it's the foreigners keeping WDW afloat right now.

And yes, low stock price...I should buy some so I have an even bigger reason to...complain...for lack of a better word

 

[rpmdfw]

Nothing seems to be biting them on their bottom line. Folks continue to flock to WDW in record numbers......bad economy? I wonder. And whether it's us Americans or, because of the economy, foreigners {no offense, I must remain politically correct} but the crowds continue to grow.

Crowds growing at all of WDW isn't the same as Downtown Disney's bottom line suffering from the closure of Pleasure Island Clubs.

It is possible for me to want Disney World to do well, while hoping that their "Bold New Vision" for Pleasure Island fails miserably. And I REALLY hope it tanks in as spectacular a way as possible.

Sadly, the decisions made at Pleasure Island are also indicative of trends across the theme parks as well. They're thinking too short-term. Cuts are happening everywhere which means a diminished guest expereince, and prices are being raised nonetheless. Yes, the crowds are growing, but how many of them will come BACK. That's the true test. Quality guest experience used to bring people back, slashing the unique quest expereince and turing the resort into a glorified mall and food court with some attractions thrown in, isn't going to encourage as many people to return year after year.

 

[doconeill]

Nothing seems to be biting them on their bottom line. Folks continue to flock to WDW in record numbers......bad economy? I wonder. And whether it's us Americans or, because of the economy, foreigners {no offense, I must remain politically correct} but the crowds continue to grow.

Part of it is probably foreign visitors (although they seem to not be immune to the downturn as of late), but I think Disney is likely to feel a delayed effect. People have already likely paid for their vacations. What would be interesting to see what the booking rates are 3 to 6 months out over last year.

 

[djlexus]

I have scaled back my trips. I used to go every weekend. I would go to the park during the day and then pi at night. I feel a lot of the locals do this now there taking that business to uso. I think disney just lost there local edge. I have to admit it was great having pi even if i got to the parks late at lets say 7 or 8 I knew i still had something i could do at night. Now with nothing to do i dont wanna go for an hour or so and then have to leave. What a waste. So yea i can personally admit that Pi closing has affected my amount of going to Disney tremendously. Im sure a lot of the locals will agree with me.

 

[TDC Nala]

Not sure what it means about scaling back but while I had 18 separate trips to Walt Disney World this year, next year I am planning for only six. Four of those are around dining events. One is just to use up some DVC points. One is because I promised my nephew he could go to a Star Wars weekend. None of them are really because I want to go do stuff in the parks myself.

Okay, from sheer numbers that isn't much of a cutback. But it is a cutback. Don't know how much of a bite I'll get at the Walt Disney World bottom line...but I do know it's not just me.

Rob said we were getting a "glorified mall and food court" but as far as the general food offerings go it's not even glorified.

 

[Scurvy]

I'm scaling back as well. I was supposed to be at WDW this week for a family vacation and then back there again for an adults only trip at the end of the month. Once they announced the closure of PI we decided not to renew our passes, so we're at the beach right now instead. We aren't going at the end of the month, either. We usually go once in December and once in March and we won't be taking those trips either. The next time we'll be at WDW will probably be May, and that's a school trip for our son.

While I'm sure we will end up traveling to Orlando often in the future, I'm not in any rush to get back to Disney World. I foresee my family spending far more time doing other things in the Orlando area, though we will probably spend some time in the Disney parks on some of our trips. Until now we spent almost every minute while we were in Orlando on Disney property but that definitely won't be the case any longer.

 

[AdventurerKat]

Nothing seems to be biting them on their bottom line. Folks continue to flock to WDW in record numbers......bad economy? I wonder. And whether it's us Americans or, because of the economy, foreigners {no offense, I must remain politically correct} but the crowds continue to grow.

If Disney's bottom line isn't being hurt by the current economic situation, why offer additional free dining dates to Disney Visa holders? I don't think they were doing it to be nice. Disney's going to take a pretty good hit in 2009, just like the rest of the tourism industry. Maybe not as hard as it is overall, but they aren't immune.

And now they've just alienated a large portion of the group that helped keep them going through the "slow seasons" - the locals. While PI was a a fun night out destination for vacationers, it was a section of "local clubs" for those in the Orlando area. Those people would come out and dine and shop at Disney before going to the clubs. Now that those clubs aren't there to go to, many of them won't be there to dine and shop. I'd think collectively losing that group is going to hit their bottom line some.

 

[rpmdfw]

If Disney's bottom line isn't being hurt by the current economic situation, why offer additional free dining dates to Disney Visa holders? I don't think they were doing it to be nice. Disney's going to take a pretty good hit in 2009, just like the rest of the tourism industry. Maybe not as hard as it is overall, but they aren't immune.

And now they've just alienated a large portion of the group that helped keep them going through the "slow seasons" - the locals. While PI was a a fun night out destination for vacationers, it was a section of "local clubs" for those in the Orlando area. Those people would come out and dine and shop at Disney before going to the clubs. Now that those clubs aren't there to go to, many of them won't be there to dine and shop. I'd think collectively losing that group is going to hit their bottom line some.

I know that Downtown Disney won't see the $12K a year we spent there. Of that $10K a year was just for drinks at the Adventurers Club.

Scott and I went 2 or 3 nights a week, always ordered doubles, always drank premium liquor, and always tipped well. And we frequently ate and/or shopped at DTD before hitting the club.

We also went to see movies exclusively at the Pleasure Island AMC theaters, even though there are two other AMC theaters locations more convienient to our home (one of which is CityWalk). We did that, because we enjoyed stopping at the club for a drink afterward on many occasions. Now, there's no reason to do that either, so DTD is losing our movie-going business as well.

I think a lot of other locals are in a similar situation as we are. At least the ones I know and talk to.

 

[Luv2Roam]

While PI was a a fun night out destination for vacationers, it was a section of "local clubs" for those in the Orlando area. Those people would come out and dine and shop at Disney before going to the clubs. Now that those clubs aren't there to go to, many of them won't be there to dine and shop.

Absolutely. That was us.
And our changes began as soon as the day after. (Four adults going back to their rooms for the evening instead, since there was no PI.)
Last weekend I cancelled our ADR at an Epcot restaurant since again we normally would have dinner and head to CW. Figured wasn't worth the gas or time just for dinner only.
We plan to go to DQ a few times before the end of this year. But other than that we have no reason to go to DTD.
Certainly the close of PI will save us considerable time and money. That is the upside.

 

[jfinke]

That is the attitude I am going to be taking when we go down in Feb.

Nighttime will consist of a cocktail that I purchased offsite sitting in my DVC balcony. We used to buy the plus/water parks and more/whatever they are calling it package for our tickets. I informed WDW they already lost that money from me. Insignificant to them I am sure, but I am saving money.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Well 2 weekends have come and gone now and no money of mine has gone to Disney since PI closed. But Downtown Orlando and CityWalk got my business the first weekend and CityWalk got my business the second weekend. At this juncture I don't see spending any money on Disney property over the coming year except maybe a visit or two to see the Earl. (of Sandwich)

BobK/Orlando

 

[Jason71]

Stopped by the former PI last night--about a dozen former AC regulars were there to show support for one of the bartenders who is now pulling shifts at Laffers Cantina.

There's a musician playing "smooth jazz" outside the AC--didn't draw much of a crowd, tho a nice guy. The guy by Wetzels, with his "diggery-doo," did draw a HUGE crowd.

A steady stream of people making their way through PI, but probably fewer than 1 in 6 was actually carrying a shopping bag. The old Jungle Juice stand, now selling slushees and popcorn, closed by 10 due to lack of business. Laffers got slightly bit more business, but there was never a line and long gaps between customers, nowhere near as busy as it used to be. Guess not as many people like to drink while window-shopping as the suits imagined.

In the course of an hour, I saw four groups walk up to the AC and peer in, trying to see if it was open. Also saw occasional groups of 20-somethings in club attire clearly thinking they were on their way to dance somewhere. In fairness, some signage is down, but the neon "Pleasure Island" signs are still up.

Orange County deputies still have a strong presence at DTD--guess they didn't get the memo from various DISers that with PI closing, the criminal element has left.

As I think has been mentioned, construction walls have gone up around the old Missing Link building. Word from the WDW groundlings is that, in addition to featuring a tequila bar, the new Central American restaurant will also turn into a dance club later in the evening--basically making it a rip-off of Samba Room, not another family-friendly Chuck E. Cheese rip-off. Afraid the brand monkeys might choke on thier KoolAid if they ever go in there.

All in all, pretty dead. I can't imagine it's making more money than it did as PI. Spin aside, how do you not make money with a $25 cover and $10 drinks?!?

 

[*NikkiBell*]

How late are the buses go to and from DTD now that PI is closing?

 

[TDC Nala]

How late are the buses go to and from DTD now that PI is closing?

Was told they now run until 1 AM. Not sure if that is absolute truth or not.

Whaaaat? They're going to open a DANCE CLUB? Didn't they get that memo about the family-friendly thing?

 

[Luv2Roam]

Cigars, a Harley Shop, alcohol and dancing. Just smacks one in the face with family friendly.

 

[asianway]

how do you not make money with a $25 cover and $10 drinks?!?

My question would be, how many people actually paid the cover charge? Between CM's, PI Annual passes, and Premium AP's, I would be interested to know how much money actually flowed to the Adventurers Club financial statement. Also, how did they account for a 6 club admission? Split 6 ways? Assign the revenue to the Club where the ticket was activated? And as for CM's, does the Club get a credit that then gets charged to some type of employee benefit pool?

I personally think that creative accounting could have either saved the club or did it in.