So What's Coming to the New Pleasure Island?

[vonpluto]

Congaloosh Day 2 briefing...

Jim Krokis spoke on the histories of PI, both actual (how it was created) and fictional (Merriweather Adam Pleasure's back story). Interesting tidbits:

1. Was originally going to be 3x the size.
2. Originally there was to be an AC restaurant next door--however, Micheal Eisner went down to Church St. Station, saw the line out the door for Chyenne Salloon, and the restaurant quickly became the Neon Armadillo.
3. Original plan for the AC was 3 "cycles" a night. Begin upstairs, go into the Salon for around 45 minutes (during which, seemingly randomly, there would be a Colonel presentation, a Babs presentation, and Mask Room and Treasure Room shows, then into the Library for one of 3 different shows before being dumped outside.
4. Mr. Krokis basically admitted that with 27 plaques, on black background so hard to read at night, it was pretty much impossible to follow the M.A Pleasure back story. But wow, the level of detail the imagineers came up with is just amazing.
5. Showed off concept art sketches for what became Hathaway and Otis, as well as the original logo Joe Rohde scribbled on a napkin
6. [Speaking of Mr. Rohde, apparently he refuses to talk about PI now, saying he only wants to be remembered for AK. Which I think is a shame. To me, AK remains a fascinating failure, while the AC is the pinnacle of Imagineering achievement.]
7. Mr. Krokis said the AC restaurant in Hong Kong will use the name and artifacts from the AC, but knows nothing else about it. He did seem very excited about Mystic Manor.

There was video, definitely worth finding when it is inevitably posted online.

Much of this info is contained in Wade Sampson's PI articles over at MPlanet. I wonder if Korkis and Sampson share sources?

Interesting about Rhode, I wonder if he refuses to discuss PI because he knows what is going to happen.

BTW, just speculation on my part, but I imagine the foot path going between Portabello and Raglan. There's actually a decent-sized gap there, and it would be a straight shot if you removed the stage area where Nova Era plays. This isn't a tip from anyone, just based on observation.

What?!?! You suggest removing the bandstand from Lilly Plaza! Built by Merriweather for Isabella,and where the Pleasure Island Philharmonic Concert Band first performed a piece Mrs. Pleasure commissioned, the haunting “Fugue for Triangle, Piccolo and Steampowered Riverboat Whistle.”
Shame! Shame!

 

[zulemara]

What?!?! You suggest removing the bandstand from Lilly Plaza! Built by Merriweather for Isabella,and where the Pleasure Island Philharmonic Concert Band first performed a piece Mrs. Pleasure commissioned, the haunting “Fugue for Triangle, Piccolo and Steampowered Riverboat Whistle.”
Shame! Shame!

You assume that they give a damn about anything related to Pleasure Island

 

[Jason71]

Word from two different sources is they've already started gutting the Adventurers Club, were pulling artifacts out this weekend.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Word from two different sources is they've already started gutting the Adventurers Club, were pulling artifacts out this weekend.

What a sorry state of affairs!

BobK/Orlando

 

[mitros]

Uh-oh. So, is that it now?..................
Do we have to say goodbye to PI now for sure?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I do believe it's the end of the club in it's current form.
Call me an eternal optimist, but I also believe the club in some form is not gone forever. Perhaps a new locale? A major refurb? Expansion??
Whatever the case may be, I just don't believe they are throwing the entire thing away. To a point, the Hong Kong project suports that belief.

MG

 

[Charlesaway]

We walked across PI on Saturday morning, and there was a survey crew out. One of the pieces of equipment (theodolite?) on a tripod was up at the top of the hill outside of Curl, near the Laffers drink booth. The guy surveying was way down by the Harley Store, but once we walked down (I tried to see the company name on his shirt, but no luck; did take some pictures though) he was working with someone else with what looked like a handheld mirror or something on a stick along the Paradisio 37 stairway.

Any ideas what they may have been doing?

 

[KYMickey]

We walked across PI on Saturday morning, and there was a survey crew out. One of the pieces of equipment (theodolite?) on a tripod was up at the top of the hill outside of Curl, near the Laffers drink booth. The guy surveying was way down by the Harley Store, but once we walked down (I tried to see the company name on his shirt, but no luck; did take some pictures though) he was working with someone else with what looked like a handheld mirror or something on a stick along the Paradisio 37 stairway.

Any ideas what they may have been doing?

Based on your description I would venture to say it was a Laser Transit with a GPS interface. The device with the mirror is the target for the laser. They are extremely accurate and automatically store the information collected. The information can be downloaded from an AutoCAD file automatically after returning to the office.

 

[zulemara]

Word from two different sources is they've already started gutting the Adventurers Club, were pulling artifacts out this weekend.

That doesn't surprise me. I have my eye on Motion too. There has been some movement to suggest they might be about to rip it apart, but I'll wait till lights are disappearing before I report it

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Does anybody know if the revolving dance floor is still inside Mannequins or whether it's been removed? I've been involved in an interesting discussion with people who insist it was removed and sold to a nightclub in Boston and others who insist its still in Mannequins.

BobK/Orlando

 

[TheBeadPirate]

... we watched the dragon boat races and wanted to try Paridso 37.

Food was OK to Good (Beer was nice and cold however). It is so depressing to see so much of the place shuttered. You still see the occasional visitor trying to look in the doors and see whats going on at the A/C

Traffic was very low for a beautiful Saturday afternoon (winter has arrived, at least for today)... Paridso was never more than 1/2 full and you kind of wonder how long for the business that are on the island proper can carry on with this kind of support ...

The boat races were fun to watch but I still left with that knot in my stomach that I get on the rare occasion I return to PI nowdays... lesson learned "appreciate what you have when you have it"

 

[Luv2Roam]

Agree, it is just too depressing to be around DTD. And really not much point or draw for us any more.
Last week I saw a few CW wall items for sale. I recall two large drums. One with the red/white spiral. In pretty beat up shape. But consider they are old by now. Surprised I have not seen more and sooner. Although I am not at that location often.

 

[zulemara]

Agree, it is just too depressing to be around DTD. And really not much point or draw for us any more.
Last week I saw a few CW wall items for sale. I recall two large drums. One with the red/white spiral. In pretty beat up shape. But consider they are old by now. Surprised I have not seen more and sooner. Although I am not at that location often.

the stuff literally trickles out from PI. I mean they tore apart mannequins immediately following the closing and the mannequin that came down from the celing didn't get put to property control until June

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Traffic was very low for a beautiful Saturday afternoon (winter has arrived, at least for today)... Paridso was never more than 1/2 full and you kind of wonder how long for the business that are on the island proper can carry on with this kind of support ...

Interestingly, T-REX/Rain Forest Cafe ran an advertisement in this past Friday's Orlando Sentinel Calendar section that included a $10 OFF coupon (on $25 or more purchase) valid through December 31st. That's the first time I've ever seen them run an ad, let alone one with an up to 40% off deal.

THAT's how slow it is out there.
Meanwhile, CityWalk clubs and restaurants were packed last night. OPD was out in full force directing traffic at 2am as Halloween Horror Nights and night club throngs departed simultaneously.

BobK/Orlando

 

[zulemara]

Interestingly, T-REX/Rain Forest Cafe ran an advertisement in this past Friday's Orlando Sentinel Calendar section that included a $10 OFF coupon (on $25 or more purchase) valid through December 31st. That's the first time I've ever seen them run an ad, let alone one with an up to 40% off deal.

THAT's how slow it is out there.
Meanwhile, CityWalk clubs and restaurants were packed last night. OPD was out in full force directing traffic at 2am as Halloween Horror Nights and night club throngs departed simultaneously.

BobK/Orlando

Haven't you heard? The demographics are changing! People are getting older and want to be back in their rooms at 10pm now. (quote from Lee Cockrell on the DIS podcast cruise btw)

All those people spending money in a bad economy...that's just the wrong element that we don't want here at Downtown Disney. We prefer cheesy dance parties, empty buildings, and an increase in prices across the board to keep that wrong element away.

 

[wezee]

Haven't you heard? The demographics are changing! People are getting older and want to be back in their rooms at 10pm now. (quote from Lee Cockrell on the DIS podcast cruise btw)

All those people spending money in a bad economy...that's just the wrong element that we don't want here at Downtown Disney. We prefer cheesy dance parties, empty buildings, and an increase in prices across the board to keep that wrong element away.

Whoa wait a minute...DH and I are 50+ yrs old and definantly do not want to be back in our room by 10:00pm. How do I get ahold of this Lee Cockrell guy and tell him he is nuts????

 

[Luv2Roam]

Lee retired a few years ago. Although he has always been well respected.
Just a shame he can be so wrong. Just sounds like a spin excuse to me.
DH and I are 50+ and no PI keeps us from not staying on site as often as we use to because there really isn't much to do with Disney after dark that is unique. I mean, we love Disney. But we can go to parks during the day. And I know we are not the only ones who feel the same.
But they made their decision, and it saves me a lot of $.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

According to Disney advertising, there is tons of nightlife at Downtown Disney:

* Cirque (at just $70 per person)
* Cigar Bar (smoke 'em if you got 'em)
* Dance an Irish jig at Raglan Road (always high on the list)
* A little Salsa at Bongos (ok, this might be decent)

So who needs Pleasure Island when you got these kind of options!

BobK/Orlando

 

[ConcKahuna]

According to Disney advertising, there is tons of nightlife at Downtown Disney:

* Cirque (at just $70 per person)
* Cigar Bar (smoke 'em if you got 'em)
* Dance an Irish jig at Raglan Road (always high on the list)
* A little Salsa at Bongos (ok, this might be decent)

So who needs Pleasure Island when you got these kind of options!

BobK/Orlando

Bongo's can be decent some nights, but unfortunatly the only real nightlife at DTD any more is House of Blues

 

[Kelly B Disney]

I am sooo disappointed at what downtown disney has become...which is totally outdated and lame except for the restaurants. Marketplace is of course better for shopping but still no adult nightlife there. My favorite place ever was Pleasure Island. I love Disney and my kids but love to go out and dance and have adult fun at night on vacation! I went down there on every disney trip to dance (used the baby sitting services or the kids clubs on property)! Pleasure Island with the band, the dj's , the clubs and the New years eve show... was a great part of my Disney trips. I Even brought my teens when they got older and had a blast at 8 trax dancing !

I was at Disney in June, July and Aug this summer and am going next weekend. There is no place to go at night that has any atmosphere and fun. The Boardwalk Atlantic Dance was a bust this summer even on Sat-- except for the DJ's 2 dancers that were the only ones on the floor. Jelly Rolls is ok at times but they were charging a $10 cover when I was there!!!! I refused to pay it and went back to my room with nothing to do. Someone needs to re-open Pleasure Island . I almost feel like I should re-think getting my annual pass next year and go back to cruising ... Wake -Up Disney!