So What's Coming to the New Pleasure Island?

[disrailfan]

WOW, this thread is back! Thought it got lost.

Nothing new at Pleasure Island regarding to the clubs. Motion and Rock'n'Roll Beach club were demolished one year ago but since then all other demolitions that were planned (Adventurers Club & BET Soundstage) have been put on indefinite hold as has the entire Hyperion Wharf concept.

The latest news and rumors can be found on my non-commercial blog located at: http://www.savepleasureisland.blogspot.com

Disney is making an announcement on NYE during Dick Clark's show on ABC. While we hoped it would be about PI, apparently it's about the Magic Kingdom being open for 24-hours on Leap Year Day, 2/29/11.

BobK/Orlando

Is that all the announcement for NYE is going to be? Really thought they were going to roll out the new Premium Resort packages where they allow you to pick your ride times before you leave your resort room.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Is that all the announcement for NYE is going to be? Really thought they were going to roll out the new Premium Resort packages where they allow you to pick your ride times before you leave your resort room.

Well stay tuned; we're not really sure what it's going to be about!

BobK/Orlando

 

[Luv2Roam]

http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog...first-comedy-warehouse-holiday-special-shows/

And special it was!!!

 

[Disneyman_10]

Lol, today disney tweeted a from te past photo of PI. Got people on twitter all ticked off

 

[doconeill]

Lol, today disney tweeted a from te past photo of PI. Got people on twitter all ticked off

When the Disney Insider emails actually contained interesting info, one of their questions was "What is celebrated every night on Pleasure Island?", and the answer when you went to the site was, "New Years Eve". Except that it was about two years after they closed all the clubs, never mind stopped the whole NYE thing. I sent email calling them out on it...actually got a phone call back...

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

My latest article in the SPI Blog tells about why there isn't going to be a PI 2.0 out at Flamingo Crossings......but there will be a Walgreens!

http://www.savepleasureisland.blogspot.com/2012/01/flamingo-crossings-update.html

Seems like that would have been a good location to allow more nightlife for Disney guests without interfering with shoppers and diners at DTD.

BobK/Orlando

 

[skier_pete]

I've said this before - but can't help thinking it again. And I'm going to ignore my AC fan-dom, and state that the below statement is in complete disregard of the return of AC.

I think Disney is Crazy-Stupid to not have a night-time entertainment district. There is no way that it makes any sense for them to miss out on the market that they would get. Yes, it's not going to be a "full family" experience, but they are leaving guest dollars in their pockets by not collecting that portion of their entertainment dolar. I just can't conceive how stupid they are regarding this. You can't tell me that there wasn't a period of time when PI wasn't very profitable. If this WASN'T profitable than UNIVERSAL would get out of the business too. I can't believe it is all about "family image" or something. I know putting PI in the middle of Marketplace and Westside is what doomed it (or more correctly, putting Westside across PI from Marketplace), but c'mon! Cover charges and alcohol = east profits.

Sorry, off my soapbox.

 

[doconeill]

I've said this before - but can't help thinking it again. And I'm going to ignore my AC fan-dom, and state that the below statement is in complete disregard of the return of AC.

I think Disney is Crazy-Stupid to not have a night-time entertainment district. There is no way that it makes any sense for them to miss out on the market that they would get. Yes, it's not going to be a "full family" experience, but they are leaving guest dollars in their pockets by not collecting that portion of their entertainment dolar. I just can't conceive how stupid they are regarding this. You can't tell me that there wasn't a period of time when PI wasn't very profitable. If this WASN'T profitable than UNIVERSAL would get out of the business too. I can't believe it is all about "family image" or something. I know putting PI in the middle of Marketplace and Westside is what doomed it (or more correctly, putting Westside across PI from Marketplace), but c'mon! Cover charges and alcohol = east profits.

Sorry, off my soapbox.

I agree and said as much in the past. Creating Westside as another shopping area, but not connecting it properly to Marketplace made Westside next to useless. Then "opening" PI to allow the traffic between Westside and Marketplace, meant losing the control (and single cover charge) and allowed the problems that they claim were the reason for closing it to happen in the first place.

 

[OldsDr]

Does anyione think that if Florida does open Casinos and there is one in the WDW/Universial Neiborhood that Disney may then look into PI2 of some sorts to keep people on property instead of going to a casino at night. Or do you think that a Casino would not drag enough people off property for them to be concerned?

 

[Jason71]

I agree and said as much in the past. Creating Westside as another shopping area, but not connecting it properly to Marketplace made Westside next to useless. Then "opening" PI to allow the traffic between Westside and Marketplace, meant losing the control (and single cover charge) and allowed the problems that they claim were the reason for closing it to happen in the first place.

I think shoehorning the AMC and especially DQ into West End was more of the problem. An adult-oriented shopping/dining district probably could've complemented PI nicely, but when you put in teen magnets like those, destroyed the atmosphere (just as tearing down the gates ruined PI's atmosphere).

I'll echo what Skier Pete said, even if the AdvClub was not a part of it, WDW is crazy to ignore such a huge market. I can't tell you how many times I've been in a certain monorail bar when it was no doubt packed over capacity and had to tell convention-goers, "nope, come 11:30 all of WDW shuts down."

 

[skier_pete]

Does anyione think that if Florida does open Casinos and there is one in the WDW/Universial Neiborhood that Disney may then look into PI2 of some sorts to keep people on property instead of going to a casino at night. Or do you think that a Casino would not drag enough people off property for them to be concerned?

I think the Orlando entertainment companies (Disney/Unviersal/Sea World etc) will ban together to ensure that there is NEVER EVER EVER a casino within 30 miles of the theme parks. They have too much local power in that district to block anything being located near-by. In fact, I 'd sort of be surprised if it passes through the state.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

But was getting from Marketplace over to the West Side really ever that big of a deal or was that made-up nonsense? I can recall throngs of people walking from the Marketplace (and v.v.) along the sidewalk in front of PI and that led to a shortcut through the woods and over a different bridge that dropped people down into the West Side. Opening the Island to people without tickets did not make the West Side any closer.

Pete, unfortunately we're quite close to allowing casinos all over the state! Disney would have to react if ever one came nearby as casinos have a way of sucking the life out of competitors. I've seen it happen in Tampa.

BobK/Orlando

 

[doconeill]

But was getting from Marketplace over to the West Side really ever that big of a deal or was that made-up nonsense? I can recall throngs of people walking from the Marketplace (and v.v.) along the sidewalk in front of PI and that led to a shortcut through the woods and over a different bridge that dropped people down into the West Side. Opening the Island to people without tickets did not make the West Side any closer.

BobK/Orlando

From what I remember, yes there was a path, but it was non-obvious that it was there - or that anyone knew the other side existed. I remember on our first trip where we went to DTD, we parked over at Westside, and never knew the Marketplace existed until a later trip - and we went several nights that week.

It was a common complaint from what I remember.

 

[Jason71]

WDW is too strong to allow casinos in Orange County--more for fear of competition for conventions and hotel guests than keeping the area "family-friendly."

Also, keep in mind we already have plenty of gambling in central Florida, and they guard their turf jealously. The Daytona and Seminole "dog tracks" (the dog tracks are loss-leaders for the real money, poker rooms) would no doubt team up with the Seminoles in Tampa to do whatever they can to stop any casino along I-4. Google "Debary and horse racing" if you want to get an idea of how strongly the existing guys oppose competiton.

 

[nytimez]

I think the Orlando entertainment companies (Disney/Unviersal/Sea World etc) will ban together to ensure that there is NEVER EVER EVER a casino within 30 miles of the theme parks. They have too much local power in that district to block anything being located near-by. In fact, I 'd sort of be surprised if it passes through the state.

WDW is too strong to allow casinos in Orange County--more for fear of competition for conventions and hotel guests than keeping the area "family-friendly."

Also, keep in mind we already have plenty of gambling in central Florida, and they guard their turf jealously. The Daytona and Seminole "dog tracks" (the dog tracks are loss-leaders for the real money, poker rooms) would no doubt team up with the Seminoles in Tampa to do whatever they can to stop any casino along I-4. Google "Debary and horse racing" if you want to get an idea of how strongly the existing guys oppose competiton.

Don't be so sure. Florida is rapidly growing broke and the pols see this as a quick way to raise cash and create jobs. As long as the Florida economy remains in the toilet, you can bet (ha) this has a chance of becoming reality.

I'm not saying I support or oppose. I just think there might be too much money on the table for even Disney to block (Disney, by the way, is aggressively lobbying the same state legislature for a law that would give it a big tax break for expanding WWoS).

 

[Jason71]

NYTimez, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't bet against (no pun intended) casinos coming to Miami, and probably the Panhandle, in the next few years. Maybe somewhere on the SW coast as well, like Fort Myers area--lot of retirees there, but I confess I don't know a lot about that area. However, I think they closest they get to Orlando would be Daytona, assuming the France family (the power behind NASCAR) decides they want to get into that business. And even then it would be a fight.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Don't be so sure. Florida is rapidly growing broke and the pols see this as a quick way to raise cash and create jobs. As long as the Florida economy remains in the toilet, you can bet (ha) this has a chance of becoming reality.

I'm not saying I support or oppose. I just think there might be too much money on the table for even Disney to block (Disney, by the way, is aggressively lobbying the same state legislature for a law that would give it a big tax break for expanding WWoS).

this is the truth...

even disney is not going to stop a casino if the state wants them...and i'm sure they want them.

Especially in the Convention Center/I-Drive/Sea World/Universal/ Outlet General Vacinity...

State governments have no revenue after the real estate and subsequent corporate revenue/ tax crisis...and the rug has been pulled out from under many after the expiration of the federal stimulus.

Dollars will trump disney...which is ironic since those two forces are usually on the same team.

Florida needs money and the taxes on gambling are easy money. Many other states have or are going this route.

I'll use my home state of PA as an example: they struggled for years after the end of largescale american industrial manufacturing and declining population/ tax base for almost 40 years...they passed slot parlors in 2006 or 2007...and the state placed locations in a geographic sprawl pattern to try to maximize revenues....

The casinos stink...but they opened and were an immediate hit. Drawing heavy volume off Atlantic City to the East and legalized slots and parlors in West Virginia to the West...

So a year or so down the line, they legalize all table games to make more money...again..a hit.

It's simple...they create tax revenue out of thin air...and its absolute. The taxes are flat on every penny spent....on revenue, not profit, its guaranteed.

So now a collapsed albatross of an industrial state now can get casino bucks...and frack...which is a separate more diabolical issue. But its a great big bandaid for pee poor states.

And florida, 75% of all money from travel, is right there too. They should never have gambled with real estate...as the effects are more devasting on a place that has no real business, government, or social basis. Everything was built for travel bucks and retirement demands from the WWII generation...by and large...and gambling is a very easy way to combat some of the problem.

Its gonna happen...and they will put them where they have A READY SUPPLY OF PEOPLE WITH CASH LOOKING FOR LEISURE

can you think of a spot or two?

I can

 

[JDinFL]

There are eight casinos all ready in Florida. One about an hour away from Disney.
They will put one in Orlando when Vegas gets a pro football or baseball team.
I can't see it happening.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

There are eight casinos all ready in Florida. One about an hour away from Disney.
They will put one in Orlando when Vegas gets a pro football or baseball team.
I can't see it happening.

No offense...but you're being naive.

They will put casinos where they will generate maximum revenue...which equals maximum taxes.

And a city that was built to draw in millions of visitors who are all there with saved up vacation dollars looking to have a good time is the prime place to put it.

If no casinos come to the immediate orlando area...then disney really is the mob.

And to the point of "there are already casinos"...those are built on indian tribal grounds or offshore - where there are no bans on gambling - and are up to the discretion of the owners if they want them or not.

The state legalizing gambling - is entirely different.

And since i sit between atlantic city and pennsylvania ...now all gambling zones - i can tell you firsthand: the average age of a person sitting in front of a slot machine is about 85...senior love the one armed bandit...

so if anyone has any question as to whether or not florida is going to legalize gambling...bare that in mind...

 

[Emma1987]

Casino's should be kept for Vegas and Atlantic City.

A Casino on the Disney property would bring down the reputation of the Disney name I think.