Adventure club closing

[justlikeeyore]

I just read im mouseplanet that half of pleasure island in going to be turned into resturants, and the only clubs that will stay open are Mannequins, 8-trax and comedy warehouse. Has anyone heard of this.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I just read im mouseplanet that half of pleasure island in going to be turned into resturants, and the only clubs that will stay open are Mannequins, 8-trax and comedy warehouse. Has anyone heard of this.

I haven't heard anything except for what I read at MousePlanet.

Whenever I read a new Disney rumor, I apply a "realty check" filter to that rumor. If the rumor is sugggesting something that makes no economic sense or is counter to how Disney usually acts, then I'm highly skeptical.

However, in this case, the rumor passes through the "realty check" filter with flying colors. The Jazz Club is already gone; the Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant is evidence that Disney sees a better economic payback from leased restaurants than from a nightclub complex. Pleasure Island is no longer "gated" at night. It's not a stretch to think that other clubs will become restaurants.

I'm not sure that MousePlanet has is right when they say that, "everything on the lake side of Pleasure Island will be demolished, and the area will be repopulated by contracted restaurants." Disney doesn't like to demolish buldings (Horizons and and the Villas at Disney Institute notwithstanding); usually Disney reuses buildings. So most of the Pleasure Island buildings may simply be reused. Yes, some buildings could be demolished, especially if a restaurant wants big picture windows onto the lake and an existing building can't be adapted.

Also, I think it's simplistic that clubs on the lake side will all be gone, but those on the other side of the walkway will all continue as they are. I suspect that it will be more of a case-by-case situation. It will be a matter of getting the best economic return on each location, not a matter of which side of the walk the club is on.

 

[YoHo]

The rumor's I've heard is that with the new MAgic your way tix, the PI clubs are being forced to pay their own way. AC doesn't generate enough in booze revenue apparently.

 

[pr surfer]

hmm... what I head when speaking with Joe Rohde last month was the exact opposite... "the AC is safe"

 

[WDWHound]

Here is the quote from Mouseplanet:
"The story, as we heard it, is that attendance has been down so badly at the Pleasure Island clubs that, even with extending Cast Member nights to five nights per week, they were still having trouble getting people into the clubs. Because of this, everything on the lake side of Pleasure Island will be demolished, and the area will be repopulated by contracted restaurants. Contracted restaurants have been the biggest money maker for Disney in the Downtown Disney area."

I didn't take the time to visit the AC on my last trip. I wish I had. Now I amy never get another chance. I hope pc_server is correct.

 

[YoHo]

hmm... what I head when speaking with Joe Rohde last month was the exact opposite... "the AC is safe"

Joe Rohde is lucky to have a job and he doens't know squat about what managment thinks.

I've been in a company where my immediate superiors said things were fiine while the execs were getting ready to lay us off. It means nothing.

 

[Jason71]

Just a couple observations from someone who spends way too much time at PI...

The two comedy clubs and 8-Trax (AC even more than CW) seem to be the only clubs able to attract consistent crowds these days, i.e. on weekdays. I would not be surprised to see the often deserted Beach Club go (saddened, but not surprised), and maybe management thinks combining the few people in Motion with the few in Mannequins will add up to something. So those two closings make sense to me.

Although it always seems busy, if not packed, AC does seem to atttract a disproportionate number of older guests and kids, so I believe Yo Ho about it not selling its fair share of booze. I also think it is less likely for someone watching a show to buy a drink than, say, someone standing around a club. In addition, you can't run AC with just a skeleton crew of 2 or 3 bar staff, as I've seen done at the other clubs. You also need 7 actors to make the scripted shows work, and that must cost $$.

If AC does close so they can put in another Hard Rock Cafe clone, it will be a very sad day. I truly believe AC is quite possibly the best attraction on Disney property. If nothing else, I hope they at least let it go out with a final farewell party (similar to what Universal did for King Kong), rather than just shutting the doors one day.

 

[Jason71]

One more thought...everytime I'm in the ticket line it seems someone wants to buy a "single club ticket" to AC (even tho single tickets are only for the "music" clubs). Why not try converting AC to a seperate, ticketed attraction? Not enough space?

 

[pr surfer]

Joe Rohde is lucky to have a job and he doens't know squat about what managment thinks.

I've been in a company where my immediate superiors said things were fiine while the execs were getting ready to lay us off. It means nothing.

Funny... I figured him being the designer of the Adventurers Club, Mexico Pavilion, and Disney's Animal Kingdom AS WELL AS A Disney Executive made him a pretty good source.

 

[YoHo]

Maybe if he wasn't a part of Imagineering I'd believe it, but he is and Imagineering has no power, no sayso, nothing. He's lucky to have a job.

Also, every time I've heard him in an inteview I've thought he was a schmuck.

 

[pr surfer]

here's a good post from the Adventurer's Club Yahoo Group

A few, probably not helpful comments.
1. This rumor is not new. It has been around at least since Q1 of this year
and I am surprised it took this long to get out. The basic truth in it is
that the water front property is more valuable and has better views than the
other side of the street. Any big changes to PI will very likely affect
those clubs first.
2. While Joe Rhode did tell me that he does not believe the club will be
closing anytime soon, that does not mean there are no plans to do so.
If/When the time draws close he may hear of it, but the DD area is a
separate business unit from Calif. Imagineering and they are not required to
report to each other.
3. The Club does good business, especially for events. I hear this
everywhere. It may or may not mean it does well enough, or that the overhead
of operating it compares well to having places like HOB and Rainforest. I'm
sure these decisions are not based solely on attendance, and I know first
hand they do a lot of studies. As some of you can relate, the comedy clubs
are often packed, but these changes are not planed in a total vaccuum.
Factors such as profit, overhead, legal liabilities, safety, reputation, new
opportunities all come into play. The business climate, competition, and
Orlando as a city are not as they were 10 years ago. I'm sure the club will
eventually close -- sometime -- eventually. Things change at WDW all the
time as they older. PI wil lsee more changes in 2006.
4. I'm sure the performers will know before we do, as it will affect their
working arrangements the most.
5. With all the new hotel space and general park attendance up, it is a
fact that there is a restaurant shortage in WDW.
I hope when the time does finally come there will be a special party and
auction for those that love the place. For some of us it's a second
(sometimes dysfunctional) family. The PI Comedy clubs are the very BEST
venue on WDW property to see the multiple talents and improv skills of the
performers.
I always wished Disney whould franchise the club or to NY and Vegas. I
would rather see them plexi-glass in the top floor of the Adv Club and turn
it into a themed restaurant/bar or a dinner theater rather than eliminate it
or the downstairs shows. Of course then I'd need the equivalent of a
Hoop-de-Doo dinner annual pass.
The bottom line is that we will just have to wait until someone that really
knows tells us.
Keith

 

[AdventurerKat]

This rumor has actually been going around since shortly after 9-11. At least that's the first time I was told the club could be in danger from CMs.

All I can say is that you enjoy the Adventurers Club, show your support. Write and let Disney know you love it. And when you visit WDW, visit the club and visit it often, drinking some Kungalooshes (or your adult beverage of choice) along the way. Money talks.

The Adventurers Club is a one of a kind experience, and not just for Disney. It will be a sad day indeed if its doors close.

 

[pr surfer]

Anyone up for chaining themselves to the front should a wrecking ball arrive?



We shall not, we shall not be moved
We shall not, we shall not be moved
Like Hathaway's Plane, that's standing in the water
We shall not be moved

We shall not, we shall not be moved
We shall not, we shall not be moved
The Yakoose is behind us,
We shall not be moved

We shall not, we shall not be moved
We shall not, we shall not be moved
We're fighting for our cloooooob,
We shall not be moved

We shall not, we shall not be moved
We shall not, we shall not be moved
We're fighting for Kungaloosh,
We shall not be moved

We shall not, we shall not be moved
We shall not, we shall not be moved
We'll let Otis win the Balderdash,
We shall not be moved

We shall not, we shall not be moved
We shall not, we shall not be moved
Emil and Otis together,
We shall not be moved

We shall not, we shall not be moved
We shall not, we shall not be moved
Sam and Pam together,
We shall not be moved

 

[TDC Nala]

 

[airlarry!]

I am waiting to hear from the "experts" how replacing live and unique entertainment options with chain dining is part of the Disney philosophy.

Still waiting...

 

[DVCconvert]

Joe Rohde is lucky to have a job and he doens't know squat about what managment thinks.

nice comment.

 

[Chuck S]

Don't forget that "nightclub districts" nationwide have fallen in popularity. Rosie O'Grady's/Church Street Station, once "THE" night spot of Orlando is gone, Sunset Station in San Antonio is in trouble...the baby boomers kids have kids now, more "family oriented" entertainment will be popular for the next 10 years or so, then we may see a return to more "adult " themed venues. It is cyclitic.

However, I don't see Disney just closing Adv Club and gutting PI, there are enough adults without kids that visit WDW to support that type of entertainment complex. What has, IMO, ruined PI is the fact that all the foot traffic from Westside to Marketplace is now routed through PI...taking away the adult entertainment feel of the area. Adults are no longer as comfortable club hopping in the presence of kids, unsupervised underage kids are basically begging for adults to supply them with alcohol...just not a comfortable situation for anyone.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I am waiting to hear from the "experts" how replacing live and unique entertainment options with chain dining is part of the Disney philosophy.

Still waiting...

Disney corporate philosophy is to maximize profits. Presumably, a restaurant lease generates revenue and produces a guaranteed bottom line profit year after year. In comparison, running a one-of-a-kind entertainment venture involves operating expenses that threaten to eat up the revenue from admission and drinks.

There's nothing wrong with profits.

But there is something wrong with giving potential visitors fewer and fewer reasons to pack up the family, travel to Orlando, stay at a WDW resort, and spend thousands of dollars with Disney.

I visit WDW to experience things that I can't experience here in the Chicago area.

 

[pr surfer]

Don't forget that "nightclub districts" nationwide have fallen in popularity. Rosie O'Grady's/Church Street Station, once "THE" night spot of Orlando is gone,

In all fairness, Pleasure Island was the big reason for Church Street Stations demise.

 

[AdventurerKat]

But there is something wrong with giving potential visitors fewer and fewer reasons to pack up the family, travel to Orlando, stay at a WDW resort, and spend thousands of dollars with Disney.

Well, I know for me personally my visits to WDW will be ALOT less if they close down the AC. Many of my trips to WDW have been specifically to go there. Granted, my money is just a tiny speck of a drop in a buck to Disney, if even that, but I know there are at least a few more like me out there. So maybe together we'll make a full drop.

If the AC is closed, there will really be no place to go to at PI to just relax and have a drink and chat. The nice thing about the AC is that you can go in and enjoy the entertainment AND hold a conversation in it without yelling over the top of the music that thump thump thumps in most of the other clubs. I enjoy CW, but you get ushered out after each show and are dumped back out on the PI streets. And sure, they can use a few more restaurants but but again, you will be shuttled out after a certain amount of time. They are not meant for lingering. The AC gives people that option. A place to relax, have a drink, enjoy a show and chat with friends about all the fun they had during the day. They really should think twice about taking that away. (or three or four times...PLEASE!)