Adventurers' Club--12 year old okay?

[disneycrazed139]

Has anyone taken children to Pleasure Island? ...specifically, to the Adventurer's Club or maybe (is it) the Comedy Warehouse? From what I've read, it looks like the first might be interesting for a 12-year-old and that maybe the early shows at the comedy club are appropriate for older children. Any opinions?

 

[Michelle]

I'm sure you'll get plenty of opinions. Mine is that Pleasure Island is not for kids at all; even the first show at Adventurer's Club really is not for children. Will you see a few children there? Yes. Would I bring my daughter if she were 12? No. PI is really geared towards adults and it's not really a family place.

 

[BethR]

I agree with Michelle.

 

[disneycrazed139]

Okay, I appreciate the opinion. Can you tell me why you feel that it is not for kids? (I don't mean to sound like a school teacher---I understand you don't think it is for kids...but to make up my own mind it might be helpful to understand what makes you feel that way!)

Thanks!

 

[Michelle]

The humor in the clubs is adult humor, some of it is slightly risque. The majority of people there are adults. It's pretty much the equivalent of taking your kids to any adult nightclubs...there is plenty of drinking and adults just having fun. It's just not really a place for kids, and it IS a place where adults can go and let loose without kids around.

I hope that helps a little, I think if you went to PI you would understand better.

 

[disneycrazed139]

Thanks, that helps some. I guess the main reason I wondered is because I have the new Passporter guide and one of the "authors" is a child a couple of years younger than mine who even shared her opinion of the club--so I figured maybe it was more for children than I thought. I never would have dreamed of taking my son to PI before. I thought maybe it would be okay since he is older and also because he has a slightly off-beat sense of humor. (for example, one of his favorite movies is "Clue.")

But from what you are saying I guess I might have to wait for an adults only trip before I get to try it.

Thanks for the information.

 

[apagano]

Disney recognizes that families with children will go to PI, so the shows at Comedy Warehouse and the Adventurers' Club are toned down. Any adult material is buried in double entendres that most children won't pick up on. So theoretically your child would be OK there.

That being said, I'm in WebmasterMichelle's corner. It is my opinion that Disney should just get real about what Pleasure Island is and ban children completely. I would love to have seen what the improv team at the Comedy Warehouse could do without all the restraints. Same thing at the Adventurers Club. It was also off-putting to see children on the dance floor at a couple of the night clubs. Especially disturbing was the sight of families with children walking past girls in skimpy outfits selling Jell-o shots on the street. There's plenty for kids at the theme parks. Leave PI for the grown-ups!!!

 

[WDWguru]

Hear, hear! I agree 100%. I wonder, if Disney got enough suggestions to do just that (not allow children into PI), would they do it? I think I'll send in a little letter and just suggest it. Can't hurt.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I took my son to PI in 2001. We went to one of the early CW shows. The cast used two kids (the girl was 12) in one of their skits. Based on what I've heard about the later shows, I wouldn't take DS to any of those. We looked around AC and went into a few of the clubs. We left PI @ 11:00.

There are 2 clubs that require you to be 21 in order to enter. I know BET is one of them not sure about the other. When we return I will not take my son to PI, because I want to try out BET.

The night we were there we saw many families walking around, looking in the clubs and dancing in the streets. All having a good time.

Find out all you can about what goes on in the clubs then make up your mind about if you want to take your son or not.

Most of things people say kids will see and hear if they go to PI, drunks, bad language, skimpy clothes, don't bother me. DS can and has seen and heard all of the above things. It's amazing what you'll see and hear while riding the NYC subway.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

A slightly dissenting view....

I think for the most part, PI is an adult affair. If it were me, I'd have my 12 year old out of PI by 10 PM or so, when the booze has been flowing for three hours and people are less likely to take into account a 12 year old is sitting next to them.

But I've seen the AC characters working young children, and it not only seemed great for the kids, but it was fun to watch as an adult. I think in that particular club, the CM's are extremely aware of young children.

However, after a certain point in the evening, I'd start to agree completely with the rest of the posters. The CM's can't stop drunks from expressing themselves, and as the drunks out-number the tea-totlers, the CM's obviously begin to cater more to that crowd.

Note to all drunks: no offense meant. I'm one of you. Until my daughter is born. Then (SIGH) the 2 AM nights at the AC will probably stop for a while....

Pat

 

[Pugsley]

The Pleasure Island venues are bars/clubs. If you don’t take your children to bars at home, you probably don’t want to take them to bars at PI. I really wish Disney wouldn’t allow children there because I’m sure that many parents don’t understand what it is and think that it must be OK because it’s Disney. Then they find themselves in a bar with their children and subject to ridicule (at least at AC). And isn’t it only fair to have ONE place in WDW where adults can enjoy themselves without children around?

 

[disneygrrrl]

....agreeing with what most of everyone above has said. The purpose of Pleasure Island (in my opinion) is to give the adults who love Disney some nightlife. My husband and I are in our upper 20's and have been there several times. We aren't huge drinkers, but we like to have fun! Most of the time we go to people watch, cause to be quite frank, it's interesting!!! And each and every time, whenever I see a family walking through with their children (some of them in strollers), amidst all the drunk people stumbling about, it makes me just shake my head. I just don't think it's a place for them.....To be honest, most of the kids looked scared. Not saying all, or that your child would be, but it is just what I have witnessed. There's Disney Quest, and so many other "night" things for the kids, it just seems "wrong" in a way to see them there, in the atmosphere that makes Pleasure Island what it is.....

 

[caitycaity]

i agree with WM Michelle and apagano. when we were there in december, a couple had brought their (probably around 10 year old) daughter to the AC. It was about 10pm.

this family and the daughter in particular ended up being sort of the focus of the show. what kind of parents bring their kids to a bar? why does your kid have her camera with her? to take pictures of all the drunken people? where did you (the parents) meet? bible camp! oh so is that where they teach you to bring kids to bars? etc etc etc...

it was done all in good fun, but i can tell you if it was me, i would have been embarrassed. these parents, however, didn't seem phased in the least.

 

[PrincessAurora]

I'm in the PI not appropriate camp. I am one of the people that hangs out at the Adventurers Club. It does have a bar and sex humor in the show.

While the cast isn't crude, they cant control the audience. The show is very audience interactive. I myself, have a mouth on me - I'll admit - especially for sex jokes. Now I'm not crude but I am very bawdy.

Some people feel a bit restrained by the presence of kids. I feel if their parents want them to get an adult education - OK. I'm not going to edit my remarks. If I say a cuss word or make a sex joke and someone is uncomfortable, oh well.

If you absolutly have to bring kids, I recommend leaving before 10pm when people really start getting loaded.

 

[disneycrazed139]

Wow, looks like there are a lot of opinions on this. I think I have a much better idea of it. I also think it is interesting what the particular poster said about the humor being presented on two different levels. I find that a lot of entertainment (especially in movies) is written in just that way--so that the older crowd is entertained and the younger set doesn't "get" it or interprets it in a way that is not "R." I would like to set out what was written in the Passporter guide by the child who visited the Adventurer's Club:
Stated as being the "Most Disney" the kid tip listed, written by a kid was that: "The Yakoose Drools" and "They Make You Sing Silly Songs!"

It sounds harmless enough--less harmful than prime time TV. But I think what most posters are saying here is that an adult only venue at Disney is necessary.

 

[whosgotthecandy]

I brought my 4 year old son to the AC. We had the time of our lives. The cast was so funny with him and the adult seemed to enjoy him as they were all "Kungaloosh"ing at him.

They gave him a special pin that the animatronic Major on the wall suggested Nick pin on me while I was sleeping. The Major also suggested that perhaps I didn't wear pajamas and it would be very painful. Nick loudly replied "My Dad sleeps naked!" and laughed his head off with the rest of the crowd.

After a couple of shows we went out and danced to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, who happened to be playing that night. We didn't go in any other clubs and were out by 11PM.

I'd hate to think that I harmed my child or ruined anyone's time. I plan on taking him back the last week of October, but know I wonder if I should.

Joe

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Originally posted by whosgotthecandy
I'd hate to think that I harmed my child or ruined anyone's time. I plan on taking him back the last week of October, but know I wonder if I should.

Joe

Joe,

A post like this steams me a little. Not at you, mind you. To each his own, these are questions about how people do things in Disney, everyone's got a right to an opinion. But when someone makes you feel bad about bringing kids in and leaves you with the impression you're hurting them or ruining someone else's time? Ouch. Bad form.

As a person who goes to PI and acts in an "adult fashion" without getting obnoxious (which isn't necessary no matter what the youngest person in the room), I have no problem with children being there. Since they do provide booze and it is a bar, I will drink, I will get loud, and occasionally I may tell a joke at the table next to you that starts "did you here the one about the elephant and the plumber's helper?" If you stick around long enough, I might even give your child a lesson on poor balance, say around 1 AM?

But you know that's taking place. That's between you and your child. As long as you understand that someone ordering their fourth drink this hour is, in fact, within the rules and purpose of ht island.

Likewise as for what people think about children being there, Disney sets the bar. And they say children under eighteen are permitted with an adult. Shame on folks who make a parent feel like they answer to a different authority than the rules set by the proprietor.

Joe, your children don't offend me at all. I hope I don't offend them or you, as long as I'm keeping within the rules and regulations of PI and society at large. Kungaloosh.

Pat

 

[DisneyVillain]

We took our boys (now 13 and 17) to AC several years ago, and the CM's made them feel very welcome. For our June trip, they are looking forward to the AC as much as they are to the MK.

They've seen drunks before, and I'm not concerned about the double entendre.

We won't be visiting the other PI clubs.

As for the opinion: "If you don’t take your children to bars at home, you probably don’t want to take them to bars at PI." Well, if there is a show they want to see at home, and the bar will let them in, then I don't have a problem with it.

 

[jamsmom]

I took my 12 year old son to AC and the 1st showing of the COmedy Club. We left early, but there were other children tere as well

 

[disneycrazed139]

Thanks for all your opinions. Although I haven't been, it doesn't sound like any children have been "harmed" in the Adventurer's Club process. I appreciate hearing all about everyone's experiences--both negative and positive on this.

I suspect that if you know your child well and understand what may be encountered, that this is a decision that only a parent can make. I can imagine there being certain kids that one absolutely couldn't take/shouldn't take and other kids that would probably appreciate the experience and have a wonderful time

As for people that are personally offended by parents/children, I think it's like I mentioned before---Disney probably does need an adults-only venue. If it's true that people get so unruly at the any particular club, I probably wouldn't want to go there myself in the first place!