Disney to close nightclubs at Pleasure Island

[OKW Lover]

Nothing surprising here - its just the final step in the long series of "improvements" Disney sought to make in PI that just ruined the experience. Now people just don't bother to go any longer.

 

[JCandKT]

we'll miss the Adventurer's Club and the Comedy Club... those were always big highlights. At least we can go one last time before the end.

 

[zulemara]

maybe you guys just don't like to dance, but I don't see why no one seems to care about 8-trax and mannequins. Motion is top 40s -that's all anyone ever hears, but 8-trax playing 70s and 80s and Mannequins being only techno with an awesome environment, that stuff just can't be beat. For whomever said no one goes to those clubs - check out 8-trax at midnight on a fri or sat. They are almost always at capacity. I used to be a door host there. If you go in at 10pm then there's no one there just like any other club in the nation.

This is the perfect example of Disney just wanting to outsource and collect the cash. What about the business travelers, the single travelers, the college aged crowd? Disney is not JUST about families and dare I say sometimes people just want to get away from the mouse.

Opening 2015: Mannequins II and 8-trax revisted in downtown orlando. Now taking donations

 

[MM32830]

Sorry guys, I'm going to be the lone voice of descent here. I'm glad to see them go, with the exception of the Adventurers Club. Hopefully they relocate the AC. For my family the rest of PI was pretty much a waste of space. I'm excited to see what they bring in.

Yep, same here. When we are in the Central Florida area (from October through May) we go to Downtown Disney almost every night (we don't live far from there). We have APs so we could go into any of the clubs in PI but most of the time PI is just a connection from Marketplace to West Side. We like walking through PI but rarely have gone into the clubs.

 

[ConcKahuna]

Sorry guys, I'm going to be the lone voice of descent here. I'm glad to see them go, with the exception of the Adventurers Club. Hopefully they relocate the AC. For my family the rest of PI was pretty much a waste of space. I'm excited to see what they bring in.

Yes, because underwear shopping at the new Hanes store that's going in is a much more exciting family experience!!

And the balloon ride??? In Florida weather? I mean, it sounds great but I don't see the point in an attraction that wont be able to run over 90% of the summer....

 

[WebmasterCorey]

Ever since they got rid of the nightly New Years Eve countdown celebration with the fireworks, confetti and dancers, the crowd started to thin more and more. The biggest downfall to street party environment was removing the turnstiles at the entrance. Then they removed both stages and the large video screen as you walked in. They've been chipping away at Pleasure Island for some time now and I am really upset to see it go, b/c it is a part of my Disney history. It hasn't the been the Pleasure Island that I remember for a few years now though.

 

[cocowum]

Yes, because underwear shopping at the new Hanes store that's going in is a much more exciting family experience!!

For our family, absolutely! Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I'm sorry that something you obviously enjoy is no longer going to be there. But I'm looking forward to being able to now enjoy that area. Hopefully the new hanes store carries Tink underpants.

 

[ConcKahuna]

For our family, absolutely! Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I'm sorry that something you obviously enjoy is no longer going to be there. But I'm looking forward to being able to now enjoy that area. Hopefully the new hanes store carries Tink underpants.

Disney already sells tink underpants for adult women and children!

Many years ago, there was a "design your own t-shirt" place (where "Summer Sands" is now). It didnt do well, so it closed.

As for the balloon ride, I think it's a cool idea but I don't see that it will be operating very often with Florida weather

 

[cocowum]

Disney already sells tink underpants for adult women and children!

I know I own several pairs.


You can never have too many pairs of Tink underpants.

 

[mel&me]

Ever since they got rid of the nightly New Years Eve countdown celebration with the fireworks, confetti and dancers, the crowd started to thin more and more. The biggest downfall to street party environment was removing the turnstiles at the entrance. Then they removed both stages and the large video screen as you walked in. They've been chipping away at Pleasure Island for some time now and I am really upset to see it go, b/c it is a part of my Disney history. It hasn't the been the Pleasure Island that I remember for a few years now though.

Could not have said that any better.

 

[meowmarie]

I finally went to AC last year and vowed (fist shaking at sky) I would make AC part of EVERY WDW trip from then on...

Whom do we call or picket??!?

Even though it is futile I made a petition site about it. I realize it probably won't do much good but I just think we should be doing SOMETHING about this. We have like 300 sigs in just 18 hours which isn't too bad. I will definitely make some phone calls as well, I just don't know to who.

http://www.petitiononline.com/wdwaclub/petition.html

 

[andrewilley]

I just love Disney's official comment:

Based on Guest feedback, the nightclubs will be replaced by an extraordinary mix of dining and shopping...

I assume that would be as opposed to the now rather ordinary and samey (and increasingly outsourced) mix of dining and shopping that is already in Downtown Disney? Especially West Side, but the Marketplace seems to be heading the same way.

Andre

 

[robind]

Ever since they got rid of the nightly New Years Eve countdown celebration with the fireworks, confetti and dancers, the crowd started to thin more and more. The biggest downfall to street party environment was removing the turnstiles at the entrance. Then they removed both stages and the large video screen as you walked in. They've been chipping away at Pleasure Island for some time now and I am really upset to see it go, b/c it is a part of my Disney history. It hasn't the been the Pleasure Island that I remember for a few years now though.

I think you hit the nail on the head. I remember the first time I went (now I'm going to show my age) Johnny Cash was playing at the big stage and I was thrilled that I could see him for 'free'. I also really loved the midnight fireworks/ new years eve. Other than the comedy club and AC I haven't been there much lately.

I will be sad to see it go, but I'm hoping they at least move the AC to somewhere else - I've heard mention of Animal Kingdom, which really doesn't make much sense since it closes so early. Maybe they can move it to the Animal Kindgom Lodge - that would make my investment in AKV even more exciting.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I really like the suggestion one signer of the petition had, which was to move it to the Atlantic Dance Club. Who ever uses that??? It would be an amazing, smoke-free addition to the Boardwalk area.

 

[TheBeadPirate]

... those of us who no longer take the kids to WDW (you will all get there) like to go out for the evenings and enjoy Mannequins and AC, etc. Certainly not every night, but a couple of times a visit. Once again, Disney is showing it's contempt for the adult visitors.

Certainly Mannequins drew a special fun crowd (will miss Bobby, the first bartender you run into downstairs... he has been there for years)...

Yes, we will now move to city walk, and probably the associated dining opportunities at Universal as opposed to dining in Disney and then going over to PI.

One day WDW will pile on the provebial last straw and drive us down the road...

We will make a couple of special trips before the closing weekend to say goodbye to many old friends... not sure if I want to be there when they turn the lights on for the last time...

 

[LeesyUD]

I am sad to see the adventurers club go...but besides that I never went to the clubs except for when i was in college. I think it is nice to have an area for adults though. I wish they could find a balance between the shopping, restaurants and the clubs. I will say I have always thought Disney has done everything better than Universal, except for when it came to City Walk....Pleasure Island just always seemed to be missing something. I will say that if they are adding new restaurants I hope they are on the dining plan....Disney does need some more restaurant options with the popularity of the dining plan I feel.

 

[wishspirit]

You can never have too many pairs of Tink underpants.

You learn more than you ever thought you would on these boards...

To be honest, this is just typical! As soon as i am onld enough to go, they close the place down!

The AC sounded fab! I hope they just move it!

 

[TheBeadPirate]

If they insist on closing AC the I say we need to get J.Peterman to open a retail outlet there! It's already decorated for them and everything!

Now THAT would be better than the Pottery Barn Disneyish that will inevitibly be shoved there....or the (cover your ears Pete & Kevin) dinnertainment that only another Landry's restaurant could bring us.

 

[TexasMinnie82]

We went for the first time in June and had a blast. We went to several of the nightclubs. The Comedy Warehouse was hilarious! I just recently found out about the AC and told my husband a few days ago that we should try it next time we go. I am sad we won't get to go anymore but at least we got to go once, I guess!!

 

[luna99]

oh this really saddens me... I have so many fun memories at Pleasure Island.. going to Mannequins and dancing the night away and going to the comedy club with my mother .... I even got kicked out of the beach club once! (won't go into that story!)

I even told my sister on our december trip her and I would go out dancing but I guess that won't be happening..

I dunno, I like shopping and dining, don't get me wrong, but I think there is already plenty of that out there.