I'm just catching up on the show after being away and was REALLY pleased that this segment was done. The demise of Pleasure Island and parts of DTD is something that I have always been upset about. Tommy, I remember our having conversations elsewhere on the DIS (and I think a few Save the AC/PI blogs??) about this for years now. I couldn't agree more with your perspective on the entire situation.
In my opinion, Pleasure Island was a unique experience for WDW guests without children. I would frequent it at least twice during my vacations and always enjoyed the atmosphere and offerings there. My favorite, of course, was the Adventurer's Club, but I also spent time at Comedy Warehouse and at some of the activities outside the club walls. It truly was the "Disney for adults" experience that really is absent from the World now-a-days.
Unfortunately, I feel that Disney truly destroyed Pleasure Island when they took the gates down. From what I remember, Lansberry claimed that it was due to low revenue, something that I still do not believe to this day. In doing so, the entire image and feel of PI changed. It was not uncommon to see families with strollers walking around PI at midnight or later while couples were on dates, friends were drinking, clubs were hopping, etc. I thought that this was highly inappropriate. Similarly, taking the gates down brought in some local traffic that did not add to the revenue and, instead, caused some safety concerns.
Since the closing of the clubs and Disney's attempt to revive the area, I have found it more and more aggravating to even venture over to the West Side or Island. The last time I did so, I had a bad taste left in my mouth after seeing structures of the old clubs still there, but desolate, some signage visible, etc. PI was a ghost town and the attempts to make it come alive again were/are truly sad. I also find it irritating when specific programming from clubs like Motion or 8-Traxx are played during the little dance parties now being held. Similarly, the release of PI/Adventurer's Club pins and Vinylmation figures is just another stab in the heart of PI fans everywhere.
If Disney has failed at anything, it was definitely what was done to PI and DTD. Although the Marketplace is consistently busy, the rest of DTD has so much potential. For years, PI enthusiasts have been watching development in the area, writing online articles, sending petitions (do you remember the online radio shows and phone calls to Lansberry's office?), etc. to have it returned to what it once was. However, I can't see Disney putting its "tail between its leg," so to speak, and doing so. The phrase overzealous pride comes to the forefront here. And, for what it's worth, I think that's a very sad testament to the mentality that led to the complete annihilation of an area loved by so many which now sits in the proverbial black hole of adult entertainment options abyss.
