Downtown Disney

[marikujawa]

Does anyone know why Disney abandoned the old Pleasure Island concept? It was great for young adults and even us older ones who are looking for something to do after 10 pm.

 

[chalee94]

I thought it was funny that they did a “Pleasure Island” in the first place. That was the bad place where Pinocchio shouldn’t have gone, right? (Where everyone turned into “donkeys…”)

But really, I think it just attracted the wrong crowd and didn’t make enough money.

 

[drusba]

Officially to go in a new direction or as stated in a press release 2008: ""Our guests tell us they want additional shopping and dining experiences." (That sounds like a Jim Lewis press release every time he changed the rules to take something away from DVC members.) Unofficially, it was the result of the change in 2004 having to do with entry. Before then, you needed a ticket to get into PI, such as a park ticket that included PI entry and that gave you entry to the clubs. In 2004, Disney changed to requiring no entry ticket into PI but instead the clubs required a park ticket and a cover charge. After a while, PI's outdoor areas and stores started to become a haven for hanging out by large numbers of local teens including gangs. Disney's initial reaction to that was to shut down the outdoor theater there that had nightly music for free and end the midnight fireworks display. That did not end the problem but decreased the interest of many others to even go to PI. The solution then became to change it to just a shopping and restaurant area.

 

[chateau]

I thought it was funny that they did a “Pleasure Island” in the first place. That was the bad place where Pinocchio shouldn’t have gone, right? (Where everyone turned into “donkeys…”)

But really, I think it just attracted the wrong crowd and didn’t make enough money.

I always thought the same thing about the name! lol
I can't wait for DTD changes, though. I'll get more use out of SSR!

 

[Sammie]

It was a magnet for trouble, I guess it lived up to its name.

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

I always wanted to go to PI with my husband. It would be so cool to have a sitter or let the kids go to the child care centers, so we can have a few hours of dancing. By time we could afford DVC it closed. I was so sad, but I didn't know it turned into a local teen hang out spot.
They should have kept admission with the park ticket.

 

[CarolMN]

Moved from DVC Boards