DTD Question

[PinkBudgie]

I remember a podcast segment a few months ago about Pleasure Island being closed. However, in my research about WDW I keep seeing it as a destination in DTD and I see it on the map. So, I'm confused. Is it closed or isn't it? Can someone explain this to me?

 

[WaltD4Me]

Well, it's still there technically, but nothing in Pleasure Island is open. I guess they mean you can walk through it. No idea why they would have marked as a destination. Maybe because they were having those outside dance parties for awhile? I don't think they are still doing those though.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

It's closed, but they still refer to it as a few stores are open near that area. It's honestly deserted space.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Hmmm. I'm looking at the map on the WDW website and it says Pleasure Island and shows places to eat there. Laffers Cantina, Raglan Road, Paradiso 37, and Portobello Trattoria. And it looks like a water taxi stand there too. And it seems like you have to walk through it to get from one side of DTD to the other. Maybe I'm not understanding what Pleasure Island is. I'm thinking it is that "island" connecting the two sides of DTD. There seems to be a walkway past the restaurants.

Here is the map on the Disney site I'm looking at: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/maps/

 

[mytripsandraces]

The restaurants and shops were still open the last time I was there. I think the nightclubs closed, but there are still places to eat and shop on Pleasure Island.

 

[zulemara]

A series of management changes/philosophies lead to a bone-headed, stupid, short sighted decision to close the night clubs on Pleasure Island, effectively giving all the night life business of both locals and tourists to City Walk.

It is actually an island, and it does effectively "connect" WS and MP, although it was not designed to be that way. I wrote a blog on the history and downfall of the area known as Pleasure Island at http://www.disunplugged.com/2012/07/17/pleasure-island-dispelling-the-myths/
and despite being a vastly desolate place with a bold new vision of mulch, grass, and human statues(pay no attention to the empty buildings behind the shrubbery ) it is still called Pleasure Island.

I could talk all day about PI

 

[WaltD4Me]

Hmmm. I'm looking at the map on the WDW website and it says Pleasure Island and shows places to eat there. Laffers Cantina, Raglan Road, Paradiso 37, and Portobello Trattoria. And it looks like a water taxi stand there too. And it seems like you have to walk through it to get from one side of DTD to the other. Maybe I'm not understanding what Pleasure Island is. I'm thinking it is that "island" connecting the two sides of DTD. There seems to be a walkway past the restaurants.

Here is the map on the Disney site I'm looking at: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/maps/

Downtown Disney is 3 parts. The main shopping area with the World of Disney store, I guess considered "east side" and then DTD Westside and Pleasure Island. Raglan Road, Portobello, ect...are really part of west side and then there is the desolate and deserted Pleasure Island.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Thank you everyone for explaining it to me.

Thommy, interesting blog. It must have been your report I heard on the podcast. Maybe the recent management mix-up will lead to some smart decisions there. They have until June 2014 to get it fixed up.

 

[AndyPok1]

Ya, short explanation is that the island is still there and referred to as such, but there are only a few shops and restaurants on it. What is typically referred to as Pleasure Island is the nightclubs, all of which closed almost 5 years ago.