Dueling Piano bars to become...

[CRSNDSNY]

...Cheers-style sports bar?
That is the news from Dreams Unlimited. Does this mean there will no longer be Dueling Pianos?

 

[BeanoC]

This is the latest from DCL, as reported by Dreams Unlimited Travel:



THIS JUST IN!!

The latest news from Disney Cruise Line confirms the rumors that we have been hearing. While in drydock, the Disney Magic will undergo the following transformations:
- ESPN Club will become the Teen Club
- Common Grounds will become a gourmet coffeehouse
- Off Beat (formerly Dueling Piano bar) will become a Cheers-type sports bar

Also of note, Rockin' Bar D will be non-smoking until 9 pm every night



'Beano'

 

[budwmn]

Hope they make this change to the Wonder as well. The new styled sports bar and coffee house sound great!

 

[kpgclark]

My comments:

Coffee bar-- I can only imagine how much a coffee will cost. Hopefully they'll have some games like checkers or something in there.

Sports bar- Hardly anyone was ever in the ESPN bar..... I think that idea stinks. We spent a lot of time in Off Beat. That's a shame to change it to a sports bar. I hope that they'll still have lots of family-friendly (non-sports related) entertainment.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Yeah, I'm not really for the sports idea, either. But I guess there must be a need for it.

 

[rae519]

Without Fidelio at Dueling Pianos, DS and I don't care what they do with it!!!!

We miss Fidelio!!!!!!


Rae and Michael (the pianist inspired by Fidelio!)

 

[dianedisney]

When I was cruising in early January Fidelio had told me about this rumor and what DCL was going to try to do. Sounds like a lousy idea to me. Dueling Piano's is much more popular than the ESPN Sports Bar and I am a sport addict. It is great the first couple days of the cruise then you get NO sat. reception and that is that. On this last cruise both times I went up to the Sports Bar is was almost empty. As for the "Coffee Bar" I don't know if anyone will pay the price, I don't know what they are going for now but 2 years ago on the Magic I had a double espresso at dinner and it cost me $7.50. I agree the teens need their own place beside a coffee house but find someplace else for it.

 

[MarkRG]

I confirmed this yesterday in the everything you want to know about the 7 day magic thread.

Now, note, this doesn't exclude that they'd move the dueling pianos to Common Grounds.

 

[inkkognito]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I really won't miss Dueling Pianos. It was okay, and I'll admit that the performers are VERY talented (I admire anyone who can play virtually anything without sheet music!), but it was never a repeater for me like the improv comedy was. With improv, it was a different show every time, and we would go to almost every performance throughout the cruise. With Dueling Pianos, it just didn't have the same repeater appeal. I think we've only seen it two or three times, and we won't miss it at all...plenty of other adult entertainment to keep us occupied. It seems like they have been expanded the variety shows (which typically include comedians), so I hope that continues. I love comedy!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[balbrec]

These changes will be okay by me. The fact that the new sports bar will be of a different motiff than the ESPN club, will probably draw a larger audience. The kids definitely need a place to hang
so using the old ESPN club for them sounds fine. Also it seems
(at least in most places) that coffee houses are all the rage now
days as places to go kick back and enjoy some quiet time, so this works also. I think Disney is just trying to go with current trends.


balbrec

 

[mariamard]

WILL THERE STILL BE A "NIGHTCLUB" WITH DANCING FOR ADULTS???

 

[Pugdog007]

I think they should make Sessions (is that what the jazz bar is called?) the sports bar. I don't think I've ever even seen anyone in there! Off Beat was always full of people, as was the other bar.

 

[lancerguys]

Let me put my input in. As a teen who has been to common grounds, I definitly think they need to move elsewhere. It is extremely tiny when it is filled with people. but as a sports fan, I think it is horrible they are getting rid of espn. I think that place is awesome. it was really a great place. but I am looking forward to see what the cheers-type bar will be like. do any of you know when these changes are going to happen? I know it will be during dry dock but I dont know when that is.

 

[zyezye]

Does anyone know WHEN the Magic will be in Dry dock for these changes ? We are sailing May 2004 and wondered if it was before that.

 

[Hygiene99]

yes we r on the first cruise after drydock witch is October 11th , 2003
so it is the week before that ... i believe it is in Va...
peter

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by inkkognito
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I really won't miss Dueling Pianos. It was okay, and I'll admit that the performers are VERY talented (I admire anyone who can play virtually anything without sheet music!), but it was never a repeater for me like the improv comedy was. With improv, it was a different show every time, and we would go to almost every performance throughout the cruise. With Dueling Pianos, it just didn't have the same repeater appeal. I think we've only seen it two or three times, and we won't miss it at all...plenty of other adult entertainment to keep us occupied. It seems like they have been expanded the variety shows (which typically include comedians), so I hope that continues. I love comedy!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

I would have to agree. Our first trip, we saw Greg and James in Off Beat and LOVED it! It got so rowdy and we were back there every night! It was one of the highlights of our trip. BUT, on this past trip in January, it was Greg and someone else and we weren't as impressed. PLUS, the first time around it all seemed pretty on-the-spot and original, but seeing the same routine again was kinda lame. It is true they are very very talented, but I was happy with the talent I would see from the other pianists onboard in Cadillac Lounge and such. And keep in mind, we've only seen Adult Shows and not the Family Shows. We tried the Dueling Pianos on two different occasions in January, but left early to try something else.

Just my opinion!

 

[Disney Debbie]

When we saw Dueling Pianos it WAS comedy. I mean they played and they were great - but the fun part was getting people in the audience up there. We went to 3 shows on our 3 night Cruise - 2 Adult and 1 Family - and they were ALL different! We were there the week before Christmas so maybe that's not the norm? But of the 5 of us that went all 5 of us got picked at least once to participate in something - my DH twice.

I can see how this might not be something that they would want all 7 nights - but I just hate to seem them do away with it completely.

 

[kpgclark]

You know what I find repeditive? The live band that plays the same songs OVER AND OVER during the sailaway and other deck parties. It's as bad as Radio Disney! I got tired of the same songs and I've only been on one cruise! Give me a break! I wish they'd add something to their play list.

 

[albiats]

Originally posted by Pugdog007
I think they should make Sessions (is that what the jazz bar is called?) the sports bar. I don't think I've ever even seen anyone in there! Off Beat was always full of people, as was the other bar.

I've had a different experience at Sessions (and Cadillac on the Wonder) and find that it almost always has several people in there, except very early and very late.

I use it and enjoy it there on every cruise and hope they keep it the way it is, except for an expanded non-smoking area.

 

[my3kids]

Is OffBeat the club with the bright colors and decoration? I never went to the adult area at night on the Magic, but did peek in at my children during a Lab activity that was in one of the clubs...they had a glow in the dark dance party in a room with bright colors. Circles maybe? Is that the area we are talking about?