Kids at Pleasure Island?

[areno79]

I agree with all of you as to the age limit after a certain time. When DH and I were there before, PI didn't even start getting busy until after 10:00 or 10:30.

 

[marriedmarylander]

I haven't been to PI but it's bars/nightclubs. I personally do not think that is the environment for children. There are people drinking who want to pick up/hook up with others who are there. Do you want your kids to see a guy grabbing a girls behind or people dancing sexually? What if some guy gets sloppy drunk and starts a fight with someone and a brawl breaks out? People may be cussing. People smoking. Some people might take drugs (Ectasy). Maybe Disney vacation isn't the time to have that type of conversation if your kids start asking questions.

I may have exagerrated a bit because I'm sure PI isn't a trashy place... but still "grown up" things may happen.

 

[Acklander]

DS and his friend went with us the first time when he was about 12 or 13 during the earlier part of the evening. They both enjoyed the AC and CC. The material was along the line of PG13 which was fine.
When DS was 16, DH brought him and the nanny (age 18 - who was on holiday with us as we also had a 14 mos old) out for an evening at PI - They had a blast dancing in some of the clubs, did the CC, and then more dancing in the street until midnight. While there were guests there who were drinking and smoking, this didn't really have much impact on them and the parts they fondly remember is what a good time they had dancing during the evening.
I agree with Marriedmarylander, that PI isn't a trashy place, and while "grown up" things may be happening there; for the most part I think of PI as a safe place - it's not as if I set the teens loose at PI, they were out with us and from what I've seen it's mostly just tourists out looking to have some fun. By the time my kids were 14 or so, they were well aware that "grown ups" sometimes drink, smoke, and do stupid things. That's just part of life. Some people prefer to shelter their kids from this, and those parents would probably be uncomfortable bringing their kids to PI, even during the earlier part of the evenings.

 

[DisneyMim]

We've been going to WDW forever and went to PI two summers ago for the first time. Our kids were 19 and 14 at the time and they went to DQ while we were there. We felt they were old enough for this. Last summer we had "free" admission to PI so we took the kids and even my oldest was shocked to see young children there. My youngest told me that he didn't really enjoy it, he felt it was an adult place and I have to agree with him. Children are only young once, don't rush it. IMHO there are plenty of places tt take young children at Disney. They should not be at PI. There is a lot of things that are just too adult, CMS dressed at nurses selling "shots", etc. Very cute I think for adults, but not so cute for young kids. Obviously this is just my opinion, go if you must, but keep in mind that Disney offers tons of baby sitting options like the Neverland Club, etc that I think kids would enjoy way more.

 

[Henlady]

After many years of visiting DisneyWorld (beginning when my children were 3 and 5 yo), we visited Pleasure Island for the first time in January 2004. My Daughter was 20 at the time of that visit. I was surprised to see a woman with a 6 week old baby at the Comedy Club. The "actors" make a joke of it when they asked how old the baby was about it being the youngest kid in a bar.

The way I view Pleasure Island is that it is an area full of bars. Each club has a bar in it and there are bars in the open on the street. Personally, IMHO, I would not take any child into a "bar" weither at Disney or not. This area is an ADULT venue. I took my children to Disney and they enjoyed the parks and Downtown Disney/Disney Westside. I never found it necessary to expose them to Pleasure Island. We are not prudes and do occasionally visit "bars", but never took our children to this type of place. I just feel that children do not "need" to go everyplace that adults go. But that's just my opinion.

 

[GoodFairies]

Just to reiterate what many others have said, don't go into PI thinking that just because "It's Disney" that it's appropriate for children to be there. It is no different than any nightclub area in your hometown. I have seen fistfights at PI and that was just when passing through. If you wouldn't take your child to a nightclub or comedy club or bar at home, why would you do it on vacation?

 

[marriedmarylander]

on a side note... are the kids there just until a certain time or until 2AM? I plan to go to PI and as an adult if it's full of children I would feel a bit uncomfortable dancing.. um, you know dancing close if a child is watching me... Do they usually leave by a certain time?

 

[mking624]

I have seen children there at all hours while PI was open.

I agree with what was said...you wouldn't take children to a bar at home...why would you do it on vacation?

Yes, certain things are "a part of life", but for me personally, I would rather my children experience those certain things when it's more age appropriate for them.

 

[Bill From PA]

My 2 Cents: The humor in both comedy venues is on the level of the average Drew Carrey episode. If Drew is ok for your kids, the AC and CW will hold no surprises. The humor is double entendre'. If your kids 'get' the joke, their innocence is already gone. Humans over the age of 3 pay a hefty price to enter WDW and its 'Plus' attractions. Expecting parents to keep their children out of PI because you are not comfortable in their presence is asking a bit much. Disney has decided that two of the clubs at PI and JellyRolls are adult fare. The rest is left to the parents, not all of whom feel the need to shelter little Bubba.

Bill From PA

 

[mking624]

I don't consider it sheltering so much as I consider it recognizing I would want them to experience certain things when it's more age appropriate. It's not a need of mine to "hide" my children, but it's also not a need of mine to throw them to things they don't fully understand either. I just wanted to say that because the word "sheltering" can have quite a negative connotation to it.

But no, I don't feel it's much to ask. PI isn't the only "plus" option and I hardly doubt parents buy the ticket solely because PI is a plus option. If that was their main reason, they could just buy an individual ticket to PI and save themselves some money.

I guess my main mantra now is what I said earlier...based on what another member said. If you don't take them to bars at home, why would you do it on vacation? I haven't been convinced of the "other side" of this. Just a differing opinion, I guess.

I do think, if anything, they SHOULD impose a time limit though since things get more risque as the night goes on. That's the best idea I've seen as a remedy.

 

[Bill From PA]

mking624,

I'm completely respectful of your opinion on this, but do you really mean to say that my then 11 and 12 year old daughters, who enjoyed CW and AC, and for whom I paid $325 ea. for a 7 Day Hopper + pass, should have stayed away to avoid causing mental distress to an adult? And BTW, the corner pub is a community staple in my corner of PA, and generations of my extended family have fond memories of family nights out at such places. Not every place that serves the Devil's Brew is a den of eniquity.

Bill From PA

 

[DrTomorrow]

[...] One of the CMs in Adventurers Club told me they regard 9 pm as the witching hour, at which point they make pointed statements designed to persuade parents it's time to exit stage left with the kids.

And this is one of my (many) favorites at AC. There's nothing like the look on the parents' faces when Samantha Smith tells a child - in front of the entire crowd - to "Make sure you tell everyone back home that your Mom and Dad took you to a bar on vacation!"

IMHO, it's simple - the later it gets, the less appropriate it is for children, and the older a child should be to stay there.

As for Bill From PA: there's a wide range between "sheltering little Bubba" and taking little Bubba to see some wasted locals have a bar fight 3 feet away from them. Haven't seen it at PI yet? We have.

ETA: OTOH, I'm certain that any boys in the 10-14+ age group would love to be at the AC when Sonny the French Maid bends over in the opposite direction....

Be well!

 

[buzz2400]

I have read all the debates about bringing kids to PI and I have decided for right now not to bring my ds who is 13 because of how a lot of people don't like the idea of kids there. However I thought I would bring him to the new years eve thing just so that he can see the streamers and such since you don't have to pay admission to get into PI. What are the feelings about this?

 

[mking624]

Not every place that serves the Devil's Brew is a den of eniquity.

You're absolutely right. But also remember that not every place that serves alcohol is like the pub in your neighborhood...i.e. more family friendly. PI just happens to be one of them, IMHO. AC is my favorite club there and the only one my husband and I go to. But even there things can be a little risque and I personally wouldn't take my children to a place where the jokes are more adult oriented. I'm glad you haven't witnessed what many of the rest of us have (and hence the reason we feel the way we do)...I hope you never have to witness it.

It's not my "mental distress" I'm concerned about, I'm more concerned about what I would be allowing my children to be exposed to when the things are not age appropriate. But again, that's my personal take on it. If you're comfortable with taking your children in that kind of environment, that's ok for you. There are just some of us who prefer the adult-oriented atmosphere to stay adult. There's no right or wrong to our opinions.

I understand spending a lot of money on the Park Hopper Plus (although they do not even cost that much for the 7 day premium ticket anymore), but I'm assuming I'd be correct in saying that you didn't buy the Plus ticket *solely* for the purpose of going to PI? That's what I meant when I said to save some money and buy the PI ticket separately. I didn't say to avoid the place.

 

[missypie]

Don't know when in June your trip is, but if it's betweeen the 1st and the 6th, check gayday.com and gaydays.com. I believe that they have a few event scheduled for PI. That could make crowds huge and from what I hear, the PDA takes place in the bars and at the hotels (as opposed to the parks).

 

[erinch]

Partly, whenever this discussion gets to about page 3, as it does every couple of months, it feels to me that participants start talking apples and oranges.

If I'm not mistaken, the concensus of those of us who DO take our kids to PI is that our experience there with our kids during the early hours of the evening fit our parenting style, and does not seem to be unduly inhibiting on the adult couples there who are trying to escape the rugrats of DW for a few hours of adult entertainment.

Those who are opposed either don't want their kids exposed to risque humor (it's a lost cause in my family; took DD 8 to a Shakespeare play and spent the rest of the night watching her "get" the innuendos. It's the 17 year old big brother that's the problem ) or don't think the atmosphere is appropriate for kids.

But those who are (rightfully) pointing out the darker side of PI are talking about how it is later in the evening. Has anyone ever seen the "darker side " of PI emerge before 9:00 in the evening? The times we've been there that early, it's seemed to be mostly families, and the adult venues were completely dead.

 

[Tarheel Tink]

I realize that when I order the trip planning videos/DVDs from Disney that I choose the adult version vs. the taking a child with you version, but mine always bring up PI as "the adult side of Disney". All of them always mention "for the adults"; I did view a children's version a few years ago and it said this also. I sat up and shouted "I KNEW IT!" in my friend's living room. We all know that Disney isn't going to alienate the parents who choose to bring their children to Pleasure Island (something in which the movie Pinocchio tried to send a message) but they are certainly nudging them to think twice.

My vote- none of my business but so far have been less than thrilled to deal with children in this venue. I realize it would most likely be a lot of fun for parents to have their children with them, but unless they do this at home (attend clubs and bars with their kids) why do they do it here? Like others, I have seen too much happen here.

 

[cocowum]

Last year DH and I went to PI the first time. We got there early maybe 7ish and it was dead. Very few people. We did see families with children. We went to the 8pm Comedy show. I don't think I'd be comfortable with DD there. The show was fine but there were several people in the audience that were pretty drunk. We thought it was hilarious but would not have wanted DD9 there. This time we will bring DD10 just to the dance clubs (she loves to dance) but only right at opening and for no more than an hour. As soon as people start showing up we will leave.

 

[areno79]

That's basically our plan too Cocowum. Once people really start coming into PI, we'll leave.
I don't think it would be too bad to take the kids to 8Trax for a little while. The music is pretty tame (compared to today's music), and I know they have an upstairs, that was EMPTY when DH and I were there. They had benches and chairs, and a bar, but no one was up there. That might not be too bad either

 

[DrTomorrow]

[...]But those who are (rightfully) pointing out the darker side of PI are talking about how it is later in the evening. Has anyone ever seen the "darker side " of PI emerge before 9:00 in the evening? The times we've been there that early, it's seemed to be mostly families, and the adult venues were completely dead.

This is absolutely correct. (Since DS is 24 and lived in a fraternity house while at UMich, "sheltering little Bubba" is no longer our concern ). I'd have no problem stating that at 7PM, PI is primarily filled with folks who don't usually go out nightclubbing - families with children, older folks and the non-party crowd. The balance starts to shift at around 8:30 or 9, and by 10 or so it isn't uncommon to see folks unsteady on their feet and/or using the occaisional foul word.

Of course, you're the parents - YMMV. But PI is a collection of Disney Nightclubs - Nightclubs where alcohol is served, and I sometimes get the feeling that - for some parents - the word "Disney" means "child-safe and -appropriate" 100% of the time.

Be well!