OMIGOD...No more Adventurer's Club?!?!?!

[kellyf2626]

Ok...just got this off Mouseplanet....

No more Hooplas?
A recent rumor that we've heard states that days are numbered for the entire lake side of Pleasure Island. Last week, we reported that "major enhancements" would be cause the end of the nightly fireworks at Pleasure Island and demolition of the West End Stage and Hub Stage. It turns out that there is more to the story.

The story, as we heard it, is that attendance has been down so badly at the Pleasure Island clubs that, even with extending Cast Member nights to five nights per week, they were still having trouble getting people into the clubs. Because of this, everything on the lake side of Pleasure Island will be demolished, and the area will be repopulated by contracted restaurants. Contracted restaurants have been the biggest money maker for Disney in the Downtown Disney area.

The rumor gives some time in early 2006 as the target date for the closure of the clubs and the beginning of the demolition. Should the rumor prove out, the only clubs to remain would be Mannequins, 8-Trax and the Comedy Warehouse. The rumor also states that another restaurant will be built at the far west end of Downtown Disney, between Cirque du Soleil and the Saratoga Springs Resort. If anybody has more information about this rumor, please let us know.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'm speechless....................

No more Adventurer's Club?!?!?

Can this really be true? Adventure's Club is the ONLY reason I go to PI

I'm not much of a club person, but I LOVE the Adventure's Club! How could they close it?!? It is one of the most unique things at WDW.

This is very, very sad news.

 

[MainStreetFan]

We all need to write letters. Maybe they can move it across the "street" and save it. I too only go to PI for the Adventurers Club. There just wouldn't be any reason to go anymore and then why would I need a PAP when an AP would be just as good.

 

[anewvance]

No way they would let it happen... it's the most popular club at PI!!! There would be alot of ticked off people... including me! I would seriously be peeved.

 

[welovewdw]

I too only go to PI for the Adventurers Club. There just wouldn't be any reason to go anymore and then why would I need a PAP when an AP would be just as good.

That is us exactly - the entire reason we get PAP's.

I would hate to see it closed. We go every trip at least on night ~ we were just there Thursday night! Kungaloosh!

 

[seashoreCM]

I don't think Adventure'rs Club will close unless:

1. Its attendance and refreshment sales are not up to snuff, or,

2. Its building was temporary, or,

3. Its building has deteriorated.

In other words IMHO Adventurer's Club might close for its own reasons but not in order that something else could go in its location.

I do think that Adventurer's Club could use some new material. I have already seen all of the shows multiple times and perhaps there aren't enough new guests nowadays to produce good attendance.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[nkjzmom]

I'm not one to jump on bandwagons but if this is true it will be a sad sad day. I am like the rest of you who ONLY go to PI for the Adventurer's Club. In my opinion it's the only intelligent thing there...it's brilliant! And I would suspect that if Walt could choose he'd keep it and ditch the rest.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I have never been to Adventurer's Club, we have tried to get there, bust something has always came up.We plan on going this trip and with this sad new we will have to make it a priority.

 

[TSR6]

edited.

 

[Leota]

I have a very hard time believing that rumor to have any validity. Esp. not when it comes to the Adventurer's Club. It is a very popular place. Every night we've been, it's been packed (maybe not for the opening shows, but certainly as it gets later)

We love AC too & it was a big reason we got PAP's last year instead of APs. Obviously, we are not alone in our feelings, hence, AC is still a viable money-maker. As long as it contiues to bring people in & sell them drinks (HUGE profit margin! Bigger profits than food) I don't see it as remotely in danger of closure.

 

[Bill From PA]

There's a thread on this on the Rumors Board. Here's two quotes that give me hope:

hmm... what I head when speaking with Joe Rohde last month was the exact opposite... "the AC is safe"

Originally Posted by Keith from AC Yahoo Group
A few, probably not helpful comments.
1. This rumor is not new. It has been around at least since Q1 of this year
and I am surprised it took this long to get out. The basic truth in it is
that the water front property is more valuable and has better views than the
other side of the street. Any big changes to PI will very likely affect
those clubs first.
2. While Joe Rhode did tell me that he does not believe the club will be
closing anytime soon, that does not mean there are no plans to do so.
If/When the time draws close he may hear of it, but the DD area is a
separate business unit from Calif. Imagineering and they are not required to
report to each other.
3. The Club does good business, especially for events. I hear this
everywhere. It may or may not mean it does well enough, or that the overhead
of operating it compares well to having places like HOB and Rainforest. I'm
sure these decisions are not based solely on attendance, and I know first
hand they do a lot of studies. As some of you can relate, the comedy clubs
are often packed, but these changes are not planed in a total vaccuum.
Factors such as profit, overhead, legal liabilities, safety, reputation, new
opportunities all come into play. The business climate, competition, and
Orlando as a city are not as they were 10 years ago. I'm sure the club will
eventually close -- sometime -- eventually. Things change at WDW all the
time as they older. PI wil lsee more changes in 2006.
4. I'm sure the performers will know before we do, as it will affect their
working arrangements the most.
5. With all the new hotel space and general park attendance up, it is a
fact that there is a restaurant shortage in WDW.
I hope when the time does finally come there will be a special party and
auction for those that love the place. For some of us it's a second
(sometimes dysfunctional) family. The PI Comedy clubs are the very BEST
venue on WDW property to see the multiple talents and improv skills of the
performers.
I always wished Disney whould franchise the club or to NY and Vegas. I
would rather see them plexi-glass in the top floor of the Adv Club and turn
it into a themed restaurant/bar or a dinner theater rather than eliminate it
or the downstairs shows. Of course then I'd need the equivalent of a
Hoop-de-Doo dinner annual pass.
The bottom line is that we will just have to wait until someone that really
knows tells us.


Bill From PA

 

[boomhauer]

I must be missing some about the AC. I went there with some friends in 2003, and I was bored. There were lots of people just sitting around, and if I recall. some guy was telling some sort of story. I was falling asleep.

 

[PneumaticTransit]

Well I went on Monday night, and although it wasn't PACKED it was still a very good turn out considering it's a slower time of year and it was a Monday night.

I can't believe their drink prices thoughh. $6.50 for a cup of Long Island Iced Tead... $10 for 2 beers. I can see why they don't have menus out with drink prices anymore.

AC is the only reason I go to PI. Actually, it's my favorite place in all of Disney World. I would be really upset if it closed.

And about that article about restaurant shortages at WDW... um...

 

[donnabc]

OK what exactly IS adventures club?

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I somehow can't seem them tearing out all of the PI clubs, especially since they just built Raglan Road! Sort of along the lines of "if it's not broke, don't fix it!" I agree that it would be nice if they'd update the material at AC, but I certainly hope it doesn't go anywhere!

 

[FourFlans]

Going for our first trip in a few weeks. Since my parents are going with us, DH and I have planned to take a "night out" and I've been considering the AC. Now I'm sure that's where we want to go!

 

[Paisleyjane]

Shocked and awed and disappointed! I sure hope this isn't true. I will be flying in on the 17th, and I will head over there that evening!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

OK what exactly IS adventures club?

The AC is a club in Pleasure Island themed around being a late 1930's (1939 I think?) club where adventurers hang out in between their travels and share stories. The walls are covered with things past adventurers have brought back from these trips, from strange tribal relics to the head of a "yakoose"!

The main area of the club is a big sittig room (with the ever important bar!), where you can sit around, sometimes interacting with the club's cast. Every half hour or so, however, there is a "show", which takes place in one of the other rooms. The shows are kind of a mix of skits and improv, and usually involve audience participation.

Each night, there is also a "New Member Induction", where you learn the club song and salute.

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

I'm hoping to visit AC for the first time in December. Should be fun. I hope it's not the last time.

We've been to WDW many time and have never went to AC.

 

[misslissa]

Just a sidenote here, but can someone explain to me the whole premis of the Adventurer's Club? Please!

Last year, the Adventurer's Club was the worst experience we had at Disney, it actually caused me to write a letter to Disney specifically about it. The guy at the door was the rudest person I have ever met in my life. I was sooo angry and my DF was so furious that the second we walked in, we just looked at each other and walked right out. It left such a bad taste in our mouths and that whole nite that I'm not sure I can even convince my DF to go to PI ever again.

However, I have heard lots about this place being wonderful... can someone explain to me the whole idea behind it?