Pleasure Island at Night w/ 11 yr. old?

[Mark P.]

Hi,
Is it permissible for an 11yr. old to visit PI at night? (with us, of course!) And if so, is he allowed in some of the clubs for a Roy Rogers type of kids' drink?

DW, DS (11) and I are going to see Cirque Du Soleil, and although we're not much on club hopping, DW and I would like to swing through PI for a just a bit after seeing Cirque, as it would be much easier to bring our 11yr. old with us rather than keep him at the resort.

He's at that age when he'd rather hang out with us than be, in his words, "babysat" at the children's club, and we wouldn't be comfortable leaving him alone bored in the room.

Thanks,
-Mark

 

[WDSearcher]

This is a "hot button" topic here -- bringing kids to PI -- but to answer your questions, you can bring an 11yo to PI with you, and he will be allowed in some clubs with you. He will not be allowed in Mannequinns or BET Club. Your best bets for him would be early (family-friendly) shows at the Comedy Club or Adventurer's Club.

Now ... whether or not you SHOULD bring an 11yo to PI is the debate. It's definitely an adult destination -- you'll see people selling jello shots on the street, drunken folks hanging on each other, people trying to pick each other up (literally and figuratively) and all sorts of other basic club and bar behavior. The earlier you go in the evening, the less of this behavior you'll see. If you're not planning on hitting PI until after 10pm, I personally wouldn't bring an 11 year old. But plenty of people do without long-lasting emotional scarring!

 

[Bill3]

It's just not necessary. There are 24gazillion things for kids to do at WDW without going to PI. I have seen kids and their parents embarrassed at shows at the Adventurers Club. Oh, it will be a fairly expensive "walk through."

 

[Rpsemont]

I can't say what you should do. Only you know what you "expose" your children to. That being said, I consider myself fairly guarded of my daughter with sexual inuendo, not very guarded with alcohol (My Dh's cousin has parties with jello shots 2-3 times a year and DD goes to those). We took her to PI last Feb when she was 9. The biggest downside of this was that she hated it and now does not want to go again, which means we'll have to really cajole her if we want her to go with us again. DH got her to dance with him a couple times at 8 tracks, she was bored with AC (our favorite) she best liked the "beach club" bar bacause it was empty and she could go cartwheels on the dance floor. In general, I would say a midweek visit during a slower time of year is more safe than a weekend, or a visit during a busy time of year or college spring break week.

 

[eeyore0062]

Yes, you may take your 11 year old into PI with you. They can go into all but 2 clubs, which are 21 and older clubs--- Mannequins and BET Soundstage. Your child must stay with you the entire time you are in PI. Yes, you can order your child a Shirley Temple, Roy Rogers or even a virgin Strawberry Daquiri or Virgin Pina Colada.

My DD likes to go, but only cares for the Adventurer's Club, which is fine, because that it our favorite, too!

 

[civileng68]

I also will not tell you what you SHOULD do but will say this from my experiences.

At night Downtown Disney is a different place than during the day. Also, downtown disney is a differnent place on weekend nights than from normal nights, as locals come out to the clubs.

Especially on weekend nights, you may notice that your 11 year old wont want to go when he gets there. It can be very intimidating for kids at that age sometimes, depending on the night. It can be very roudy and very sort of "premiscuous" atmosphere on certain nights.

Every kid is different but, some kids can be very intimidated by that atmosphere, as I was as a kid, and even at times now as an adult can feel that way when in DTD with my wife. We dont go to PI but we do go to DTD at night and sometimes on weekends, it's a bit uncomfortable for me.

You can take them but, it's definately built for adults, just so you know what to expect.

 

[TiggerXx]

An 11 year old might like the Comedy Club. I went this summer and Im 14, and even I got a little freaked out. Lol. Some creepy people there... Other than that theres the Adventurers Club which bored me to tears... So I wouldnt reccomend it.

 

[disboo]

Yes, kids can go to PI. Admission is $16.95 each.

However, having just been there this weekend, I strongly feel you should NOT take children to PI. There is public drunkenness, very "adult" behavior, and lots that I don't think children should be exposed to. There are many other places to go. Even AC, which I loved, had plenty of sexual innuendo (and not too subtle, either) even in the early shows. Please find something else to do!

That ends my moralizing for the day.

 

[Mich Mouse]

Our DD (12) loved PI....We are AP holders, so we go early on weeeknights, see the first comedy show and then visit the Adventurers Club. Sometimes we will dance at 8-Trax. The AC shows, and general crowds, are much tamer during the early evening, and get more adult as the night progresses.

I have never been uncomfortable or offended by anything. (We are Church going Christians) They even inform you at the comedy club that the show is Disney-tized, and when they ask for audience participation, it must be "Disney-appropriate." We always leave PI before 9:30, and have never had a bad experience. We do not drink at home, or at PI, and visit for the experience!

 

[benebire]

Why does someone always feel they have to "tell" the person what to do? It's YOUR decision as a parent and no one elses here. I have taken my teenagers to PI and they enjoyed the comedy warehouse. I probably would not take them into any of the other clubs as they would not enjoy that, but thats for MY family. Have fun whatever YOU decide to do.

 

[DepCor0311]

Mark...First off...SEMPER FI! (I'm a Former Marine 1987-1993)
and as to your question...
Yes you can do it...but keep some things in mind...When DGF and I were at the Adventurer's Club (we don't have kids), there were some kids there and they drew alot of attention from the CMs, but not in a really good way. Of course the CMs were not mean to the kids, but they were pointed out, and mildly teased, at every oppertunity, and the CMs made it a point to announce (about 10 times, no exageration) that they had to change their jokes because the kids were around.
As to the issue of whether or not kids should be there, that's your call, you are the parent. Just know that there are people out there, like me, who aren't going to change their adult behavior because there are little ones around.

 

[Slacking]

Regardless what people say here, ultimately the choice is up to you, because you know your son better than anyone else on this bored. I've recently ventured out to PI a few times this last month, and sure, alcohol is sold out on the streets, but I didn't see anything that would (or should) offend anyone. Of course, I wasn't out during the later hours, and the only club I ventured into was The Adventurer's Club, but this is just my experience. Like I previously said, you know your son better than anyone else, so the decision is up to you, but I personally feel that some posts here slightly exaggerate PI.

 

[Mark P.]

Thanks for the replies (Semper Fi to you, too DepCor0311).

Didn't mean to touch on a hot topic, but I do understand why it could be one.
I've been to PI a few times and can't say that I saw anything that would be considered "too much" for our son. (certainly wouldn't dream of bringing him if it were otherwise!) And we'd be out of there well before late...Feel like I'm defending myself here...

Anyways, we thought we'd just browse through PI for an hour or so after Cirque with our son. But (undersandably) it sounds as though it's not a very popular thing to do, so I think we'll skip PI and do what we love to do best...Spend quality family time together, elswhere

Thanks again,
Mark

 

[erinch]

On our last trip, with DS 15 and DD 7, the comedy club was one of our unexpected highlights of the whole trip. My DD LOVEd it, and wanted to go back another night, rather than going back to MGM. The first several sets of the night are very tame.

When my DS was 13, he had been served a supposedly "non nut" cobbler at Universal--he's violently allergic, almost died, we almost owned Universal (different story), and he ended up in a wheelchair for most of our Disney portion of the trip due to the leg and stomach problems from all the steroids. That's all beside the point, but at the end of the trip he was feeling a little better, and we shut down Disney Quest, then were making our way back to POR. He was exhausted, and I suggested we duck into the Adventurer's Club for a Mountain Dew, and so he could sit for a few minutes. I was really apprehensive about how they would react to someone that young after midnight. I drew the bartender aside and explained the situation; and pretty soon my son was "experiencing" the bar stool, and a couple of the CMs were sitting next to him making him feel at home in a zany way. I will always feel really grateful for their responsiveness in a tough time. But on the next trip 2 years later, there WERE many pointed comments from CMs in the AC about all the children in the room around 9:00.

We came away with the impression that 9 is pretty much the "witching" hour--it's pretty family friendly up till then, and after that many CMs feel they ought to be dealing with adults.

 

[CamColt]

Thanks for the replies (Semper Fi to you, too DepCor0311).

Didn't mean to touch on a hot topic, but I do understand why it could be one.
I've been to PI a few times and can't say that I saw anything that would be considered "too much" for our son. (certainly wouldn't dream of bringing him if it were otherwise!) And we'd be out of there well before late...Feel like I'm defending myself here...

Anyways, we thought we'd just browse through PI for an hour or so after Cirque with our son. But (undersandably) it sounds as though it's not a very popular thing to do, so I think we'll skip PI and do what we love to do best...Spend quality family time together, elswhere

Thanks again,
Mark

We went in July with our kids, then 4 & 7 and did just what you are mentioning. We walked through to checked it out for about an hour. We didnt go in any of the clubs. The kids enjoyed the music at the stage and they were none the worse for having gone there. No, it wasnt the high point of the trip for them but they werent miserable either. We also saw a lot of kids of all ages there during that time, including babies(it was very early). I went again in December alone and again I noticed quite a few kids outside. This time I went in the clubs and didnt notice many kids inside(there were some though).
Quite honestly Ive never seen anything there that I wouldnt want my kids to see either, but Ive only been about 4 times now, so Im definitely not an expert.

 

[eeyore0062]

I also will not tell you what you SHOULD do but will say this from my experiences.

At night Downtown Disney is a different place than during the day. Also, downtown disney is a differnent place on weekend nights than from normal nights, as locals come out to the clubs.

Especially on weekend nights, you may notice that your 11 year old wont want to go when he gets there. It can be very intimidating for kids at that age sometimes, depending on the night. It can be very roudy and very sort of "premiscuous" atmosphere on certain nights.

Every kid is different but, some kids can be very intimidated by that atmosphere, as I was as a kid, and even at times now as an adult can feel that way when in DTD with my wife. We dont go to PI but we do go to DTD at night and sometimes on weekends, it's a bit uncomfortable for me.

You can take them but, it's definately built for adults, just so you know what to expect.

Downtown Disney is fine at night.... I believe this meant to say Pleasure Island. But, as I have said before, my DD loves the Adventurer's Club, so don't feel as though you have to keep your child away if you want to go.

 

[FLAsomeday]

PI is a very, very BAD idea for those unser 16-17. I would seriously recommend a different option. I have seen quite a bit that kids should not be exposed to.

 

[patsal]

My children are 9(DD) and 13 (DS), we took them to PI last summer. Middle of the week, early evening. We took them to AC and CC, no problems, we left around 9:30 when things were picking up a bit. I think it is important for kids to learn how to act responsibly as an adult. If behavior or dress is outrageous we talk about it--mention how silly that person is going to feel in the morning when they realize what they have done, etc. It was a fun and harmless addition to our vacation and we will do this again.

 

[Bill From PA]

I've been searching for all the out of control behavior at PI that I've been hearing about for some years now and have yet to find it. The humor at the Comedy Warehouse and Adventurer's Club is on a par with any typical Drew Carey episode. If that's too risque' for your young'un, avoid these places. There will be adults consuming alcoholic beverages. If you wish to shield your child from that reality, save PI for another day. If you've got a 'Hopper Plus' type pass, your 11 year old has been charged as an adult and and is entitled to any Disney entertainment not specifically barred such as BET or JellyRolls. The decision is yours to make.

Bill From PA

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

I'll just add, do what you want to do, and be aware of what's around you and who's around you....