Pleasure Island - Here Today - GONE Soon?

[Uncleromulus]

I'm not shedding any tears.. I agree with Orlando Mike and EltonJohn.

 

[zulemara]

I too would be upset to see PI close I had many fun nights there as a College Programmer.

you, my friend, hit it right on the head as to why I will be SO UPSET to see this go. As stupid as this sounds, PI is over 95% responsible for the way my personality has developed since high school. Aside from my first bf coming from PI, I learned how to dance, gained self confidence, and enjoyed oh so many nights between the comedy clubs, Mannequins, and 8-trax. Working extra hours as a door host at 8-trax will never be matched in my mind for the most fun job I've ever had.

I'm now a mobile DJ and my ability to talk, interact, and dance with and in front of crowds spawns directly from my days at PI.

This has been rumored for a very long time. I have a friend in ticketing who has been telling me of the downfall since early 2005. It appears this time he might not be blowing smoke. I think the building renovations they did were to make the clubs more appealing to a potential buyer. My hope is that the clubs are bought out but stay open and unchanged.

I only thank my lucky stars that I was able to have so much fun with DBF on my last trip over Christmas and New years. Now he understands what it's like to have so much fun at night. I have another trip coming in June and I'll be sure to make a nostalgic walk through the area in case it's gone by the time I get back in Jan 09

 

[grinningghost]

So, is it pretty much that CityWalk has killed PI? If so, then Disney has finally met it's match, and it's a sad thing that they can't find a way to reinvent PI so it not only competes with CityWalk, but, in the traditional Disney fashion, blows it away.

What is going on with Imagineering? Have they lost their touch?

 

[ChrisFL]

So, is it pretty much that CityWalk has killed PI? If so, then Disney has finally met it's match, and it's a sad thing that they can't find a way to reinvent PI so it not only competes with CityWalk, but, in the traditional Disney fashion, blows it away.

What is going on with Imagineering? Have they lost their touch?

I don't think we can equate it the same way....CityWalk gets a lot of locals, due to location mostly I think. It's not the same "imagineering" need as the theme parks

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I view Pleasure Island as the "Edsel" of night time entertainment.
. . . a great idea
. . . by most measurements, well executed
. . . but, poorly marketed, with no sound target audience/customer
2) They have tried
. . . various marketing plans
. . . different admission policies
. . . traditional and non-traditional target audiences
3) By WDW's own publicity
. . . they targeted locals wanting an alternative to other clubs
. . . they targeted adult WDW guests (of course leaving the kids in the room?)
. . . they targeted young adults (of course bringing out teens and tweens)
4) They just can't make a go of it.
5) I think the reputation is so tarnished that a complete change is necessary.
6) More eateries with entertainment will probably be the framework.

 

[grinningghost]

I really believe they should do all they can to reinvent it now. By just throwing in the towel and saying they give up, they're admitting they screwed up totally - NOT a good idea for Disney to ever admit they've completely missed the mark. They need to get in there and consider it a "rehab" - and they need to do it now.

It makes me angry that Disney seems to be allowing PI to die a slow, painful death, rather than rushing in and rescuing it before it becomes a laughing stock. The company is so much better than this.

 

[RoutemanDan]

I really believe they should do all they can to reinvent it now. By just throwing in the towel and saying they give up, they're admitting they screwed up totally - NOT a good idea for Disney to ever admit they've completely missed the mark. They need to get in there and consider it a "rehab" - and they need to do it now.

It makes me angry that Disney seems to be allowing PI to die a slow, painful death, rather than rushing in and rescuing it before it becomes a laughing stock. The company is so much better than this.

No, they aren't and haven't been for long time now. This is standard operating procedure. The unfinished section of POP has been left to rot for years, River Country has been left to rot for years. Discovery Island sits unused and overgrown. If they aren't building more DVC rooms they are selling off land. WDW as we knew it is dead.

The Walt Disney Company sees WDW as a money grab plain and simple. Get the most money you can from people with investing as little as possible back into the place.

 

[EltonJohn]

By just throwing in the towel and saying they give up, they're admitting they screwed up totally - NOT a good idea for Disney to ever admit they've completely missed the mark.

Why would giving up and admitting they made some mistakes not be a good idea? I believe that type of thinking would stifle a company would it not?

 

[Jason71]

So, is it pretty much that CityWalk has killed PI?

Not at all. Honestly, I don't see any evidence CityWalk is doing that much better (at least in terms of nightclubs, restaurants are a different story). PI was killed by:

• Stagnation--as was mentioned, nightclubs get old quick, and the next new thing is right around the corner
• Tearing down the gates--destroyed the feel of exclusivity as well as the party atmosphere, turned the place into a parkway for strollers
• Small cuts ("declining by degrees")--first the Xplosion dancers, then the exclusive merchandise at the AC, then one of the outside stages, then the fireworks, then the other outside stage...

BTW, latest rumor is that 8-Traxx will go down soon for a week-long refurb...this doesn't necessarily contradict what Knox reported, could be the first step in transferring ownership. Something is definitely up, tho.

 

[DC7800]

they're admitting they screwed up totally - NOT a good idea for Disney to ever admit they've completely missed the mark

After California Adventure, the fact that Disney can sometimes (translation: often) completely and totally miss the mark is pretty obvious.

Yes, once Disney was indeed so much better than this. That was pre-Michael "sole focus on growth & shareholder value" Eisner and Bob "Caveman" Iger. It makes me angry too.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

BTW, latest rumor is that 8-Traxx will go down soon for a week-long refurb...this doesn't necessarily contradict what Knox reported, could be the first step in transferring ownership. Something is definitely up, tho.

If there is one club that is nearly always crowded, even on the off-nights during the early and middle part of the week, it's 8TRAX. And as far as I know it's the only club in metro Orlando consistently playing old 70's disco hits. So I just don't understand why they would mess with it. Spruce it up.....sure. It's looking dated and I don't mean in a 70's way. But to change the format? I sure hope not! I'll have to check out the rumors over there this evening.

BobK/Orlando

 

[grinningghost]

After California Adventure, the fact that Disney can sometimes (translation: often) completely and totally miss the mark is pretty obvious.

Yes, once Disney was indeed so much better than this. That was pre-Michael "sole focus on growth & shareholder value" Eisner and Bob "Caveman" Iger. It makes me angry too.

OK, point well taken. They CAN screw up, but I guess it's about time they get back to where they always used to be - on top. Innovative, and beyond the best of the best. Is it so difficult for them to see that they are becoming an embarrassment with their screw ups (as a previous poster said, unfinished Legendary Years, rotting River Country, etc.)? You would think SOME egomaniac in Imagineering would be shooting himself in the head over this stuff?

Remember when big egos used to count for something?

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

OK, here's what sources out at PI told me last night. Just because this is what they are being told doesn't mean it's true though:

2008:
1) South American restaurant & lounge is going into the recently renovated building formerly housing the fast food restaurant, Harley-Davidson store, etc. It's not going into the RRBC building.

2009:
1) Motion will close. The building will be used for meetings & banquets.
2) There are no plans to tear down the wall between 8TRAX and Mannequins. They are load-bearing walls and the bathrooms are between the two clubs. It would be very expensive to attempt that. However,
3) Mannequins will become 8TRAX. The revolving floor will stay; music will vary night to night.
4) Unknown what will become of the building currently housing 8TRAX. Possibly shops.
5) BET Soundstage will become the Adventurer's Club Restaurant. You heard it here first folks! If true, that's a good sign AC will stay where it's at.

Again, this is a rumor thread and these are just rumors as repeated by employees who may or may not be in the know.

BobK/Orlando

 

[yitbos96bb]

This makes me very sad. I have such fond memories of good times at PI - back in the day, as they say. I know change is inevitable, but I wish they would revamp PI, not completely change it. (SIGH)

Yeah, it was an intregal part of my college programs... sigh.

 

[huge mickey fan]

Okay I don't go to PI however I do not have a problem keeping it going. I don't think the gates should have come down because as someone else said it has become over run with strollers. I don't know why the adults only scene had to go away. I have a young child and there are plenty of family attractions and venues that we can't get everything done on 1 vacation. I don't have any need to take my son to PI. I don't take him to nightclubs at home why should I on vacation. I would think having an adults only area should bring in plenty of cash to mainain it. I just think that they are missing the mark to get rid of it all together. I understand that many adults don't travel with children so why not give them a place without children?

 

[MJMcBride]

5) BET Soundstage will become the Adventurer's Club Restaurant. You heard it here first folks! If true, that's a good sign AC will stay where it's at.

Frankly, as long as the AC survives, I don't care what happens to the other clubs

 

[Disneybag]

Frankly, as long as the AC survives, I don't care what happens to the other clubs

That's exactly how I feel about the CW. If that goes, I'll have no reason to go Downtown other than AMC. It's really the only place on property that I visit on a regular basis.

 

[SandraVB79]

Please forgive me my ignorance but I don't get it: Online, everyone says they will miss PI. It seems like LOTS of people go to PI. So why do they then close it?

I guess only a small crowd is interested into those clubs/ places.
When I go to Disney, I want to see the Mouse, and at the end of the day, I am exhausted, and don't feel lik dancing/ going out anymore.
If I were in for a party vacation, I wouldn't go to WDW for that.
PArents with children => hard to party because what to do with kids?

I personally will not miss it. It doesn't have to go, but I never "got" why they had it anyway.

As for changing it into more restaurants: have you people looked at the Restaurants board? With so many people on the DDP, I think there is a lack of TS restaurants. So that might be a "logic" turn.

 

[TDC Nala]

All I can say is that I would hate to see the demise of something as unique (it doesn't exist anywhere else in that form) and entertaining as the Adventurers Club in order to put in another restaurant - which would most likely be a chain restaurant that I can visit in any other city. And I like food. (If they do put in a restaurant I do hope it's owned by a company that doesn't want to mess with the dining plan.) At a restaurant, you eat, you leave. Then you need to find something else to do. You don't spend several hours being entertained.

I don't know much about the other clubs except CW. It's not exactly unique but I would hate to see that go, too. It's more unusual than just another restaurant.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Well if all of this comes to pass then PI will be left with just one nightclub playing a try to please everyone mix of music. I've been on too many cruise ships where the DJ tries to do that and it ends up pleasing no one. And if Mannequins becomes 8TRAX, this doesn't mean Disney is going to own it either; they will probably try to sell that off too. They will need to change the name of Pleasure Island to Franchise Island.

BobK/Orlando