Pleasure Island info...

[10_Kyle_10]

So up to date information about DTD and PI From Mouse-savers Newsletter:

Over the next year, the 120-acre entertainment-shopping-dining complex will add a number of one-of-a-kind, immersive experiences for guests. Downtown Disney will even get its own iconic attraction, in the form of a giant, tethered balloon that will take guests 300 feet into the air to view the amazing vistas of Walt Disney World Resort. Other new experiences include:
In fall 2008, guests will enter a world of prehistoric creatures at T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure. The dinosaur-themed family eatery will serve up pizzas, pastas, seafood and more, and will feature life-size animated dinosaurs that dwell among bubbling geysers, waterfalls and a fossil dig site.

Also this fall, a design-your-own t-shirt store from Hanes will add to the growing collection of merchandise guests can personalize at Downtown Disney.
- E-brands Restaurants, an Orlando-based, multi-concept restaurant group, will premier its newest concept at Downtown Disney in spring 2009. The high-energy, casual eatery will feature authentic Central and South American cuisine, specialty drinks and live music along the waterfront.
- Guests also will enjoy a brand new mix of shopping and dining experiences at Pleasure Island as it is transformed over the next two years. To complement these new experiences, many popular Downtown Disney locations will undergo enhancements.
- Beginning this summer, Portobello Yacht Club will be transformed into a Tuscan Country Trattoria. The refreshed menu features authentic Italian dishes and signature favorites and a re-designed interior along with an outdoor dining space.
- This fall, Goofy's Candy Company will add a special new room that will enable families to host one-of-a-kind birthday parties at Downtown Disney.
- The Marketplace Stage will be completely replaced with a larger, covered stage this fall to welcome even more entertainment to Downtown Disney and serve as a new premier venue for Disney Magic Music Days.
- Fulton's Crab House will update its interior fixtures and furnishing and exterior in Spring 2009. The enhancements include a refreshed third floor deck dining area to offer additional Disney guests and larger private parties the traditional Fulton's experience.
- Next year, Wolfgang Puck Café will update its interior fixtures and furnishings and will feature an enclosed glass patio offering guests a year-round outdoor dining experience.
- These efforts come on the heels of recent enhancements at World of Disney, Wolfgang Puck Express, Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop, Earl of Sandwich and Cap'n Jack's Restaurant.

 

[BlakeNJ]

Sounds great! I think this is a welcome change to the nightlife over there. My son is really looking forward to the new T-Rex restaurant!

 

[CanadianGuy]

100 % copied from the Disney press release. Thanks for sharing however, some of us may not have seen it.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Sounds great! I think this is a welcome change to the nightlife over there. My son is really looking forward to the new T-Rex restaurant!

Don't forget... One of a kind places such as the Adventurers' Club will close.. possibly forever.

MG

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Don't forget... One of a kind places such as the Adventurers' Club will close.. possibly forever.

MG

Yup. Truly pathetic. There isn't one thing on that list that will get me to venture anywhere near that place...La Neuba now stands alone, IMO.

 

[jfinke]

Don't forget... One of a kind places such as the Adventurers' Club will close.. possibly forever.

MG

And since I have a T-rex 5 miles from the house that is not a draw for me. It is not even part of PI. It is just another chain resturant sitting on WDW property. It just happens to have some kind of animatronics. Judging from the website, I am going out on the limb and say they are owned by the same company which owns Rainforest Cafe.

What ever happened to Walt being pissed about Disneyland being covered with cheesy touristy stuff?

I think part of what killed PI is when they designed it, it was on the edge of DTD. Now, it is stuck between two shopping areas. One of which has a AMC and a Virgin Megastore. Those two items are targeted towards tourists.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Haven't heard anything yet that sounds enticing.

 

[Scurvy]

There's a good article about this today on the Motley Fool site.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/07/15/more-business-than-pleasure-at-disney.aspx

There's quite a bit of empty space to add new shopping/dining around PI even without closing the clubs. It's good that some of the existing places are getting improvements or facelifts but the clubs don't need to close for that to happen. I'm horribly sad that Disney is trading their unique entertainment for things that can be found elsewhere. I really think it's a mistake.