Pleasure Island out, shopping in

[eandt]

Yes I believe DisneyQuest does stay open later but really if you are over about 13-14 you can only spend so much time playing videos........especially when you are surrounded by younger kids and parents. The older kids need a place where they can go listen to music hang out and get a bite to eat etc without having to dodge little ones or have their parents watching their every move. Again they do it on the cruise ship with their teen night club, really surprised they haven't done it at WDW..........Atlantic Dance Hall would be a good place for one as you are right it is always dead, could never understand that though, its a very nice place to hang out. Still would like to see one at PI also so that the parents and kids could go together, split up to attend their "club" and then return together. Come on Disney do something for the older kids so that we can come back again LOL!!!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Guys: PLEASE don't wish a "teen club" for the Boardwalk!!!! For starters, where would they all park?? Hordes of local teens swarming the Boardwalk???

 

[stepnut]

A "teen club" would be a disaster, IMHO. Like spring break, high school version.

 

[eandt]

LOL Well you guys must not have teen kids...........when you do and THEY stop wanting to come to Disney because there is nothing to do then you will see where a place for them to hang out with others their age might be an attractive option...... Unless you like dragging around a brooding teen every day for a week..........They can only do so many rides, shows, parades and video games, they need a place to be themselves. With all the security there wouldn't be any problems and if so then it would come back on the parents. Teach them right and they will act right. I have seen my share of adults acting like idiots too, it runs the gamut. If you don't give kids things to do that they like then that is what leads to trouble, example is the POP Warner "riots".

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I agree with Eandt. The cruise lines quickly figured out that unless they provided a place for teens to hang out, many families were no longer coming or they were coming and the teens were going to hang around and get into trouble. Teen clubs are huge draws and the kids love them! WDW needs a place like that too although I think putting it at PI would be a mistake. But they could put it somewhere where the 'rents could drop them off and they couldn't escape until they were picked up!

BobK/Orlando

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

Disney has looked into putting in a teen club, but research showed them that age group caused the most problems, even without a club...and having to deal with a large group of unsupervised minors was a huge liability issue.

also, to someone who said that many people might buy a 1-dance club ticket on pi and then have to buy another because the club is empty...generally, if you are in the first club for under an hour, a door host will walk you to another club of your choosing.

 

[eandt]

Don't really see the difference between being able to do it on the Cruise and in the resort. Make it for resort guests only and then if there is trouble call the parents to come and pick up their kid. I wouldn't have it open to the public only resort guests who have a kttw card. If they don't follow the rules then they are banned from the club. Like we said we have been to WDW/Cruises at least 14-15 times in the life of our 17yr old and the past 3-4 trips to WDW have been hard for him as far as being entertained. He loved the cruises. Again it comes back to parenting..........my son and his friends go to places with large gatherings of teens here at home all the time and never any trouble why would it be different in the most Magical Place on Earth?

 

[Uncleromulus]

I'd be for that only IF the teens would be locked in the building, unable to leave and loiter (oops, I mean hang out) all over the Boardwalk.

The idea of Mommy and Daddy having a great meal at V&A while junior and 30 of his new found friends--bored with the Club after 15 minutes-- are wandering up and down the Boardwalk just dosen't appeal to me.

Hopefully FSUDisneygirl is correct and even Disney knows it would end up spelling TROUBLE.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I did read something about the former Harley Davidson location being prepped for four new retail locations with a 'multi-floor venue' in the rear.. with an announcement due "soon"

Anyone heard about this?

Knox

EDIT: Found the bit mentioning this..

Nearly completed is the overhaul of a retail and venue building, along Village Lake, which has been vacant since the Orlando Harley-Davidson clothing store relocated and two other stores closed in 2006. Renovations appear to provide four retail storefronts plus side entrances for a multistory venue behind them. Disney officials would not discuss plans except to say something will be announced soon.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

That's from an article in the Orlando Sentinel that I posted on a thread here. No announcement yet. I'm out at PI tonight and will check further. Tonight is the last night for RRBC so I'll inquire further about the fate of that building too.

BobK/Orlando

 

[EUROPACL]

my son and his friends go to places with large gatherings of teens here at home all the time and never any trouble why would it be different in the most Magical Place on Earth?

Where do you live?

 

[stepnut]

Again it comes back to parenting..........my son and his friends go to places with large gatherings of teens here at home all the time and never any trouble why would it be different in the most Magical Place on Earth?

Parents are often the last to know about trouble!

 

[Dannielle_1]

5) It doesn't help that the clubs were not well thought-out.
6) They were also not well designed.
7) When they heard about City Walk, they rushed into building PI.

NOTE: WDW publicly admits they were thinking about the Studios and PI for years, but rushed into action when Universal was announced. They wanted to beat Universal to the opening in the worst way. And that is how they built MGM - in the worst way.

Pleasure Island opened May 1, 1989, 10 years before City Walk opened in Orlando. (4 years before Universal City Walk in Hollywood). See Wikipedia.

Also, Pleasure Island originially opened with a great theme pulling the entire thing together. About a old shipping yard with warehouses and Merriweather Pleasure deciding to turn it into a entertainment district. Adventurers Club contains all the artifacts Merriweather collected on his journeys. Unfortunately, the story has been lost over the past 18 years and it is now a shell of what it once was and is definately no longer "connected".

I first visted "PI" when I was 15 with my family, including my younger siblings (9,6) and we all had a great time wondering the island, eating dinner at the now long gone Fireworks Factory and enjoying the live entertainment outside as well as seeing some of the shows at CW and AC. We actually went several times over the course of our vacation. I slightly remember it getting more busy later in the evening, but there weren't girls/guys out in the streets selling test tube shots in the early years. It was much more low key.

We have visited PI on virtually every trip to WDW in the past 14 years. We have seen the quality of experience go down over the years but we still enjoy our time there. We have not had any issues with unruly kids or adults ever. The cost is not all that bad especially if you visit more than once while on your trip as you can pay an additional five bucks for five additional nights when you buy the initial ticket (or use your "pluses" on your resort tickets. They have taken away the live outside bands and the fireworks though which really made for a unique experience. The one thing we think that Disney needs to do is make a location where 15-17 yr olds can hang out much like they do on the cruise ships. A dance club for that age group at PI would be a welcome addition. Our 17yr old doesn't want to come back to WDW because there is nothing for him and his friends to do after dark (we normally travel in the fall/winter when the parks close by 8 or 9). We missed coming down last year but plan to travel next fall, hopefully PI is still around.

Disney did have a teen club on Pleasure Island when it first opened in 1989. I specifically remember there being one because I was looking forward to opportunity to check it out. However it closed before my family vacationed at Disney the following summer. I don't specifically remember the reason it closed but I think it was do to behavior problems and for some reason I want to say it was something somewhat serious, but I could be completely off base there (it was 18 years ago and I was 15). I'd have to do more research, as I couldn't find anything specific on the web tonight. I'll have to look into my "personal archives."

 

[Dannielle_1]

Okay, found some info on the teen club through Jim Hill. It opened when PI opened as Videopolis East and it was marketed as having 170 videoscreens. Once the "teen club" closed it became the Cage, then 8-Trax. I no longer know what it is now as I haven't been keeping track of PI lately.

Jim Hill has the press release about PI posted on this page.
http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2006/02/10/751.aspx


Okay, found out the Cage opened April 7, 1990 less then a year after PI opened. http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/wdworld/wdw1990.htm


More info on the backstory of PI and the original offerings. Look for Oct. 10, 2006, near bottom of page.
http://www.2719hyperion.com/2006_10_01_archive.html

 

[eandt]

Great articles Danielle thanks for the links! To the "poster" that asked where we are from.......We are from West Central PA where we do have our share of "issues" involving both the young and older folks when it comes to where they hang out and things they do. I believe that most kids are good in general and if given the chance in a properly staffed environment they will act appropriately. I wasn't insinuating that we had NO problems in our part of the world only that my kids and the kids that they are friends with have not gotten themselves into trouble. They aren't angels but they have been taught the difference between right and wrong and that their actions have consequences good or bad. I would have no problem at all with them having a place of their own to enjoy in WDW. My kids know that if we get a phone call regarding their behavior at dinner, the park, hotel, or anywhere else including at home they will be held accountable. Would hope that anyone else traveling to WDW would do the same. All of us were in their shoes at one time.

 

[CanadianGuy]

The Cage/Videopolis East.. is STILL 8-Trax.

Fun times.

 

[Jason71]

Pleasure Island opened May 1, 1989, 10 years before City Walk opened in Orlando. (4 years before Universal City Walk in Hollywood). See Wikipedia.

While there is no question PI was built before CityWalk (and, in many ways, CityWalk copied PI), I do think that WDW rushed into copying CityWalk's non-gated format after it opened. While there are many reasons for the decline of PI, that is #1. CityWalk was designed with that format in mind (it's "main drag" of clubs on the 2nd level is isolated and doesn't really need to be gated), PI was not (it quickly became a stroller thoroughfare, and hang-out for teens at the nearby movie theater).

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Didn't learn anything new last night; never even got in to RRBC as it was too crowded. Once Disney makes an announcement, it will get posted on here. To summarize the rumors:

1. RRBC building to be torn down.
2. New shops and either a restaurant or lounge to go into the refurbished building that is across from the 8TRAX upstairs entrance.
3. Name change to what is currently BET Soundstage.
4. No changes to Motion, 8TRAX and Mannequins.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Another Voice]

Pleasure Island was a direct copy of the old Church Street Station complex in downtown Orlando. Disney didn't like the idea of adults leaving property every night to drink, so just like mini-golf, they co-opted the competition.

The concept behind Pleasure Island was the many waterfront redevelopment efforts that were happening at the time. I think Balitmore's redevelopment (which Disney wanted to be a part of) was a big influence, to the point that Disney invented the mythology of their own waterfront to be redeveloped (Pleasure Island was supposed to be based on an "abandoned" developed that Disney happen to find on their property).

The overall master plan for Disney Attractions is to outsource, license and sell-off the operations at all of the parks. Corporate believes there is more money to be made from plain royalities (as at the Tokyo Disney Resort) or by own equity stakes in operating companies (like Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disneyland). Bob Iger - a life long employee of ABC Network - has even less interest or desire to run the parks as Michael Eisner did (who grew to flat out hate the places). Disney is all about the money these days, there is no creativity drive left. Theme parks are great places to be run by artists, but horrible places for small minds only interested in balance sheets.

Pleasure Island is just one of the victims of the trend. All of Downtown Disney is seen as nothing but a shopping mall and P.I. was that odd, old little bit that didn't fit the model. That's being changed. The buildings and plots will be sold off as quickly as buyers can be found - be it McDonalds or 'T-Rex Cafe' or a Hooters.

 

[Dannielle_1]

While there is no question PI was built before CityWalk (and, in many ways, CityWalk copied PI), I do think that WDW rushed into copying CityWalk's non-gated format after it opened. While there are many reasons for the decline of PI, that is #1. CityWalk was designed with that format in mind (it's "main drag" of clubs on the 2nd level is isolated and doesn't really need to be gated), PI was not (it quickly became a stroller thoroughfare, and hang-out for teens at the nearby movie theater).

I won't disagree. Just wanted to let others know that the "original PI" was built/conceived long before CityWalk.