Return of Adventurer's Club?

[Sonnyeclipse]

Attractions magazine is reporting a rumor on the premier episode of their show about the Adventurer's club coming to Hyperion Wharf....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUAV2Fkg-rM&feature=sub

Not sure whether to believe it or not, but it is exciting to think it may be a possibility.

 

[ToddS]

This is also currently being discussed in the "So What's Coming to the new Pleasure Island" thread...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1931928

 

[mcd2745]

Hope this is not just setting people up for further disappointment.

 

[CapnZach]

Since Dis admitted they will be doing 1st party stuff in these plans, this isn't that unbelievable. All of the assets are still there, the theme generally fits in with HW, and it was a popular and presumably profitable show. I imagine it would be need to be retooled to be a profitable venture. Really, all you would need to do is mandate a cover charge ($10/head?).

Anyone more familiar with operations see a reason this wouldn't work?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) It would be nice.
2) But, I think it is wishful thinking.
3) The bar (AC) did not make that much money.
4) And, certainly not the $/sqft that Disney wants.
5) Even with a cover charge, it is a poor performer.
6) People need to drink 3-4 cocktails per hour to pay for a bar.
7) The minimum budgeted is 2-3 per hour to properly absorb overhead.
8) People at AC get a drink or two, then spend their time listening.
9) Not drinking.

NOTE: I know the budgetary amount for drinks seems high, but look at Jellyrolls (even with cover charge) or any other entertainment bar at WDW. Patrons drink 2-4 per hour, easily. Now look at your favorite neighborhood sports bar, where they push beers and drinks about every 10-12 minutes.

 

[OldsDr]

1) It would be nice.
2) But, I think it is wishful thinking.
3) The bar (AC) did not make that much money.
4) And, certainly not the $/sqft that Disney wants.
5) Even with a cover charge, it is a poor performer.
6) People need to drink 3-4 cocktails per hour to pay for a bar.
7) The minimum budgeted is 2-3 per hour to properly absorb overhead.
8) People at AC get a drink or two, then spend their time listening.
9) Not drinking.

NOTE: I know the budgetary amount for drinks seems high, but look at Jellyrolls (even with cover charge) or any other entertainment bar at WDW. Patrons drink 2-4 per hour, easily. Now look at your favorite neighborhood sports bar, where they push beers and drinks about every 10-12 minutes.

Isn't there something to be said for haveing something fun to get people down there. When my Brother and i used to go to AC. We not only would buy drinks in the AC, but also at the walk up staions all around. All those sales were primarlly becuse we were there for AC. That is what I think people are missing. I am a firm believer that trying to get a premium for everything will cause losses in the long run(this would make a great MBA thesis). I think this failuer to see the need to draw people in were major contributors to the failures of the disney store and Circuit City. Most of the stuff in any store should be there to make the most money possible, but if you have that center piece that is not as profitable, but draws a lot of people in, then I think you will end up making more money.

Disclaimer:
I am not an MBA, nor do I plan on becomming one

 

[CapnZach]

Unfortunately intangible things like ancillary purchases aren't easily measured on a balance sheet, regardless of how true they are, and thus don't get factored into decisions most of the time. Some people are really stupid enough to think "boy that drink cart is doing a great job!" instead of "boy, that club nearby is doing a great job increasing business at the drink cart!".

 

[Polydweller]

Rusty could also have added a number 10. The cast were Equity union actors and Equity pay rates are much higher than the non-equity characters. It means that there needs to be more sales to make a profit. Unfortunately people sat there all night nursing one drink.

 

[ToddS]

I think Disney should have just made it known a few years ago that Adventurer's Club patrons needed to drink more or the place would have to close. I'm sure most would have been happy to oblige! I know I would have, had I ever made it there.

Crossing my fingers for a second chance...

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Unfortunately people sat there all night nursing one drink.

Yeah, but I made up for them.

MG

 

[anthony2k7]

weird.

some people saying AC was too expensive as people sat there all night nursing one drink.

Other people say AC was highly profitable and actually supported most of the rest of PI.

both arguments cant be right - so some people are making it up.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

some people saying AC was too expensive as people sat there all night nursing one drink. Other people say AC was highly profitable and actually supported most of the rest of PI. both arguments cant be right - so some people are making it up.

Most credible sources say AC was profitable when you add in a pro-rata share of the price of the all-club ticket. But it was labor intensive and thus costly. Any new viable AC would need a cover charge plus drink minimum or a package price that included both. Or some sort of restaurant format/dinner show.

6) People need to drink 3-4 cocktails per hour to pay for a bar.
7) The minimum budgeted is 2-3 per hour to properly absorb overhead.

A typical visit to a night club is 2-3 hours. By your theory on average guests would be consuming 6 to 12 drinks during such a visit. Everyone would be horribly wasted at such rates and have blood alcohol levels above .20. That is NOT the way it is and clubs don't need (or want) consumption rates at those levels. A more typical rate is 2-3 drinks per person in an entire night.

BobK/Orlando

 

[robertdangelo]

I feel a dinner show for AK could pan out... look at Hoop Dee Do. I also agree that there needs to be a draw to the area.
"An Adventurer's Life is best!"

 

[Luv2Roam]

I am tired of getting my hopes up and then dashed again. So choose to ignore the latest rumor.

If profit was a major concern, and of course it should be, Disney really missed the boat big time by only serving beverages.
ANY kind of bar food would have been welcomed.
Not to mention a gift shop! Who would have thought Disney management would not have had a gift shop where one was sorely needed and wanted. (And yes, I know there use to be one. I can't imagine it did not help profits. Mismanagement is what I consider it.)
The clubs not only had their profit. They increased other business sides -- restaurants, stores, ticket sales, etc.
I know for us we drastically cut back on annual passes. We use to dine weekly in WDW. Now maybe every 4 - 8 weeks. We avoid DTD, and hence Disney shopping in general.
And we are just one couple. I can only imagine how many others like myself are out there.
Some people even vacation elsewhere. And I have to admit I have been doing that too. We stay on property less and less too. Just nothing different for adults w/o kids to do. Yes, love the parks. But we can do that during the day.
We aren't partiers or drinkers. But we enjoy a good time. Now the evenings seem rather dull and boring when staying on site.
Sadly, Disney has made many of us adults and DINKS think we are not in their interests any longer.

 

[TisBit]

A typical visit to a night club is 2-3 hours. By your theory on average guests would be consuming 6 to 12 drinks during such a visit. Everyone would be horribly wasted at such rates and have blood alcohol levels above .20. That is NOT the way it is and clubs don't need (or want) consumption rates at those levels. A more typical rate is 2-3 drinks per person in an entire night.

BobK/Orlando

I agree that Rusty was a little high in his estimation, but you are a little low. Typically the body will burn off one drink an hour....at a club it is going to burn off a little more through the activity involved (dancing, etc). I would say the target drink would be 1.5 drinks an hour on average per guest.

This is about right for any bar actually, having your guest coming back every 45 minutes for a refill would keep them from getting hammered and being carried out and would also keep profits optimal. Usually, your drinkers will cut themselves off about an hour before leaving, this will make them feel more comfortable getting themselves home safely (usually still over the legal limit for driving though...in a .08-.12 BAC range, which is your average DUI case).

 

[Jason71]

A couple points. First, sorry Rusty, but 3 -4 drinks an hour is insane anywhere. Drink sales were still healthy whenever the Island was, especially when you include Jungle Juice outside. $15k on a weekend night healthy (IIRC, Club cost about $5k a night to run, feel free to check Screamscape's archives if anyone wants to keep me honest.)

Second, Disney had obscene profit margins on drinks. You think they spend more for rum and draft beer than TGI Fridays? Yet they sold the same at 2x or 3x the price. You also can't overlook the $25 cover charge that most patrons were paying (either up front or as part of MYW). Your average local watering hole doesn't sell $25 in booze to a single drinker in a night.

Finally, the Club was never meant to be the arrive at 7, leave at 1 experience it became, especially in the final months. It was built on the idea people would wander in, see a show, then wander out to go dance, see fireworks or a CW show, eat... That's ultimately why it would not work as a stand-alone venue. The humor, seating/guest flow and capacity were all based on that assumption.

This wasn't a profitability question. It wasn't a show quality question. It wasn't an issue of family-friendliness. TDO wants to outsource everything it can. That is all this comes down to.

 

[jassmine12]

If there is anything like that then it is the best news i have heard today..

 

[jarrdisney]

I know it's just wishful thinking, but the return of the AC would be AMAZING! I am not getting my hopes up, but this is the first rumour I've heard in a long while. I'd be more than happy to pay upwards to $20 to get into AC not including my AP. I am also not against them have at least a 2 drink minimum as well. I agree with the posters that said people wouldn't drink or would nurse one all night. I was fortunate enough to have been at least 10 times prior to closing, and I saw it every night I was there, mostly by locals. The AC shoudln't be treated any differently than a comedy club or dinner show when it comes to that, especially if it means the return of the club.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I've said numerous times that Adventurers Club, Comedy Warehouse and 8TRAX could all be made family-friendly and thus have viable profitable homes at Hyperion Wharf. All would drive a lot of business back to Downtown Disney, especially among locals during the off-season times.

BobK/Orlando

 

[rpmdfw]

I know it's just wishful thinking, but the return of the AC would be AMAZING! I am not getting my hopes up, but this is the first rumour I've heard in a long while. I'd be more than happy to pay upwards to $20 to get into AC not including my AP. I am also not against them have at least a 2 drink minimum as well. I agree with the posters that said people wouldn't drink or would nurse one all night. I was fortunate enough to have been at least 10 times prior to closing, and I saw it every night I was there, mostly by locals. The AC shoudln't be treated any differently than a comedy club or dinner show when it comes to that, especially if it means the return of the club.

I love how the locals are always painted as the ones who nursed one drink all night. Every local that used hang out with us at the Adventurers Club drank three or four a night. Scott and I used to spend AT LEAST ten thousand dollars a year on cocktails alone at the Adventurers Club (and the Jungle Juice stand right outside if our favorite bartenders were out there). I saw plenty of tourists or out of town visitors ordering "a glass of water" and then not even tip the servers.

Heck, I even saw one couple bring in their own thermos of coffee every time they came to town because they didn't like Disney's Decaff. That couple was then one of the loudest complainers when they announced the club closing. Really? You think you might have contributed the profitability of the place?