Save the Adventurers Club

[Master_Gracey]

Dear Fellow Adventurers,

As we are all aware of, Disney is planning to close all of Pleasure Island on Sept. 27, 2008. While many would like to see Disney change their minds on the whole concept, there is a huge push to keep the Adventurers Club alive. Personally, I have found that The Adventurers Club has become a home away from home, where guests can become lifetime friends with other guests as well as the characters that roam it's hallowed halls. I'm sure that I am not the only one who feels this way, so I am including in this post links to TWO "Save the Adventurers Club" Petitions as well as the addresses to Upper Managers of The Walt Disney Company, to send physical letters to. Please inform everyone who loves Pleasure Island and the Adventurers Club of this post, to repost it to every Disney Fan Site, to sign the petitions and send letters to the company’s executives. Remember, while a stack of letters can be thrown away, it is not as easily dismissed as the pressing a delete button. Please, flood the Executives mailboxes (both physical and electronic), with multiple copies if need be. While many might believe that it is a fruitless effort, please remember that Disney is supposed to listen to its guests and if they receive enough comments they will eventually have to listen. And If they don't, we will at least have tried our best!


Kungaloosh!


Petitions:
Save a Part of Walt's Legacy
http://www.petitiononline.com/wdwadvcl/petition.html

Save the Adventurers Club!
http://www.petitiononline.com/wdwaclub/petition.html


Letter Writing Campiagns:
Kungaloosh Forever
http://www.kungalooshforever.com

PeterDavid.net
http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/006323.html

Executive Addresses:
Mr. Robert Iger
Chief Executive Officer
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4873

Peter Murphy
Personal Adviser to CEO Robert Iger
500 S. Buena Vista St.
Burbank, CA 91521

Roy E. Disney
Director Emeritus, The Walt Disney Company
500 S. Buena Vista St.
Burbank, CA 91521

Mr. James A. Rasulo
Chairman
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4873

Meg Crofton
President
The Walt Disney World Resort
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Al Weiss
President
Worldwide Operations
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
PO Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Jim Lewis
President
Disney Vacation Club
200 Celebration Place
Celebration, FL 34747

Walt Disney World Guest Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

Walt Disney World Guest Relations
P.O. Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830


Executive E-mail Addresses:
Bob Iger, Vice President of Operations, Walt Disney World
Robert.A.Iger@email.disney.com

John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney/Pixar, Principal Creative Advisor of Walt Disney Imagineering
jl@pixar.com

Kevin Lansberry, Vice President of Operations Downtown Disney
kevin.lansberry@email.disney.com

Meg Crofton, President Walt Disney World Resort
meg.crofton@disney.com

Jay Rasulo, Chairman Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
jay.rasulo@disney.com

Al Weiss, President Worldwide Operations - Disney Parks and Resorts
al.weiss@disney.com

Barry Carlson, GM of Operations
barry.r.carlson@email.disney.com

Kris Piser, DTD Finance Manager
Kristine.piser@email.disney.com

Walt Disney World Guest Communications
wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com


Media Pages:
Facebook Group:
http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=17614776169

Myspace Group:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=392 612672

Orlandosentinel: Pleasure Island fans rallying to try to save clubs
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_tourism_aviation/2008/06/pleasure-island.html

Pleasure Island Nightclubs Slated To Close
http://www.wesh.com/entertainment/16744556/detail.html

Save P.I. The Radio Revolution
http://blogtalkradio.com/savepi

Adventurers Almanac
http://www.2719hyperion.com/search/label/Adventurers%20Almanac

Others:
http://www.savetheadventurersclub.info

http://adventurersclub.ning.com


Forum Threads:
WDWMagic
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=325622

Mice Chat
http://micechat.com/forums/showthread.php/save_adventurers_club_pleasure_island-99204.html

Mouse Planet
http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?t=107402

The DIS Disscussion Forums
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=26811610#post26811610

Walt Disney Boards
http://www.waltdisneyboards.com/showthread.php?t=2523

Some days you eat the mouse.
Some days the mouse eats you.
But never give into the mouse without a fight!

KUNGALOOSH!​

 

[Wild4Walt]

This is a great thread. Signed the online petition and wrote in.

 

[gismo1554]

Boosting this back up to the top! Can't believe its closing before my trip!

 

[EnnEss]

If they listen I hope they expand it, Im not sure it can survive as a stand alone without other bars the way it is.

 

[Master_Gracey]

So, I was perusing a ton of old Disney News Magazines this weekend, and came upon some very interesting articles on the once proud Pleasure Island. Proud, that is, until Disney decided to let its magic fade away. Here are some images and stories Disney would rather sweep under the rug and pretend never happened!

Pleasure Island Ad circa 1989

Disney News- Fall 1989

Newsweek 1989

Disney News- Summer 1991

More to come, as soon as I finish scanning more. Let us continue to let Disney know we are not willing to forget our magical night time refuge that is Pleasure Island and most importantly the Adventurers Club!

Some days you eat the mouse.
Some days the mouse eats you.
But never give into the mouse without a fight!

KUNGALOOSH!​

 

[WDWguru]

That is SO COOL! I remember so many of those places. And did anyone else notice one of the actors in the AC photo is STILL in the cast today (the guy on the left)!?! He was playing Otis last time we were there iirc.

 

[RllngRckBrw]

I think it is dissapointing because it appears almost as if Disney alowed PI to go under. They have been cutting corners for years and have failed to take advantage of offpurtunites in front of them. I think there is now a void at WDW that can not be filled by being able to make my own underware. For shame Disney. The AC and the rest of PI will be missed.

 

[Scurvy]

Oh, wow! Thanks for posting that! One of the Adventurers pictured is one of my current favorite CMs - I hadn't realized he'd been there that long. I still see one of the others in the picture around World Showcase occasionally.

 

[Bill From PA]

To anyone who thinks this is a futile effort, a few years back Disney planned to abolish Early Entry for resort guests, claiming that they took a survey that indicated that WDW visitors would rather have some lame 'Character Caravans' visit the resort instead. I and many others e-mailed in protest, I received a phone call from Disney Guest Relations as a result and eventually the Caravan idea was dropped and EMH restored. Disney does listen, and they'll pay more attention to a letter than an e-mail. Personally, we were in the market for a DVC property, now, that's off the table because of the AC closing. I'll be including that in my letters.

Bill From PA

 

[Master_Gracey]

More articles to post! Take a look at the variety of celebrations that were once held at Pleasure Island!

Disney News- Spring 1995

Disney News- Fall 1992

Disney News- Winter 1990

Disney News- Winter 2001

Also, just read and wanted to share an uplifting post on the DIS Discussion Forums from "Bill From PA"

To anyone who thinks this is a futile effort, a few years back Disney planned to abolish Early Entry for resort guests, claiming that they took a survey that indicated that WDW visitors would rather have some lame 'Character Caravans' visit the resort instead. I and many others e-mailed in protest, I received a phone call from Disney Guest Relations as a result and eventually the Caravan idea was dropped and EMH restored. Disney does listen, and they'll pay more attention to a letter than an e-mail. Personally, we were in the market for a DVC property, now, that's off the table because of the AC closing. I'll be including that in my letters.

Bill From PA

Lastly, for this post at least, I have it on good authority that Disney has not been able to keep up with the letters, e-mails, and phone calls due to the shear volume of the guests responses! Keep up the fight everyone, and just maybe we shall continue to march along as Adventurers for many years to come!

Some days you eat the mouse.
Some days the mouse eats you.
But never give into the mouse without a fight!

KUNGALOOSH!​

 

[Sawx04]

Jump Up For Jinkies!!!

 

[Scurvy]

Jump Up For Jinkies!!!

We love 'em!

 

[Sawx04]

We love 'em!

M-M-M-M-m-m-m-m-m!

 

[seashoreCM]

A colleague at work introduced me to Adventurers' Club with pictures he took when he returned from a Disney trip. Since that time (1998 or so) I have visited the AC on every trip.

(copied from another forum)

No part of the shows in the Adventurers' Club and the Comedy Warehouse involve a view of the outside. Therefore either could be resurrected in a different location.

On the other hand, if either took up too much space and didn't make enough money*, or if the performers are getting bored with the same old scripts, then there isn't much hope.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

* A comment made about a merry go round that was dismantled as a result, and which was later resurrected at and for the 1963-4 New York Worlds Fair (where It's a Small World and other Disney attractions debuted).

 

[Scurvy]

(copied from another forum)

No part of the shows in the Adventurers' Club and the Comedy Warehouse involve a view of the outside. Therefore either could be resurrected in a different location.

On the other hand, if either took up too much space and didn't make enough money*, or if the performers are getting bored with the same old scripts, then there isn't much hope.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

* A comment made about a merry go round that was dismantled as a result, and which was later resurrected at and for the 1963-4 New York Worlds Fair (where It's a Small World and other Disney attractions debuted).

The performers aren't bored - they are as upset as we are that the clubs are closing. (At least the ones I've heard from are.) And honestly there's so much improv that goes on I think they keep themselves entertained along with the rest of us most of the time.

And I agree that the waterfront location (and view) isn't necessary for the clubs, which is why I don't intend to let people forget about the Adventurers Club even after Sept. 27. They could easily rebuild and reopen in another location if there was enough interest to justify doing so. As for the money issues, I don't think even Disney knows how well the clubs could do with proper advertising and a nightly admission charge. However, given their popularity now when so many people don't even know what they are I think they could be hugely popular if Disney actually publicized them!

 

[Master_Gracey]

Here are a few more articles to add to the mix. One including a rare site, Cinderella Castle and The Adventurers Club sharing the same page! Another one describing not only the clubs, but the MERCHANDISE LOCATIONS and RESTAURANTS Pleasure Island once held. If anyone knows why they were closed please enlighten, for if Disney wants stores and restaurants on Pleasure Island, just utilize their existing space and leave our clubs (particularly the Adventurers Club) alone!

Walt Disney World Vacations Magazine

Good Housekeeping- 20th Anniversary Guide to WDW

Some days you eat the mouse.
Some days the mouse eats you.
But never give into the mouse without a fight!

KUNGALOOSH!​

 

[Master_Gracey]

Here is another Disney News article describing the amazing “New Years Eve Every Night” celebration, and the first Pleasure Island Cast Photo.

Disney News- Summer 1989

Pleasure Island Cast Photo

With the one month mark approaching, it is now the time to fight hardest! Do not give up hope Adventurers; we will save our beloved Club somehow.

Some days you eat the mouse.
Some days the mouse eats you.
But never give into the mouse without a fight!

KUNGALOOSH!​

 

[Jason71]

The sad thing is, reading over these reports (awesome find, BTW, Master Gracey), if they did it right again--with the live bands, and the diverse clubs each with a unique theme, and the fireworks, and "Forbidden Disney" shows mixed in with the improv at CW--the whole Island would be a hit again.

When things decline by degrees, to use Kevin Yee's term, you don't realize how far they've actually sunk.

 

[Master_Gracey]

Thank you Jason71, I'm glad you enjoyed my findings. It is very true that Disney let something amazing slip farthur and farther into decay as new management believed that they had to shift their focus from appeasing a wide and varied demographic, to appeasing little pirates and little princesses. Anyway, I am still scanning at least one last article that I found in the vaults, but until then, I was perusing Youtube today and came upon an amazing video. It shows what has to be the most magical moment that I have ever seen come out of any Disney park, and of all places it is at the Adventurers Club!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oX7-W0vSPA

We have less than a month, but there is still time to let Disney know that adults deserve Magical Moments while visiting Walt Disney World and the best place for us is at The Adventurers Club!

Some days you eat the mouse.
Some days the mouse eats you.
But never give into the mouse without a fight!

KUNGALOOSH!​

 

[APB513]

And did anyone else notice one of the actors in the AC photo is STILL in the cast today (the guy on the left)!?! He was playing Otis last time we were there iirc.

I noticed that too!!! He was Emil Bleehall the night we went. He and everyone else in the cast were so great.

It was our first visit to the Adventurer's Club. And unless Disney has a change of heart, it will be our last