Say goodbye to Pleasure Island...

[cruisedad]

I was just there this past Sunday (3/5) and there is no construction work. I think it is just a rumor about Pleasure Island going away.

 

[intrep93]

I just called Disney this morning to check on fireworks and parade times for our visit coming in September (ok - so i'm a little anal about planning early). I was told fireworks, music and confetti at west end stage (the new year's eve celebration) has been discontinued. I wasn't sure I believed that lady, so I called central reservations and they checked for me because they didn't know anything about it either. It is apparently true. The Island will be closing down in sections for major renovations. Lucky for us going in Sept, the AC will be open. It is going to close eventually, but it will probably not be until 2007 or so. No word on whether fireworks will ever be brought back. She thought it likely the AC would just be renovated, maybe moved. Another web site I was checking out said it will eventually end up in the location of the current 8 Trax, and that the island itself will mostly be resteraunts and shops. My Disney info person this morning said the retail stores and most likely a bunch of the clubs will be closed during our stay.

 

[jeanylaser]

what is the name of the store it use to be world of disney?

 

[Luv2Roam]

I did not realize the midnight hoopla stopped until we were there a few weeks ago. (Waited around until midnight for no reason.)
A friend of mine stayed at SSR late last year. She told me there were no fireworks coming from the downtown area even then.
I would not be surprised to see PI change from the way it is now, in some ways. But that goes for a lot of WDW property anyway. That is one good thing about Disney, there are enough changes to create talk and pique interest for everyone.
I would really be disappointed to see the comedy clubs go, as that is all we visit in PI.
I was e-mailed a PI questionnaire shortly after our last visit. I gave suggestions that we all often read and post here. The downside is the survey craped out as I was almost done. I hope they at least got what feedback I entered.

 

[doombuggy]

what is the name of the store it use to be world of disney?

The store is still called World of Disney. They are renovating the building. There will now be a room call "Adventure Room" that will have a pirate-themed decor. It opens on 4/5, along with the new room for girls, "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique."

 

[Kitka]

They will upset a long time fan if they do away with Pleasure Island. Disney can be a magical place and still have an area for adults to safely enjoy alcohol and other adult entertainment. I have to say, if Pleasure Island isn't for you, fine, but it definitely fills a desire for many other Disney guests. The comedy club? Great. The Adventurer's Club? Different, interesting. It's much more than just a bar. It's going out and having fun adult-style as only Disney could do it, and I for one will be very upset if it is gone.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

My MouseSavers newsletter just arrived and it says:

Pleasure Island will soon be undergoing some changes. The West End Stage and Hub Stage will close on 3/19/06 and be torn down. Superstar Studios has closed permanently; DTV, Zen Zone and Missing Link Sausage Company close permanently on 3/19/06;Changing Attitudes and Reel Finds close permanently on 4/1/06. The Harley-Davidson store will also be closing on 3/19/06 and eventually moving to another location (estimated reopening date is sometime this summer). It appears all of this activity is part of a major re-do of Pleasure Island, which will include changing the approach to the West Side, building a plaza with boat dock in the hub, and adding T-Rex restaurant (scheduled to open in 2008).

So it looks like the rumors, at least in part, are true.

 

[Jason71]

Just confirming...

As of Monday night, all the "lakeside" PI shops appear to have shut down. Long, beige canvas "walls" have been put up around both stages and all the lakeside shops except Missing Link (which still looked closed, not sure why it wasn't walled off). They continue to play videos on the hub stage screen, but the west side is very dark. BTW, "downstairs" bathrooms on the west side are closed--had to go all the way back to AC as I was trying to leave.

 

[RumpleMom]

We love AC and Comedy Warehouse. The reported closings list is no great loss.
It would be nice to have a country music venue.

 

[dobball23]

What does ADR stand for? I have seen it a number of places, but it is not in the list of abbreviations.

 

[Sarangel]

What does ADR stand for? I have seen it a number of places, but it is not in the list of abbreviations.

Advance Dining Reservations, usually. Why Disney can't just call them reservations like the rest of the universe is a mystery.

Sarangel

 

[deltachi8]

Do you think they are aiming to be a bit more like city walk? I went to PI last year and enjoyed it, then this year hit City Walk and thought it (City Walk) was done better.

 

[Madi100]

We love AC and Comedy Warehouse. The reported closings list is no great loss.
It would be nice to have a country music venue.

When we went in '99 there was a Wild Horse Saloon (or is it crazy?) It's not longer there, so it must not have been a big hit.

 

[Jason71]

When we went in '99 there was a Wild Horse Saloon (or is it crazy?) It's not longer there, so it must not have been a big hit.

As I recall, it actually had a decent following--at the time, it was the only club to sell individual admissions, and attracted quite a few locals because of that.

I forget the details, but the company that owns the original Wild Horse--and the trademark--pulled its support for some reason. Disney was clearly caught off guard, as it took them months to pull out all the Western decor, and years before they made any attempt to actually theme "Motion."

Chyenne (sp?) Saloon at Church St. Station always seemed to have a following, as well, so I think there would be a market for a country music venue.

BTW, Missing Link is now "fenced" off with the rest of the lakeside shops, and you can see holes through parts of the back wall of the Hub Stage.

 

[Cricket2]

Advance Dining Reservations, usually. Why Disney can't just call them reservations like the rest of the universe is a mystery.

What I was told by a marketing CM is that the term "reservation" literally translated in some languages comes out negatively so they always have added qualifying verbiage to it. Of course as we all know, anything heard from any CM should be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[Madi100]

As I recall, it actually had a decent following--at the time, it was the only club to sell individual admissions, and attracted quite a few locals because of that.

I forget the details, but the company that owns the original Wild Horse--and the trademark--pulled its support for some reason. Disney was clearly caught off guard, as it took them months to pull out all the Western decor, and years before they made any attempt to actually theme "Motion."

Chyenne (sp?) Saloon at Church St. Station always seemed to have a following, as well, so I think there would be a market for a country music venue.

BTW, Missing Link is now "fenced" off with the rest of the lakeside shops, and you can see holes through parts of the back wall of the Hub Stage.

Thanks for the explanation. I always wondered why it was gone. We enjoyed it the first time we were there.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

Opinion: I think that it's good that they are tearing it down because I cant see Disney as a part of a club. Disney is supposed to be magical not a place to drink and get drunk. The only reason that they even let you drink is because they have bus's back to your resort. I'm glad they are taking it out.

Comeon now...where else do you want us to get drunk? Hey that is an idea for a new thread....

 

[TriMom]

I forget the details, but the company that owns the original Wild Horse--and the trademark--pulled its support for some reason. Disney was clearly caught off guard, as it took them months to pull out all the Western decor, and years before they made any attempt to actually theme "Motion."

I don't know the details, but the company that owns Wild Horse is Gaylord. And IIRC, Wild Horse was pulled just before Gaylord Palms opened. That may be part of it.....

 

[thefirebuilds]

fact: im reading this forum cuz my gf is asleep and im just that bored.

 

[thefirebuilds]

Comeon now...where else do you want us to get drunk? Hey that is an idea for a new thread....

drink the worlds at epcot!