So What's Coming to the New Pleasure Island?

[gemstone1952]

Pretty balloon-a bit pricey though. Even if it were not so pricey, I'd still take a pass--I don't particularly like heights.

Watched the youtube of the "celebration" over on PI. Lame. The DJ and cast members seemed to be the only ones "enthusiastic" and they did work that crowd as best they could. The kids looked bored--and the adults--well, they weren't really part of the "family themed entertainment"--it was just for the kids. I think the kids would enjoy rides more but they did go through the motions. Lame.
Not good enough to get me to renew my AP.

 

[AdventurerKat]

No offense to the people working that thing but

For those of you unable to make a special trip out to PI just to see the new PI Live festivities, someone has posted it on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFSKzV2Tvio

Hmmm....we could reopen some of the clubs and clear $50K per night.....or we could do this. Tough call. This is cute for the kids but hardly a revenue-generator and hardly a substitute for what was there.

BobK/Orlando

PS-thanks to my Blog reader Ken for proving the link to me.

 

[LoriS]

For those of you unable to make a special trip out to PI just to see the new PI Live festivities, someone has posted it on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFSKzV2Tvio

Hmmm....we could reopen some of the clubs and clear $50K per night.....or we could do this. Tough call. This is cute for the kids but hardly a revenue-generator and hardly a substitute for what was there.

BobK/Orlando

PS-thanks to my Blog reader Ken for proving the link to me.

I just showed the video to my 8 and 5 year old dd's and they both gave it a thumbs down and a big raspberry. Then my 5 year old said "what they are doing right there now, is making NO MONEY!!!" Pretty sad even a 5 year old can see what the higher ups can't.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

The DJ and cast members seemed to be the only ones "enthusiastic" and they did work that crowd as best they could.

That's it! That's it exactly. I was out there this evening watching part of it again and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. But that's what it was. The main guy on the ground was trying to get passersby to tell him whether they were celebrating anything and he really had to dig something out of them. After he had gathered around 20 people they all celebrated by dancing to the Electric Slide. There was little enthusiasm. A few people did stand around and watch but most passersby kept passing by.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Luv2Roam]

The only way that will work to get wanted attention is to give away freebies.
I am glad for the hours it gives some. They are trying their best to make something out of nothing.
But this obviously will not be around long without some major revamping. It just made the obvious negative even more obvious.

 

[zulemara]

The only way that will work to get wanted attention is to give away freebies.
I am glad for the hours it gives some. They are trying their best to make something out of nothing.
But this obviously will not be around long without some major revamping. It just made the obvious negative even more obvious.

I agree entirely

I was on the island last night and caught the last 5 minutes. They weren't doing anything of course. There was a LOT of foot traffic going through PI and I saw multiple people asking security why the clubs were closed. As usual, the response is a big shrug of the shoulders, followed by "they want more shops and restaurants."

What a shame.

One thing to note is they took away the sign on the "main" PI bridge that advises you can't take alcohol off the island and you can be video recorded at anytime. If they are looking to open this place back up and be outsourced, that certainly doesn't seem like the right move to make.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

One thing to note is they took away the sign on the "main" PI bridge that advises you can't take alcohol off the island and you can be video recorded at anytime. If they are looking to open this place back up and be outsourced, that certainly doesn't seem like the right move to make.

Hmmm......I've walked from Mannequins over to House of Blues before with my drink in hand so even with the sign, I never knew that was against the rules. And I doubt there is a requirement to warn people they might be video recorded; I think nowadays you're pretty much recorded anywhere you go.

I don't read anything into the sign's removal one way or another.

BobK/Orlando

 

[asianway]

So I checked this out today, the CM's did a good job with what they had. But watching it, I counted 2 DJ's, 4 stiltwalkers, and 4 other actors. They seemed to be switching off to give each other breaks, but still....10 people were getting paid equity scale pro bono. No merchandise being sold, a few drinks at Laffers, but no revenue realized. With an empty venue across the street that sold 75 $225 tickets in a few days time to people begging to spend money in it.

 

[zulemara]

Hmmm......I've walked from Mannequins over to House of Blues before with my drink in hand so even with the sign, I never knew that was against the rules. And I doubt there is a requirement to warn people they might be video recorded; I think nowadays you're pretty much recorded anywhere you go.

I don't read anything into the sign's removal one way or another.

BobK/Orlando

when PI was open, it was a rule, but it is not currently a rule. My friend points out that guests could be taking alcohol right to their cars now that they do not have the rule in place. I pointed out that it's an issue of % of people who would do such a thing. It's like how when the parks are slow, people are smarter and nicer and as they get busier, people are rude, inconsiderate, and stupid. It's the same thing with this alcohol issue. However, if they were to open clubs, I would think this rule would be in full effect again. You can't let hundreds coming out of clubs go to their car with a drink or anywhere else for that matter.

edit: Oh and not only is there no merch being sold, the laffers cantina still shuts down at 10 even when the DJ thing goes till 11. STUPID! There were so many people wandering through on Friday night and no where to buy a drink. I think the PI live bar stayed open, but it still shut down at 11.

editx2: and the fact that they are not pushing any revenue when an empty club has people dying to spend money in it only shows that they truly do not want to be in the night club business. I still hold this was not a financial decision, it was because of other problems with crowds and dealing with drunks. I think they were just sick of it. Of course, those teen gangs are still around, so I don't see the point of going through all this, but whatever. It's not like the people who make decisions actually know what guests want anyway.

 

[lugnut33]

Well, how's all the new DTD themeing coming along?

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Well, how's all the new DTD theming coming along?

Well unless you've been out to Celebration Plaza to experience the new PI Live "Celebrate Tonight" for yourself, it's really difficult to convey in words just how bad it is.

BobK/Orlando

 

[asianway]

Maybe it is a warm up for reopening the Adventurers Club as about half the people are walking up and around the AC steps to give a wide berth to the party in the middle of the street.

Its like parting the Red Sea.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Its like parting the Red Sea.

Well put, as most passersby try to avoid getting roped-in to the celebrating. The ground crew has to complete a celebration cycle every 20-minutes. I feel so sorry for the DJ on the ground as the burden is on him/her to generate excitement where there clearly is none.....at least the times I've had the pleasure of witnessing the festivities.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Jason71]

Not sure if this was planned for post-Spring Break or a last-minute alteration, but the shows started later last night--7:30 vs. 5:00--and were on a half-hour on, half-hour off cycle. Everyone but the upstairs DJ disappears during the off time, giving PI the same deserted ghost town feel it had a month ago.

Honestly, it reminds me of the velcro show in EPCOT--performers who clearly have a lot of talent being forced to do something trite and dumbed-down.

Still shocked, 7 months after Kevin's folly, at the number of guests clearly dressed up in their "going out" clothes and how often bartenders have to tell people that no, the clubs are not going to open. Clearly WDW underestimated the good will associated with the PI name.

 

[zulemara]

Not sure if this was planned for post-Spring Break or a last-minute alteration, but the shows started later last night--7:30 vs. 5:00--and were on a half-hour on, half-hour off cycle. Everyone but the upstairs DJ disappears during the off time, giving PI the same deserted ghost town feel it had a month ago.

Honestly, it reminds me of the velcro show in EPCOT--performers who clearly have a lot of talent being forced to do something trite and dumbed-down.

Still shocked, 7 months after Kevin's folly, at the number of guests clearly dressed up in their "going out" clothes and how often bartenders have to tell people that no, the clubs are not going to open. Clearly WDW underestimated the good will associated with the PI name.

You got it! I have watched the celebration thing a couple times. It's stupid, it's a waste, and to add insult to injury, they play music frequently found in the clubs. One time they were playing a mannequins favorite while pulling people in for "graduation celebrating" I honestly wanna stand there with a big sign that says "pay no attention to the empty buildings and clubs"

UGH!

On the other hand...it's over. Disney has done a number of things recently to make it VERY clear they are not wanting any large numbers of drunks in one place on property. ADH provides enough of that, as does HOB, but that's it.

IMO they are never going to reopen. All that's left to do now is watch them destroy the island and continue to remember the fantastic times I had on the island.


And of course...one must look to the future...of Club Steam

 

[OrlandoMike]

On the other hand...it's over. Disney has done a number of things recently to make it VERY clear they are not wanting any large numbers of drunks in one place on property.

And this is a bad thing?

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

And this is a bad thing?

Well the term "drunks" certainly has negative connotations because one envisions a bunch of surly, loud mouthed guys stumbling around causing trouble. Truth is that most of us who consume alcoholic beverages don't do it for the flavor, we do it to get a bit of a buzz. The whole spirits and night club businesses are built around that. Pleasure Island was built around that. The bold new PI is built around gathering small groups of people celebrating something /anything and then doing the hokey-pokey dance.

BobK/Orlando

 

[zulemara]

Well the term "drunks" certainly has negative connotations because one envisions a bunch of surly, loud mouthed guys stumbling around causing trouble. Truth is that most of us who consume alcoholic beverages don't do it for the flavor, we do it to get a bit of a buzz. The whole spirits and night club businesses are built around that. Pleasure Island was built around that. The bold new PI is built around gathering small groups of people celebrating something /anything and then doing the hokey-pokey dance.

BobK/Orlando

 

[TDC Nala]

On the other hand...it's over. Disney has done a number of things recently to make it VERY clear they are not wanting any large numbers of drunks in one place on property.

You mean like the Epcot Food & Wine Festival?

 

[rpmdfw]

You mean like the Epcot Food & Wine Festival?

Shh! Don't remind them about that!

Do you want Disney to close THAT too!