So What's Coming to the New Pleasure Island?

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Celebrate Tonight had fans?

Yes, and I think both of them will be there for the final performances.

BobK/Orlando

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Well the newest edition to Pleasure Island are HUMAN STATUES!!!!!
See my photos at: http://savepleasureisland.blogspot.com/

BobK/Orlando

 

[ConcKahuna]

Well the newest edition to Pleasure Island are HUMAN STATUES!!!!!
See my photos at: http://savepleasureisland.blogspot.com/

BobK/Orlando

They remind me of the statues that used to hang out in France at Epcot, but more elaborate. I always loved those.

 

[patsal]

Looks like the "living art" we would see all over the place in Madrid. Very cool.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I've posted a couple of original television commercials for Pleasure Island on my Blog at www.savepleasureisland.blogspot.com They really show what an incredible place PI was back when it was new. In the end, it was nothing like the beginning. I don't think PI lost popularity but it just wasn't marketed any longer.

BobK/Orlando

 

[mitros]

I've posted a couple of original television commercials for Pleasure Island on my Blog at www.savepleasureisland.blogspot.com They really show what an incredible place PI was back when it was new. In the end, it was nothing like the beginning. I don't think PI lost popularity but it just wasn't marketed any longer.

BobK/Orlando

Bob, correct me if I am wrong on this one. While we were never big Pleasure Island fans, {do not care for the belly-to-back crowds all that much} we still visited every once in a while. Our home resort for the DVC is Old Key West, and I seem to recall during the times we stayed there, that at night, there was the constant wailing of police sirens coming from the PI vicinity, and people at the resort would tell us that there was another "crime wave" over at PI. When we asked exactly what they meant, they would tell us that they were having a lot of problems with locals {whatever that means} raising a ruckus out there, and it seemed to be getting out of control. We also heard from others that the Orlando PD as well as the Sheriffs office were telling Disney that they need to do something to "reign in" the problems out there. Just wondering what you heard about any of this.

 

[ConcKahuna]

Bob, correct me if I am wrong on this one. While we were never big Pleasure Island fans, {do not care for the belly-to-back crowds all that much} we still visited every once in a while. Our home resort for the DVC is Old Key West, and I seem to recall during the times we stayed there, that at night, there was the constant wailing of police sirens coming from the PI vicinity, and people at the resort would tell us that there was another "crime wave" over at PI. When we asked exactly what they meant, they would tell us that they were having a lot of problems with locals {whatever that means} raising a ruckus out there, and it seemed to be getting out of control. We also heard from others that the Orlando PD as well as the Sheriffs office were telling Disney that they need to do something to "reign in" the problems out there. Just wondering what you heard about any of this.

Nearly all crime issues at DTD were in the AMC/Virgin area (except the invasion/robbing of MacDonalds)

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Just wondering what you heard about any of this.

Well I'm not in any position to tell you that you never heard sirens. But I hung out at PI for quite a few years, usually on Saturday nights, and only saw sheriff's deputies pounce on someone twice that I can recall over many years.
Also keep in mind that the Reedy Creek Fire Department has branches on both sides of Downtown Disney and any fire department or ambulance calls are going to result in sirens that you could hear at your resort. Any traffic accident or heart attack in progress sends RCFD out. It doesn't mean the sheriff's department is on a crime call. And come to think of it, the sheriff's department had a full staff at DTD and would have no reason to send police cars flying there, even if there was a crime. Orlando PD would have had nothing to say about PI since Disney is a long way from the city limits of Orlando proper.

Scanning the internet on the subject of PI, the best article I've seen that covers the issues at DTD and PI is this link:
www.mouseplanet.com/7158/Downtown Disney Dilemma

Where that article ends, Disney had a choice to make. They chose to close everything and go for the easy money leasing the venues out. That turned out to be the wrong choice because the economy tanked.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Nearly all crime issues at DTD were in the AMC/Virgin area (except the invasion/robbing of MacDonalds)

OKAY WHAT was the invasion robbing of MacDonalds???? Have I been living under a rock?

 

[Jason71]

Scanning the internet on the subject of PI, the best article I've seen that covers the issues at DTD and PI is this link:
www.mouseplanet.com/7158/Downtown Disney Dilemma

I think it's an alright article, tho it glosses over the fact that the West Side was tanking, which also helped lead to the gates coming down. In any case, there's no question that was the single greatest cause of PI's downfall, although lack of marketing, cuts to entertainment and staleness also played a factor.

Where that article ends, Disney had a choice to make. They chose to close everything and go for the easy money leasing the venues out. That turned out to be the wrong choice because the economy tanked.

I disagree with you here, King Bob--I think you're giving management too much credit (and cover). Even if the economy was going gangbusters, the plan would have failed.

The demographics of DTD do not support 6 or 7 new "Sand Lake Road"-like restaurants grouped together like that. If the market could support that, West Side would not have been a failure with its 3 "grown-up" restaurants. TDO was looking at the Disney DTD (which I understand is almost entirely 3rd party), and foolishly assumed that the demographics of Anaheim and Lake Buena Vista guests were similar.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I think it's an alright article, tho it glosses over the fact that the West Side was tanking, which also helped lead to the gates coming down. In any case, there's no question that was the single greatest cause of PI's downfall, although lack of marketing, cuts to entertainment and staleness also played a factor.

West Side was and still is tanking-Agreed
PI lack of marketing-Agreed
PI Entertainment cuts-Agreed (Looking at the video reminded me of all that used to be out there that was long-gone during the final years.)
Staleness-Absolutely agreed; things were closed and nothing new added

I disagree with you here, King Bob--I think you're giving management too much credit (and cover). Even if the economy was going gangbusters, the plan would have failed. The demographics of DTD do not support 6 or 7 new "Sand Lake Road"-like restaurants grouped together like that. If the market could support that, West Side would not have been a failure with its 3 "grown-up" restaurants. TDO was looking at the Disney DTD (which I understand is almost entirely 3rd party), and foolishly assumed that the demographics of Anaheim and Lake Buena Vista guests were similar.

Well, we'll never know but your points are well-taken. I think you're correct overall about the viability of that many new restaurants. But I was more looking at it from the ability of PI management to unload leases on the club buildings. In a good economy they could have done it and we'd have new venues out there, good or bad. But because of the economy, there were no leases sold and we have nothing out there now but living statues and zither players!

BobK/Orlando

 

[ConcKahuna]

OKAY WHAT was the invasion robbing of MacDonalds???? Have I been living under a rock?

Last year the MacDonalds there was robbed just before it opened, and the emloyees tied up behind the counter.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I wonder what would have happened if they would have never opened PI for free admission and kept with the pay to play rule.

 

[ConcKahuna]

I wonder what would have happened if they would have never opened PI for free admission and kept with the pay to play rule.

It probably would have stayed a lot busier. The number 1 complaint i hear from locals is about how they opened up the island to the general public.

PI was a place where you could go to have a good time in a safe, controlled environment. Once they opened up the island, any night of the week you could see people dragging their kids there at 1am to "shop" and shoot dirty looks at the people who were dancing, drinking, or having a good time (especially PDA's). I don't normally agree with PDA's, but in a club atmosphere they are to be expected.

There also had been great entertainment in the streets when the Island was closed. One of my favorite PI memories was getting to see Shannon perform there one night.

Disney really needs to open a new area for adults only. It's like Walt said, "You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway".

 

[Jason71]

Well, we'll never know but your points are well-taken. I think you're correct overall about the viability of that many new restaurants. But I was more looking at it from the ability of PI management to unload leases on the club buildings. In a good economy they could have done it and we'd have new venues out there, good or bad. But because of the economy, there were no leases sold and we have nothing out there now but living statues and zither players!

BobK/Orlando

I think the only way it would've worked would have been one at a time. Fill the Beach Club, then maybe close BET and fill that. Keep the rest of PI open to entice them.

BTW, that video is amazing--as I commented on the blog, open that today, it would have Harry Potter like crowds tonight.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I wonder what would have happened if they would have never opened PI for free admission and kept with the pay to play rule.

If they had left the Island gated:

1) The feeling of being in an exclusive entertainment venue would have remained.
2) Parents with kids would not have complained about seeing adults with alcoholic drinks in their hands.
3) Teens would not have congregated.
4) They would not have had to tear down both stages and eliminate free entertainment.
5) A little investment back into the product and advertising would have kept the 18-year old model successfully operational into the future.
6) PI would be alive and kicking today, earning income for its owner.

BobK/Orlando

 

[zulemara]

I took a stroll through PI last night. There was a live band/group playing 70s tunes in Celebration Plaza.

Motion was used for an event again. There were tables all over. No changes inside 8-trax. The roof of mannequins just around the corner behind the main PI DTD map area has been repainted, as has the big garage door on the back side.

While I actually enjoyed the group that was playing, it made me think....

1. They had entertainment on a stage built specifically for that reason. The entertainment was to liven up an entertainment complex
2. tore down stage
3. closed entertainment complex
4. added group performing on the street(not a stage)to bring entertainment to....a closed entertainment complex.

Don't ya just LOVE TDO's thought process? Kill the entertainment, close the complex, then bring back entertainment? sigh...they never learn.

 

[skier_pete]

Don't ya just LOVE TDO's thought process? Kill the entertainment, close the complex, then bring back entertainment? sigh...they never learn.

I often wonder how DTD management stays in place, the botching has been going on for years.

1) Let's build a shopping district on the other side of PI! Oh wait, people don't like walking around PI to go to the other shopping district.
2) Let's open up PI passage to everyone! Oh wait, people now complain about people partying on PI!
3) Let's close all the clubs at PI and put MORE shops and restaurants that people don't need. Oh wait, nobody wants to put up the money for more shops and restaurants.
4) Let's pretend that there is still a PI!

Duh...how these people were not fired over all this is beyond me. There is no way that DTD is more profitable than it was 2 years ago.

 

[OldsDr]

I also think it had something to do with going from length of stay passes with unlimited entries into PI and DQ to magic your way limited entries. Especially when they first started MYW I think on a 7 day ticket you only got 5 entries. With unlimited entries my Brother and I would go to DQ until 11:30 or so and then head to Adventures club or Rock n Roll Beach club almost every night of the trip. We would buy beer or Buckets. When they limited the entries and our normal routine would cost 2 points off of the MYW ticket we could no longer go every night without paying extra (which I refused to do since I was so used to the old way)

This had to be the case with many other visitors who now could not go to PI every night of their stay if they also went to DQ or a water park.

Most of their revenue had to be from drinks so this probably signifcantly reduce the number of drink sales (Alcohol and non-alcohol)

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

For those of you who are fans of Pleasure Island, there is a tiny amount of hope that the new Disney Chairman Tom Staggs might listen to reason and consider reopening some of the old clubs.

Although things are still bleak, we've begun a letter-writing/email campaign to Mr. Staggs. If you're interested in supporting this idea, see the Tuesday & Monday articles on the subject at:

http://savepleasureisland.blogspot.com/2010/08/help-save-island.html

Your support would be greatly appreciated.
It's really now or never.

BobK/Orlando