SSR Owner's Thoughts on Hyperion Wharf

[metzger01]

I just wanted to find out what SSR owners thought's are on the newly planned Hyperion Wharf. Will it be as good as Pleasure Island was, or better, or maybe just a poor imitation?

First Look: Waterfront District 'Hyperion Wharf' Among Plans For Downtown Disney

 

[Fatalbie]

We thoroughly enjoy DTD now as an opportunity to just go and sit and relax with some atmosphere. This doesn't appear to take away from that so I see it as a good thing.

Since I never really experienced PI in its prime, I really can't provide the comparison you are looking for. I can say I am looking forward to it.

Thanks for posting this.

Jim

 

[Maistre Gracey]

HYperion Wharf will be a glorified mall filled with non Disney shops and restaurants.
Pleasure Island was filled with Disney imagineered clubs and comedy venues, most notably the Adventurers Club. The Adventurers Club was THEE best imagineered, most guest interactive attraction Disney ever created. Actually better themed than the Haunted Mansion or other E-ticket attractions.

In short, no, Hyperion Wharf will not be close to what PI once was..... That is unless they change the plans currently in place.

Kungaloosh,
MG

 

[bianca]

I agree with Maistre Gracey. Although I am very excited to see SOMETHING going in where my beloved PI used to be, I am not convinced it will even come close to PI. We bought at SSR when it first opened, as we loved the fact that we were close to PI, DTD, nightly fireworks and a fitness center/spa to beat all. We LIKE city life and all the noise that accompanies it and thought SSR was a good fit for us. Needless to say, SSR has become a huge disappointment since they have discontinued all with the exception of the huge shopping district that is DTD.

I will try to be open-minded about Hyperion Wharf, but the reality is that until they change the point value for SSR rooms and re-instate my night-life and spa use, we will probably never stay there again. However, I really hope Hyperion Wharf is so fantastic that we are back to a "must stay at SSR" vacation.

SSR did, however, teach us a very valuable lesson. When we bought our next set of points, it was for the heavily themed AKV. We figured that even if they got rid of the animals eventually, we could live with that (we hope they don't). We looked at BLT, but figured that they would eventually take away the TOTW privileges or make some kind of stipulation as to who can be there. Wait for it ......

 

[La2kw]

RIP Pleasure Island. WDW continues to amaze me with their poor decisions and cost cutting moves.

 

[zev]

HYperion Wharf will be a glorified mall filled with non Disney shops and restaurants.
Pleasure Island was filled with Disney imagineered clubs and comedy venues, most notably the Adventurers Club. The Adventurers Club was THEE best imagineered, most guest interactive attraction Disney ever created. Actually better themed than the Haunted Mansion or other E-ticket attractions.

In short, no, Hyperion Wharf will not be close to what PI once was..... That is unless they change the plans currently in place.

Kungaloosh,
MG

100% Correct!!!!!
Kungaloosh!!!!

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

HYperion Wharf will be a glorified mall filled with non Disney shops and restaurants.
Pleasure Island was filled with Disney imagineered clubs and comedy venues, most notably the Adventurers Club. The Adventurers Club was THEE best imagineered, most guest interactive attraction Disney ever created. Actually better themed than the Haunted Mansion or other E-ticket attractions.

In short, no, Hyperion Wharf will not be close to what PI once was..... That is unless they change the plans currently in place.

Kungaloosh,
MG

 

[murcor]

Im happy to see something being done to Pleasure Island as it has lost so much from what it used to be.

It needs new dining, shopping and especially ENTERTAINMENT experiences.

The updated look and atmosphere will be fun to experience.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I think it's going to be amazing and I'm looking forward to it! We spend A LOT of time at DTD! I was never a huge fan of PI so this new concept suites me just fine!

 

[Havana]

We just bought at SSR and I am looking forward to the Hyperion Warf.
I will be optimistic and hope that it is good enough to make SSR a destination location.

 

[js]

Owing at SSR I am happy that there will be other things to do at night other than Disney. Having older teens, this is also a plus for me since they can have use of this entertainment/restaurants without having to take busses, drive or monorail.

 

[TisBit]

It is difficult to compare the new Wharf to Pleasure Island, at what point in time should you compare them? They haven't had the fireworks there in forever, the clubs were not what they once were and if you compare what PI became to what the new project will be, well the new project will win to the average Disney Guest. I am not a big "club" fan and never have been (even in their heydays of the late 80's-90's) and my wife has zero interest in them. So for us, the new conept will work.

I think with the concept art that they have released, it will make for a great view from SSR and those Congress Park rooms will be highly sought after. As for it being a glorified shopping mall, yep, that is what it is.....nothing more or less and that is what DTD has always been, so to expect different is foolish. The current trend is away from nightclubs and more to the restaurant/club combinations like House of Blues. They are a better business investment and don't have to shutter their doors during the day or be half empty during the week.

As for the loss of the adventurer club and comedy warehouse, they will be missed and I would love to see them reconstructed, but I highly doubt they would work if they (primarily Adventurers Club) were. The diehard fans wouldn't like it and I am not sure if new people would patronize them.

As for the loss of fireworks at DTD, haven't they been gone for like 5 years and weren't all that to begin with? I know that there are rumors of some type of fireworks coming back, but I doubt it....I am betting they will come up with a light/lazer type show that is less noisy for guests at SSR.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

It has been my experience that folks who were not PI fans, have never truly been to PI. Yes, they may have strolled around to see what it is, but they likely don't know what the Adventurers Club was all about... or for that matter went to a show at Comedy Warehouse.

At one point my wife and I actually considered a SSR add on for the sole purpose of being able to visit PI without having to take a cab or bus (although we always had a car we refuse to drive after drinking).
Obviously, now there is no point in that. I don't want to fly across the country to visit a mall with generic, non Disney stores. I can get that three miles down the road.
That's all it is folks... A mall.

MG

 

[CMOORE185]

Being an SSR owner, I am hoping this project is something special. Anything that makes SSR more desirable I am for.

 

[metzger01]

I didn't know if anyone would be interested, but House of Blues over in Downtown Disney is featured on Restauarant.com.
You can get a $25 certificate for $2 currently, or a $50 certificate for $4, by entering Promo Code: BONUS at checkout for 80% discount.

Bear in mind that there are restrictions, i.e. $25 to be used on purchases of $35 or more, and $50 certificates to be used on purchases of $100 or more.
You also can't use them for Sunday Brunch, Holidays, or special events. But it is a good deal for those that enjoy eating there. Also be aware that they will automatically figure in an 18% tip based upon the full value of your purchase, not the discounted price. The certificate does not expire.

 

[rutgers1]

As an alternative to nothing, I am for it. But they have a lot of work to do if they want to make it so that I would want to stay at SSR just for the proximity to it.

 

[Doug7856]

I think the art for Hyperion Wharf looks great. Would love a water show in the lake and there have been internet rumors about such a show, but I doubt we'll actually see anything like that. I noticed on a recent Myrtle Beach trip that their "Downtown Disney", known as Broadway at the Beach, has a nighttime water show, so there is a similar destination that has nighttime entertainment.

For the first few years, we loved Pleasure Island, but the last seven or eight years of it's existence were less than spectacular. This may get me banned from the Disboards, but we never really liked The Adventurers Club. We tried it a few times, but just never really enjoyed it. Loved the Comedy Club though.

Overall, I think it will be a good re-development of an outdated area. We'll see how inspired the end result is...

 

[Brian Noble]

Pleasure Island was filled with Disney imagineered clubs and comedy venues, most notably the Adventurers Club.

Correction: PI had one Disney Imagineered club that was notable, plus a bunch of other stuff you could find in any reasonably-sized city. Even Comedy Warehouse was nothing more than a regular ol' improv comedy shop, and those are a dime a dozen. It was better than Jellyrolls, as that's only a nickel a dozen, but that's a low bar. True both CW and JR are fun, but not really "special".

The AC was absolutely something special, (Kungaloosh!) but beyond that? Meh.

 

[littlestar]

If it adds to it, that's great. Personally, I like the restaurants and shops at Downtown Disney and I stay at SSR because I like my home resort. It would probably surprise some people - but I even choose to trade into SSR through RCI (when I can) as a first choice of trade into DVC (even when the other DVC's are available)!

I never cared for Pleasure Island - saw too many drunks wanting to get rowdy. That's not my idea of Disney.

 

[twinklebug]

I just wanted to find out what SSR owners thought's are on the newly planned Hyperion Wharf. Will it be as good as Pleasure Island was, or better, or maybe just a poor imitation?

You can't compare the two. They're targeted to two different demographics, even if they do intersect.

I never got to experience PI. I saw it during the day, walked through, but never 'experienced' it. Do I expect HW to replace that missed opportunity? Not even close, because it's nothing more than an updated extension of the shopping area that already exists.