The demise of Pleasure Island!

[RustManFan]

We also loved to eat at The Fireworks Factory. Once it was gone, so were we!

 

[Scurvy]

If they do end up redoing the area, I hope that they at least keep the Adventurer's Club! (And hopefully the comedy club and 8Trax as well.) Man, if Disney thought there was protest over closing Mr Toad, I'd hate to see what they got if they closed the AC!

I'm late to this thread but in case you hadn't already heard, there is quite an outcry over the Adventurers Club! In fact, apparently Disney execs have been surprised at the fan response so far. If you'd like more information or you're interested in writing to the execs yourself and want addresses, please check out the link in my sig.

 

[Jason71]

Excellent point. On paper, the Boardwalk shopping/dining/entertainment area is almost as accessible, but yes, there's the "deterrent" of a cost for non resort guests to park.

Maybe that's why the only locals I've ever seen around there are middle/upper middle income adults, part of the crowd that frequents Jellyrolls and/or Atlantic Dance (especially on weekends).

Since when do you have to pay to park at the Boardwalk? For that matter, when have you ever seen anything resembling a "crowd" at Atlantic Dance Hall? The people do skew older at JRs, but I think that's more an effect of a "hipper" version of the same (Howl at the Moon--more cussing, more emphasis on alcohol and "hooking up") nearby.

 

[beachblanket]

I was referring to your claim about a riot at the BET club prior to it even existing!!!!!!

Nice try but no PI cigar for you. Correction -the riot was not at a club - it was for a rap concert BET was sponsoring at the West End stage. BET's on and off relationship with Disney existed then and even before PI was created.

But it has always been shall we say rocky, particularly on a certain very ugly night at PI in late 1993. The event was not well organized and the sponsors had no clue as to the type of clientele the promoted "artists" were going to attract. Sigh....police in riot gear are just so Disneyesque and magical......

....and as much as it bothers some, PI is still being shut down because it was a well-intended but poorly executed strategic misfire from day one.

Have a nice day.

 

[beachblanket]

Since when do you have to pay to park at the Boardwalk?

Ever since one didn't want a nice long walk. The Beach Club has limited 3 hour parking for non-guests, the Boardwalk has none. Proof below:

http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/parking.htm

For that matter, when have you ever seen anything resembling a "crowd" at Atlantic Dance Hall? The people do skew older at JRs, but I think that's more an effect of a "hipper" version of the same (Howl at the Moon--more cussing, more emphasis on alcohol and "hooking up") nearby.

I agree Atlantic Dance is generally slow- on weekdays and during quieter periods (it's not even open during many of them). However, it does get a wee bit busier on weekends and -- yes- --can actually have crowds during peak holiday periods. Frankly, that venue in and of itself is a whole other story of good Disney intentions (a retro nighclub designed to add sparkle to a retro themed area) never quite working out (the place has had more format changes than Madonna). They've tried the big band thing, making it a Latin club, video DJ spot...yada yada yada..but it's never taken off.

Jellyrolls (which frankly is tiny so it doesn't take much to fill it) has always seemed hopping -- especially after 9:30-10 -- whenever I've been down at or around BWV. And because it is one of the very few places left on property that still allows smoking it attracts the behavioral profile you described.

 

[beachblanket]

Some more vintage residue, the first official brochure on PI, published when it opened in Spring 1989:

 

[SteamboatStevie]

I agree that PI was completely mismanaged from the get go. In its heyday (the turnstile era) the atmosphere was really awesome, but due I think mostly to geography (who's idea was it to put the one part with admission in the MIDDLE?), they had to open it up, which started the downward spiral.
So while I don't dis-agree that a change is necessary, and I can see how this decision could be for the best, I firmly believe that Diseny needs SOME kind of adult entertainment section (and something better than the current boardwalk), lest people start discovering CityWalk. While lots of people may not factor in adult entertainment into their Disney vacation plans, there are many people who do, and I think it will be a shame for Disney to lose this market.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'd be interested in knowing how the ME people without cars are expected to get to City Walk. Taxis?

I am not really interested in live music, I liked the show aspect. I don't believe there are comedy clubs at City Walk. And now there will not be any at WDW either.

 

[beachblanket]

I'd be interested in knowing how the ME people without cars are expected to get to City Walk. Taxis?

I'll answer that by turning the question sideways. If the objective of ME is to keep guests (and their cash flow) "capitive" on property, does Disney actually think said guests will continue to use it (and de-facto accept "capitivity") -- if it becomes clear over time that doing that means you don't have access to everything you want?

 

[Scurvy]

I'd be interested in knowing how the ME people without cars are expected to get to City Walk. Taxis?

I am not really interested in live music, I liked the show aspect. I don't believe there are comedy clubs at City Walk. And now there will not be any at WDW either.

Apparently there's a place called "SAK" in town that's a pretty good comedy club. I know some of the PI regulars are considering going there after they can't go to the Adventurers Club and Comedy Warehouse anymore.

I guess taxis or renting a car are the only options, unless there are city buses that would work. It's a shame that Universal can't run busses to the Disney Resorts (I assume, anyway) because they'd make a killing on the evening crowd if they did!

 

[MainStMandy]

A few years ago I remember answering a survey that had to do with different types of activities in the DTD area...I can only hope that they really do something like this vs. just adding more restaurants and shops. Nightime entertainment doesn't necessarily have to be all bars...some of the things on the survey were like a bowling alley (think black lights), I want to say maybe rollerskating (which has been done...)

 

[Jason71]

Apparently there's a place called "SAK" in town that's a pretty good comedy club. I know some of the PI regulars are considering going there after they can't go to the Adventurers Club and Comedy Warehouse anymore.

I guess taxis or renting a car are the only options, unless there are city buses that would work. It's a shame that Universal can't run busses to the Disney Resorts (I assume, anyway) because they'd make a killing on the evening crowd if they did!

SAK is downtown, which is a bit of a real haul from WDW. Also, haven't been in like two years, but it's definitely a show, not a bar/club. A concession window up front sold popcorn and soda, but none of the potential for "hanging out" that the AC has.

That said, Church St. Station used to make a go of things based on people taking cabs and rental cars from the Disney area, and I suspect CityWalk (which is half as far) will get a big bump in numbers as well. Especially when people need a rental car to go see the new Harry Potter land anyway.

 

[TDC Nala]

Because I don't want to spend the money to ride taxis or rent cars (and if I am driving I won't be going out drinking anyway) I think the alternative is to not visit if I can't think of things I would want to do.

Telling me to go to City Walk or anyplace off property or to Jellyrolls or just hang around a restaurant bar is probably not going to assist in my decisions because those don't seem worth the travel to me. I have done all those things and they are not a destination I plan a trip around.

Not that WDW will miss me much. I am not their favored demographic. I understand they got quite a few complaints last year that the Food and Wine Festival does not promote a family-friendly atmosphere, so I am keeping an eye on whether or not such complaints will affect the conduct or offerings of the festival. When the festival's gone, so am I.

 

[ssawka]

who's idea was it to put the one part with admission in the MIDDLE?

When PI opened the West End did not exist. It was added later because there was room there. I agree, it did divide the Marketplace from the West End and reduced foot traffic in both areas.

 

[jfinke]

Not that WDW will miss me much. I am not their favored demographic. I understand they got quite a few complaints last year that the Food and Wine Festival does not promote a family-friendly atmosphere, so I am keeping an eye on whether or not such complaints will affect the conduct or offerings of the festival. When the festival's gone, so am I.

I doubt they screw with the festival much, it keeps them busy in the fall.

 

[BostonRob]

I'll answer that by turning the question sideways. If the objective of ME is to keep guests (and their cash flow) "capitive" on property, does Disney actually think said guests will continue to use it (and de-facto accept "capitivity") -- if it becomes clear over time that doing that means you don't have access to everything you want?

I don't see how that matters. If Disney is shutting down pleasure island, they've obviously decided that the population of guests looking for a PI or CW experience is so small that they don't matter. So Disney isn't worried about a small percentage of guests rejecting ME just so they can hit CW.

I love being on property and I would never consider going to an off-property restaurant or anything else. When I'm at Disney, I'm at Disney. Still, I'll always rent a car and not just so I can save a few bucks by hitting the grocery store and not just because I hate the busses. Mostly, I just don't like being held captive, even though I have no intention of going anywhere else. Seems irrational and yet I'm surprised more people here don't share that irrational attitude.

 

[Scurvy]

I don't see how that matters. If Disney is shutting down pleasure island, they've obviously decided that the population of guests looking for a PI or CW experience is so small that they don't matter. So Disney isn't worried about a small percentage of guests rejecting ME just so they can hit CW.

I love being on property and I would never consider going to an off-property restaurant or anything else. When I'm at Disney, I'm at Disney. Still, I'll always rent a car and not just so I can save a few bucks by hitting the grocery store and not just because I hate the busses. Mostly, I just don't like being held captive, even though I have no intention of going anywhere else. Seems irrational and yet I'm surprised more people here don't share that irrational attitude.

I know what you mean - most trips we park our car and rarely move it, but the couple of times we flew and didn't have a car I hated the feeling that we were stuck there! And except to run to a grocery (and a play, once) we rarely do anything else that isn't on Disney property.

We've never stayed in a non-Disney hotel before on a Disney trip, but we just got home from a long weekend at WDW and we stayed in one for the first time. I liked it much more than I expected. We got a larger/nicer room for less than we've been spending at Disney hotels. Lately the main reason we've stayed on site was because we knew we'd spend every evening at the Adventurers Club. When it's gone I can see us staying off site far more often. Especially since the Early Entry benefit isn't as good as it was years ago (for us, at least). We'll probably even start spending some days at Seaworld or Universal, which we've never done before. Disney will definately be losing more money from us than just our Club admission and beverage purchases when the Club is gone!

 

[beachblanket]

It increasingly appears that most of the cries to Disney for an appeal of the closures are focused solely or primarily on saving the Adventurer's Club (AC).

That's not surprising, in that it -- unlike any of the other nightlife establishments at PI -- represented a earnest, well thought out attempt to really leverage Disney's core competencies. Ergo, a highly immersive experience in a heavily themed attraction.

In that regard, the AC is worth saving and could be effectively leveraged if Disney felt like it, presumably by relocating it to a themed area. The obvious candidates are either HS (the AC has the requisite quirky 1930's feel to fit in well on Hollywood Boulevard) or AK (there's a real tie here in terms of the safari elements of the club, albeit the biggest problem is AK isn't a nightime park).

Whatever, I do think it's days at DTD are truly limited, in that Disney clearly wants to remove all vestiges of clubbing from the turf PI now sits on.

 

[LisaInNc]

I am so saddened by the loss of the Adventurers Club. The only time I take a Disney bus is when I was going to PI to the AC to have a few adult beverages. Leaving Disney for another adult club isn't the problem I always rent a car, getting back home after the adult beverages is and I highly doubt that I would take a cab.

Lots of attractions come and go but the AC is the one that I am going to miss the most I think.

 

[Tink3Bell]

It's ashme they couldn't make you show your resort pass or pay admission to get it. Seemed really rowdy once we got past the shops last year no place to take your kids.