What's CITY WALK?

[brock]

I was just reading a PI thread and someone mentioned City Walk
What is it, where is it?

Thanks

 

[cdpa4d]

City Walk is located at Universal Orlando. It's the shopping, nightlife, dining, and entertainment complex located there. Similar to Downtown Disney, but on a smaller scale.

You may want to post or move this question to the Universal Orlando Boards if you have specific questions regarding the complex. It is a neat place and we enjoy visiting it on ocassion.

 

[DaisyD]

City Walk is much nicer then Pleasure Island. I am a huge WDW fan but PI has gone downhill. City Walk is a much more adult venue and therefore more enjoyable.

 

[brock]

Thanks everyone. I didn't think it was at WDW.

 

[MrsMud]

Citywalk is the best! On our recent (adult only) trip to Universal, my husband and I were more excited about going back to Citywalk than going back to the parks! Not that we don't LOVE those parks, it was just our 3rd trip there in a year.

 

[beachblanket]

City Walk is much nicer then Pleasure Island. I am a huge WDW fan but PI has gone downhill. City Walk is a much more adult venue and therefore more enjoyable.

The best way to describe Citywalk is as a hybrid attraction, one containing the retail/dining aspects of DTD and the entertainment apects of PI, all rolled into one location. Per the above quote, Citywalk offers some adult-oriented clubs (jazz, dance and reggae), but unlike PI is completely family friendly, clean and isn't overrun by local teens. Or stated differently, it's kind of what Disney hoped -- but failed -- to develop PI into.

Personally, I think the big mistake Disney made (which Universal didn't) was to separate the entertainment from the dining and retail. While the original vision for PI was that of a "mini park" (pay a single entrance fee at the gate for access to a range of "attractions," e.g. nightclubs), in practice that both "isolated" PI from all the other traffic at DTD and allowed the environment at PI to evolve in a different (and negative) direction from everything else in DTD.

By mixing all the Citywalk attractions together, Universal created a more dynamic experience, offering entertaining variety for people strolling through. The "mix" approach also prevented any one "clubby" area from becoming a teen ghetto.

Word to the wise: if you like the Citywalk in Orlando, plan a trip to California, because the one at Universal City in Hollywood is even better.

 

[majortom]

Personally, I think the big mistake Disney made (which Universal didn't) was to separate the entertainment from the dining and retail. While the original vision for PI was that of a "mini park" (pay a single entrance fee at the gate for access to a range of "attractions," e.g. nightclubs), in practice that both "isolated" PI from all the other traffic at DTD and allowed the environment at PI to evolve in a different (and negative) direction from everything else in DTD.

Actually, when Pleasure Island opened, it was much as it is now, with a admission only needed for the clubs while one could freely roam the Island for retail and dining. This made it possible to sustain a higher quality retail presence and some interesting light dining (Merriweather's Market) , in addition to Portabello Yacht Club and Fireworks Factory. Mannequins was the only club that was exclusively 21 and over. XZFR Rockin Rollerdome was both a club and a roller rink.

Disney killed the Island in two ways, first they decided to charge admission to the Island itself instead of just to the clubs making it so only people going to Pleasure Island's clubs would actually enter the Island (this made it harder for Pleasure Island's retail and restaurants to survive). Next, they built Downtown Disney Westside which added more shops and restaurants and since they were charging admission to the Island, they built a bypass walk way for people to get between the Market Place and Westside.

By mixing all the Citywalk attractions together, Universal created a more dynamic experience, offering entertaining variety for people strolling through. The "mix" approach also prevented any one "clubby" area from becoming a teen ghetto.

Citywalk does not really mix the clubs and retail any more than Pleasure Island did when it opened (actually, it is just the opposite, Pleasure Island's clubs and restaurants were much more integrated than Citywalk's are). In fact, it is this integration that caused much of Pleasure Island's problems. During the day when the Island was open with no admission fee, it always seemed somewhat depressing because half the venues were closed (all its clubs). That all of Citywalk's clubs are on a different level means that people do not see them if they are not going to look for them and so are more comfortable strolling through its retail and restaurant locations.

Citywalk also benefits from the foot traffic from Islands of Adventure (people heading to and from their cars) whereas Pleasure Island is a destination of its own.

Finally, Citywalk got Emeril Lagasse (Emeril's Orlando) and Disney got Wolfgang Puck (no one makes a special trip to visit a Wolfgang Puck restaurant, whereas Emeril's draws lots of people even if they only want to buy shirts and have their picture taken in front of its sign).

/carmi

 

[Sylvester McBean]

and they also got Margaritaville, NBA City, NASCAR Cafe, the world's largest Hard Rock complete with stadium for concerts.....

Pleasure Island simply sucks in comparison.

 

[majortom]

and they also got Margaritaville, NBA City, NASCAR Cafe, the world's largest Hard Rock complete with stadium for concerts.....

Pleasure Island simply sucks in comparison.

Well, if you include NBA City and the Hard Rock as part of Citywalk, then you are not really comparing like to like, but more like Downtown Disney (including Pleasure Island) to Citywalk. Those restaurants are across the lagoon from the rest of Citywalk and really seem separate. If you do compare them that way, then I think Downtown Disney as a whole is much nicer than Citywalk. DisneyQuest, House of Blues (concert venue as well), Virgin Megastore, Lego Imagination Center, Ghirardelli, Earl of Sandwich, and Cirque du Soleil pretty much match or exceed their counterparts at Universal.

/carmi

 

[beachblanket]

I think Downtown Disney as a whole is much nicer than Citywalk.

At best arguably, and only if you define DTD as just retail, dining and a nice but hugely overpriced circus.

Unlike Citywalk, the street in the "nightclub" area of DTD (ergo, PI) has -- as I described earlier -- become an unpleasant ghetto of unsupervised local-yokel minors. It didn't used be that way, but a few years ago Disney got rid of the admission fee to PI, which immediately resulted in the island becoming the evening hang out for the local adolescent riff-raff. Their presence and behavior make the whole place seem like it's aimed solely at those who want to drink, smoke and go on the prowl.

And sadly, Disney seems blatantly oblivious to that.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

we were at DTD saturday and walked through PI, it's become a dump. I love House of Blues and occasionally Planet Hollywood on the West side. In the Marketplace, Earl of Sandwhich is good. But the stores are all cookie cutter, just like the ones in Disney parks have become. it's the same merchandise in every single store, just with different names. World of Disney, World of Disney Kids, very creative. the store that used to be the hundred acre woods pooh store has smelled like mold for years. the only thing positive that has happened in PI lately is the addition of Raglan Road, which is excellent. I like the fact I can pull into DTD like a mall and shop, where at Citywalk I have to 'park in the deck and make the trek.' on the flip side, once I've done that, I'm a few minute walk to 2 of the greatest theme parks in the world. it all balances out.

 

[robvia]

I've got some pictures of Citywalk on my "Arrive Early" page here.
http://www.nogodforme.com/arriveearly.htm

I'll give a little tour of the pics...
http://www.nogodforme.com/images/DSC02828.jpg
This is the entrance of City walk. On the right is the movie theater. There is a 2nd level up above with more restaurants, which turn into clubs late at night.
http://www.nogodforme.com/images/DSC02829.jpg
To the right, some shops, and the Cinnabon most visit for a quick breakfast. To the left are some gift shops and a restaurant. You can see IOA in the distance. You can see Hulk, very exciting as you walk in, and see it running.
http://www.nogodforme.com/images/DSC02830.jpg
Now you decide, head left for IOA, or right for USF. To the left is Emirl's, Margaritaville, and other restaurants on the 2nd level. To the right is Nascar Cafe, which leads to USF. There are games, and more shops.
http://www.nogodforme.com/images/DSC03042.jpg
This picture is looking back at Citywalk from the opposite direction, you can see the 2nd level.

And if you're wondering what the Hollywood CA version looks like, it's here.
http://www.nogodforme.com/USH2005.htm

 

[bestjurassicpark]

Universal's CityWalk is an amazing place. It's in the area where you can walk to universal or IOA ( islands of adventure ) It is kind of like disney's pleasure island, but it is kind of like a gaming area too.

 

[nadinehines]

Is City Walk best visited on a weeknight or weekend night? I have to choose between Thursday or Friday. Recommendations anyone? Thanks!

 

[MrsMud]

Well, it depends on what you're looking for. There is plenty to do every night, but you will find more of a party type atmosphere (and more crowds) on the weekends. If you are planning to have dinner there, your wait will most likely be longer on Friday than Thursday.
Personally, my favorite thing to do at Citywalk is to sit at the airplane bar at Margaritaville, have some wings and a couple Bahama Mamas, and listen to the music while looking out over the water at the lights of the parks. Or, sit at the inside bar at Margaritaville, listen to the music and have a couple Bahama Mamas while waiting for a table. Or, sit in the adirondack chairs in front of Margaritaville, kick back with a couple Bahama Mamas and people watch.
Oh, yes...there are other restaurants (and other drinks) at Citywalk...that's right...