What's the latest on Pleasure Island?

[boomhauer]

Does anyone know? What does it look like right now?

When we were there in July, it was an eye-sore. I was surprised Disney even allowed people to walk through there it looked so bad.

 

[Bill From PA]

We were there in March 4 or 5 nights and plan on the same for March '07. Our experience doesn't match yours, we had a great time and except for the lack of entertainment on the WestEnd Stage it was pretty much the same as it has been for years, in fact, the addition of Raglan Road improved the place. What exactly did you see that qualifies as an eyesore? If it has gone downhill in some measureable way we'd like to know the specifics.

Bill From PA

 

[boomhauer]

It was being gutted. The entire left side (walking in from Planet Hollywood) was being remodeled.

Not sure if someone has any recent pictures, but PI was scheduled for a major overhaul, and it certainly was under way this past July. I'm just curious if it will look any better by next year.

Here's the most recent article I can find:

Demolition at Pleasure Island
Disney reshapes nightlife complex The goal is to make the attraction more accessible -- and kid-friendly.

Scott Powers and Mark Chediak | Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted May 10, 2006

Once a haven for grown-ups looking to dance the night away, Disney's Pleasure Island is morphing into a place where Mom, Dad and the little ones can feel comfortable -- but the wild uncle is still welcome.

The transformation, part of a revamped night-life strategy for Walt Disney World, is not just an image makeover. Bulldozers are involved.

Disney is tearing out bridges, building a bigger, more prominent new bridge, knocking down two outdoor music stages, cutting a building in half, leveling a hill, opening up vistas of the lake and getting away from the back-alley warehouse-district look.

The goal is to merge Pleasure Island more with the other two districts of Downtown Disney -- geographically and in appeal.

"We're going away from the traditional, adult-only nightclub environment to an environment where we can appeal to all groups, including adults," said Djuan Rivers, vice president for Downtown Disney.

Disney created the adult entertainment complex in the 1980s when it saw visitors leaving its hotels to club hop in downtown Orlando. Though Pleasure Island has helped keep nightlife-seeking tourists on Disney grounds for 17 years, the area also has presented challenges -- partly because of its location and its mix of businesses.

Centrally located in the 120-acre Downtown Disney, it sat like a no-kids land, blocking traffic between the shopping and entertainment area's two all-age districts, Marketplace and the West Side.

And nothing says "not Disney" quite like a place where partyers wander from bar to bar with beers in their hands while loud music blares.

The changes began last year, when Disney opened up Pleasure Island to people younger than 18. The cover charge just to walk there was eliminated, the turnstile gates were ripped out and the hours were expanded. It used to open at 7 p.m. It now opens at 3 p.m. Someday, it will open at 11 a.m.

Already, a difference is showing. Before the turnstiles came down, 22 percent of Downtown Disney visitors came into the island. Today, it's 75 percent, Rivers said.

Disney also is tinkering with the mix of bars, restaurants and shops on the island, starting with the broader appeal of the new Irish-pub-themed tavern, Raglan Road.

The pub sits in stark contrast with many of the more boisterous music, comedy and dance clubs down the way -- which some visitors appreciate.

Paul Scully and his friends recently found refuge there from a busy Walt Disney World vacation. The men, visiting from Ireland, were relaxing over cold pints late one night while their families were back in the hotel.

"It's nice, then, when you have somebody minding the kids," he said. "It's nice to get out on your own for a while."

David Marks, president of Marketplace Advisors in Winter Park, said tweaking Pleasure Island's image so that it's not just thought of as a place for club-hoppers is a smart move.

"Disney has done a great job," he said. "They're improving the clubs and continuing to refine what they're doing."

The company is not giving up on adult-oriented nightlife, nor the current clubs, such as the Adventurers Club, the BET SoundStage or Mannequins Dance Palace. Partyers are still welcome. But so are people seeking to relax. Or a father with children, Rivers said.

"He can walk through here, and if he wants to have a drink on the street, he doesn't feel awkward with his children, and you won't feel awkward either," he said.

Such a mix may set Downtown Disney further apart from other area nightspots.

There already are key differences between Pleasure Island and two principal competitors, downtown Orlando and CityWalk at Universal Orlando.

Downtown Orlando is cheaper and centrally located to Orlando's population; it draws a younger and mostly local crowd. It's a favorite of college students. CityWalk, also cheaper and more centrally located, also tends to draw more locals. And Universal's bar district curves around the main part of CityWalk, keeping partyers off the beaten path.

Rivers said both competitors have market segments he would like to grow. Still, Downtown Disney does well with the local market, he insisted. But the main draw is, was and always will be tourists, driven by the caravan of buses moving between the district and Disney's hotels and parks.

Downtown Disney as the family-friendly adult spot makes sense to Mike Castillo, 41, who owns a construction company in Sacramento, Calif., and a time share in Orlando. He was at CityWalk one recent night with his wife, Jackie.

"I think Downtown Disney is a little bit better; I've got daughters, and they like it there. This is, like, more for grown-ups. Today, we dropped them off for a couple of hours and came over here," he said. "But yeah, I like it over there. The atmosphere is way more for families. I think this is more for grown-ups."

Disney's challenge is nurturing that family-friendly atmosphere without scaring off the young, single crowd that has helped make many of its clubs a success. Rivers thinks most youngsters will be in bed by the time the party really gets going on Pleasure Island.

Still, it worries Sabrina Carter, 26, from Orlando, who was out having a hurricane cocktail with a friend last week at CityWalk. She's an occasional Pleasure Island and downtown Orlando visitor.

"You don't want to be drunk in front of a bunch of kids," she said. "You're going to be paranoid. You don't have to worry about that downtown."
__________________

 

[Bill From PA]

boomhauer,

Thanks for fleshing out your impressions. I was aware that major changes were to take place at PI but they weren't underway in any noticeable way in March. We'll adjust our expectations accordingly. As for the reference in the article to PI becoming more 'kid friendly', I suppose that's inevetible given the change that allows one to browse the area for free and only pay if you wish to enter a club. For our part, we always took our whole family there at least once per trip when our three children were from 12 to 20 and I don't think the experience ruined them. There have been numerous threads here by adults complaining that they can't enjoy their beer buzz in the presence of young 'uns and I've always taken the position that 12 and olders have to buy an adult pass, Disney allows them to use their Plusses at PI so it's a bit much to expect someone to stay away from something they enjoy, and have paid for, because another doesn't want them there.

Anyway... if all that's going on is some construction when we get there in March, we'll grin and bear it. Our routine is to hit the early Comedy Warehouse show then spend most of the night in the Adventurer's Club so we won't be seeing much of the rubble.

Bill From PA

 

[skier_pete]

I was just there for one night in October, and then back to DTD during a business trip last week. The discriptions here are pretty appropriate. Several of the clubs are still open (Beach Club, Manniquin's, BET, Adventurer's Club and Comedy Warehouse) but other's are closed. There is lots of construction, and the walkways have been significantly narrowed as far as letting people walk through. It seems a mess, but is still opened. From what I saw, don't expect this to be done within a couple of months. (It didn't seem like anything was actually being worked on.)

As long as they keep the Adventurer's club intact, they can do whatever they want to the rest of it. In fact, my vote would be another club similar to the adventurer's club with more interactive shows. Probably won't happen though.

SkierPete

 

[Bill From PA]

As long as they keep the Adventurer's club intact, they can do whatever they want to the rest of it. SkierPete

My sentiments exactly.

Bill From PA

 

[Jason71]

Several of the clubs are still open (Beach Club, Manniquin's, BET, Adventurer's Club and Comedy Warehouse) but other's are closed.

Which clubs were closed? I have not seen any close down since the PI Jazz Co. Stores and the fast food outlet, yes, but not clubs. You have to go the long way to get into 8Traxx (along the waterfront, behind Mannequins), but is still open as far as I know.

 

[David R]

PI was a mess this summer. You could see the inside of a lot of structures, construction everywhere, etc. That's what the OP saw.

Now things look better, just what Bill saw. The sidewalks are still narrowed because of some construction fences which creates some heavy traffic but they'll be coming down soon.

Things are looking up. It's sad that there are now kids allowed to roam the area (I hate being with my friends there enjoying a beer and seeing kids in strollers who should be in bed at that time) but I guess it was bound to happen. The Adventurer's Club is still there and as good as ever. That's what matters to me the most too!

 

[laura001]

It was being gutted. The entire left side (walking in from Planet Hollywood) was being remodeled.

Not sure if someone has any recent pictures, but PI was scheduled for a major overhaul, and it certainly was under way this past July. I'm just curious if it will look any better by next year.

Here's the most recent article I can find:

Demolition at Pleasure Island
Disney reshapes nightlife complex The goal is to make the attraction more accessible -- and kid-friendly.

Scott Powers and Mark Chediak | Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted May 10, 2006

Once a haven for grown-ups looking to dance the night away, Disney's Pleasure Island is morphing into a place where Mom, Dad and the little ones can feel comfortable -- but the wild uncle is still welcome.

The transformation, part of a revamped night-life strategy for Walt Disney World, is not just an image makeover. Bulldozers are involved.

Disney is tearing out bridges, building a bigger, more prominent new bridge, knocking down two outdoor music stages, cutting a building in half, leveling a hill, opening up vistas of the lake and getting away from the back-alley warehouse-district look.

The goal is to merge Pleasure Island more with the other two districts of Downtown Disney -- geographically and in appeal.

"We're going away from the traditional, adult-only nightclub environment to an environment where we can appeal to all groups, including adults," said Djuan Rivers, vice president for Downtown Disney.

Disney created the adult entertainment complex in the 1980s when it saw visitors leaving its hotels to club hop in downtown Orlando. Though Pleasure Island has helped keep nightlife-seeking tourists on Disney grounds for 17 years, the area also has presented challenges -- partly because of its location and its mix of businesses.

Centrally located in the 120-acre Downtown Disney, it sat like a no-kids land, blocking traffic between the shopping and entertainment area's two all-age districts, Marketplace and the West Side.

And nothing says "not Disney" quite like a place where partyers wander from bar to bar with beers in their hands while loud music blares.

The changes began last year, when Disney opened up Pleasure Island to people younger than 18. The cover charge just to walk there was eliminated, the turnstile gates were ripped out and the hours were expanded. It used to open at 7 p.m. It now opens at 3 p.m. Someday, it will open at 11 a.m.

Already, a difference is showing. Before the turnstiles came down, 22 percent of Downtown Disney visitors came into the island. Today, it's 75 percent, Rivers said.

Disney also is tinkering with the mix of bars, restaurants and shops on the island, starting with the broader appeal of the new Irish-pub-themed tavern, Raglan Road.

The pub sits in stark contrast with many of the more boisterous music, comedy and dance clubs down the way -- which some visitors appreciate.

Paul Scully and his friends recently found refuge there from a busy Walt Disney World vacation. The men, visiting from Ireland, were relaxing over cold pints late one night while their families were back in the hotel.

"It's nice, then, when you have somebody minding the kids," he said. "It's nice to get out on your own for a while."

David Marks, president of Marketplace Advisors in Winter Park, said tweaking Pleasure Island's image so that it's not just thought of as a place for club-hoppers is a smart move.

"Disney has done a great job," he said. "They're improving the clubs and continuing to refine what they're doing."

The company is not giving up on adult-oriented nightlife, nor the current clubs, such as the Adventurers Club, the BET SoundStage or Mannequins Dance Palace. Partyers are still welcome. But so are people seeking to relax. Or a father with children, Rivers said.

"He can walk through here, and if he wants to have a drink on the street, he doesn't feel awkward with his children, and you won't feel awkward either," he said.

Such a mix may set Downtown Disney further apart from other area nightspots.

There already are key differences between Pleasure Island and two principal competitors, downtown Orlando and CityWalk at Universal Orlando.

Downtown Orlando is cheaper and centrally located to Orlando's population; it draws a younger and mostly local crowd. It's a favorite of college students. CityWalk, also cheaper and more centrally located, also tends to draw more locals. And Universal's bar district curves around the main part of CityWalk, keeping partyers off the beaten path.

Rivers said both competitors have market segments he would like to grow. Still, Downtown Disney does well with the local market, he insisted. But the main draw is, was and always will be tourists, driven by the caravan of buses moving between the district and Disney's hotels and parks.

Downtown Disney as the family-friendly adult spot makes sense to Mike Castillo, 41, who owns a construction company in Sacramento, Calif., and a time share in Orlando. He was at CityWalk one recent night with his wife, Jackie.

"I think Downtown Disney is a little bit better; I've got daughters, and they like it there. This is, like, more for grown-ups. Today, we dropped them off for a couple of hours and came over here," he said. "But yeah, I like it over there. The atmosphere is way more for families. I think this is more for grown-ups."

Disney's challenge is nurturing that family-friendly atmosphere without scaring off the young, single crowd that has helped make many of its clubs a success. Rivers thinks most youngsters will be in bed by the time the party really gets going on Pleasure Island.

Still, it worries Sabrina Carter, 26, from Orlando, who was out having a hurricane cocktail with a friend last week at CityWalk. She's an occasional Pleasure Island and downtown Orlando visitor.

"You don't want to be drunk in front of a bunch of kids," she said. "You're going to be paranoid. You don't have to worry about that downtown."
__________________

I hope that once they change things they put an entrance fee back into place. Last year when we were there we say a lot of young people (I would guess as early 20's) that had to be local because there were groups of them. I was actually very uncomfortable, they seemed to be a little rough around the edges.

The only other problem I have with the refurb is that we always counted Pleasure Island as pretty much the only place in WDW that was for adults only, and we enjoyed our time there.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Thread from earlier this week:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1246769

We very weill may be back to the comedy clubs this weekend too.

 

[TDC Nala]

The stages are gone. The new bridge to the West Side is completed. None of the clubs have been closed. The shops on the river side are being torn down and rebuilt, most likely as third-party-owned theme restaurants like Raglan Road. There will most likely never be another entrance fee for PI except to enter the clubs. I personally am anticipating that the clubs will go to a cover charge system for each individual club (but there is no confirmation as to what the actual procedure will be).

Just walk right into the AC and don't leave.