Why did Pleasure Island Close?

[Jblust524]

Was reading a thread and it got me thinking....why did this close? Back in the Mid-90's Disney seemed to be expanding their reach to a more adult crowd with this concept....now I don't want to here that 'Disney was stupid' or anyting like that, but legit business reasons....

My wife and I went there I guess is was 1995 and thought it was ok, but we did feel that it was quire expensive, wouldn't feel that way today and wish it was open when we go in a a few days. For one, I think that Hyperion Wharf could work, but it needs exclusive restaurants, no Applebee's etc....so what's everone's opinions?

 

[Reddog1134]

They seem to have reversed that thinking.

They said they wanted to replace the area with more "Family friendly" choices.

 

[imthatgirl]

From what I hear they just decided it didn't fit with their typical family friendly design and decided to ditch it. We went for a few years and to be honest the last time we went we decided never again. There was too much "riff raff"(to quote my DH) there thats it wasn't worth it. We even had a guy approach us asking of we wanted to buy a cigar out of his coat...literally he opened his coat and had cigars in there...crazy!

I will forever miss the Adventurers Club and would love to see it brought back outside of a night club atmosphere...but I have given up any hope of that happening

 

[pepe of ohio]

Seems to me it all started when they took the admission fee off....then it was open to the riff-raff......anybody could hang there.....created a gang atmosphere so we quit going......never felt safe after that opened up....it was a fun place...different...a place for adults....still remember the restaurant Fireworks Factory......

 

[notnothin]

I will forever miss the Adventurers Club and would love to see it brought back outside of a night club atmosphere...but I have given up any hope of that happening

Kungaloosh! Yes, unfortunately it won't be happening. They're sending items from the club over to Trader Sam's at DL Hotel.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

I don't know why really. The rumor of making it more family friendly seems logically but at the same time it would be nice to have an adult area too. I will agree that i went right before it closed and there were some questionable people there. It would be great if they would open back up for Adults who are visiting the parks, ONLY!

That area is great I remember when they did concerts and had performers all around. it would be great if they bought back the Adventures Club and then add some fine dining and maybe a Disney play.

 

[DReynolds86]

So the "nightclubs" like Mannequin's are closed?

 

[chartle]

So the "nightclubs" like Mannequin's are closed?

Yes

 

[hughjulia]

Here is a link to an article as to why Pleasure Island had to close.

http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_c...e-watch-why-pleasure-island-has-to-close.aspx

I don't know if everything stated is true or not, but it certainly is an interesting read.

I do believe that any decision Disney makes of this magnitude is going to be all business. They feel these changes will bring in more revenue.

 

[ASLEEPYRN3]

heard they are redoing that area- to fully open 2013, restaurants and interactive area for the kids.

 

[mattmommy]

Too bad they couldn't have the admission fee, cut the place in half. Half for adults and half (or less) for families.

I remember going there with DH and thinking "finally" they have adult things to do. We danced in the clubs, streets, etc. How we went to the parks the next day is beyond me.

I would love to take my son to the Adventurers Club. He would think all the moving/talking things were hysterical.

 

[Jblust524]

Seems to me it all started when they took the admission fee off....then it was open to the riff-raff......anybody could hang there.....created a gang atmosphere so we quit going......never felt safe after that opened up....it was a fun place...different...a place for adults....still remember the restaurant Fireworks Factory......

Now this seems logical and I could acraully agree with Disney making this decision if it did indeed become 'rough'.....still think a club could fit into DD, why not a Funny Bone or something like that....

 

[Jblust524]

Too bad they couldn't have the admission fee, cut the place in half. Half for adults and half (or less) for families.

I remember going there with DH and thinking "finally" they have adult things to do. We danced in the clubs, streets, etc. How we went to the parks the next day is beyond me.

I would love to take my son to the Adventurers Club. He would think all the moving/talking things were hysterical.

Not going to happen, but they could make it that you had to have an active Disney world Theme Park ticket to get in... no admission, but you were there for the right reasons.

 

[Rip]

Here is a link to an article as to why Pleasure Island had to close.

http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_c...e-watch-why-pleasure-island-has-to-close.aspx

I don't know if everything stated is true or not, but it certainly is an interesting read.

I do believe that any decision Disney makes of this magnitude is going to be all business. They feel these changes will bring in more revenue.

Yep. It had to do with declining revenue, mostly from the competition at City Walk. They had to discontinue the fee in order to attempt to get more customers, when that didn't work, they closed shop.

 

[chartle]

Not going to happen, but they could make it that you had to have an active Disney world Theme Park ticket to get in... no admission, but you were there for the right reasons.

I think the problem with that solution is that these kinds of places may need locals to survive the slack times.

Also what is an active Disney World Ticket?

A ticket doesn't truly expire until 14 days from first use. i.e. you can still upgrade a "used up ticket" with those 14 days.

Also what if I just got there and the first night I don't hit a park, is my still unused good forever ticket valid.

Is a FL AP OK?

I know where you are coming from, just not sure if its possible to do.

 

[mcd2745]

Here is a link to an article as to why Pleasure Island had to close.

http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_c...e-watch-why-pleasure-island-has-to-close.aspx

I don't know if everything stated is true or not, but it certainly is an interesting read.

I do believe that any decision Disney makes of this magnitude is going to be all business. They feel these changes will bring in more revenue.

It makes sense that Disney would want all of DTD to be easily accessible to from any other part of DTD, so people can walk freely to and from the MArketplace & West Side - spending money all along the way. However, there is no reason why there still can't be an Adventurer's Club in a reconfigured DTD. Clearly they decided they would rather sit back and play landlord and collect rent than to actually operate their own venues.

 

[Jblust524]

I think the problem with that solution is that these kinds of places may need locals to survive the slack times.

Also what is an active Disney World Ticket?

A ticket doesn't truly expire until 14 days from first use. i.e. you can still upgrade a "used up ticket" with those 14 days.

Also what if I just got there and the first night I don't hit a park, is my still unused good forever ticket valid.

Is a FL AP OK?

I know where you are coming from, just not sure if its possible to do.

I think that all three items you decribed are active disney tickets......once again, moot point.

 

[chartle]

I think that all three items you decribed are active disney tickets......once again, moot point.

Still don't think it would work as well as you would like.

I'm a trouble maker I want to go to PI not the clubs but to just "hang out" so I buy a one day Disney Quest Ticket for $42.

As long as I don't use it, its an active ticket. So until I die I have an active ticket.

Get it, I know you only want to have people there that are "normal" guests to the WDW resort but without thinking really hard I came up with a work around.

Also without locals the place will/did die.

 

[DReynolds86]

And sometimes people are just exhausted after a day of walking around WDW all day, only to be followed by waking up at 6AM for the next trip.

 

[lovealatte]

Personally, I just think Disney approached the "adult atmosphere" in the wrong way. It had the potential to be highly profitable if run correctly since we all know there isn't much in terms of adults only fun once the parks close. Especially sad about loss of Adventurer's Club!