What should they do with Pleasure Island?

[Uncleromulus]

I think Magicbus AND JimmyV are together-- right. Disney seems altogether done with the "young adult" drinking/dancing crowd and is quite content to let Citywalk have all of that.
So I doubt they will reopen anything resembling what they have already closed.
A "nationally franchised" hub will probably be what actually happens. Question is --which franchises???

Some venues similar to Raglan Road might do the trick--families can certainly go, but later in the evening there is a bit of entertainment.

 

[tjlamphere]

My Friday was going well until I read that Disney wants to bulldoze the Adventurers Club. If and when that happens, I hope a loyal group of AC supporters are there to witness (and videotape) that catastrophic event. That would truly be a sad day for me. Anyplace, the AC or another building, where you have spent so many happy times, being torn down to make way for what......that is a sad day in a person's life...and in this case, thousands of persons lives.

Don't tear down the AC...bring it and CW back to Downtown Disney...PLEASE!

 

[egdanger1]

I'd love to see it reopen as a more adult oriented section similar to what it was supposed to have been as PI. Only actually restrict it to adults only. Our trips to WDW are family affairs--me, DH, DD, mother, sis and BIL (with one on the way for them ). Sometimes we are together in the parks, sometimes we split up and go our own ways for a while. It would be nice to have a place more adult oriented place to go from time to time when DH and I venture off on our own.

I totally agree with you. I don't understand people yapping about a more kid friendly atmosphere or venue. The whole TRIP is kid friendly. I spend 8 hours a day for 5 days at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, HS, Market Place, West Side, Typhoon Lagoon (all of which are kid friendly)etc. Can't Mommie and Daddy have some fun dancing, etc. at least one night, without the KIDS, mine or anyone elses. If you don't like a club atmosphere, don't come. But don't spoil it for others because you feel that it is not appropriate. And City Walk is all the way in California, why would Disney World (FL) want to defer that type of business to the other side of the country when they can capatilize on it in FL. There are all types of patrons to Disney, with various wants and taste. They should attempt to draw them all and not just those that are coming anyway. Maybe, they could redesign the whole DD so that PI is off to itself and you don't have to pass through it to get to another part of DD.

 

[kaligal]

I wish they'd hire those Sleuths people and have that show there, with better food and backdrop. But Disney would make them change it into something less than it is, a Disney version of it...and it wouldn't be as good.

But that's a fun show.

They could buy the Titanic thing and have that in there.

Knowing Disney, though...I think it'll be a lot like City Walk, but not as good. With characters on screens, of course, because they can't do anything any longer that does not have characters on screens.

 

[rigs32]

I was at WDW for a week in Jan in 2008. Rides in the parks were walk ons. I went to PI three times - Sat, Mon, and Thurs. On every day - including Mon! - the AC was full. Packed on the Saturday. And as I was alone, I chatted with a lot of people and didn't meet any locals. I would gladly pay a steepish cover charge to spend a night drinking there. I really don't know how it was not profitable.

 

[JimmyV]

And City Walk is all the way in California, why would Disney World (FL) want to defer that type of business to the other side of the country when they can capatilize on it in FL.

City Walk is at Universal Orlando.

I think that Disney wants you to go to the Atlantic Dance Hall if you want a child-free dancing.

 

[JimmyV]

I chatted with a lot of people and didn't meet any locals. I would gladly pay a steepish cover charge to spend a night drinking there. I really don't know how it was not profitable.

Locals had no use for the place.
As for profit, according to a few bartenders I spoke with, people would come in and nurse a drink for two hours while they experienced the entertainment. Not enough booze flowing to cover costs.

 

[brucerob62]

i GUESS MY ONLY comment is ..its a family vacation..enjoy it as a family if you want to drink and dance do it at home..get a sitter and go out..I would never leave the kids with anyone else during our FAMILY vacation. SO glad Pleasure ISland is gone..put more restaurants there.. or bring back adventurers club..definitely agree with that..

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

i dont even know what this is :/

 

[Planogirl]

i GUESS MY ONLY comment is ..its a family vacation..enjoy it as a family if you want to drink and dance do it at home..get a sitter and go out..I would never leave the kids with anyone else during our FAMILY vacation. SO glad Pleasure ISland is gone..put more restaurants there.. or bring back adventurers club..definitely agree with that..

That's how you travel and I respect that. Not everyone feels the same way and many even visit WDW without children. What's wrong with a tiny slice of area being for adults only?

I agree with others that this is unlikely though. It'll just be the same tiresome chains as what we have just down the street more than likely. Personally I don't travel to Florida to visit the same places I have at home.

 

[derricksonb]

City Walk is at Universal Orlando.

I think that Disney wants you to go to the Atlantic Dance Hall if you want a child-free dancing.

I believe that was the intent of the Boardwalk area of the EPCOT resorts was to give alternatives for adult entertainment. Along the BW are ESPN Zone, ADH, Jellyrolls and Big River Grille along with several small bars tucked away in the YC/BC.

Personally I'd like to see Disney utilize the space for something unique that actually rivals Citywalk, but US pretty much has a lock on that market. I can eat at PF Chngs, BWW, Cheesecake Factory or any of those large chain restaurants on any given day, but I'd like to see one or two "High End" restaurants featuring menus similar to Emerils or Kouzzina.

 

[JimmyV]

i GUESS MY ONLY comment is ..its a family vacation..enjoy it as a family if you want to drink and dance do it at home..get a sitter and go out..I would never leave the kids with anyone else during our FAMILY vacation.

Well....let's not forget that it is the number one honeymoon destination in the country. Honeymooners need something to do besides.....go to the parks!

 

[JimmyV]

Personally I'd like to see Disney utilize the space for something unique that actually rivals Citywalk, but US pretty much has a lock on that market. I can eat at PF Chngs, BWW, Cheesecake Factory or any of those large chain restaurants on any given day, but I'd like to see one or two "High End" restaurants featuring menus similar to Emerils or Kouzzina.

Ideally, (assuming that the themed clubs and bars of yesteryear are not ideal), I'd like to see them do what Las Vegas has done and bring in restaurants from big name chefs. They have Wolfgang already. Kat Cora wound up at the BW, which I think is odd. Plenty of room for places by Emeril, Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, Joachim Splichal of Patina Group, etc. Las Vegas has dozens of celebrity chef restaurants. I would think that PI could handle three or four to tack on to Wolfgang's.

 

[Planogirl]

Ideally, (assuming that the themed clubs and bars of yesteryear are not ideal), I'd like to see them do what Las Vegas has done and bring in restaurants from big name chefs. They have Wolfgang already. Kat Cora wound up at the BW, which I think is odd. Plenty of room for places by Emeril, Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, Joachim Splichal of Patina Group, etc. Las Vegas has dozens of celebrity chef restaurants. I would think that PI could handle three or four to tack on to Wolfgang's.

Since Emeril already has two places at Universal, he likely wouldn't expand any further. I could see a few of the others though. What about doing something with Gordon Ramsey? He's certainly popular enough. Or maybe some of the other TV chefs?

 

[JimmyV]

Emeril has restaurants in several hotels in LV, so I doubt that having two in the Universal area would be a deterrent unless Disney insisted on exclusivity, which is possible. Though, the fact that Wolfgang is all over the place suggests that Disney doesn't care too much about exclusivity. I would have added Gordon Ramsay to my list, but his &@$%^& mouth would probably be off-putting to Disney. Once kids ate there and then tuned in one of his shows, it would be kind of hard to explain the connection to Disney.

The bottom line is that the Orlando area is sorely lacking in fine dining for an area of its size. Some fine dining establishments by recognized names might just serve the local community every bit as much as it would the tourists. I have to believe that anything Mario Batali opened in the area would be a hit. And Bobby flay too. And Tyler Florence. And on, and on.

 

[il dvc junky]

Has anyone bus driver?

 

[eliza61]

i GUESS MY ONLY comment is ..its a family vacation..enjoy it as a family if you want to drink and dance do it at home..get a sitter and go out..I would never leave the kids with anyone else during our FAMILY vacation. SO glad Pleasure ISland is gone..put more restaurants there.. or bring back adventurers club..definitely agree with that..

families are many things. I have a family we are all over 21. You don't leave your kids alone, my kids loved the club den at wl. So why can't I have a drink? what the heck does dancing have to do with it? You can't be a family with parents that dance.

adult entertainment is not an evil, anti family thing. A comedy club is some how going to make Disney "un family" like?

It's funny now that my kids are older, Dh & I enjoy taking a 2 or 4 day trip without kids. sad thing is if we want some thing to do after say 9:00 pm we have to go off site. I mean after you've walked up and down DTD a couple of times it's pretty much boring.

 

[ilovejsparrow]

I think the LAST thing Disney needs is more restaurants.. I hate what they did to PI. It wasn't just an adults night out, as a kid I went to the clubs with my family that allowed children. 8Trax was my favorite, with the disco music. I think it's a real shame that the Adventurer's Club is closed too. Disney's going to have to do something amazing over there to ever make me go back

 

[Magicbus]

Has anyone bus driver?

Are you asking if anyone posting is a bus driver?

 

[JennyMP03]

i GUESS MY ONLY comment is ..its a family vacation..enjoy it as a family if you want to drink and dance do it at home..get a sitter and go out..I would never leave the kids with anyone else during our FAMILY vacation. SO glad Pleasure ISland is gone..put more restaurants there.. or bring back adventurers club..definitely agree with that..

We have no kids, but we went to Disney World as two adults and were quite happy. Pleasure Island wasn't my favorite experience of the trip, but many people did enjoy it.