Disney wants control

[Flip83]

Here's a better idea: Disney World should have more to do for the 21-35 set and families who don't have kids.

Pleasure Island USED to be a great spot for adults to be able to have a nice night out without kids and enjoy themselves. The problem was degenerate guests ruining it for others. I remember witnessing a fight years ago in the parking lot, a very big fight. Disney does NOT want that crap on their property, and these people getting drunk as all hell and starting fights is becoming pretty common with the people in their 20's now more then it ever has. I love Epcot, and I love having some drinks around the world and I sure will get a buzz on. But I also know my limit and will stop to be respectful to other guests..especially with kids. I still wish there was a way you could somehow limit each guest every night in Epcot. Let them drink, but only a certain amount. I would be perfectly fine with that. I don't even have kids, but being on the bus back to the resort and these kids are just so drunk, yelling at each other and being totally ignorant while parents have their kids asleep in their laps, ugh.. It makes me sick.

Is it so wrong that Disney keeps their place more a family place? Do they reaaallly need more nightclubs and bars on property? I honestly don't think they need to. Keep it a family place. If you can't have fun in what Disney offers for an enjoyable vacation, even if you don't have kids then I don't know what to tell you. We can go to parks all day, maybe take a mid day swim at the pool/ If we are in Epcot or a nice dinner we have a few drinks and and when we come home at night, we are completely satisfied. We don't feel the need to go out to a nightclub at all. We just home from our long honeymoon at WDW, and if Pleasure Island was still open, we wouldn't have gone because we don't go to Disney for those reasons. We went for the rides, the relaxation at Stormalong Bay and the amazing food they have to offer in Disney.

That's just my opinion. Not many will agree, but that's how I look at.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Here's a better idea: Disney World should have more to do for the 21-35 set and families who don't have kids.

Bingo, bingo, bingo.

And note: that doesn't mean I want them to build casinos on the property. However, they need to do something more for the younger crowd that doesn't want to head in for the night when the parks close early.

 

[WDW1974]

Disney is concerned that with another player in the state they will start missing out on the following ."Group meetings and conventions business is also a growing profit center for Disney, which has nearly 470,000 square feet of meeting space spread among its hotels. It also routinely picks up lucrative private parties and other business tied to shows using Orange County's massive, publicly owned convention center"
These might be moving south !

And that's why Disney wants to put its own interests over what is best for the state of Florida and certainly better for a region that is a few hundred miles away.

Now before someone starts blubbering about the wonders of capitalism and how Disney is just 'protecting its turf' etc, I don't disagree with that point.

But as someone who lives in SoFla and knows just how bad things are and how much those jobs are needed, I don't really give a damn about Disney's coffers. Ultimately, if Disney has enough to offer these groups they'll still get a large chunk of the convention business.

Seems to me that this is just another example of Disney being the bully because it has no faith in its product.

~GFC~

 

[disneyrcks]

Don't know if anyone brought this up yet, but down at Port Canaveral you can take a Gambling Cruise for a few hours. It may be expensive (not sure of the cost) but I would imagine it is something people could add on to their vacation if they are fans of gambling. Port Canaveral is not too far away from Disney.

Sorry, just read through the whole thread and realize this post may not be worth to much, but I will leave it for info purposes

 

[Admiral01]

Here's a better idea: Disney World should have more to do for the 21-35 set and families who don't have kids.

Agreed.

 

[Master Yoda]

Disney is concerned that with another player in the state they will start missing out on the following ."Group meetings and conventions business is also a growing profit center for Disney, which has nearly 470,000 square feet of meeting space spread among its hotels. It also routinely picks up lucrative private parties and other business tied to shows using Orange County's massive, publicly owned convention center"
These might be moving south !

I think you hit the nail on the head. For the average convention, a Vegas style resort is much more appealing than a Disney resort. A resort with gambling can afford to darn near give rooms away because the money will be made up on the casino floor.

 

[rob0519]

I think you hit the nail on the head. For the average convention, a Vegas style resort is much more appealing than a Disney resort. A resort with gambling can afford to darn near give rooms away because the money will be made up on the casino floor.

I too believe, this is Disney's major objection to a destination type casino/resort. At numerous company's where I've worked, people would pick and choose the conventions, seminars, etc. they would attend based on the location. Put the event in Las Vegas and more people tend to go. Put it at Disney and more people tend to go. Put it at a casino in Miami, well more than likely a single adult traveler will pick the casino over the theme park.

Additionally, a few people have said Disney needs more activity for the 21-35 crowd, but no one has offered even one suggestion. Pleasure Island was basically a good idea, but Disney could not control neither the local influence not the vacationers that chose to get out of control drunk and cause all sorts of mayhem by way of fights, harassment, intimidation, ect. Unfortunately, that seems to be the way a number of 21-35 year olds enjoy themselves. I don't pretend to have the answers, nor am I anti drinking, but shutting down Pleasure Island was the right move for the Disney Corporation.

 

[c-one]

Pleasure Island USED to be a great spot for adults to be able to have a nice night out without kids and enjoy themselves. The problem was degenerate guests ruining it for others. I remember witnessing a fight years ago in the parking lot, a very big fight. Disney does NOT want that crap on their property, and these people getting drunk as all hell and starting fights is becoming pretty common with the people in their 20's now more then it ever has. I love Epcot, and I love having some drinks around the world and I sure will get a buzz on. But I also know my limit and will stop to be respectful to other guests..especially with kids. I still wish there was a way you could somehow limit each guest every night in Epcot. Let them drink, but only a certain amount. I would be perfectly fine with that. I don't even have kids, but being on the bus back to the resort and these kids are just so drunk, yelling at each other and being totally ignorant while parents have their kids asleep in their laps, ugh.. It makes me sick.

Is it so wrong that Disney keeps their place more a family place? Do they reaaallly need more nightclubs and bars on property? I honestly don't think they need to. Keep it a family place. If you can't have fun in what Disney offers for an enjoyable vacation, even if you don't have kids then I don't know what to tell you. We can go to parks all day, maybe take a mid day swim at the pool/ If we are in Epcot or a nice dinner we have a few drinks and and when we come home at night, we are completely satisfied. We don't feel the need to go out to a nightclub at all. We just home from our long honeymoon at WDW, and if Pleasure Island was still open, we wouldn't have gone because we don't go to Disney for those reasons. We went for the rides, the relaxation at Stormalong Bay and the amazing food they have to offer in Disney.

That's just my opinion. Not many will agree, but that's how I look at.

Okay, that's great, if Disney doesn't want to cater to childless adults because they keep getting riotously drunk, fair enough. But then they should stop trying to bully the government and other businesses on those matters. Of course, they won't.

Also, a good bar or nightclub, much like a good online community, is only as good as the powers that moderate it.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

IAdditionally, a few people have said Disney needs more activity for the 21-35 crowd, but no one has offered even one suggestion. Pleasure Island was basically a good idea, but Disney could not control neither the local influence not the vacationers that chose to get out of control drunk and cause all sorts of mayhem by way of fights, harassment, intimidation, ect. Unfortunately, that seems to be the way a number of 21-35 year olds enjoy themselves. I don't pretend to have the answers, nor am I anti drinking, but shutting down Pleasure Island was the right move for the Disney Corporation.

Jellyroll's is a perfect example of the kind of place they need. Jellyroll's is fantastic. However, it's one place. You can't go there every night of your trip.

And on nights when the park that closes last is Epcot, and it closes at 9 PM, it's really kind of pathetic that there's not much else to do on the property besides shop at DD (even then, they close at 11!).

 

[Rinx]

I don't think Disney would ever build a casino or have that kind of place/atmosphere in their resorts. They don't even have a casino on their cruise ships. They are the only company (or one of the very, very few) in the industry not to have casinos on board. Magic and Wonder don't, I'm not sure about the two newer ships.

 

[herc]

Disney doesn't need to have casinos around and really should worry too much about them in Florida. Sure some, I say some, conventions will go near them, especially if Miami gets a big one, but Disney World is all about family entertainment.
That being said, I remember going to Disney World in my 20s and 30s and having a blast at pleasure Island. Yes, it is gone and nothing like that to be done again.
My only complaint is that most bars and lounges on property seem to close early. Now come on Disney, keep the lounges and bars open til 1am and you would make a mint. I don't know how many times I've come back from the Magic Kingdom and just wanting a cold one. But I would have to get to the Fantasia Market at the Contemporary before 11pm.

 

[muse1983]

Here's a better idea: Disney World should have more to do for the 21-35 set and families who don't have kids.

More to do? So because you are in the 21-35 age group and don't have children that means you need nightclubs etc to have fun in WDW? I guess my wife and I are a complete 180 then, we are both in our late 20's and have no children and manage to have a magical trip everytime we step foot in WDW. Maybe you should go to Universal:shrug:

 

[NORMNB8S]

...we are both in our late 20's and have no children and manage to have a magical trip everytime we step foot in WDW.

I agree completely. My wife and I just spent 10 days at Disney and had a great time. Not once did we think that we needed something to do. We toured the parks, did some shopping and enjoyed the great restaurants that are on property. I don't intend to say that everyone should be like us but there is plenty to do on property for people without kids. And, there are plenty of lounges to grab a drink or two, which we enjoy doing as well.

 

[c-one]

That's great that you guys don't need nightclubs to have fun. Different strokes for different folks! I'm not much of a dancer myself but I do enjoy having a pint or three at night, especially on vacation. So yes, that's part of it.

But it's more than that. Overall, the experience on property seems to be swinging towards the families and the children. Look at a guidebook from the early days of WDW. Now look at one today. Which seems more geared for adults? Which seems more cartoony?

If you don't want to go to nightclubs -- great! No one will make you go. But some people who like to go to Disney World also like to go to nightclubs and stay up late and drink beers (responsibly!). By ignoring that crowd, Disney is driving a demographic away from WDW. Oh well. Their loss.

 

[WDW1974]

That's great that you guys don't need nightclubs to have fun. Different strokes for different folks! I'm not much of a dancer myself but I do enjoy having a pint or three at night, especially on vacation. So yes, that's part of it.

But it's more than that. Overall, the experience on property seems to be swinging towards the families and the children. Look at a guidebook from the early days of WDW. Now look at one today. Which seems more geared for adults? Which seems more cartoony?

If you don't want to go to nightclubs -- great! No one will make you go. But some people who like to go to Disney World also like to go to nightclubs and stay up late and drink beers (responsibly!). By ignoring that crowd, Disney is driving a demographic away from WDW. Oh well. Their loss.

Yes, look at a guidemap/book from WDW's first 25-30 years and compare it to now (especially the 70s and 80s). Forget about the fact everything (and everyone) looks classier. But look at how WDW is marketed as The Vacation Kingdom of the World, not The Timeshare Tooned Pinned Plushed Vinyled TurkeyLegged ECV Double Wide Stroller Outletmall Kingdom of the World.

Yep. WDW has done and gone been Walmarted.

And folks here complain about drunks at Food and Wine (btw, they aren't all or even mostly locals ... boorish drunks come in all demos -- sorry realize this is from another thread but it belongs here too!)

Anyway, all those older materials will show you that WDW wasn't simply a children's park (or parks) ... that activities were available for ALL ages and ALL families and types. From horseback riding to boating to shopping (for items that weren't Disney BRANDED) to dining and DRINKING adult beverages in ADULT locales etc ...

One of WDW's many issues is that everything is being run so it will appeal to an emotionally fragile eight-year-old or it gets tossed aside.

A bigger issue is that Disney's grand startegy for Walmarting the World comes from kissing up to INSIGINIFICANT Mommy Bloggers that Disney's Social Media Dept (and consultants) have identified as the most important sounding board for what is and isn't important to folks who take MAGICal WDW vacations. That is why we are getting everything from RFID apps to the expanding DDP to tooned rooms taking over THEMED resorts. It's all what some Mommy Blogger in Ohio says is important to her and her circle that she blogs to, that Disney's Social Media Dept kisses up to because their six and seven figure a year consultants tell them 'Mommies make all the vacation choices and decide where the $$$ goes ... YOU MUST MAKE THEM HAPPY!' ... as to the folks you make unhappy, you look them in the eye, tell them how much you care about thir concerns and send them on their way with a 'Have a MAGICal Day!':hurl:

This really is what is ruining WDW right now. It's like the 800-pound gorilla. (any gorilla smileys?)

You want to affect positive change at WDW? Become a Mommy Blogger and start writing 180 degrees from what all the others are saying ... although you won't get free trips and swag by doing so ... and Disney might place you on its 'naughty' list.:xmas:

~GFC~

 

[imagineer boy]

One of WDW's many issues is that everything is being run so it will appeal to an emotionally fragile eight-year-old or it gets tossed aside.

So true. It makes me very sad.

 

[c-one]

Well put, WDW1974. The problem goes well beyond whether or not we have Pleasure Island.

(although I will say DDP isn't a bad deal for those of us who eat at lots of sit-down restaurants)

 

[muse1983]

That's great that you guys don't need nightclubs to have fun. Different strokes for different folks! I'm not much of a dancer myself but I do enjoy having a pint or three at night, especially on vacation. So yes, that's part of it.

But it's more than that. Overall, the experience on property seems to be swinging towards the families and the children. Look at a guidebook from the early days of WDW. Now look at one today. Which seems more geared for adults? Which seems more cartoony?

If you don't want to go to nightclubs -- great! No one will make you go. But some people who like to go to Disney World also like to go to nightclubs and stay up late and drink beers (responsibly!). By ignoring that crowd, Disney is driving a demographic away from WDW. Oh well. Their loss.

I think I just entered the Twilight Zone...are we really complaining because Disney doesn't offer more nightclubs and alcohol....ever think that's why a huge majority of people LOVE WDW? It sounds like you are simply going to the wrong place on vacation, Universal is 20 minutes away :wave:

 

[c-one]

I think I just entered the Twilight Zone...are we really complaining because Disney doesn't offer more nightclubs and alcohol....ever think that's why a huge majority of people LOVE WDW? It sounds like you are simply going to the wrong place on vacation, Universal is 20 minutes away :wave:

Again, the point is NOT "Disney needs nightclubs", and even if it were, I don't understand the hostility. WDW1974's post nailed it.

 

[muse1983]

Again, the point is NOT "Disney needs nightclubs", and even if it were, I don't understand the hostility. WDW1974's post nailed it.

No hostility here at all but it seems you took it that way and if so I apologize.