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what was wrong with pleasure island????

Lord Pheonix

Lord Pheonix

Active Member
Original Poster
i really didnt see anything wrong with it when i was last there in 2006 before they started demoing clubs and closing stores. i thought it was pretty popular. then they decide to close all this stuff and now what? noone wants to sign contracts, open new places. am i the only one who dont see why they did this?
 
Stu bailey

Stu bailey

Well-Known Member
Nothing was wrong with it. My wife and I had Great times there always. I heard a "bad element" had infiltrated and thus spooked upper management. Never saw this myself. Always enjoyed all our time there. Money the issue now as well as the desire for third party "partners" in conjunction with perhaps the lack of any cohesive and creative ideas for the space.
 
Calvin Coolidge

Calvin Coolidge

Well-Known Member
I just think it's sad that WDW is doing everything it can to edge out my demographic (unmarried young professionals and college students). Raising prices, getting rid of Pleasure Island, everything new being about princesses/fairies/dreaming/wishes...If you don't have kids it feels sometimes like TDO doesn't want your money.

I just don't get why WDW doesn't see itself as a perfect spring break destination for twenty-somethings. Meanwhile, my cohort is off to Universal in droves. And why shouldn't they?- Harry Potter, Citywalk, concerts...WDW has basically ceded a generation to Uni. I suspect they'll think it's a big mistake someday.
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Nothing. Except Disney paid for most of it as opposed to letting 3rd parties pay for the honour. And THAT was their main issue.

It was delayed. It did go over budget. It did take a year to take off. But as verified elsewhere on these forums it was very successful until the Mouse wanted more for less. As soon as they decided to let it decay, much like 20K, time took its toll.
 
disneysince71

disneysince71

Well-Known Member
My husband and I used to love to hit PI when we could get a sitter for the evening. It was fun. But I have to tell you it broke my heart to see other families pushing strollers and bringing kids into PI. It was not kid friendly. Towards the end I saw things that where definitely NOT part of the MAGIC.... A lot of locals hung out there... I do not believe Disney is here to cater to the locals (but that is another thread)...
So recently I have been to DTD 10/15 times in the past 2 years... and personally I think it is the busiest I have ever seen it... Much busier than when PI was open... and very kid friendly. Whatever they wanted to do it worked. And even though I greatly miss the comedy club... I am glad they did it.... :)
 
Walt 1901

Walt 1901

Active Member
I actually had a friend that went to Pleasure Island and on the why back to his car he and the members of his group where harassed to the point where the person doing the harassing got so ed that my friend was not going to get mad and fight him that the guy pulled a knife on him. I believe that is the element that Disney was trying to get rid of. As always its to bad that a few a$$ wholes that cant handle their liquor that ruins it for everyone else that goes to have a good time
 
Virtual Toad

Virtual Toad

Well-Known Member
Guests were having too much fun.

Seriously, this whole business about "locals," gangs, the wrong element, rougher crowds etc. is mostly conjecture and has been repeated enough times, it's become accepted as the main reason the clubs were shuttered, not unlike the sinkhole under Horizons or the 20k lagoon flooding the utilidors.

Certain Disney executives were wooed by Schussler Creative (Google them if interested), which wanted to open a series of "themed" eateries to replace the clubs. This was all happening during the real estate bubble, and these execs saw quick and easy profits, with third parties shouldering most of the risk.

The whole thing fell apart when the economy collapsed, and so here we are almost a half decade later, still waiting for the "bold, new vision" (as promised in TDO's late-Friday news release at the time).

That's much closer to the truth than all these anecdotal stories of "locals" and gangs. Yes, there have always been arrests and crimes in that part of WDW but Pleasure Island was not alone. Many of these incidents also took place on the West Side (House of Blues anyone?) yet no one at TDO is rushing to tear down that part of property.

Just thought I'd throw that out. Closing the clubs at PI was never about chasing away the wrong element. It has always been about $$$ plain and simple.
 
luv

luv

Well-Known Member
I think the biggest problem is that Disney could never figure out what they wanted to do with it.

"Bold, new vision", lol. That actually made me laugh at loud at the time and put a smile on my face just now. Bold, new vision...shopping and dining. Bold! New! Vision!

Oooooooh, Disney. :(
 
Stu bailey

Stu bailey

Well-Known Member
There were incidents. Not anecdotal. Their plan for partnering with third parties being scuttled by the bust did however contribute mightily to the situation we find ourselves in now. That is also true. And thus the perfect storm of negative outcomes.
 
StarWarsGirl

StarWarsGirl

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
My dad is a Disney Stockholder. His information was that the type of crowds they were attracting wasn't what they wanted. It was my understanding that a few of the clubs were still open. I was there in January, and it was a very nice area they developed. Quite crowded too. Though I have heard people say that they miss the old Pleasure Island.
 
RonAnnArbor

RonAnnArbor

Well-Known Member
What happened was multi-fold: "Clubs" have gone out of fashion in the US, nationwide -- sure PI was doing okay business (on some nights) while being totally empty on others. Try finding a good dance club in almost any town nationwide these days -- younger folks are looking at other options for entertainment these days, and smoke-filled alcohol infused dance clubs is not it.
But more importantly, just like in Epcot and everywhere else, Disney is trying to get out of the self-ownership business -- they want other companies, restaurants, stores to do the development and pay a hefty rate for the rental space. As anyone who owns a restaurant knows, they are bleeding money left and right. Clubs are worse. Younger folks aren't looking to "dance clubs" and "comedy clubs" for their evening entertainment.
Another major reason was that, at least one night per week but for awhile two nights per week, some of the clubs at PI were becoming the place for their own employees to go latenight, get trashed, and then not be able to work the next morning -- losing productivity. They closed that loophole.
Also, over the years, DTD is no longer being geared just to resort guests -- they are also attracting (and WANT TO attract) the locals from the subdivisions that now line that entire area -- those folks aren't looking for "clubs" - they are looking for restaurants and shopping that attracts them before/after the movies. I expect a major part of the development they are announcing tomorrow will be geared directly to the locals interests, not resort guest interests.
Times change. The idea of a "club area" time has come and gone.
 
A

AuroraTheBlonde

New Member
Lord Pheonix said:
i really didnt see anything wrong with it when i was last there in 2006 before they started demoing clubs and closing stores. i thought it was pretty popular. then they decide to close all this stuff and now what? noone wants to sign contracts, open new places. am i the only one who dont see why they did this?
Click to expand...
I was a member for years. As you know, Pleasure Island (PI) was an ADULT-ONLY Disney, open from 9PM to 2AM - - until Disney started allowing those under 21 years old (NOT adult age) to enter unaccompanied. These punks destroyed everything and thought it was funny to run into people and knock them down. I got knocked down 2 or 3 times ... after that, I never went back, as did many regulars. PI was my favorite Disney place, and I went 2-3 times a week. My favorite places were the Jazz Club, Mannequins, the Comedy Club, and the outdoor staging areas. I once danced the twist on-stage with Chubby Checker. Saw many musical stars there - all in person and walking around. Whatever Disney says, they do not tell the whole truth - - that being they allowed under-adult-age kids in - totally against their own rules - who were frustrated that they could not get into most of the venues as they were too young - - so they destroyed the place... and then Disney shut it down. so sad. I truly miss Pleasure Island!!
 
JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
AuroraTheBlonde said:
I was a member for years. As you know, Pleasure Island (PI) was an ADULT-ONLY Disney, open from 9PM to 2AM - - until Disney started allowing those under 21 years old (NOT adult age) to enter unaccompanied. These punks destroyed everything and thought it was funny to run into people and knock them down. I got knocked down 2 or 3 times ... after that, I never went back, as did many regulars. PI was my favorite Disney place, and I went 2-3 times a week. My favorite places were the Jazz Club, Mannequins, the Comedy Club, and the outdoor staging areas. I once danced the twist on-stage with Chubby Checker. Saw many musical stars there - all in person and walking around. Whatever Disney says, they do not tell the whole truth - - that being they allowed under-adult-age kids in - totally against their own rules - who were frustrated that they could not get into most of the venues as they were too young - - so they destroyed the place... and then Disney shut it down. so sad. I truly miss Pleasure Island!!
Click to expand...
We loved the area back in our earlier trips to Disney. We frequented the adventurers club and comedy shows often. At that time Disney did a horrible job of overseeing what was going on and enforcing moral and standard behavior.
It is sad that DS has no clubs on site which would add a more fun and complete experience. Disney could do more than just dining and shopping stores.
 

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