asianway
Well-Known Member
Any idea if it's Disney or third party operations?
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Downtown Disney update
- Thread starter Tim_4
- Start date
I inquired to a friend a couple months back about the probability of the old clubs returning. All of the standing clubs (So all but Motion and Rock n' Roll Beach) could be reopened as they were. They would all require some form of startup investment of varying degrees. Disney has retained many of the DJs or other performers from PI. Mannequins retained the rotating dance floor but much of the show equipment was sold. The Adventurers Club was the club that stood the least chance of coming back. The performers are still around but so much of that Club has been removed. They could redecorate but it would take a monumental effort as parts of the club are in many places. I wouldn't count AC out for a long term return.
Comedy Warehouse is a safe bet. Very basic show equipment involved and shows were put on as recently as December.
If any of the clubs were to reopen, the management choices which were made that led to its downfall need to be reversed.
Comedy Warehouse is a safe bet. Very basic show equipment involved and shows were put on as recently as December.
If any of the clubs were to reopen, the management choices which were made that led to its downfall need to be reversed.
HenryMystic
Well-Known Member
And if they're committed to a new Downtown Disney, they could add family friendly nonsense in the parking lot behind Pleasure Island connecting Marketplace to Westside (like they should have done originally.) Throw the gates back up, restore Adventurers Club, and get my business back.
Horizonsfan
Well-Known Member
It would be great to hear that PI is returning to a gated experience in the evening, and even better if it was the first step in the mega expansion that some have discussed.
Mouse Detective
Well-Known Member
PI cannot be gated again. There are 3rd party restaurants operating and some 3rd party shops. The only "gated" possibility is if they gated the area behind Mannequins, 8TRAX and Comedy Warehouse and used that as a small club district. The rest of the area must remain open to everyone. Much more likely that anything reopening would be on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Horizonsfan
Well-Known Member
Forgot about the few stores inside the remaining club area, Curl and Apricot Land certainly would make it difficult to regulate the area. As you said, the eastern half of the island cannot really be shut off from the rest of DTD anymore.
More than likely they won't reinstate any kind of restriction and that's fine by me. An active/lively PI in any form is better than the status quo.
71jason
Well-Known Member
None.
71jason
Well-Known Member
The idea that there was a single AdvClub cast is crazy--they held auditions annually or bi-annually. Would a few of the old fan favorites come back? No doubt, it was a sweet gig. But there enough comedic actors in WDW's sphere that they could re-cast no problem. As for redecorating, it seems most of the "major" props are still on-site. It would take some effort to re-hang everything, and they might have to fabricate some of the decor this time around, but this is Disney, it could be done fairly easily.
Granted, Comedy Warehouse is easier to put back together, but it was never profitable. Why I'm not sure what form a re-opened CW would take.
Okay somebody needs to help me out. I know the debate rages between JT and others about why, exactly, Pleasure Island closed. I generally avoid the PI area but I was there the other night and they had some band there performing what I can only describe as "dance" music. It was some kind of hybrid electronic/rock music and it felt very much like a club atmosphere. The Brazilian girls, in particular, seemed to be having a grand time as half of the songs were in Portuguese. As most people know, they also serve drinks and there were plenty of people taking advantage of that.
My question is, if we agree that an uncontrollable environment is at least PART of the reason PI was shut down in the first place, what is the rationale for the CURRENT PI environment that seems to have the same amount of booze, unrestricted access, and night life atmosphere, with the only difference being that now nobody is paying to get in?
My question is, if we agree that an uncontrollable environment is at least PART of the reason PI was shut down in the first place, what is the rationale for the CURRENT PI environment that seems to have the same amount of booze, unrestricted access, and night life atmosphere, with the only difference being that now nobody is paying to get in?
71jason
Well-Known Member
We don't agree with that. Most rational observers believe the clubs were closed SOLELY because TDO thought they could rent out the real estate and collect a check every month without having the hassle of running clubs. The idea that the 80s club full of conventioneers and the improv comedy club filled with Disney fanbois were somehow hotbeds of criminal activity is pure spin.
(I've also heard, fairly recently, that Al Weiss had a personal grudge against the clubs just because the predecessor regime were so in love with them, but again, the internal arguments were that turning PI into Winter Park or Sand Lake Road would be more profitable.)
Sand Lake isn't so bad... We could have a Bar Louie and a frozen yogurt place. ;-)
dreamscometrue
Well-Known Member
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
Well good news, then.
I know it's a horse of a different color, but do you suppose that continued success for elecTRONica/Mad Tea Party will cause TDO to rethink this strategy?
Minimal covers and expensive drinks surely look pretty attractive compared to a bunch of empty warehouses.
Why doesn't anyone go to Atlantic Dance Hall?
Well when they first closed PI there was NOTHING. So, they brought back PI Live for a 6 month contract. Then they did this Celebrate Tonight idea, which was terrible and not well received. Then they decided they wanted to make an ultra lounge to spur drink sales so they put that outdoor furniture in. Shortly after, they added the entertainment and temporary stages. It's really all the result of their failed plan. They've had to come back to the very thing they tried to drive away because their master plan of having 3rd parties snatch up that valuable real estate fell through, partly because of the economy, and partly because they were too stupid to see that the clubs MADE the real estate valuable!
So to come full circle, we had dancing, music, and booze with an outdoor stage with live entertainment. We got rid of the entertainment, tore down the stage, closed the clubs, made outdoor stages and furniture, put in entertainment, increased booze sales and people are dancing. Makes a lot of sense doesn't it?
Regarding the rumors about MDP and CW opening, Bob and I were trying to keep it quiet to gather more information, but it seems our hand has been forced. Maybe that's a good thing as it might invite others who know something to come forward. I'm cautious and take a big wait and see approach. You bet I'll be the first in line for mannequins, but I need to see valid movement before I'll believe they are reopening it or CW.
Not to be argumentative but that's not entirely true. AMC and Rainforest Cafe (among others) are doing just fine without being or having nightclubs right next door. I'm not sure how I feel about Splittsville but tons of credit to them for rolling the dice.
John
Well-Known Member
Thats really interesting, I havnt heard any report of ANYTHING happening over there. My last trip it was dead. Where were they preformimg? Did they have a stage setup? The real reason PI closed simply because TDo thought they could make more money leaseing to third party vendors. Its how they got to the actual closeing that causes so many discussions. But I think everyone includeing JT will agree that the beginning of the end is when they took down the turnstyles. Maybe this is somekind of trial run....but I doubt if they advertised this happening which was one of the problems that PI had before its closing. TDO gave up on promoting the place. Yet here we are almost four years later and like a flickering candle of light....a mere pulse of hope....there is music and danceing once again at PI. Tim you opened pandoras box on this one....just watch the PI loyal flock to this thread now.
right but those were already there. They wanted to get rid of the PI clubs because they thought the real estate was valuable based on the success of Reglan and how seemingly quick RRBC was snatched up. But when they closed the clubs, it dropped the attraction of the Pleasure Island real estate
Yeah there were semi-permanent looking stages. One was a electronic rock group and the other was a guitar soloist. They alternated half hour sets or so.
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
Because it's small, kind of generic, and there's not that much parking?