Hahaha. So true and we have come full circle. Thus the wasteland that a lot of that part of Downtown Disney has become. Always easy to find parking on the west side.
So one side is designed by a moron, the other side managed by morons?
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Plan C for Pleasure Island
- Thread starter SMRT-1
- Start date
Hahaha. So true and we have come full circle. Thus the wasteland that a lot of that part of Downtown Disney has become. Always easy to find parking on the west side.
So one side is designed by a moron, the other side managed by morons?
flavious27
Well-Known Member
I mean attached to the garage. So the back end of the complex would be a parking lot with the front end being the shops. With the shops being close to parking, it would make sense to charge more.
El-Fuego
Member
Paradise Lost
This area has such potential but it's being totally missed by Disney. They have an opportunity to theme and grow this area into an attraction all on it's own. It's really like they just don't care! By letting unique venues like The Adventurers Club bite the dust while keeping oversized Disney toy outlets and not fully supporting other unique outlets they are showing contempt for the customer who may want something different from having the latest Mickey doll crammed down their throat.:brick:
This area has such potential but it's being totally missed by Disney. They have an opportunity to theme and grow this area into an attraction all on it's own. It's really like they just don't care! By letting unique venues like The Adventurers Club bite the dust while keeping oversized Disney toy outlets and not fully supporting other unique outlets they are showing contempt for the customer who may want something different from having the latest Mickey doll crammed down their throat.:brick:
that's exactly what it is(or was). Management at the time thought they could get more cash out of 3rd party leases so they killed PI until its closing could be justified to Burbank! Now that management is nearly all gone and only 1 or 2 very powerful people still insist it was the right decision and will not go back on their original decision to close the clubs.
flavious27
Well-Known Member
Is the smooth talking for dtd that kept sitting down in benches gone? I thought he was the final nail that needed to be hammered away.
The DTD mgmt which was around when PI closed are all gone as far as I know. Kevin Lansberry is off in some unknown place of the company and there are rumors he isn't even with Disney anymore. I haven't bothered to check the hub and look him up. Barry Carlson took the buyout when Disney offered it, he's gone too. I think those who are blocking any reverse in policy are a bit higher up, but I'm not sure where. Other insiders have posted of the internal struggle that the closing of PI has caused. The thing about Disney is management changes a lot from frontline up to basically park VPs. All it takes is the wrong group of people with a philosophy to make a bad decision. On the flip side, things sometimes work themselves out. If Staggs has stepped in(which he seems to indicate given the post on the official Disney blog) then I have hope for the DTD expansion being rumored and if that happens, their decision to include or not include any form of nightlife will be very telling of the true feeling of management. If they decide to include clubs again as part of the "new" DTD they can spin things in the press to make it out like that was the plan all along IF they want to. Only time will tell, but I'm sure getting sick of looking at my beloved clubs closed for 3.5 years with nothing.
flavious27
Well-Known Member
Well the closing of PI wasn't just like FLE, making more of your property run by 3rd parties is going to be controversial. Hopefully they do open the clubs again, the stall in demo and work on the island shows that it was a mistake in the first place to close PI.
jt04
Well-Known Member
I am convinced you will not see clubs reopen as you define them. When Disney expanded the DL DTD they did not include any PI style clubs. So there likely will be clubs like you find at Bongos or House of Blues or soon at Splitsville but I would be shocked if they reopened Mannequins or 8-Trax. Just does not fit the Disney brand. CityWalk is expanding so you have that going for you.
Mouse Detective
Well-Known Member
You may be right but even a restaurant that has a night club aspect would be ok with me. As for Disneyland, it never had a Pleasure Island segment so the lack of clubs there is not surprising. WDW has much, much more convention and meeting business and thus a much greater need to satisfy evening activities.
So far Citywalk's expansion does not include any new restaurants or clubs.
Prototype82
Well-Known Member
City Walk FTW.
PalisadesPkteer
Active Member
They will most likely have a new pop corn cart and then build a new DTD around that!
GLaDOS
Well-Known Member
Funny because more problems come out of House of Blues on nights when the club is open than anything that ever came out of PI...Why would they allow that to continue if it was as black mark on Disney's name?
Alektronic
Well-Known Member
Here's an article about the current condition of Downtown Disney:
Shop values of Downtown Disney
Dewayne Bevil on Attractions
Theme Park Ranger
11:27 AM EDT, March 29, 2012
Like many retail outlets, Downtown Disney has been in flux in recent years.
Along with a changing lineup of tenants, Disney World's entertainment complex has slogged through its intention to increase its shopping and dining options. Some of this came at the cost of the nightclubs that once populated Pleasure Island, the center segment of Downtown Disney.
What will replace the clubs, which closed in 2008, is still not clear. So what can folks — even Florida residents — do there today? I walked it from end to end, looking for new stores or tucked-away establishments under my radar.
It turns out, there's loads of shopping at Downtown Disney — more than 40 outlets are listed on the guide map — and it's easy to get sucked in.
"This is where I saw that frog I liked," I overheard a woman say. "It was $900."
Yikes. But I shouldn't judge because I was soon staring at a Dr. Seuss-inspired statue at Pop Gallery. Where in my house would I put a mounted head of a "Goo-Goo-Eyed Tasmanian Wolghost." Its price tag reads $2,895. Step away from the Seuss, Dewayne.
At the nearby Sunglasses Icon store, I am tempted by a $165 pair of hand-painted Ray-Bans, which is crazy talk because I'm happy with the $12 knockoffs on my head. I escape, only to have my cheap pair break on my head the next day. If you're one of the people who believe that Disney somehow controls the weather, then you must believe it's the overlord of sunglasses as well.
These stores, on what's called the West Side of Downtown Disney, are representative of the new guard there. Gone are the more budget-friendly magic shop and longstanding magnet store. The Hollywood memorabilia spot is now home to Orlando Harley-Davidson.
Also newish are the AMC Dine-In Theatres, where food is served with your film. Coming this fall is Spiltsville, a bowling attraction in the former Virgin Mega Store building.
North of all this is Pleasure Island, which might bring tears to the eyes of die-hard fans of nightclubs such as the Adventurers Club and Comedy Warehouse. The buildings' entrances are blocked by temporary landscaping as if to say "move along, nothing to see here." The trademark sign for Mannequins Dance Palace has been stripped and the signage for 8 TRAX was painted over long ago.
But the lakeside view from the patio of Paradiso 37 restaurant is nice. You also can see over a low construction wall into the grassy area that was set to be an amphitheater/meeting place, which was announced in 2010. The guide map now says "for future enjoyment." (Remember the Hyperion Wharf plan?)
My spirits picked up entering the Downtown Disney's Marketplace section, which is practically built for rapid-fire browsing. It's fun to wander the newly expanded Lego Imagination Center and to maneuver carefully through Arribas Brothers, which features crystal figurines, tiaras and a sparkly replica of Cinderella Castle (Price tag: a cool $37,500).
Shopping is a matter of taste and need, I guess. Although I glaze over in some of Downtown Disney's women-driven retailers (Apricot Lane, Blink by Wet Seal), I like Tren-D, which presents Disney clothing and accessories with an imaginative, but low-key, twist. It's borderline Hidden Mickey.
My true Marketplace discovery: Fun Finds, which features Disney merchandise for $20 and less. It's not exactly an outlet store, but the reasonable rates are attractive. Next time I'll start there and work my way up to $900 frog.
Shop values of Downtown Disney
Dewayne Bevil on Attractions
Theme Park Ranger
11:27 AM EDT, March 29, 2012
Like many retail outlets, Downtown Disney has been in flux in recent years.
Along with a changing lineup of tenants, Disney World's entertainment complex has slogged through its intention to increase its shopping and dining options. Some of this came at the cost of the nightclubs that once populated Pleasure Island, the center segment of Downtown Disney.
What will replace the clubs, which closed in 2008, is still not clear. So what can folks — even Florida residents — do there today? I walked it from end to end, looking for new stores or tucked-away establishments under my radar.
It turns out, there's loads of shopping at Downtown Disney — more than 40 outlets are listed on the guide map — and it's easy to get sucked in.
"This is where I saw that frog I liked," I overheard a woman say. "It was $900."
Yikes. But I shouldn't judge because I was soon staring at a Dr. Seuss-inspired statue at Pop Gallery. Where in my house would I put a mounted head of a "Goo-Goo-Eyed Tasmanian Wolghost." Its price tag reads $2,895. Step away from the Seuss, Dewayne.
At the nearby Sunglasses Icon store, I am tempted by a $165 pair of hand-painted Ray-Bans, which is crazy talk because I'm happy with the $12 knockoffs on my head. I escape, only to have my cheap pair break on my head the next day. If you're one of the people who believe that Disney somehow controls the weather, then you must believe it's the overlord of sunglasses as well.
These stores, on what's called the West Side of Downtown Disney, are representative of the new guard there. Gone are the more budget-friendly magic shop and longstanding magnet store. The Hollywood memorabilia spot is now home to Orlando Harley-Davidson.
Also newish are the AMC Dine-In Theatres, where food is served with your film. Coming this fall is Spiltsville, a bowling attraction in the former Virgin Mega Store building.
North of all this is Pleasure Island, which might bring tears to the eyes of die-hard fans of nightclubs such as the Adventurers Club and Comedy Warehouse. The buildings' entrances are blocked by temporary landscaping as if to say "move along, nothing to see here." The trademark sign for Mannequins Dance Palace has been stripped and the signage for 8 TRAX was painted over long ago.
But the lakeside view from the patio of Paradiso 37 restaurant is nice. You also can see over a low construction wall into the grassy area that was set to be an amphitheater/meeting place, which was announced in 2010. The guide map now says "for future enjoyment." (Remember the Hyperion Wharf plan?)
My spirits picked up entering the Downtown Disney's Marketplace section, which is practically built for rapid-fire browsing. It's fun to wander the newly expanded Lego Imagination Center and to maneuver carefully through Arribas Brothers, which features crystal figurines, tiaras and a sparkly replica of Cinderella Castle (Price tag: a cool $37,500).
Shopping is a matter of taste and need, I guess. Although I glaze over in some of Downtown Disney's women-driven retailers (Apricot Lane, Blink by Wet Seal), I like Tren-D, which presents Disney clothing and accessories with an imaginative, but low-key, twist. It's borderline Hidden Mickey.
My true Marketplace discovery: Fun Finds, which features Disney merchandise for $20 and less. It's not exactly an outlet store, but the reasonable rates are attractive. Next time I'll start there and work my way up to $900 frog.
John
Well-Known Member
So let me see if I am clear on this. Unless I want to buy overpriced sunglasses or some Mickeymart crap or while in some glazed eyed out of mind experience I buy a frog for nine hundred dollars there isnt much for me at DTD? Of course unless I am in touch with my femine side and want to go in the Wet Seal store...Which I have no inclination to do.
While reading this something occured to me. I am going to guess that within a year or so of Splitsville opening that DisneyQuest will close. Seems to me that SV will take away a decent amount of buisness away. Families that used to spend time at DQ will look for something new and fresh and will by pass DQ and opt for SV.....IMHO Which either this is an intended effect or once again TDO had no forsight....imagine that. Annnnnnnd if this is the case do they have a replacement in mind for that building or will it sit silent like PI......hey I have a thought......why not turn that building into some type of adult entertainment...you could house AC, Comedy club and other clubs. You could have a much more controlled enviroment......just a thought.
While reading this something occured to me. I am going to guess that within a year or so of Splitsville opening that DisneyQuest will close. Seems to me that SV will take away a decent amount of buisness away. Families that used to spend time at DQ will look for something new and fresh and will by pass DQ and opt for SV.....IMHO Which either this is an intended effect or once again TDO had no forsight....imagine that. Annnnnnnd if this is the case do they have a replacement in mind for that building or will it sit silent like PI......hey I have a thought......why not turn that building into some type of adult entertainment...you could house AC, Comedy club and other clubs. You could have a much more controlled enviroment......just a thought.
awhit066
Well-Known Member
Very good point!
RandySavage
Well-Known Member
How about a "Plan D"... converting the DTD complex into a full theme park (just an unrealistic thought experiment for fun - I agree no 5th gate is needed for until the other parks are built-out/refreshed):
larger version:http://idealbuildout.blogspot.com/2010/11/wdw-project-phoenix.html
larger version:http://idealbuildout.blogspot.com/2010/11/wdw-project-phoenix.html
71jason
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't write DQ's eulogy just yet...it's survived this long despite years of neglect. SV may kick kids out in the evening (the other branches do), and in any case, it's not 3rd party so won't be part of the "water parks and more" option. The more these days is basically DQ. Also, from what I hear, DQ still can draw a crowd when it rains--in other words, every afternoon in the Summer.
That said, why reopen clubs in DQ when unique, custom buildings remain unused a few hundred yards away? It would be a lot cheaper to simply build a new walkway around PI and leave DQ a shell.
John
Well-Known Member
I dont disagree with any of what you stated. I was just thinking outloud. I havnt been to DQ in a few years. It was showing signs of wear and tear on my last visit. It will be intresting how it all plays out. Also, my preference is just to have PI reopened in some fashion.
Mouse Detective
Well-Known Member
Thumbs up for C6 on the map!
flavious27
Well-Known Member
DQ should have been closed years ago if they weren't going to add anything in the last 10 years. I feel bad for people that get suckered to go there, it is like the lost cars in radiator springs at the beginning of cars.