RnRBC RIP

[zulemara]

This:

and this:


Seriously, life goes on. So many around here fall into the "Disney built it and so should never change it" camp. Move on. Don't be depressed because a lame nightclub has been demolished. As if some anonymous person's blogspot is going to stop the demolition. If Disney builds an awesome entertainment district in its place, great. If not... whatever. I'll be on Splash Mountain.

A)not lame, lame night clubs do not win best club in the southeast
B) the blog's mission is to report on the news and rumors of pleasure Island and if you actually read previous entries, it is also to report on clubs in the Orlando area that play the type of music found in the PI clubs. Contrary to what some might believe, not everyone wants to be a good little Mouseketeer, in bed at 11pm.

No matter what form(ultra lounge, comedy club, or dance club), Disney needs something to do at night for adults. Sitting at the bar at paradiso just isn't going to cut it. They need something to entertain people past 11 and right now it's not happening!

 

[TP2000]

Perhaps this might inspire the 'creatives'.....

http://www.waterstudio.nl/index.html

jt, the "creatives" don't need any new inspiration. The WDI creative teams could present a dozen jaw-dropping concepts and ideas on Monday morning to Meg Crofton in her TDO conference room if they were invited to do so.

The problem is that Meg and her leadership team have not asked for those over the top concepts, and more importantly, Meg certainly isn't about to write a big check to build any of them. The geniuses at WDI only can build what TDO asks for and is willing to pay for.

 

[jt04]

jt, the "creatives" don't need any new inspiration. The WDI creative teams could present a dozen jaw-dropping concepts and ideas on Monday morning to Meg Crofton in her TDO conference room if they were invited to do so.

The problem is that Meg and her leadership team have not asked for those over the top concepts, and more importantly, Meg certainly isn't about to write a big check to build any of them. The geniuses at WDI only can build what TDO asks for and is willing to pay for.

I'm not sure TDO has much say in big projects anymore. And DCA is proving that big investments can generate big returns. So.......no guts, no glory.

The floating cruise ship terminal and marina is mind boggling. I can't get over that. Disney should consider building one in the Carribbean or even Port Canaveral.

 

[marni1971]

Does anyone have any pictures from when the roller skating rink inside was still be used as a roller skating rink?

Sometimes moving forward isn`t progress. Especially with a concept as ill-planned and mis-managed as removing the preconceived porblems of PI.

 

[71jason]

Too early to tell what's going to become of all of this. Waaay too early.

HW is set to open within a year or so at most from FLE. There's an entire sub-board dedicated to discussing what's to become of that. The fact that we don't have near the information about HW that we have about FLE is very telling.

 

[TP2000]

Sometimes moving forward isn`t progress. Especially with a concept as ill-planned and mis-managed as removing the preconceived porblems of PI.

First off, where can I get a pair of those awesome acid-washed jean shorts?

Secondly, I think you could add the word "ill-timed" to the revamp of Pleasure Island. They appeared to shut everything down just as the economy tanked in '08-'09 and then built a business model that relied very heavily on outside parties building expensive new restaurants and facilities on the ruins of Pleasure Island. Except very few companies now have access to the credit or the cold hard cash or the sheer will it would require to build that stuff.

If they had shuttered Pleasure Island in 2004 and turned it over in 2005 to outside companies to repopulate with restaurants and retail, it would have worked and gone much quicker. But trying to do that in the Great Recession of 2009-11? No wonder it's slow as molasses without enough tenants to go in the empty spaces.

 

[flavious27]

The Save Pleasure Island blog also has an extended update today:

http://savepleasureisland.blogspot.com/2011/02/pi-update-rumor-update.html

The report that convention business at wdw is down 25% is interesting, hopefully that will have burbank take over the development of PI.

 

[jt04]

The report that convention business at wdw is down 25% is interesting, hopefully that will have burbank take over the development of PI.

Convention business is down at the DLR too. "Burbank" may want to concentrate on fixing DTD there. I bet they envy WDW's DTD. They have a long way to go to catch up. And that is before HW goes 'live'.

 

[JEANYLASER]

that is good news that RNRBC is gone for good! I don't like it!

 

[flavious27]

Convention business is down at the DLR too. "Burbank" may want to concentrate on fixing DTD there. I bet they envy WDW's DTD. They have a long way to go to catch up. And that is before HW goes 'live'.

Does DLR really have that much convention business with Anaheim's convention center just across the street?

 

[thewhitequeen]

I think this is a good change. DH and I spent a lot of time in PI but noticed a change after they discontinued the entry fee/bracelets/turnstiles. I'm not sure what happened, but it was just different and not in a good way.

I know folks will disagree but I don't think Disney was attracting the demographic they anticipated with PI (families travelling wouldn't leave their kids to go clubbing yet there wasn't enough young adult tourists), so the revenue was coming in from the outside/locals. I know there was quite a bit of trouble there towards the end.

 

[zulemara]

I think this is a good change. DH and I spent a lot of time in PI but noticed a change after they discontinued the entry fee/bracelets/turnstiles. I'm not sure what happened, but it was just different and not in a good way.

I know folks will disagree but I don't think Disney was attracting the demographic they anticipated with PI (families travelling wouldn't leave their kids to go clubbing yet there wasn't enough young adult tourists), so the revenue was coming in from the outside/locals. I know there was quite a bit of trouble there towards the end.

again I point out if you don't promote, people don't come! The last marketing campaign for PI was 2004. It closed in2008. They took away the fireworks, the west end stage, had long since removed some of the live entertainment, and the signature spotlights. Typically that doesn't lead to increased attendance. The reality is Disney decided several years ago they were going to kill PI and ring it by the neck until they could justify closing it. There was a change in direction that started with closing jazz company and opening raglan road. The success lead to them closing RRBC and getting a contract, then getting greedy and thinking they could just close the whole island and they would get tenants in an instance. They were wrong, and now they are scrambling with their "bold new vision"

The reality is there ARE people at night looking for things to do. Convention business, college kids, single travelers, locals, travelers with kids who wanna spend a night away, and cast members. Disney, despite marketing itself as a vacation destination with something for everyone(not to be confused with everything is FOR everyone) has decided to give the middle finger to those who want to dance, laugh, and drink and in the process, gave the business to their competitor.

For what? so we have something else for "families" to do??? Do we not have 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, 2 mini golf locations, and an insane number of resorts with activities for families?? Or is it just because Disney would rather build a pretty light show? Pathetic

 

[thewhitequeen]

again I point out if you don't promote, people don't come! The last marketing campaign for PI was 2004. It closed in2008. They took away the fireworks, the west end stage, had long since removed some of the live entertainment, and the signature spotlights. Typically that doesn't lead to increased attendance. The reality is Disney decided several years ago they were going to kill PI and ring it by the neck until they could justify closing it. There was a change in direction that started with closing jazz company and opening raglan road. The success lead to them closing RRBC and getting a contract, then getting greedy and thinking they could just close the whole island and they would get tenants in an instance. They were wrong, and now they are scrambling with their "bold new vision"

The reality is there ARE people at night looking for things to do. Convention business, college kids, single travelers, locals, travelers with kids who wanna spend a night away, and cast members. Disney, despite marketing itself as a vacation destination with something for everyone(not to be confused with everything is FOR everyone) has decided to give the middle finger to those who want to dance, laugh, and drink and in the process, gave the business to their competitor.

For what? so we have something else for "families" to do??? Do we not have 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, 2 mini golf locations, and an insane number of resorts with activities for families?? Or is it just because Disney would rather build a pretty light show? Pathetic

Oh, I agree with the idea there should be *something* for adults, but I think they do a fine job with food and wine festival and the adults only club at BWI (2 off the top of my head). I'd be all for an adults only pool, or even resort (and I have children) but I doubt it will ever happen. I don't think Disney cares to spend money marketing Disney as an adult destination, because it's really not. I know we adults (and childless couples) vacation there but Disney's central focus is on families. When was the last time a 25 year old single woman spent $120 on a tinkerbelle costume? Disney Corp looks at bottom line numbers and what the majority spends their cash on.

Just look at Disney Cruise Line - they could be pulling in way more revenue with a casino, but they choose to set their prices higher so they can sustain a "family atmosphere." Yet, they still do a fantastic job giving the adults a child free area on all their ships.

But back to the PI topic, I'm very glad I was able to enjoy it when it opened and have tons of pics to remember it.

 

[DTM93]

Convention business is down at the DLR too. "Burbank" may want to concentrate on fixing DTD there. I bet they envy WDW's DTD. They have a long way to go to catch up. And that is before HW goes 'live'.

DTD in DLR doesn't actually need that much fixing at all.
I don't think WDW's does either if you exclude PI, I think it's the collapse of companies which has made it worse.

 

[jt04]

Oh, I agree with the idea there should be *something* for adults, but I think they do a fine job with food and wine festival and the adults only club at BWI (2 off the top of my head). I'd be all for an adults only pool, or even resort (and I have children) but I doubt it will ever happen. I don't think Disney cares to spend money marketing Disney as an adult destination, because it's really not. I know we adults (and childless couples) vacation there but Disney's central focus is on families. When was the last time a 25 year old single woman spent $120 on a tinkerbelle costume? Disney Corp looks at bottom line numbers and what the majority spends their cash on.

Just look at Disney Cruise Line - they could be pulling in way more revenue with a casino, but they choose to set their prices higher so they can sustain a "family atmosphere." Yet, they still do a fantastic job giving the adults a child free area on all their ships.

But back to the PI topic, I'm very glad I was able to enjoy it when it opened and have tons of pics to remember it.

See I think Disney sees an advantage to a successful club scene in downtown Orlando. It helps Disney if Orlando is perceived as a 'bigger picture' vacation destination for everyone. It helps WDW compete with places like Vegas and Mexico. The cruise ships out of Canaveral help in this effort also. Some people will never admit they are wrong about PI. They are just too emotionally tied up in the past. I have given up on trying to convince them. The future will be the proof Disney has chosen the best strategy.

Oh and the Green Bay Packers won. I got one right this year! :sohappy:

 

[zulemara]

DCL has a nightlife DISTRICT on board complete with lounges, a dance centric location with themed entertainment, and late night comedy acts.

I don't understand why DCL management sees this logic and yet WDW management doesn't.

I wanna point out here I am not necessarily advocating for nightlife to go into DTD, I'm advocating for it to go SOMEWHERE on property. For them to close it and offer no equivalent or better alternative(but that I mean PI V2.0 is what makes me upset.

 

[inluvwithbeast]

So I got an email from CP today.. etc etc.. but at the very end of the email they had a little "update" section on the parks.

[[Hyperion Wharf - Downtown Disney® Area, Walt Disney World Resort
Water and light will be the centerpiece of the new Hyperion Wharf at the Downtown Disney Area, as plans are under way to re-imagine Pleasure Island to a brightly lit waterfront district. In 2008 work began on the Downtown Disney Area to create a multidimensional, one-of-a-kind shopping, dining and entertainment experience for Guests visiting the entire Downtown Disney Area. This redesign will connect the flow of the entire property to create a "One Downtown Disney" experience and make Hyperion Warf a more family-friendly district. The district will feature a relaxing lakeside park with an amphitheater, waterside promenade and enhanced pedestrian walkways. Its diverse eateries will expand dining availability at the Downtown Disney Area by more than 25 percent. The name "Hyperion Wharf" was taken from Hyperion, the Greek god of light, as well as the street on which Walt Disney built his first major animation studio. Construction is currently underway and will continue through early 2013.]]

I hadn't seen this exact wording anywhere (checked Disney Parks Blog), so I found the bolded parts interesting. Has this really been going on since 2008??

And a typo too...

 

[lazyboy97o]

I hadn't seen this exact wording anywhere (checked Disney Parks Blog), so I found the bolded parts interesting. Has this really been going on since 2008??

The clubs were all shuttered on 27 September 2008. Work on Paradiso 37 was also begun in 2008.

 

[inluvwithbeast]

The clubs were all shuttered on 27 September 2008. Work on Paradiso 37 was also begun in 2008.

Well yes. I guess I should have rephrased better. Have they been working on Hyperion Wharf since 2008? Or were they just shutting down the clubs and now claiming they were working on HW the whole time?

 

[Krack]

Well yes. I guess I should have rephrased better. Have they been working on Hyperion Wharf since 2008? Or were they just shutting down the clubs and now claiming they were working on HW the whole time?

The latter. They wanted this area to be taken over by third party leasing agreements, but I don't think you'll get anyone even at Disney to pretend their intent was "Hyperion Wharf" on the day they shut down the Adventurers Club.