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Save the Adventurers Club
- Thread starter Master Gracey
- Start date
Trinitys Ghost
Member
I agree...good thought there Lee.
Heading to AC tonight and tomorrow night with one of my parents (the other is taking care of pets back in CO). I'm very, very sad one of my favorite places is closing, but I'm glad I can share the experience with one of the people who first introduced me to it (dad). If WDW never sees the likes of anything similar to the AC again, that will be unfortunate. On the bright side, many of us have the memories, pictures, video and occasional merchandise for nostalgia's sake. I'm glad to have been a part of it as a guest, and I hope the cast and crew knows how much I've appreciated their "Cloob" through the years.
Heading to AC tonight and tomorrow night with one of my parents (the other is taking care of pets back in CO). I'm very, very sad one of my favorite places is closing, but I'm glad I can share the experience with one of the people who first introduced me to it (dad). If WDW never sees the likes of anything similar to the AC again, that will be unfortunate. On the bright side, many of us have the memories, pictures, video and occasional merchandise for nostalgia's sake. I'm glad to have been a part of it as a guest, and I hope the cast and crew knows how much I've appreciated their "Cloob" through the years.
Brian Noble
Well-Known Member
Ah, but to date, Wishes does make money in return---it keeps guests in the park. If it weren't running, guests would leave. That would reduce attraction guest counts, Foods sales, and Merch sales. The latter two are real revenue. The first is funny money, but that particular currency is how every attraction in the park is measured vs. its costs.
You can bet your last Disney Dollar that WDW has a figure for exactly how much "revenue" Wishes helps to generate in these three areas. If it were ever the case that enough guests started leaving before Wishes runs, that revenue would drop below Wishes' costs. And, on that day, Wishes will no longer show every night.
This is a business, and it always has been---even Back In The Day. Show for Show's sake has never been what the parks have been about. The Show has always had to pay off. True, the emphasis was on a quality Show---but not just because quality is good, but because people pay for it.
Lee
Adventurer
Ok,then.
For the sake of argument, remove Wishes from my quote and replace it with the afternoon parade. Or the nightly water pagent. Etc.
Still a valid point.
Perhaps they should view the Club the same way they look at Hoop-De-Doo or the Poly luau. Charge a cover. Guests will pay for a quality experience.
CaptainMichael
Well-Known Member
Heck, I've run into CM's at hotel information desks who don't know about the electric water pageant!
Brian Noble
Well-Known Member
Anything actually in a park---including the afternoon parade---has its guest visitation measured to within an inch of its life, and revenue apportioned is compared to costs to run. If it dips, SEEYA. This includes the afternoon parades---I'm sure that attendance is sampled/estimated periodically. Everything in the park must pay its freight.
But, point taken on the Electrical Water Pagent. That can't be worth a dime.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a reincarnation along this line, but it would be interesting to know how many attendees are looky-lous vs. those who stick around all night.
I am prying for just that. I am 99.9% confident that the AC as we know it will be dead at 2:00 AM Sunday morning but I would love to see an AC style dinner show open at AKL or somewhere else on property.Anything actually in a park---including the afternoon parade---has its guest visitation measured to within an inch of its life, and revenue apportioned is compared to costs to run. If it dips, SEEYA. This includes the afternoon parades---I'm sure that attendance is sampled/estimated periodically. Everything in the park must pay its freight.
But, point taken on the Electrical Water Pagent. That can't be worth a dime.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a reincarnation along this line, but it would be interesting to know how many attendees are looky-lous vs. those who stick around all night.
Lee
Adventurer
True.
And, so far as I know, the AC has been doing just that. It is not now, nor has it ever, run in the red (I don't think). Might be a smallish profit, but it is certainly paying for itself.
That small profit, combined with the substantial good will from the guests, should be enough to keep it open.
That seems like a better decision than pi$$ing off and alienating many fans in favor of a higher monetary return that might be derived from replacing the Club with a shop of some sort.
Looky-loos would be deterred by the much needed cover charge.
nibblesandbits
Well-Known Member
As someone, who was in the club 2 nights this week, while on my vacation, I can tell you...the club was packed on both nights. Monday, it was not as packed earlier on, but it was definitely hard to get into the shows...and the Hoopla was FULL that night. I JUST barely got a seat and was seated by the door.
The Monday show was very good as it was one of the Maid's last night and one of the Emil's last night's. It was very touching to get to see their last performances.
In those 2 nights in the club, matter of fact, I saw people who played characters there out of costume supporting their fellow CM's onstage.
On Wednesday night...the club was, indeed, packed, the entire night I was there. I actually left early b/c I knew I would have to fight my way to get to see shows the rest of the night and I'd already seen the last two shows the night before. Wanted to give others the chance to see them.
On Wednesday, there was NO moving around. You got in a spot, you stayed there, at least until the doors opened. There was absolutely no moving. I also heard, from my husband, that the club was closed to capacity on Wednesday at 10:30. One out/one in.
I did take some videos of the two nights I was there...I'll post when I get them posted in my Trip Report for all to see. Some were of Maid Gabby's final Maid's show...and I tell you, I feel very lucky I got to experience it.
The Monday show was very good as it was one of the Maid's last night and one of the Emil's last night's. It was very touching to get to see their last performances.
In those 2 nights in the club, matter of fact, I saw people who played characters there out of costume supporting their fellow CM's onstage.
On Wednesday night...the club was, indeed, packed, the entire night I was there. I actually left early b/c I knew I would have to fight my way to get to see shows the rest of the night and I'd already seen the last two shows the night before. Wanted to give others the chance to see them.
On Wednesday, there was NO moving around. You got in a spot, you stayed there, at least until the doors opened. There was absolutely no moving. I also heard, from my husband, that the club was closed to capacity on Wednesday at 10:30. One out/one in.
I did take some videos of the two nights I was there...I'll post when I get them posted in my Trip Report for all to see. Some were of Maid Gabby's final Maid's show...and I tell you, I feel very lucky I got to experience it.
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
Some of you are making an interesting point, one I wonder if Disney has contemplated (I'd assume they have, but who knows?)
Sure, maybe Adventurer's Club and Comedy Warehouse aren't money makers in and of themselves. When Pleasure Island was an entire area you had to pay one price to get into (much like the theme parks themselves), as long as attendance wasn't slacking in AC or CW, you could argue that they were popular, people were visiting them, they should stay. The reason certain other types of clubs were replaced was because attendance was down at those clubs; you could argue that enough people weren't interested.
Now, you have a situation where PI is going away, so attendance in and of itself becomes a moot point. CW & AC have to make revenue commisserate to the amount of money it takes to keep everything running, wait staff and entertainment and crew, etc.
But have AC and CW ever been measured as "loss-leaders" since PI changed admission procedures? Are there people going to DTD, specifically or primarily to go to those clubs? And do surrounding Disney-owned ventures benefit from that? Are there stores that see more business because of a proximity to AC or CW? And perhaps more to the point, if either or both of those parks were moved somewhere else, would they help bring busines to nearby ventures wherever they are?
I just think of the old adage "Where there's a will, there's a way." Here are 2 entities that have a decent degree of popularity. Disney hasn't figured out to make money off of them yet. Instead of trying to figure out HOW they could make money off of them, they decided to not bother. One thing I never thought I'd say of Disney is that they'd give up on trying to figure out how something they created, that's popular, that draws fans and tribute web pages and merchandise, could make them money.
And it's that sort of thinking that makes me suspect that the closing of AC & CW is a decision made from some high-up-muckety-muck's heart and not head. Someone who's not too keen on AC, decided it's not worth even trying to save it, or make it a dinner theater/cabaret on its own with a cover and/or minimum. I dunno, just seems short-sighted to me.
Sure, maybe Adventurer's Club and Comedy Warehouse aren't money makers in and of themselves. When Pleasure Island was an entire area you had to pay one price to get into (much like the theme parks themselves), as long as attendance wasn't slacking in AC or CW, you could argue that they were popular, people were visiting them, they should stay. The reason certain other types of clubs were replaced was because attendance was down at those clubs; you could argue that enough people weren't interested.
Now, you have a situation where PI is going away, so attendance in and of itself becomes a moot point. CW & AC have to make revenue commisserate to the amount of money it takes to keep everything running, wait staff and entertainment and crew, etc.
But have AC and CW ever been measured as "loss-leaders" since PI changed admission procedures? Are there people going to DTD, specifically or primarily to go to those clubs? And do surrounding Disney-owned ventures benefit from that? Are there stores that see more business because of a proximity to AC or CW? And perhaps more to the point, if either or both of those parks were moved somewhere else, would they help bring busines to nearby ventures wherever they are?
I just think of the old adage "Where there's a will, there's a way." Here are 2 entities that have a decent degree of popularity. Disney hasn't figured out to make money off of them yet. Instead of trying to figure out HOW they could make money off of them, they decided to not bother.
One thing I never thought I'd say of Disney is that they'd give up on trying to figure out how something they created, that's popular, that draws fans and tribute web pages and merchandise, could make them money. And it's that sort of thinking that makes me suspect that the closing of AC & CW is a decision made from some high-up-muckety-muck's heart and not head. Someone who's not too keen on AC, decided it's not worth even trying to save it, or make it a dinner theater/cabaret on its own with a cover and/or minimum. I dunno, just seems short-sighted to me.
nibblesandbits
Well-Known Member
Some of you are making an interesting point, one I wonder if Disney has contemplated (I'd assume they have, but who knows?)
Sure, maybe Adventurer's Club and Comedy Warehouse aren't money makers in and of themselves. When Pleasure Island was an entire area you had to pay one price to get into (much like the theme parks themselves), as long as attendance wasn't slacking in AC or CW, you could argue that they were popular, people were visiting them, they should stay. The reason certain other types of clubs were replaced was because attendance was down at those clubs; you could argue that enough people weren't interested.
Now, you have a situation where PI is going away, so attendance in and of itself becomes a moot point. CW & AC have to make revenue commisserate to the amount of money it takes to keep everything running, wait staff and entertainment and crew, etc.
But have AC and CW ever been measured as "loss-leaders" since PI changed admission procedures? Are there people going to DTD, specifically or primarily to go to those clubs? And do surrounding Disney-owned ventures benefit from that? Are there stores that see more business because of a proximity to AC or CW? And perhaps more to the point, if either or both of those parks were moved somewhere else, would they help bring busines to nearby ventures wherever they are?
I just think of the old adage "Where there's a will, there's a way." Here are 2 entities that have a decent degree of popularity. Disney hasn't figured out to make money off of them yet. Instead of trying to figure out HOW they could make money off of them, they decided to not bother.
And it's that sort of thinking that makes me suspect that the closing of AC & CW is a decision made from some high-up-muckety-muck's heart and not head. Someone who's not too keen on AC, decided it's not worth even trying to save it, or make it a dinner theater/cabaret on its own with a cover and/or minimum. I dunno, just seems short-sighted to me.
As for this bolded part...yes, there are people who are paying to go to just the Adv. Club or the Comedy Club...how do I know? I'm one of them. And I would venture a guess that a lot more people were doing what I was doing too.
My thing is, the Adv. Club and Comedy Clubs were the only two where you had to purchase full Pleasure Island admission to get into them. The rest of the clubs, you could get a one club pass and enter, but Disney didn't do that with these other two. My theory on why. The other clubs weren't doing well, so Disney was going to do anything they could to get people to go to the club...and if it meant that they could go to only one club and pay a cheaper admission, then so be it.
However, the Adv. Club and the Comedy Clubs were doing well. They were popular with vacationers and locals alike. And people were willing to spend the money to visit these clubs...even paying full price. Disney's only discount to get into one of these two clubs was by using the DDE card, b/c you got half off. Otherwise, in order to enter, you had to pay a full Pleasure Island admission, even if you were only going to the Adv. Club. (Like me.) And, that was fine...b/c it was full entertainment you got there. You were paying to see the acts that were performing. It wasn't just a club with dancing. It was well worth the money, at least, to me.
CaptainMichael
Well-Known Member
Well, sadly I didn't make it back to the Adventurers Club one last time. Funnily enough, a year ago I knew absolutely nothing about it, and now, I sit here looking at youtube trying to find final performances from very talented CMs who created countless memories for me on my college program...and, I'm tearing up. I would like to thank the board member on this site that wanted to meet up the night before EPCOT's 25th at the Adventurers Club because if not for you, I may have never gone, and I would have missed on something truly special.
From that night, I was forever addicted to "adventure", that magnificent club, and those crazy adventurers. My friends and family may call me or crazy or roll my eyes when I randomly say "Kungaloosh" or break out into the "Mailman" song, but for me those sorts of things will forever hold a place in my heart. When I lived in Florida, I spent my holidays there and many wonderful Wednesdays and Thursdays there. Without even knowing it, the club and its characters became my home and family away from home respectively. Contrary to the naysayers, the Adventurers Club was more than a bar, it was an experience....an experience that only Disney can create...and after tomorrow, it's gone...
A final thanks to Club President, Pamelia Perkins; Club Treasurer, Otis T. Wren; Club Curator, Fletcher Hodges; Handsome Club Aviator, Hathaway Browne; Jungle Exploress, Samantha Sterling; the lovely Maids; Graves the Butler; Adventurer of the Year, Emil Bleehall; Club Gleemeister, Colonel Critchlow Suchbench; Babalonia; Ernie and Claude (and the rest of the masks); Beezle; the Yakoose; Nash; Kirk; and Fingers Zambezi for your sheer awesomeness. Good luck on your future adventurers....
I will miss this place sorely, and tomorrow night is going to hit me really hard.
Kungaloosh Adventurers!
I leave you with this lovely rendition of "My Way" from Handsome Club Aviator Hathaway Browne (It's okay to cry):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3tVFEoAOsk
From that night, I was forever addicted to "adventure", that magnificent club, and those crazy adventurers. My friends and family may call me or crazy or roll my eyes when I randomly say "Kungaloosh" or break out into the "Mailman" song, but for me those sorts of things will forever hold a place in my heart. When I lived in Florida, I spent my holidays there and many wonderful Wednesdays and Thursdays there. Without even knowing it, the club and its characters became my home and family away from home respectively. Contrary to the naysayers, the Adventurers Club was more than a bar, it was an experience....an experience that only Disney can create...and after tomorrow, it's gone...
A final thanks to Club President, Pamelia Perkins; Club Treasurer, Otis T. Wren; Club Curator, Fletcher Hodges; Handsome Club Aviator, Hathaway Browne; Jungle Exploress, Samantha Sterling; the lovely Maids; Graves the Butler; Adventurer of the Year, Emil Bleehall; Club Gleemeister, Colonel Critchlow Suchbench; Babalonia; Ernie and Claude (and the rest of the masks); Beezle; the Yakoose; Nash; Kirk; and Fingers Zambezi for your sheer awesomeness. Good luck on your future adventurers....
I will miss this place sorely, and tomorrow night is going to hit me really hard.
Kungaloosh Adventurers!
I leave you with this lovely rendition of "My Way" from Handsome Club Aviator Hathaway Browne (It's okay to cry):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3tVFEoAOsk
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
I also would make trips to PI mainly to see shows at AC. And I know that AC has a lot of fans. But I don't know if that number of fans is high enough for WDW to believe money can be made by or through AC, whether it's through a cover or if enough Disney-owned businesses profited by being close to AC that it justified AC's continued existence. I mean, while I believe that they're not doing enough to see if AC is worth saving, I also believe that, if it were really obvious that AC on its own could be a money maker
WDW charged admission specifically for AC and CW, I would guess, because they were paying for performers. I mean, I know many of the clubs had "ringers" in them, CMs who were in those clubs specifically to be good-looking and to be dancing. But how many were there, and did they have to be paid as much as improv-comedy actors? You're paying for that talent, and how much would DW have to charge to continue paying their talent, if PI isn't there and AC has to sink or swim on its own?
Disney_Freak429
New Member
It was my pleasure to be able to convince you to come & just hearing that from you made me tear up.
Funny enough that night when I decided to leave a bit early before you came was my last ever visit to the AC. To say I am bummed is an understatement & if you listen to a certain Disney podcast on another site that I write to on a weekly basis I made a fun little closing to my e-mail this week & here is what it said:"....are off to the Adventurers Club. I swear I am going to beat Emil for the Balderdash Cup because unlike Hathaway I did actually visit the Atlantis Bar & Grill. As long as my guest doesn't try to sing a duet with Samantha Sterling we will have a wonderful HOOPLA! of a time. Well me Arnie and Claude are going to have a Kungaloosh & Otis even offered to pay what a guy he is. Pamelia says I have had one drink too many so I have to leave even if Colonel says I could stay to tickle the keys of Fingers Zambezi one more time.
Jump Up For Jinkies....We Love Em'!!! The Adventures Club you will be missed!
Always dressed for the hunt,
The Dis-Freak Brent"
(I know it does not make much sense but it was the best I could think of at the time)
I would also like to say if ANYONE is going to the last night please take video, picture, ect. as much as your recording device can handle. Also if you would be willing to call me for the final HOOPLA! & let me listen in or during any other part of the night PM ME & I will shoot you my number ASAP!
Figment571
Member
I don't know if anyone has suggested this or even thought of this, but this is just a fanciful idea.
They could build a new hotel that is themed to an adventure's club and lodge of the 1930's and have the club in the hotel itself. There is a lot of potential in what could be at a hotel like that. You could get mail from other adventure's and kind of craft a whole personality of a person you supposedly are in the room and other things.
Just a shoot in the dark.
They could build a new hotel that is themed to an adventure's club and lodge of the 1930's and have the club in the hotel itself. There is a lot of potential in what could be at a hotel like that. You could get mail from other adventure's and kind of craft a whole personality of a person you supposedly are in the room and other things.
Just a shoot in the dark.
Mad Stitch
Well-Known Member
There are already 60 people waiting outside of the Adventurers Club for the last night. This was taken at 2:45 today. (Click to enlarge.)
Well folks, what you see right there are what most people like to call "the crazy people".
I can understand if these people are there to see it for their last time (and were unable to catch it earlier this week), but I have a hunch that these are all the weird people who have been there everyday this week, seen every show, pushing and shoving everybody else to get into the Library. Rather than just enjoy a full day of the show and allow others to experience it one last time, these obsessive-compulsive (and selfish) people will probably stay in the club all night, disallowing anybody else from enjoying it one last time. (then again, they probably smell if they've been sitting in the heat all this time - not sure I'd want to be in the club with them!) :ROFLOL:
I can understand if these people are there to see it for their last time (and were unable to catch it earlier this week), but I have a hunch that these are all the weird people who have been there everyday this week, seen every show, pushing and shoving everybody else to get into the Library. Rather than just enjoy a full day of the show and allow others to experience it one last time, these obsessive-compulsive (and selfish) people will probably stay in the club all night, disallowing anybody else from enjoying it one last time. (then again, they probably smell if they've been sitting in the heat all this time - not sure I'd want to be in the club with them!) :ROFLOL:
There are already 60 people waiting outside of the Adventurers Club for the last night. This was taken at 2:45 today. (Click to enlarge.)
DisneyDellsDude
New Member
Good luck everyone going tonight!