Save the Adventurers Club

[John]

I really hope that someone out there with deep pockets and a desire to get into restaurants one day comes across all the many discussion boards talking about how beloved the Adventurer's Club really is.

If Disney won't build a new one, someone else should make a go of creating a new Club with new characters but the same feeling, entertainment, vibe, and ambiance.

I actually think the mere threat that someone else might take this idea and run with it would give the fools at TDO incentive to get back into the Adventurer's Club business. It could be called the "Hiawatha Club", the "Victoria Falls Society", the "Esteemed Exotic Travelers Club", or whatever.

Disney would not be able to stop it as long as the place did not use copyrighted Disney names or characters. But Disney could not stop another club like this from being created any more than Coke could stop another company from making a different recipe of cola.

A restaurant/bar that's themed to a place where global adventurers come to meet and revel in their exploits is a concept that someone else out there can create and profit highly from. I really hope they do it.

And...to be honest...sometimes I actually think of doing it myself in a few years if my husband was not around to stop me and my kids (now grown) wouldn't be able to get in the way of selling off everything I currently own and rolling the dice on building something like this.

I've thought about the menu I'd serve: excellent steaks like a fine steak house but also a Polynesian menu with other exotic dishes inspired by Africa, the far East, Asia, and the Caribbean.

I really think if someone "leaked" a serious plan to build an "Explorers' Society" restaurant in Orlando that Disney would suddenly, if not quite immediately, rediscover a love for being in the Adventurers' Club business.

Can you say CityWalk?.........LOLOLOLOLOLOL Cash in the 401K.....Sell grandma's china, if it wasnt for those unappreciative kids you could have used their college funds....throw caution to the wind....do it!

 

[Patricia Melton]

Can you say CityWalk?.........LOLOLOLOLOLOL

You know what....doesn't Universal own the rights to The Mummy?

As well as all those classic Universal Monsters?

They sure could create an "Explorers' Society" using elements from just those movies alone.

If Disney wants to be out of the "Adventurers' Club" game, then so be it. But it sure opens up the door for a similarly themed establishment elsewhere to give people the restaurant/bar they clamor for if Disney refuses to offer it.

I want to say this and be really clear: I have been going to Disney parks for almost the entirety of my life. In fact, I have been to at least one Disney park a year since Disneyland opened.

One of the only things I can really complain about Disney is TDO's decision to shutter the Adventurers' Club. Other things they've done that I didn't like I could always chalk up to the fact that they were bottom-line focused business decisions...but the Adventurers' Club made money. It turned a profit. And it offered something very unique in the world. I've never encountered anything like it.

Every day, I miss that place a little more the longer it's been closed. So much so that if they brought it back, I think I'd go to WDW twice a year instead of just one...just so I could go to the AC twice a year at least. One trip would be the 6 day annual trip I do with my family...and then my husband and I would probably take a two day trip down to Orlando just to go to DAK (our favorite park) and the Adventurer's Club and MK.

 

[John]

You know what....doesn't Universal own the rights to The Mummy?

As well as all those classic Universal Monsters?

They sure could create an "Explorers' Society" using elements from just those movies alone.

If Disney wants to be out of the "Adventurers' Club" game, then so be it. But it sure opens up the door for a similarly themed establishment elsewhere to give people the restaurant/bar they clamor for if Disney refuses to offer it.

I want to say this and be really clear: I have been going to Disney parks for almost the entirety of my life. In fact, I have been to at least one Disney park a year since Disneyland opened.

One of the only things I can really complain about Disney is TDO's decision to shutter the Adventurers' Club. Other things they've done that I didn't like I could always chalk up to the fact that they were bottom-line focused business decisions...but the Adventurers' Club made money. It turned a profit. And it offered something very unique in the world. I've never encountered anything like it.

Every day, I miss that place a little more the longer it's been closed. So much so that if they brought it back, I think I'd go to WDW twice a year instead of just one...just so I could go to the AC twice a year at least. One trip would be the 6 day annual trip I do with my family...and then my husband and I would probably take a two day trip down to Orlando just to go to DAK (our favorite park) and the Adventurer's Club and MK.

A kindred spirit....For us going to AC was an event unto itself for us. The excitement built up the same as when we are about to visit a park. We always knew good times were ahead .Laughs, drinks...it was just good plain fun!

 

[71jason]

You know what....doesn't Universal own the rights to The Mummy?

As well as all those classic Universal Monsters?

They sure could create an "Explorers' Society" using elements from just those movies alone.

Rumor has it Universal considered an AdvClub like bar when designing CityWalk, but opted out because they thought it would attract only locals.

Last year there were rumors of the Jekyll & Hyde Club coming to CityWalk (J&H is an AdvClub rip-off restaurant, designed by a former CM), but I hear the original in NYC closed, so those plans might have fallen through.

 

[bunnyman]

Rumor has it Universal considered an AdvClub like bar when designing CityWalk, but opted out because they thought it would attract only locals.

Last year there were rumors of the Jekyll & Hyde Club coming to CityWalk (J&H is an AdvClub rip-off restaurant, designed by a former CM), but I hear the original in NYC closed, so those plans might have fallen through.

Clubs like that flourished in NYC during the 1990's, such as Jekyll & Hyde, the big Kahuna, etc. After a while, once everyone went a few time for the novelty factor, they sorta died off. Recent attempts like Mars 2112 tried to bring back the concept clubs/restaurants in NYC, but they didn't last that long at all

 

[Vader2112]

I wish they would bring it back or retask it. Was at DTD Saturday night (wow was it crowded) and walked past the Adventurers Club all blocked off with potted bushes and had that sense of disapointment creep up even though I know it is no longer there.

 

[chaggy102]

As far as I know Jekyll & Hyde is still around but it has completely changed the way it looks and has revamped itself and is now more of a science fiction kick now more than anything.

 

[Rosso11]

As far as I know Jekyll & Hyde is still around but it has completely changed the way it looks and has revamped itself and is now more of a science fiction kick now more than anything.

The original location downtown is still open and is still very much how it always has been. No Science Fiction elements that I know of. I was there recently. However, the midtown location has closed.

 

[chaggy102]

The original location downtown is still open and is still very much how it always has been. No Science Fiction elements that I know of. I was there recently. However, the midtown location has closed.

Ok that wasn't the impression I got from a buddy of mine who lives in NYC and was a club regular. If he is wrong I apologize.

 

[Plowboy]

A kindred spirit....For us going to AC was an event unto itself for us. The excitement built up the same as when we are about to visit a park. We always knew good times were ahead .Laughs, drinks...it was just good plain fun!

Ditto. For us it was nearly the highlight of the trip. We would do the early show at the Comedy Warehouse and then walk across to AC and spend the rest of the night there. Great times!

 

[71jason]

The original location downtown is still open and is still very much how it always has been. No Science Fiction elements that I know of. I was there recently. However, the midtown location has closed.

Thanks for the update--wires crossed somewhere. Honestly, if there's any place it could work, it would be Orlando. Place would make a killing during Horror Nights.

 

[Patricia Melton]

Rumor has it Universal considered an AdvClub like bar when designing CityWalk, but opted out because they thought it would attract only locals.

Last year there were rumors of the Jekyll & Hyde Club coming to CityWalk (J&H is an AdvClub rip-off restaurant, designed by a former CM), but I hear the original in NYC closed, so those plans might have fallen through.

This is incorrect.

The original Jekyll & Hyde Club is still open (it's in the Village). The one that closed was the giant one that was on Madison near Central Park. NYC had two clubs, and the original in the Village is still open as of July 2012.

 

[Patricia Melton]

What would people think of this idea: have an Adventurers' Club that is only open Thurs, Fri, and Saturday?

I've been in a few cities that had special clubs that were only open on Thurs, Fri, and Saturday.

They could control operating costs by limiting the number of nights it was open.

 

[Did Knee]

Is it just me or has there been an amazing lack of new rumors lately, not only about the fate of the AC building, but also all things PI and DTD. A few months ago there were all these rumors about DTD expansion including new off ramps, parking garages and such and then a long period of silence. Is this just the calm before the storm, or did all this get pushed WAY back for some reason?

 

[Vader2112]

Did you see this thread really not that nuch here but worth a look.
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/downtown-disney-update.840374/

 

[yoyoflamingo]

An interesting Tweet from an Imagineer, Andy Sinclair-Harris on his Twitter:

"well 2 things- our story links Tokyo TOT story and AC and I wouldn't rule out AC for WDW just yet "

He's currently working on Mystic Manor I believe, so there's some hope for everyone with all the cohesiveness of the overarching story.

Just thought I'd share.

 

[Did Knee]

There is a podcast (DIS unplugged on the wdwinfo website dated 8/1 called "Disney World rumors") that claims that a costuming budget has been established for costumes for Comedy warehouse and Mannequins. They claim the source for the rumor is Dan Cockerell, VP of DHS. Coupled with the tweet above, this makes for some hope that some re-openings may be on the way for the remaining clubs at Pleasure Island. Also take note that the Congaloosh Society has scheduled Congaloosh 2012 to September 28 thru 30. To all who loved the AC: DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE. This Isn't over YET.

 

[NoChesterHester]

I completely belive that the Adventurer's Club concept will find its way back to Orlando. I also believe it isn't a priority.

 

[jt04]

An interesting Tweet from an Imagineer, Andy Sinclair-Harris on his Twitter:

"well 2 things- our story links Tokyo TOT story and AC and I wouldn't rule out AC for WDW just yet "

He's currently working on Mystic Manor I believe, so there's some hope for everyone with all the cohesiveness of the overarching story.

Just thought I'd share.

Has somebody alerted Lee.

Actually the relative silenece of many of the most rabid Ac fans has long caused me to believe there are rumors of some sort of AC return to WDW if they just stop creating so much turmoil.

I think it will happen.

 

[jt04]

Is it just me or has there been an amazing lack of new rumors lately, not only about the fate of the AC building, but also all things PI and DTD. A few months ago there were all these rumors about DTD expansion including new off ramps, parking garages and such and then a long period of silence. Is this just the calm before the storm, or did all this get pushed WAY back for some reason?

Calm before the storm?

Tide turning?

Pendulum?