The "Hurry up and reopen the Adventurers Club Thread" per Lee's request.

[Thelazer]

Sorry, that's not quite right.

8-Trax was first, motions 2nd, Manq, then BET.
Pretty sure comedy beat out Ad Club.

Why they closed 8-Trax, I can't figure.
It was and still would be PACKED had it been left open.

'

Statistics arent needed when common sense can answer the question for you. The club was empty most of the time during the week. 3 days of steady (but not heavy) traffic can not make a site profitable with a staff of 8 full time actors, on average 2 sec guards assigned to the place, 3 bartenders, one manager, insurance on the site, utilities, etc. Far before it was even announced as closing, many times during the week, the actors would be outside trying to drum up guests to come inside.

The Ad Club was said to have ranked fourth among the remaning clubs in terms of profitablility/over all attendance (Motion was first, Mannequins 2nd, 8 Trax, and then Ad Club, followed by Comedy Warehouse and BET).

I liked the Ad Club, miss it dearly, but lets not try to make it more popular than it really was. It's strength was contained with a few die hard fans who, together, were not enough to salvage the club nor provided enough consistant business.


Most of the AD Club's guests were also Annual Passholders or multi-club attendees, further weakening the club (versus places like Mannequins, 8 Trax, and Motion which had a larger proportion of the more profitable one club admission guests).

 

[BSikor]

I remember reading that for NYE there was going to be live actors entertaining crowds outside of the adventurers club and BET soundstage. Did anyone go and see what was up?

 

[KungalooshAL]

have they taken the wrecking ball to it yet???

 

[mkt]

have they taken the wrecking ball to it yet???

no.

 

[Captain Hank]

Just stopped by the AC this evening to pay my respects. There was a magician of some type out front on the steps--probably the "variety entertainment" from New Year's Eve. There was also a private event of some type going on. Wish I could have snuck in.

 

[a2grafix]

Maybe if any of this rumor list proves to be true, maybe the AC will be spared when Pleasure Island opens anew.

Here's to hoping Disney has a change of heart.

 

[CaptainMichael]

Maybe if any of this rumor list proves to be true, maybe the AC will be spared when Pleasure Island opens anew.

Here's to hoping Disney has a change of heart.

If those rumors happen to be true, I would put $$$ on the Adventurers Club returning.

 

[ttalovebug]

So, the year is out. The private events are done. We all like to be hopeful, but we want to be realistic, too. So, I'm asking you guys: What do you think is going to happen now? Is there still a reason to be optimistic, or is it over for sure?

 

[CaptainMichael]

So, the year is out. The private events are done. We all like to be hopeful, but we want to be realistic, too. So, I'm asking you guys: What do you think is going to happen now? Is there still a reason to be optimistic, or is it over for sure?

I'm optimisitic as long as the building is still standing. At this point, the cast has been scattered throughout WDW. I think the best we can hope for now is about this time next year. This will give them time to decide what clubs they'll reopen (most likely Mannequins and perhaps Comedy Warehouse) and what they are going to change and work out a better marketing strategy.

 

[ttalovebug]

Yeah, I guess as long as the building's there, there's hope.

Do you still think it's worth it to send letters and such? I sent quite a few right after it closed.

 

[CaptainMichael]

Do you still think it's worth it to send letters and such? I sent quite a few right after it closed.

Definitely.

 

[chaggy102]

So, the year is out. The private events are done. We all like to be hopeful, but we want to be realistic, too. So, I'm asking you guys: What do you think is going to happen now? Is there still a reason to be optimistic, or is it over for sure?

The Private events actually run through the end of this month....

 

[71jason]

So, the year is out. The private events are done. We all like to be hopeful, but we want to be realistic, too. So, I'm asking you guys: What do you think is going to happen now? Is there still a reason to be optimistic, or is it over for sure?

I'm as emotionally vested as anyone in the place, but I seriously doubt we will ever see the AC's return. More than anything, it would mean Lansberry and the suits in Burbank admitting they made a mistake--citizens of Corporate America just don't do that very often.

My one glimmer of hope is the fact that Fuego and Raglan appear to be in trouble. If we go another 6 months with nothing new except "Salty Rim" or whatever they end up calling it, the fear of everything in PI closing may persuade WDW to re-open at least a scaled-back PI to get the 21-40 y.o. drinkers back. Mannequins and 8-Traxx would almost definitely be the first to re-open, but I could see including the AC as well for variety and profit motive.

But more likely WDW would throw up a few planters and turn PI into a permanent walkway.

 

[liquid toez]

71Jason said "My one glimmer of hope is the fact that Fuego and Raglan appear to be in trouble."

Just curious, what facts indicate that Fuego and Raglan appear to be in trouble.

 

[BSikor]

Just curious, what facts indicate that Fuego and Raglan appear to be in trouble.

Exactly, every time I am at Raglan Road, it is packed and lively!

 

[Dubman]

The Private events actually run through the end of this month....

On our last trip down in November, I heard a 'rumor' that the last event booked is a Superbowl XLIII party. I don't remember ever seeing any TV's in the club, although it would be very easy to bring some in.. Doesn't fit with the theming of the club obviously..

Anyone hear the same??

 

[jt04]

I'm as emotionally vested as anyone in the place, but I seriously doubt we will ever see the AC's return. More than anything, it would mean Lansberry and the suits in Burbank admitting they made a mistake--citizens of Corporate America just don't do that very often.

My one glimmer of hope is the fact that Fuego and Raglan appear to be in trouble. If we go another 6 months with nothing new except "Salty Rim" or whatever they end up calling it, the fear of everything in PI closing may persuade WDW to re-open at least a scaled-back PI to get the 21-40 y.o. drinkers back. Mannequins and 8-Traxx would almost definitely be the first to re-open, but I could see including the AC as well for variety and profit motive.

But more likely WDW would throw up a few planters and turn PI into a permanent walkway.

There is no way it's coming back to the place formerly known as PI. I thought there was a good chance it might come back at AK or a resort but the controversy generated by it's most rabid fans may have scuttled that possibility. I'm sure at this point mgmt does not even discuss it. Rather ironic in a sense.

 

[71jason]

Exactly, every time I am at Raglan Road, it is packed and lively!

Since PI closed, they've moved closing time back from 2:00 am to midnight. Scuttlebutt among local service-industry types is that their bar business has taken a huge "hit" since September. I was in there at least 4 or 5 times in December, including two nights before Christmas--the side dining rooms weren't even being used. At closing last Saturday, there were maybe a dozen people--contrast that with a year ago when you'd have been lucky to find a barstool at that hour. Prices have gone up, too--Anthony Bourdain's classic "death spiral" for a restaurant, raising prices for falling crowds.

I don't claim to have access to the ledger books, and you can still hit a busy time (say, New Years Eve or New Years night), but as a regular I can see a noticable dip in business. And that's with a large number of people still coming to PI every night expecting to "go out." As word continues to get around that "PI is closed," I expect things will get worse for them.

 

[jt04]

Since PI closed, they've moved closing time back from 2:00 am to midnight. Scuttlebutt among local service-industry types is that their bar business has taken a huge "hit" since September. I was in there at least 4 or 5 times in December, including two nights before Christmas--the side dining rooms weren't even being used. At closing last Saturday, there were maybe a dozen people--contrast that with a year ago when you'd have been lucky to find a barstool at that hour. Prices have gone up, too--Anthony Bourdain's classic "death spiral" for a restaurant, raising prices for falling crowds.

I don't claim to have access to the ledger books, and you can still hit a busy time (say, New Years Eve or New Years night), but as a regular I can see a noticable dip in business. And that's with a large number of people still coming to PI every night expecting to "go out." As word continues to get around that "PI is closed," I expect things will get worse for them.

Hmmm, I see it just the opposite. As new business open up (and they will sooner or later) the crowds will return to even greater levels. It's always full in the evenings so I hardly think it's losing money. And by closing earlier it has reduced the operating costs. Fear not, everything will be fine without the AC.

 

[Rosso11]

Hmmm, I see it just the opposite. As new business open up (and they will sooner or later) the crowds will return to even greater levels. It's always full in the evenings so I hardly think it's losing money. And by closing earlier it has reduced the operating costs. Fear not, everything will be fine without the AC.

I'm sorry but that is a huge indication that they are not doing as well. Yes they are saving operating costs by closing two hours earlier but they are an Irish Pub. Sure they serve food but their profit is in drinks. For a Pub 12-2 is extremely important, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Disney made a giant mistake by closing everything at one time without replacements ready to move in. Unfortunately this is hurting the existing business that remain and can lead to more closures if not corrected soon. I'm sure Raglan was shown beautiful concept art of what they planned to do to PI and promises of increased traffic. Well if I was Raglan I would be ed.

Disney single handedly killed PI in one fell swoop. In October I went to Raglan simply because there was no other good place to go for nightly entertainment at DTD. I stayed as long as I could but it was depressing. The place was dead. Its sad because I've experienced a large lively group of people there many times in the past. After a while I couldn't take it anymore and paid for my $40 cab ride to downtown Orlando. This is something I haven't done in maybe 8-9 years because I have always been able to have a good time on property at night. Fortunately, I had a great time in downtown Orlando. They've opened some really fun places since the last time I was there. I actually went back for the next five nights in a row. This is money the mouse use to always be guaranteed to get from me and my group. We go down 3-4 times a year and as a group would spend around $2-3,000 at DTD alone on food and drinks. I know they still have restaurants but after you have a large dinner and a few bottles of wine you want to be able to continue the party close by and not have to take a 20 minute taxi ride down to downtown Orlando after. This is why they started to loose our dinner money as well. Before this I honestly never ate off property when I'm down there on vacation. I just hope Disney can fix this before other stores and restaurants are forced to close because of lack of traffic. PI is a depressing place to be right now.