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

[jt04]

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.

I agreed with you that they are not doing as well but would do better in the future, you'll see. Did you actually read my post?

 

[CaptainMichael]

I agreed with you that they are not doing as well but would do better in the future, you'll see. Did you actually read my post?

Is there a future?

If there is, how far out is it?

No matter how it's spun, this was a bad decision by Disney to close all of PI at one time. At no point should any large stretch of area onstage be closed entirely, it's bad show and bad business.

 

[jt04]

Is there a future?

If there is, how far out is it?

No matter how it's spun, this was a bad decision by Disney to close all of PI at one time. At no point should any large stretch of area onstage be closed entirely, it's bad show and bad business.

It's been great for CW however. And a healthy tourism business in Orlando overall is good for WDW in the long run.

 

[CaptainMichael]

It's been great for CW however. And a healthy tourism business in Orlando overall is good for WDW in the long run.

I'm sure Disney is thrilled that CW is profiting from its mistake

All CW proves is that their is a market for clubs and nighttime (adult) entertainment, but you have keep up with trends and actually update the clubs every once in a while.

 

[Figment632]

I feel dumb posting this but I have know clue what the Adventure Club is? Can some one explain?

 

[CaptainMichael]

I feel dumb posting this but I have know clue what the Adventure Club is? Can some one explain?

It was/is one of the original clubs at Disney's Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney. It is themed as a 1930's Gentleman's Club where every night is New Years Eve 1937 and has a cast of interesting adventurers that put on shows throughout the night. It's a very unique concept for a club that was the epitome of all things Disney even though it was adult-themed in nature.

 

[nibblesandbits]

It was/is one of the original clubs at Disney's Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney. It is themed as a 1930's Gentleman's Club where every night is New Years Eve 1937 and has a cast of interesting adventurers that put on shows throughout the night. It's a very unique concept for a club that was the epitome of all things Disney even though it was adult-themed in nature.

Here is quite an extensive overview of what it is...it's really good explaination.

http://allears.net/btp/faq_adv.htm

 

[jt04]

I'm sure Disney is thrilled that CW is profiting from its mistake

All CW proves is that their is a market for clubs and nighttime (adult) entertainment, but you have keep up with trends and actually update the clubs every once in a while.

I am convinced closing PI had the exact effect Disney wanted. Again, a healthy SW and Uni is good for WDW in the long term. For once they are looking beyond the next quarter.

 

[Figment632]

It was/is one of the original clubs at Disney's Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney. It is themed as a 1930's Gentleman's Club where every night is New Years Eve 1937 and has a cast of interesting adventurers that put on shows throughout the night. It's a very unique concept for a club that was the epitome of all things Disney even though it was adult-themed in nature.

Wow thanks I wish I had a chance to go!

 

[CaptainMichael]

I am convinced closing PI had the exact effect Disney wanted. Again, a healthy SW and Uni is good for WDW in the long term. For once they are looking beyond the next quarter.

So, you're saying that Disney purposely drove their club patrons ($$$) away so Universal could make the money that Disney was making? It makes no sense to alienate people that may never come back...at least not as regularly as they did.

 

[jt04]

So, you're saying that Disney purposely drove their club patrons ($$$) away so Universal could make the money that Disney was making?

That was not their primary motivation just an interesting and beneficial side effect.

DTD is a long term project.

 

[DisResortLuvr]

I've been to CW several times since PI closed and they have been packed everytime - this was not just weekends or holidays either. Thanks to the CW party pass we got for having a premium annual pass, it didn't cost a thing to get in but brought me there more than I usually am to spend money on other things.

I was also at Epcot on NYE and have been there for the past 4 years now. I find it funny that Disney realizes how popular dance clubs are to the point that they have several mock ones set up in the park that night which were also packed every year. If your research shows people want more family friendy entertainment (so they say), why have clubs set up in your parks, even if it was NYE?

I was also talking with someone I know who works at Raglan and she said that on NYE, the PI streets were packed, however, TONS of people were coming in only because they found out the clubs were closed. I realize this was also a holiday but as stated by others, if Disney did a better job promoting the area and even did more special holiday themed nights there like CW does, they could have kept the locals coming, which is a big part of the CW and previous PI crowd. Money is still money regardless of where its coming from. I really don't see how Raglan or HOB are family friendly venues so it really is about the 3rd parties coming in. Why not just let someone buy the clubs and market/run them the way they should have been run? It's still 3rd party money coming in. Just my two cents...

 

[Duckberg]

PLEASURE Island VS. PROBLEM Island

I would concur WDW needs to get
on the stick regarding PI. If 3rd party
management is needed to reopen old
or revamped clubs SO BE IT!

Duckberg :brick:

 

[markc]

It's been great for CW however. And a healthy tourism business in Orlando overall is good for WDW in the long run.

You're missing the point and looking at this wrong. CW doing well is not making tourism in Orlando any better - what it is doing is driving EXISTING customers away from Disney to Universal. CW alone, is not generating any new business or doing any better of a job of sustaining's those tourists. Closing PI has quite the opposite effect. It's one less thing in Orlando to do, giving tourists one less reason to come here. I suspect that most of CW's recent foot-traffic is made up of locals as well - not tourists. That also hits Disney in the bottom line and does not help or sustain any tourist traffic within the Orlando area.

 

[jt04]

You're missing the point and looking at this wrong. CW doing well is not making tourism in Orlando any better - what it is doing is driving EXISTING customers away from Disney to Universal. CW alone, is not generating any new business or doing any better of a job of sustaining's those tourists. Closing PI has quite the opposite effect. It's one less thing in Orlando to do, giving tourists one less reason to come here. I suspect that most of CW's recent foot-traffic is made up of locals as well - not tourists. That also hits Disney in the bottom line and does not help or sustain any tourist traffic within the Orlando area.

I know it does not usually seem like it but I have come to the conclusion that Disney is interested in the overall health of the Oralndo tourism business. That is why they are not reacting immediately to Uni and SW additions.

Also, and of major importance is; Disney wants the new DTD to be for families. They have said this so it shouldn't be a suprise the clubs have closed. Disney is taking a hit finacially at DTD but they have long term goals for what they want DTD to be. And when all those folks who are club hopping at CW eventually settle down and have families, do you think they will be taking their kids to the clubs at CW or the family friendly DTD?

For once Disney is planning for the long term. We should celebrate that.

 

[WDW1974]

Locals and tourists now all go to CW if they want a nightclub/adult experience because they don't have a choice now.

PI closing has certainly helped Universal. Whether it has had any other affect is very debateable.

Since Disney still can't sign folks to operate on the Site Formerly Known as PI, they aren't getting the third party money they thought and they are getting almost nothing from the few locations still open.

 

[ttalovebug]

I know it does not usually seem like it but I have come to the conclusion that Disney is interested in the overall health of the Oralndo tourism business. That is why they are not reacting immediately to Uni and SW additions.

Also, and of major importance is; Disney wants the new DTD to be for families. They have said this so it shouldn't be a suprise the clubs have closed. Disney is taking a hit finacially at DTD but they have long term goals for what they want DTD to be. And when all those folks who are club hopping at CW eventually settle down and have families, do you think they will be taking their kids to the clubs at CW or the family friendly DTD?

For once Disney is planning for the long term. We should celebrate that.

If that's what Disney is thinking, I don't get it. People will take their families to WDW, for the parks. I don't see any logic in this statement, because everything on property is family-friendly. DTD is not the main draw for vacationers with families , it's a side activity. But it is (or was) a main draw for the adult, nightlife crowd. :shrug:

 

[jt04]

Locals and tourists now all go to CW if they want a nightclub/adult experience because they don't have a choice now.

PI closing has certainly helped Universal. Whether it has had any other affect is very debateable.

Since Disney still can't sign folks to operate on the Site Formerly Known as PI, they aren't getting the third party money they thought and they are getting almost nothing from the few locations still open.

Doesn't matter. DTD was never a huge part of the WDW revenue. Especially the clubs. If they were making any money at all it was not much. The marketplace did O.K. over Christmas. It is quite possible that the clubs being closed was actually a net gain financially.

Again, talk to me about DTD in two years because it will take that long to see who was right.

OK Disney, bring on that ESPNZone......please.

 

[jt04]

If that's what Disney is thinking, I don't get it. People will take their families to WDW, for the parks. I don't see any logic in this statement, because everything on property is family-friendly. DTD is not the main draw for vacationers with families , it's a side activity. But it is (or was) a main draw for the adult, nightlife crowd. :shrug:

There was no money in it.

 

[WDW1974]

I know it does not usually seem like it but I have come to the conclusion that Disney is interested in the overall health of the Oralndo tourism business. That is why they are not reacting immediately to Uni and SW additions.

HAH!!!

Are you serious? Surely you jest.

Disney couldn't care less about Orlando as a whole except for how things affect them and their business.

Disney isn't reacting to Universal and Sea World because they lack the vision to see beyond the next fiscal quarter's resort load levels. They're not reacting because they are afraid to. Plain and simple. They don't want to start the major work at the Studios and DAK (the parks that were supposed to see the biggest and most extensive projects) out of fear that the economy will get even worse before it gets better.

It's all a short term mindset.

Forget about WDW in a decade. Just make sure you can meet projections in February and March.

Also, and of major importance is; Disney wants the new DTD to be for families. They have said this so it shouldn't be a suprise the clubs have closed. Disney is taking a hit finacially at DTD but they have long term goals for what they want DTD to be. And when all those folks who are club hopping at CW eventually settle down and have families, do you think they will be taking their kids to the clubs at CW or the family friendly DTD?

For once Disney is planning for the long term. We should celebrate that.

You know what? For the better part of the past two decades Disney has marketed itself as being for all kinds of families, including those with no brats in tow, singles, retirees, extended families etc ... Disney decided to close PI simply as yet another short-sighted business move. It's a lot a cheaper to get Cheesecake Factory, Smith and Wollensky's, PF Chang's and California Pizza Kitchen (all approached by Disney, btw) to open locations and pay ridiculous rent to Disney then it is for Disney to run, staff and reinvent (something they forgot about in the late 90s) clubs.

Wanting to be more kid-friendly sounds 'nice' but it's simply not true.

And clearly there is a market for clubs at WDW, especially with all the conventioneers with big budget expense accounts (hence the opening of Rix at Coronado Springs.

Your basic idea that families with kids are the only people who come to Orlando and therefore clubs don't work is faulty.

Tens of millions visit every year sans kiddies. ANd even many of those who have kids still want an adult experience.

Disney is ceding that market to Universal.

Stupid.

If I were Uni creative, I'd be working on a version of AC right now.