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Virgin Megastone Closing after 5/12
- Thread starter TURKEY
- Start date
71jason
Well-Known Member
Why is everyone convinced Virgin will be quickly converted to anything? There's a lot more dead space in the former PI that's been left abandoned for 8 months now, with no signs of anything in the works. For that matter, Wonders of Life and Odyssey have been used for little more than overflow locations for years. I don't know that WDW is in any rush to fill that building, especially given that they've had no bites on the far more managable spaces in PI.
WelshBatman
Active Member
There has been work in Pleasure Island since it closed, but I think that Disney is planning a bigger overhaul of Pleasure Island and that's why there hasn't been anything bigger going on there. As far as Virgin, I think they want to fill that space because Disney isn't changing the West Side. They're just going to have this huge building sitting there with things going on all around it. Plus, it wasn't Disney's idea to close the Virgin Megastore and I'm sure they'd want to lease that land to another suitor as soon as they can, or use the space for their own plans.
jt04
Well-Known Member
I agree 100%. It's unbelieveable to me that people say nothing is happening at what was formerly called PI when the exact opposite is true.
They opened the massive Dinosaur restaurant, they will very shortly open the new restaurant/lounge and they continue to gut the buildings that are being repurposed. Not only that but they added some new family entertainment and the new ballon. And soon there will be 3D Imax. And that is just what is known. Who knows what is on the drawing board?
I agree 100%. It's unbelieveable to me that people say nothing is happening at what was formerly called PI when the exact opposite is true.
They opened the massive Dinosaur restaurant, they will very shortly open the new restaurant/lounge and they continue to gut the buildings that are being repurposed. Not only that but they added some new family entertainment and the new ballon. And soon there will be 3D Imax. And that is just what is known. Who knows what is on the drawing board?
T-Rex is in Marketplace. The balloon and new IMAX theater are in West Side. The only thing that's been added to PI is the new Paradiso 37 restaurant. And it's still called Pleasure Island.
jt04
Well-Known Member
Only if you are looking at it under the old configuration which will soon be as extinct as the dinosaurs depicted at T-Rex. It will soon all be DTD divided into "regions". The east side (marketplace), the cetral plaza (high end restaurants/lounges), and the west side (themed entertainment and restaurants with entertainment). Of course it is not a theme park so there is some blurring of those themes as they are not strictly "lands" per se.
71jason
Well-Known Member
Exactly. And until I see proof to the contrary, the "new" IMAX is nothing more than a "faux-Max" going into an existing theater at AMC.
Technically, T-Rex was a part of PI at one time...back when it was the valet lot. That closed in 2001, and T-Rex was on the drawing board around 2002 or 03. It had nothing to do with a "new plan" for DTD, it just took forever to build.
No one is biting on any of the former PI clubs. And as I said, converting one of those into a restaurant/store/bar will take a lot less capital than converting the huge Virgin space. Unless Cirque, HoB and Bongos have more pull than Raglan, H-D and Curl, I see the West Side being an empty building and a stagnant DQ for years to come.
JEANYLASER
Well-Known Member
It's Disney/Imax has a deal let?
chaggy102
Member
It's Disney/Imax has a deal let?
No the Imax theatre will be in AMC, has nothing to do with Disney nor Virgin. That was a rumor that was started that was shot down quickly by a lot of those in the know at both Downtown Disney and AMC Theatres 24.
JEANYLASER
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info!
Thank you for posting that link, as that only reinforces what I was saying earlier. If you go through the orlando sentinel crime database for the "disney area", and when you click on the detail of each incident, you'll see more crime goes on elsewhere on property than it does at Downtown Disney.
A lot of what I have, in terms of stats, is properitary information that I neither have the authority or ability to post - however none of it's secret, as the information can be compiled by using the crime-data from the orlando sentinel that you posted by going one by one through the incidient listing.
I'm not trying to start a fight or an argument here, but you were wrong (and ironically posted information which supports my statement) that more crime occurs at Downtown Disney. This was a false statement made by many simply based on the assertion that Pleasure Island or House of Blues (or whatever) was to blame. The "gang" activity that everybody referred to at PI in the past was never significant. Anybody who works at Disney or frequented PI can back that up. Was there trouble at Downtown Disney or crime? Of course - and some of it probably was fueled by the bar scene/alcohol - but it wasn't out of control nor did it threaten the safety of the average guest anymore than a guest staying in the sober-confines of a Disney resort or theme park, and the data backs that up. Downtown Disney, to the contrary was probably one of the safest parts of Disney simply due to its higher than average police presence by the Orange County police and Disney Security.
GymLeaderPhil
Well-Known Member
I have to agree. I never felt threatened or in danger at Downtown Disney. I didn't see gangs or mobs or the mafia knocking off heads during the Pleasure Island tenure. And there were always more than enough Disney Security and OCPD. Same thing for Universal's CityWalk as well.
Crime is everywhere. Disney is not immune from it and Pleasure Island was not the catalyst.
I don't think we can look at the Sentinel or any other media outlet for realistic stories about crime at Downtown Disney with all the sensationalism and importance they place on something that occurs ten times worse off property.
Crime is everywhere. Disney is not immune from it and Pleasure Island was not the catalyst.
I don't think we can look at the Sentinel or any other media outlet for realistic stories about crime at Downtown Disney with all the sensationalism and importance they place on something that occurs ten times worse off property.
NMBC1993
Well-Known Member
Have to agree with the other two posters. I spent almost every weekend at DTD from July-September and never saw a gang or felt like I was in trouble from anyone. Disney and some other use this as their reason to why they closed PI. The truth is Disney is becoming cheaper and cheaper these days and with PI costing more to operate then a restaurant or a store, they wanted to get rid of them and have 3rd party companies come in and pay the bills for them. Oh well, at least my wallet has stayed fuller since PI closed. Went to DTD 3 days ago only to see Virgin one last time, got my free chocolate, then turned right around and left. Other than that, there isn't much left in DTD that I'd want to do anymore.
CaptainMichael
Well-Known Member
Sounds like my trip to DTD in February...except I went to the AC instead of Virgin.
NMBC1993
Well-Known Member
Well of course I also had to make a stop at AC to pay my respect. You know, got to lay my flowers on the steps and cry a bit inside. So ok that makes 3 things I did at DTD:animwink:
CaptainMichael
Well-Known Member
And another piece of DTD bites the dust.
Cirque is closed until June 1st.
AMC Pleasure Island will be the only draw beyond Marketplace for the rest of the month.
Cue tumbleweeds...