What with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Beach Club closing back in February as well as the island’s signature spotlights being sold off one month later, it’s not as if the handwriting hasn’t already been on the wall for WDW‘s Pleasure Island.
Earlier this month, another indication that this nighttime entertainment district was not long for this world came when several Adventurers Club vets were quietly pulled aside by PI management and urged to go audition for Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ new “American Idol Experience” attraction.
But even with all these hints that the end was near, several Pleasure Island managers were still reportedly taken aback at last Friday afternoon’s announcement. When Downtown Disney VP Kevin Lansberry revealed that all six clubs would be closing on Saturday, September 27th.
“Why that date?,” you ask. Two reasons: Disney’s new fiscal year starts on October 1st. More for the point, Disney World’s pay period run from Sunday to Saturday. So — to be honest — Pleasure Island’s closing date was selected strictly for its ease in bookkeeping.
“But why close PI at all?,” you continued. “I was at the Island this past weekend and the place was packed.” True enough. PI’s clubs were jammed this past Saturday and Sunday. But if you want to know the real reason that WDW management has decided to close Pleasure Island, drop by the Comedy Warehouse on a Tuesday night. Where you’ll typically find that talented cast struggling to get laughs out of quarter-filled houses.
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Or — better yet — hang out near one of the PI ticket booths and listen for the most common question. Which isn’t “How much does a ticket to the clubs cost?” But — rather — “Can I go in there?”
You see, far too many Guests remember how Pleasure Island used to be. When no one was allowed into PI after dark unless they had a ticket. Which is why a lot of WDW returnees just can’t bring themselves to walk past where the Island’s turnstiles used to be located whenever they shop & dine at Downtown Disney.
This — in reality — is the main reason that Pleasure Island is now being shut down. Given this nighttime entertainment district sits right in the middle of DTD, PI currently behaves like a barrier. It unintentionally restricts Guest flow-thru from the West Side to the Village Marketplace (and visa versa). And by replacing all of those clubs with restaurants & retail … Well, WDW management hopes that Downtown Disney will then become one seamless experience for resort Guests. Which will make it easier for them to keep opening their wallets as they walk from the Rainforest Café over to “La Nouba.”
So not to throw cold water on those of you who have already signed that “Save the Adventurers Club” petition, but the ship has already sailed in regards to Pleasure Island’s fate. No matter what you guys say or do over the next three months, this night club complex will be closing. You can count on that.
WDW management knew that there’d be resistance from the fan community when it came to this particular changeout. Which is why they deliberately chose to release the news about PI’s closing in the way that they did. Late on a Friday afternoon. With the hope that — come Monday morning — this story would have fallen out of the news cycle.
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And as for those of you who are now counting on “Night Kingdom” as being the Adventurers Club’s savior … Well, I guess I should mention that WDW’s answer to Discovery Cove is being reconsidered. Not because of what’s going on with the economy or with gas prices. But — rather — because Bob Iger himself was reportedly concerned with this project’s mix of elements. Which is why the Imagineers are now revisiting their original concept for Disney World’s niche park.
Given how competitive the Walt Disney Company is (You don’t honestly believe that it’s a coincidence that Disney World officials revealed their plans to add a giant tethered balloon attraction to Downtown Disney the very same week that the Great Orlando Wheel was announced, do you?), I have no doubt that the Mouse will eventually circle back around to “Night Kingdom.” I mean, SeaWorld makes far too much money off of Discovery Cove for Mickey not to get into the niche park business.
But from what I’ve been hearing, “Night Kingdom” ‘s firm 2012 opening is now far from firm. Which is why it may be a mistake to pin one’s hopes on this niche park eventually becoming the Adventurers Club’s new home.
So what do you folks think? Can you at least understand why WDW management decided to make this change (i.e. to create a seamless Guest experience for those shopping & dining at Downtown Disney)? Or are you still so mad about the Mouse’s decision to close Pleasure Island that you can’t even consider Disney Corporate’s side on this story?
Your thoughts?