Pleasure Island a GONER!

[WDW1974]

OK, you read it here first. But within the next 2-3 years Pleasure Island will cease to exist. Or exist in its current form anyway. As any guest can tell you the place has been on a steady downward spiral since the late 90s and no one other than drunk conventioners, college program CMs and Adventurers Club geeks go there anymore. None of Disney's band-aids have worked and I was told today that MAJOR changes are in store for all of DD, but the focus will be on PI.

The new soon-to-open Raglan Road pub and major renovation of World of Disney are just the very first steps in a large reworking designed to make all of DD a true destination.

While I can't, to protect my sources, go into detail. Expect another longtime restaurant to close in the near future, followed by the demolition of part of what remains of the old shopping village. Then comes the real fun ... PI will cease to exist. There will be clubs, retail and dining (some in existing facilities, others in new additions) and it will be higher-end than anything currently there. Major national/international names are being courted at present. Think Las Vegas here without the gambling and you have some idea of the direction Disney wants to go in. PI has become a nonfactor in most guests' visits (another reason behind extending park hours for resort guests, btw).

More to come as I'm able. But you read it here first. PI, in its current form, is history. The PI name will likely be gone as well

[Mickey_D]

WOW! Thanx for the update.. That seems a shame to me - I had such a ball at PI when I visited wdw back in 97. I guess if they don't spend $$ keeping the place new & fresh, people will start to abuse it.

Question: wasn't PI originally built by Disney to compete with Church St in Orlando? It seems strange that they're all too willing to give that business back.. Anyways, It has been a very long time since I was there so I guess times there a changen..

[Evan]

Thank God. PI smelled like a giant beer-flavored cigarette when I went to WDW. Was not impressed. The rest of DTD was cool, though.

[Rainfully]

PI started really going downhill when they took down the gates...

[WRDup]

My brothers and I went to PI when we were in florida last december. We had the deal where we got in free to any of the clubs so we thought wed give it a shot one night. We walked in one side and out the other. L-A-M-E. maybe it was a bad weekend but it was just cheesy and lame! I think I actually laughed out loud.
Downtown Disney was cool and a nice change from DLR but over all i like the experience of Ca DD better. Its seems more cozy. Prob cause Im so used to it!

[Speedway]

Thank God. PI smelled like a giant beer-flavored cigarette when I went to WDW. Was not impressed. The rest of DTD was cool, though.

Thanks for the lovely description. Yummy.

[3cheers4sweetrevng]

I don't remember PI and I went to WDW in 2004 And kid up there you should be impressed because in the movie whatever its called because there they made the description of it being smokey and smeel like beer...

[Yensid TlaW]

Will it still have admission charges or be open to everyone?

[Mouse princess]

I have not been to Pleasure Island in years and I can say I will not miss it when its gone.

[ttztotdca50]

Thank God. PI smelled like a giant beer-flavored cigarette when I went to WDW.

Ick... I know what it's like. It can become so bad that you can TASTE it!

[dsnylndmom]

I had so much fun at PI wayyyyyyyy back in 1992 when I went on my first trip to WDW. We had such a blast there!

I could wait to sometime time without the kids there when we went back in '03, we went over the DTD to take them to DisneyQuest and then went past to check it before making arrangements for them for the evening and we were very disappointed, so we decided not to even bother.

[Goin2Disneyland]

They better not close the Adventurers Club. That's all I have to say.

[NemoZorro]

They better not close the Adventurers Club. That's all I have to say.

Ditto - the rest can go, though.

[Cmash95]

I think they are gonna get outside vendors like ragland road to take over the clubs ( ie BET) and then they won't have to hire the people working there or be responsible for keeping up the restaurants. Actually I think it will become more of a citywalk concept and will try and compete with it's universal counterpart. All of the restaurants and clubs there are privately owned and run and universal just takes " rent" from them. Would save Disney some money as well because they won't have to staff the places. so fewer cm's to hire. I haven't been on the island in ages. It was fun when it started, but then they tried to expand the concept to include the restaurants and movie theatres and such in the westside area. and they took down the stages so they dont have live music anymore. will be interesting to see what the marketing team comes up with

[TheDisneyInquisitor]

Since I'm 17, I could careless whether PI stays as is or goes up in a ball of flame (because I never did go there nor do I intend to).

I do like the West Side though and parts of the Marketplace.

-Michael