Disney World plans to shut down Pleasure Island for more "family friendly" options

As someone that has lived in Tampa Bay for over 4 years and someone that has been an avid visitor to Walt Disney World since 2001, all I can say is "so what". Why would one want to be $20+ to get in to see a few clubs that are not even interesting.

Do not get me wrong, Walt Disney World is by and far one of the best theme parks in the world, but Pleasure Island did not leave much pleasure here for me.

Okay, okay, I know what some may say. Why be so harsh, they were GLBT friendly. Yeah, well, maybe because there are a ton of nighttime venues that are a little more open to gays in Orlando. Two days out of the year in Walt Disney World does not connote gay friendliness. Yes, I can hold my partner's hand in Epcot, but seriously.... Anyway I am rambling.

Anytime I've been to Disney as an adult it's been with my family including my - at those 2 times - my very young daughter. It's been a godsend to be able to leave her with my mom and head over to Pleasure Island for a few hours and dance at Mannequins. I'll be sad to see it go.

Where will the Disney World cast go now? While I admit that a Disney theme park is supposed to be family friendly, does the whole world need electric socket covers and to be kidafied safe?

Barry wrote:

Anytime I've been to Disney as an adult it's been with my family including my - at those 2 times - my very young daughter. It's been a godsend to be able to leave her with my mom and head over to Pleasure Island for a few hours and dance at Mannequins. I'll be sad to see it go.

Have you checked out the show at Cirque Soliel? That show is awesome. Last time the hubby and I was at Pleasure Island, it was dead, at around 11:45 on a Friday night. The place has lost it's appeal.

Next time you are in the area, you may want to head towards the Church Street district in Downtown Orlando or head towards City Walk at Universal Studios.

mixed wrote:

Where will the Disney World cast go now? While I admit that a Disney theme park is supposed to be family friendly, does the whole world need electric socket covers and to be kidafied safe?

They will be placed elsewhere. The theme parks of Disney offer a lot. Honestly, my favorite park is Epcot. The Food and Wine Festival, the Candlelight Processional, The Garden Shows, all the various shows in American Gardens, and all the various places to get a drink after the long walk through the park. It is an awesome place, but children and their families are not as interested in it. As long as Epcot stays diverse, fun, friendly, and a tad bit more adult, then I will be fine.

mixed wrote:

Where will the Disney World cast go now? While I admit that a Disney theme park is supposed to be family friendly, does the whole world need electric socket covers and to be kidafied safe?

Just wait until the Disney cast members start packing (guns in their cars)--maybe they'll start shooting at the bosses instead of taking out their stress on the dance floor (end sarcasm)

I love Epcot, too!

But I've never bothered with the clubs at Pleasure Island. Who cares?

Actually I hardly bother with Pleasure Island at all.

SouthJerseySteve wrote:

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Just wait until the Disney cast members start packing (guns in their cars)--maybe they'll start shooting at the bosses instead of taking out their stress on the dance floor (end sarcasm)

Yeah, but Disney added a crux to that new Florida law. If there are explosives and such on the Disney properties, then employees can not carry guns in their respective cars. Certainly, it would not stop them from doing it, but you get the idea. Disney has firework shows at many of their parts, so they have stated to Florida that they are not held accountable for this law and can still enforce their rules on not having guns on their property. Not that it matters anyway, the Disney employees park almost a mile away from the closest park.

Tony C wrote:

I love Epcot, too!
But I've never bothered with the clubs at Pleasure Island. Who cares?
Actually I hardly bother with Pleasure Island at all.

The only things I like in that stretch is the House of Blues and Cirque Soliel. The rest of it? Who needs it!

It seems that the little bastards rule the world and the parents don't want to have to babysit them , they want the world to be safe for the little tykes at a cost of reducing liberties for everyone else, its not just at Disney

Reminds of The Simpsons.

RICK OCONNOR wrote:

It seems that the little bastards rule the world and the parents don't want to have to babysit them , they want the world to be safe for the little tykes at a cost of reducing liberties for everyone else, its not just at Disney

Que pasa? Wow, that is a hit out of left field, even for me. When going to Pleasure Island, I rarely saw children.

StevenFL wrote:

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Que pasa? Wow, that is a hit out of left field, even for me. When going to Pleasure Island, I rarely saw children.

The point is that Pleasure Island is closing because the Mouse thinks it's not family-friendly. So, the fact that no children were seen at PI is the big deal. What's Mickey going to do? Instead of night clubs, expect PI to be destroyed and replaced with more stores that carry Mickey-related goods.

PI was the one place on Disney property where a person could go and not have to deal with snot-nosed dwarfs. At 2pm, I'm okay with kids. Yet, at 11pm, I find it so disconcerting to see parents dragging their exhausted brood around Downtown Disney. The closing of PI is yet another reason to ditch Disney for Universal. And, this is coming from a former Disney Cast Member!

alex wrote:

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The point is that Pleasure Island is closing because the Mouse thinks it's not family-friendly. So, the fact that no children were seen at PI is the big deal. What's Mickey going to do? Instead of night clubs, expect PI to be destroyed and replaced with more stores that carry Mickey-related goods.
PI was the one place on Disney property where a person could go and not have to deal with snot-nosed dwarfs. At 2pm, I'm okay with kids. Yet, at 11pm, I find it so disconcerting to see parents dragging their exhausted brood around Downtown Disney. The closing of PI is yet another reason to ditch Disney for Universal. And, this is coming from a former Disney Cast Member!

It is fairly bad when a former Disney cast member is saying this, but I see the point. Like I said, outside of that area, the only reason I liked Disney was and still is, Epcot. Children are there, but there is a more adult atmosphere. The main focus is not of the mouse. I live a diverse environment and it is almost like a mini, Olympic park feel there.

Universal just does not compare. Bo-ring.

Tony C wrote:

Universal just does not compare. Bo-ring.

Yeah, we went to their Mardi Gras "celebration" this year. What a bloody joke! 6 floats and a bunch of trailor trash drunks.

In Tampa, we have Gasparilla and there are over 100 floats and the event lasts for over 3 hours.

The Universal thing lasted 20 minutes.