tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post7581117927352543135..comments2024-02-08T07:33:49.907-08:00Comments on Re-Imagineering: A "Bold, New" WorldMr Bankshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12952506736745891323noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-91265508083257233692009-05-09T08:18:00.000-07:002009-05-09T08:18:00.000-07:00Yes, the times require an innovative approach for ...Yes, the times require an innovative approach for entertainment.susanwhitehttp://www.orlando-vacationhomerental.com/orlando-area-tourism-and-travel/top-rollercoaster-rides-orlando/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-39590809956894644422009-02-12T10:45:00.000-08:002009-02-12T10:45:00.000-08:00The Adventurer's Club is the only Pleasure Island ...The Adventurer's Club is the only Pleasure Island club I've ever been to. Frankly, I found it's off-color adult humor inappropriate for the Disney name. So, I am not sad to see it go. But replacing it with more shopping areas? Are they out of their minds? How much imported junk can people possibly want to buy?<BR/><BR/>Speaking of inappropriate, does anyone else think that Steven Tyler and Aerosmith aren't exactly the best ambassadors for Disney values?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-63715366849038920102008-10-07T18:03:00.000-07:002008-10-07T18:03:00.000-07:00From a 25 year Imagineer in CA and FL:From the beg...From a 25 year Imagineer in CA and FL:<BR/><BR/>From the beginning Walt Disney intended that the theme parks and resorts be a business aimed at the "FAMILY". Evident from the past (at opening when there was no admission charge) and recent gang activity including multiple gun shootings, stabbings and one kidnapping with a death are proof that the Disney Company has NO business in the bar business. Thanks to Bob Iger . . . Good bye and good ridance PI. Take the garbage back to Downtown Orlando and Universal City Walk.T0wM8rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09081233598403358473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-3516991375060497992008-08-08T04:18:00.000-07:002008-08-08T04:18:00.000-07:00The loss of the Adventurer's Club is the worst thi...The loss of the Adventurer's Club is the worst thing to happen to the Disney Parks in a decade.<BR/><BR/>It's not just a "fan favorite". It's one of the finest themed attractions that Imagineering has put together since Disney's heyday.<BR/><BR/>Its loss is heartbreaking.Otterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03494287152854875574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-70819011367139439582008-07-28T19:56:00.000-07:002008-07-28T19:56:00.000-07:00dan_steinberg said...And finally, I find it ironic...dan_steinberg said...<BR/><BR/><I>And finally, I find it ironic that Walt's original motivation for building WDW was to get away from what he called the "fairie circle" of cheap motels, restaurants and gift shops that sprung up around Disneyland - and now Downtown Disney is moving closer and closer to being just a somewhat nicer version of that....</I><BR/><BR/>Disney started this movement a long time ago. They gave us a crack across the shins when they put a standalone McDonald's <I>on property</I> and then took a dump on our collective chests when they installed a McDonald's <I>inside an actual Disney theme park</I>...<BR/><BR/>I find it interesting and a little sad that people only seem to care when their personal line is crossed. It doesn't matter how far Disney sinks, no one actually cares until <I>their thing</I> is trashed.<BR/><BR/>Up until that point, anyone who complains is a whiner or a lunatic.<BR/><BR/>Ignoring the problem didn't save WDW, and neither is Lasseter going to. He's shown that he's not interested in pulling WDW out of the quicksand and selfishly only wants to shove Pixar into every last crevice in the parks. In that respect, he might as well be Eisner.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-43932393976764593142008-07-28T13:32:00.000-07:002008-07-28T13:32:00.000-07:00I attended AC as part of a corporate convention. ...I attended AC as part of a corporate convention. We had the place reserved for our Company one evening, they had a buffet dinner in there along with the bar. I don't know what they charge, but imagine that it isn't cheap. It's probably another profit center for them, actually.<BR/><BR/>It was a lot of fun, I really enjoyed it, and I have signed up to at least one of the online petitions.<BR/><BR/>I'm a big Rohde fan, especially Expedition Everest and AC. I really hope they realize it is something special and pure Disney, and they move it somewhere like AK.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-3756179464948237212008-07-25T07:46:00.000-07:002008-07-25T07:46:00.000-07:00I am just throwing this out there for discussion.T...I am just throwing this out there for discussion.<BR/><BR/>The Disney company is, for better or for worse, about making a profit. The original Disney that Walt built was sold in the 80's to a new management team. It may have had Disney family members on board, it may have been seen as sypathetic to the traditional values the company held, but in the end it still was eventually taken over in part as an investment. <BR/><BR/>All these changes Disney is bringing about are geared towards that. Conventional business wisdom holds that you need to focus on a particular customer. Unfortunately for us, the customer the Disney company has choosen is not one who is familliar with Disney traditions, has no recollection of what magic Disney can hold,and solely represents immediate gratification of brands. If Disney is going to target this custoemr, than many of those other traditional values, in cluding quality and long term value, must go by the wayside.<BR/><BR/>But obviously there are many people out there who treasure those values still. And if we have this many people who lament the closure of one club that never even earned top billing, then surely there must be a large market for this kind of stuff.<BR/><BR/>So given the fact that the Disney company is not interested in those traditions, and yet many people still are, I think we have to ask ourselves: Is it time for a new "Disney"? Perhaps we need to focus not on fighting inevitable changes at the current park, but instead pour our creativity into a new venture.<BR/><BR/>It is hard to give up the history that Walt Disney himself created. But more important than his actions was his spirit. Outsiders may not have rights to use his name or his creations, but they have every right in the world to use his teachings, his experience, and his wisdom. I hold little hope now of Disney ever becoming what it once was - it has become too much of a marketing company. But I think that there is room for a new company to grow and take it's place. What kind of world could Walt have created if he lived today? What kind of world can we create? Maybe it's time we tried.StrangeVoiceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06461535206083562899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-8021325060874130162008-07-24T22:55:00.000-07:002008-07-24T22:55:00.000-07:00I just want to say that the people who claim the r...I just want to say that the people who claim the rest of PI is a waste, I think you're wrong. Kevin L admitted the clubs are still profitable. I can't help it some people are rhythmically challenged, but for those of us looking for something other than Top 40s, PI offered a fantastic variety in 8-trax and Mannequins. I keep hearing "you can get these dance clubs in your hometown" No, I can't, and that's why I'm fighting for all of PI. What I can hear in any bar is top 40s. What I don't get is a club or bar that plays all techno with a fantastic light show and rotating dance floor or all 70s and 80s and themed to fit. And no, it's not that we don't have enough bars in this city, because we hold the world record for the most consecutive bars on one street and the worlds largest 6 pack.<BR/><BR/>I understand a lot of people enjoy the AC. I did as well, but not as much as CW. If you are going to write letters, please at least mention the rest of PI. <BR/><BR/>Kevin L has been making decisions to cause the clubs to slowly deteriorate in attendance for the last 5 years at least! It has been in his plan all along and once Eisner got botted(PI was his baby) Kevin was able to justify closing(even though they are still profitable as he said) the clubs. He should be fired for his gross mismanagement of PI.<BR/><BR/>Word has it he has been in the AC stopping people from handing out literature to save it. Stand up to him!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-24288151611402749462008-07-22T21:14:00.000-07:002008-07-22T21:14:00.000-07:00Another creative way to spread the word to try to ...Another creative way to spread the word to try to save the AdClub:<BR/><BR/>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180268745025Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-80036679819114905442008-07-22T07:10:00.000-07:002008-07-22T07:10:00.000-07:00An interesting idea for a campaign to save the Adv...An interesting idea for a campaign to save the Adventurers Club:<BR/><BR/>http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2008/07/22/peter-david-maps-out-a-campaign-to-save-the-adventurers-club.aspxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-81220010651091138832008-07-22T01:45:00.000-07:002008-07-22T01:45:00.000-07:00Peter David isn't exactly sure when he first d...Peter David isn't exactly sure when he first discovered the Adventurers Club.<BR/><BR/>"It had to be sometime in 1989 or 1990," this award-winning author remembers. "I was exploring the then-newly-opened Pleasure Island. I'd already been to a number of the other clubs on the Island. And I must have wandered into the Adventurers Club around 10:30 or so."<BR/><BR/>Initially, David was confused ("I had no freakin' clue what was going on. It was like entering a madhouse"). But after catching a show in the Mask Room, he quickly became charmed by the place. So much so that Peter returned to Pleasure Island the very next evening. He was there as the doors for the Adventurers Club opened. And he stayed for every show.<BR/><BR/>And -- with that -- a love affair was launched. Over the next 19 years, Peter would return to the Adventurers Club time & time again. Dragging friends and family along so that they too could experience this one-of-a-kind entertainment. This truly unique experience.<BR/><BR/>David thought so highly of the Adventurers Club that -- when it came time to propose to his wife, Kathleen ... Well, there was only one spot on the planet where Peter wanted to pop the question.<BR/><BR/>"The people at Disney Weddings kept offering me Cinderella Castle," he explained. "But I kept telling than that 'Marriage isn't a fantasy. It's an adventure.' Which is why I wanted to propose at the Adventurers Club."<BR/><BR/>And with the help of the Colonel, David did just that. And I'm told that there wasn't a dry eye in the Main Salon when Kathleen accepted Peter's proposal.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Given the number of times that David has visited the Adventurers Club ("At least 60 times. I've literally lost count") as well as his obvious emotional attachment to the place ... You can bet that Peter wasn't pleased when he learned about the Walt Disney World's plans to close this club.<BR/><BR/>"My wife actually told me," he continued. "She'd read about it on the Web. And when she told me, my immediate thought was that Disney couldn't be serious about closing such a unique entertainment.<BR/><BR/>I mean, no disrespect to those Disneyana fans who tried to save Mr. Toad back in 1998. But there are lots of rides out there that are similar to that attraction. Where you get in, you spin and then get out. But there is only one Adventurers Club in the world."<BR/><BR/>Which is why David decided that he had to persuade Disney Company executives to reverse this unfortunate decision. But first he needed a symbol. Something that the tens of thousands of Adventurers Club fans that are scattered around the globe could then rally around.<BR/><BR/>"I was brainstorming with friends," Peter remembered. "And the first thing that came to mind was compasses. That we'd send Disney Company executives this huge pile of compasses. Which would hopefully get across the whole 'North, South, East or West. An Adventurer's Life is Best' credo of the Club."<BR/><BR/><BR/>But -- on second thought -- compasses are clunky. Not to mention being expensive to purchase and difficult to mail. So as David cast about for a new symbol and mapped out his campaign to save the Adventurers Club ... That's when it came to him: Maps !<BR/><BR/>"Maps are perfect. Everyone's got one or two old ones lying around their house," he explained. "So all it would cost for a person to take part in this particular 'Save the Adventurers Club' campaign is postage."<BR/><BR/>So if you'd like to take part in Peter David's campaign... Here's what he needs you to do:<BR/><BR/>"First open the map and circle where you live. Then draw arrows from your location to where the Adventurers Club is located. Because -- to be honest -- I'm not sure that Disney's current management team actually knows where the Club is. I mean, they can't seriously have visited this place if they've now planning on closing the Adventurers Club down. No one who's ever been in that Club, seen those shows and interacted with that cast could ever bring themselves to shut such a unique entertainment down.<BR/><BR/>Now take that map and stuff it in an envelope, which you'll then address to:<BR/><BR/>The Walt Disney Company<BR/>ATTN: Robert A. Iger<BR/>500 South Buena Vista Street<BR/>Burbank, CA 91521<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>Why send these maps to Bob Iger? Because he's the one guy at Disney who's shown that he's not afraid to reverse course. Back away from a bad decision. I mean, look how close the company came to letting Pixar slip away? Bob was the only executive who could see that Disney was making a tremendous mistake there. Which is why he did everything he could to repair the company's relationship with John Lasseter and Steve Jobs.<BR/><BR/>So I'm hoping that -- if we all send Iger maps -- he'll then see the error of his ways. Bob will realize what a tremendous, under-exploited asset the Adventurers Club is. After all, it's the only part of Pleasure Island that literally has fans all over the planet. People who have great affection for, real dedication to that particular club. And they'll happily continue to spend their money there if Disney just smartens up, reverses this unfortunate decision and keeps the Adventurers Club open."<BR/><BR/>So if you want to help save this much beloved piece of Pleasure Island, Peter David says: "Put Bob Iger on the right path. Point this man in the right direction. Send Disney's CEO a map and let Bob know that you want him to keep the Adventurers Club open."<BR/><BR/>So do yourself -- and Peter David -- a favor and start mailing those maps.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-47141454413998093842008-07-18T11:02:00.000-07:002008-07-18T11:02:00.000-07:00You will get no argument from me on that last post...You will get no argument from me on that last post!<BR/><BR/>I spent 3 full days wondering around AK 10 years ago when it first opened just soaking in the amazing details and back story. With each subsequent visit I see some of those details lost (the hidden path ways, the river boats, dumbing down of certain attractions like Dinosaur etc.). You are 100% correct that the MASS majority of visitors in the U.S. (especially at WDW) do not see or even care about those details. HOWEVER the vast majority of Japanese visitors also do not see or care about the details. The difference is that they DO care about quality, they may not fully understand what makes something work so well but they can sense it I guess. But the bottom line is that Oriental Land Company is willing to foot the bill so WDI pours insane levels of detail in the parks and people, the average guests, enjoy it... even if they do not fully understand the various back stories and so on.<BR/><BR/>My point being that it is not the Japanese consumer being smarter than the fat old dumb American consumer but rather the management in Japan is willing to cater to the minority who DOES take the time to explore those extra details... and if the management in the U.S. did the same I think they would see the same fanatical return in investment.<BR/><BR/>Also I fully agree with you that Disneyland gets much better detailing than WDW because A) it is looked over by people more connected with the history of Disney than WDW has. and B) It caters to many repeat local visitors who notice and demand such detail (as you pointed out).<BR/><BR/>So we agree, even so I don't think P.I. is a great loss... it my be SYMBOLIC of a loss but in this specific case I do not feel WDW is losing anything save one nicely themed space.Teevteehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009538411830575506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-37348223208774568132008-07-18T05:53:00.000-07:002008-07-18T05:53:00.000-07:00teevtee said:"In Japan, and this goes for the gene...<B>teevtee said:</B><BR/><I>"In Japan, and this goes for the general culture, not just at Disney, they do not approach things the same way as we do at all. They see value in doing things full scale and all out. People admire and respect and even demand this quality and it extends to the Disney parks. When given the budgets and freedom to do so WDI time and time again delivers unreal home runs... TDS is the most encompassing example of this. I can honestly say that the bathrooms outside of the TOT at TDS have more detail in them then all the attractions at DCA combined."</I><BR/><BR/>You just substantiated what I said before. Expectations are higher in Japan than in the US, so the money is spent and the work is done to meet those expectations. Here in the US, the people being surveyed don't want what the Japanese people want, so the rest of us who appreciate that quality and attention to detail must suffer for the sake of pleasing the lowest common denominator.<BR/><BR/>You want an example on US soil? Go to Disneyland, then go to Walt Disney World. The level of detail at Disneyland is much deeper than at Walt Disney World. Why? Because Disneyland has a much higher level of repeat business, and those frequent customers notice the little things. At Walt Disney World the percentage of frequent repeat business is dramatically lower, so the focus is on the big things, the grandeur, the "wow" factor. The money and the work go into detail where it is needed, and it is needed more in Japan than the US because guests there expect it, and US customers don't have the same expectations. <BR/><BR/>Here in the US we have an example of detail and intricate "themeing", and most Disney park fans refer to it as a "half-day park" - Disney's Animal Kingdom. If you truly appreciate detail, spend a full day soaking up the details at Animal kingdom - but most won't because they're just looking for the thrill rides and other forms of intense sensory stimulation. Heaven forbid that they should actually use their brains and notice the details.<BR/><BR/>That's why Tokyo gets an amazing Winnie the Pooh attraction and the intricately detailed DisneySea, and the US gets a "Pixarized" 3D arcade game, a tethered hot air balloon, and we lose a wonderfully themed place like the Adventurer's Club in favor of more tacky shops and places to stuff our faces.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-63479418072411964922008-07-17T19:10:00.000-07:002008-07-17T19:10:00.000-07:00Obviously wether something is "good" or not is tot...Obviously wether something is "good" or not is totally subjective, what I find "good" you may find boring or even flat bad and vice versa.<BR/><BR/>So lets move beyond that for a second. I am not sure of any club that meets ALL of your criteria for "good" mainly because of either the rotating dance floor or the free parking, however is that REALLY what you care about? Most people look for exciting and interesting and innovative decors, great music preferably spun by well known DJs, a mix of interesting and often good looking people, good drinks and house specials and most of all a certaib intangible which we will just call the clubs "vibe". If the vibe is right everything else can be overlooked. Well the PI clubs have not had ANY vibe to speak of for many, many years and they certainly fail on most of the other criteria as well. To a certain extent it is not even their own fault, I mean the very nature of a corporate run set of clubs set in the middle of Disney World is just counter to what makes most truly great clubs great in the first place.<BR/><BR/>I can tell you MANY clubs in Miami that certainly blow the doors off of anything they ever had at PI, but alas they do not have that all important rotating dance floor and certainly not free parking... but come one, REALLY, a rotating dance floor? THAT'S what this comes down to?<BR/><BR/>Talking about stock holders is a losing argument because nothing would make stock holders happier (meaning lets remove the nostalgia for a second) then closing down a huge liability from a legal stand point, especially one that makes very little money, and replacing it with leased out highly profitable locations. <BR/><BR/>Disney made a bad mistake when they built P.I. It was a knee jerk reaction to other area developments and it NEVER fit in with what Disney does best or what WDW stands for... it is really not what the MASS majority of visitors to the resort want, which is why it has languished and failed so badly over the years. But Disney made this mistake and built P.I. Those within WDI who were involved tried their best (admirably I admit) to Disney it up... but that is putting lipstick on a pig and at the end of the day a bunch of low volume, high risk clubs and bars is just NOT what Disney needs. So they are finally trying to correct a problem they never should have created.<BR/><BR/>If we want to criticize Disney here it should be about building P.I. in the first place.<BR/><BR/>Now with all that said I fully understand that some people LOVE it to death. For those people I truly understand. I LOVED the magic shop(s) the Magic Kingdom used to have. I saw the removal as a slap in the face of all things that made Disney feel special and unique and I STILL feel that way. I also understand that MOST people prefer the damn t-shirt shop they replaced it with, sucks to be me in that case.<BR/><BR/>So it may suck for a few to have P.I. gutted and tossed to the side like a bad memory but for the vast majority of people it is a welcome and long over due fix.Teevteehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009538411830575506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-44801221043654493472008-07-17T13:08:00.000-07:002008-07-17T13:08:00.000-07:00I am not going to argue with anyone on this thread...I am not going to argue with anyone on this thread, but I would like for anyone to list the dance clubs that are equivalent or better than the ones at Pleasure Island. Are there better ones in Florida? No! Are there better ones in the Southeast US? No! New York, Los Angeles, Chicago are probably places where there are better clubs, but do they have a rotating dance floor? Are they smoke free environments? Are they located in a safe part of town where people with pleny of well lit parking? I would guess no to that as well. As far as the clubs being dated and poorly executed, you won't get much of an argument from me on that. They have not kept them up to date and it is fairly obvious to the the general public that Disney has not cared about the operation of these Clubs for a quite a while now. So, could they and should they be better, absolutely! When Bob Iger became CEO of Disney he said he was going to focus on improving Disney's existing capital investments. How does not maintaining or updating an existing entertainment venue and instead choosing to demolish it fit into that vision. It really doesn't! This is a total waste of the stockholders money. If the current management is tired of dealing with the drunks and the few undesirable elements which are associated with Pleasure Island, they should find another job! What did they think they were going to be managing when they took their current positions? That is not a valid excuse for closing down Pleasure Island at all. They should either be fired or leave voluntarily if they don't want to deal with the issues associated with Pleasure Island. I know many of the bloggers who comment on the closing of Pleasure Island as a good thing, have probably never even gone to Pleasure Island as a paying customer. I am sure there are many things they like to do on their vacation that the regulars at Pleasure Island would never want to do either. That is why Walt Disney bought 27,000 acres in Florida, so it could contain many different entertainment options for all guests. Pleasure Island should not be closed. It is a very short sighted business decision and it is bad in the long term for the Walt Disney World Resort. The managers responsible for this should be held accountable for their actions when the stock holders meeting rolls around next yearAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-21776594238020246172008-07-16T14:35:00.000-07:002008-07-16T14:35:00.000-07:00I honestly do not think that Americans are too "du...I honestly do not think that Americans are too "dumb" to get what WDI wants to do, nor do I even think the Walt Disney Company thinks they are dumb. Rather it is simply a case of a big corporation often losing sight of what made them great to begin with. Most of the people actually running the company on a day to day basis could not tell you why people love the Disney parks, to them it is a fancy Six Flags and they think that Mickey Mouse and the characters somehow magically make it better.<BR/><BR/>I'm not talking about Iger and the like, I am talking about the scores and scores of middle management, the people who ultimately make all of these day to day decisions, they frankly just do not get it.<BR/><BR/>WDI is then tasked with fulfilling the requests they get, specific requests from misleading market research that tells them people want roller coasters and so forth. Couple that with increasingly small budgets and it becomes a fairly no win situation.<BR/><BR/>In Japan, and this goes for the general culture, not just at Disney, they do not approach things the same way as we do at all. They see value in doing things full scale and all out. People admire and respect and even demand this quality and it extends to the Disney parks. When given the budgets and freedom to do so WDI time and time again delivers unreal home runs... TDS is the most encompassing example of this. I can honestly say that the bathrooms outside of the TOT at TDS have more detail in them then all the attractions at DCA combined. But again, this is not because some decision was made that Americans are too dumb or anything like that... WDI simply does not have the money here to do what they can do in Tokyo. Nor do I think for the most part the attractions at TDS are any "smarter" then ours here, they are just a TON more detailed... a TON more.Teevteehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009538411830575506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-53990689797329876062008-07-16T07:44:00.000-07:002008-07-16T07:44:00.000-07:00What a shame that here in the US we get "Disney to...What a shame that here in the US we get "Disney to the lowest common denominator." The Adventurer's Club is a fine example of how clever WDI can be when it is allowed to be.<BR/><BR/>Tokyo DisneySEA is a prime example of the abilities of WDI when not controlled by American guidelines. It is an excellent example of how Disney designs to reach the largest number of people wherever they operate. Here in the US Disney must build to appeal to the lowest common denominator, and sadly that means the truly clever, inventive attractions must go away to make room for those which will attract more people. We will continue to lose gems such as the Adventurer's Club and Horizons (remember the wonder that was Horizons?) because attractions like these are simply over the heads of most Americans. They appeal to fewer people than a simulated space launch or a 3D arcade game.<BR/><BR/>The bottom line is the bottom line, and here in the USA WDI must design to reach out to those seeking more thrills and less actual use of their brains if they want to keep the money rolling in. Rather than this being an example of WDI and the Disney company not caring about those of us who appreciate their cleverness and attention to detail, it’s more about how stupid the American people have become since the day Walt dreamed of a place for families to have fun together, and how his company has to keep dumbing down the “magic” to keep pace with that stupidity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-17401438394687815242008-07-15T19:44:00.000-07:002008-07-15T19:44:00.000-07:00To those that say the Adventurers Club must not ha...To those that say the Adventurers Club must not have been profitable: It and the Comedy Warehouse are the only two clubs at PI that require the multi-club admission. That, in itself, is a recognition of the fact that those two have the biggest demand. Other clubs needed a lower price to justify admission, but the Adventurers Club was strong enough to stand at the higher price. And don't think they don't have access to the drink sales numbers and the nightly attendance numbers for each club individually. I'd venture to say, however, that this decision was made with the entire district in mind (or, rather, in spreadsheet), and looking at the Adventures Club alone would show it to be quite profitable (though perhaps less so than the potential fees from a replacement store). My suggestion would be to move it somewhere and market it as its own experience rather than keeping it at Downtown Disney, where it never quite fit in to begin with, and certainly won't once the new PI is complete.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-56954204215912966442008-07-14T22:21:00.000-07:002008-07-14T22:21:00.000-07:00I am sorry but there is just absolutely NOTHING un...I am sorry but there is just absolutely NOTHING unique about the clubs at PI wit the possible exception of AC. ANY major city has not only more unique and exciting clubs but also better executed ones.<BR/><BR/>These clubs were somewhat novel in the early 90's based mainly on the grouping of them all together, today they feel dated, forced, out of touch and just plain sad in many cases.<BR/><BR/>The reasons they are being closed have been said many times:<BR/><BR/>1) Disney can make more money with less hassle by leasing the land out.<BR/><BR/>2) Disney no longer wants to deal with the many problems associated with the clubs... mainly violence and drunk driving issues associated with idiots getting sloppy drunk.<BR/><BR/>3) They are MUCH less profitable then people seem to think they are.<BR/><BR/>4) They prevent easy access from one end of DDT to the next. They separate the area into three distinct zones... something that hinders foot traffic and therefore the overall success of the complex.<BR/><BR/>5) The clubs are very dated, the concept of PI is very dated, it's just time to move on.<BR/><BR/>I find it interesting to be on this end of the argument because in general I would always argue to keep classic attractions, not to screw with them and certainly not to remove them! However PI simply is not nor has ever been a classic. It was fun for a decade or so and slowly sank to craptastic over the next decade. Lets allow it to fade off with some dignity and move on. I truly believe that virtually ANYTHING will in fact be an improvement over what is there today.Teevteehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009538411830575506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-40022964359929296862008-07-14T20:43:00.000-07:002008-07-14T20:43:00.000-07:00TIME Magazine recently ran an arresting article ab...TIME Magazine recently ran an arresting article about two companies (Container Store and Fresh Foods, I think) whose CEO's focus more on longterm consumer satisfaction than on short-term (i.e. Annual Report) shareholder greed.<BR/><BR/>Disney's Annual Report, like those of most companies, is embarassingly focused on "increased shareholder value" (and CEO compensation!).<BR/><BR/>That may be short-sighted.<BR/><BR/>Disney was once all about SHOW, THEMING, ATMOSPHERE and UNIQUE EXPERIENCES. A t-shirt shop is about as far from all three as you can get! I don't need to fly 500 miles to buy a t-shirt.<BR/><BR/>As Disney degrades the themed experiences (ESPN on the Boardwalk, Rain Forest Cafe at the AK entrance) and goes for more fast-buck shops, it may be not only disappointing the customers (no matter how many t-shirts they buy this trip) but in the long-run, short-changing the stockholders, when the buyers don't feel the magic, and disappear.<BR/><BR/>As memories of the UNIQUE Disney environments and shows (AC had both) give way to experiences available at local malls and chain restaurants, the crowds may stop coming.<BR/><BR/>Certain aspects of Disney parks which are not per-square-ft- revenue-producers may nevertheless be EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to the overall "guest experience."<BR/><BR/>Like landscaping and cleanliness, the Adventurers' Club may indeed not "carry its weight" in profit-per-square-foot, but it may be part of the unique magic which lures people to a park to buy the t-shirts. Mo magical experience? Save the airfare and buy the damn shirts at home.<BR/><BR/>The expensive re-theming of California Adventure demonstrates to me that WDI is certainly up to the task of "bringing back the magic," but Iger, Lassiter, <I>et. al</I>, must re-engineer their thinking toward overall visitor experience rather than proft-per-part.<BR/><BR/>The withering of the unique Disney Magic may not immediately hurt the bottom line as the parks coast on prestige. But eventually the disenchanted may stay home - in their old Mickey Mouse t-shirts.<BR/><BR/>Then "stockholder value" may take a fatal hit, as the tethered ballloon and the golden parachutes disappear over the horizon.theatremanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04803823338652745012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-26216454041450696142008-07-14T18:10:00.000-07:002008-07-14T18:10:00.000-07:00"All the clubs at Pleasure Island are unique exper..."All the clubs at Pleasure Island are unique experiences that cannot be replicated anywhere else" <BR/><BR/>So is the "Chalupa" from Jack in the Box.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-19241218849241597832008-07-14T14:45:00.000-07:002008-07-14T14:45:00.000-07:00I know everyone is very upset about the Adventurer...I know everyone is very upset about the Adventurer's Club closing, I am no exception. I do, however, disagree with the many people who say a dance club is a dance club. All the clubs at Pleasure Island are unique experiences that cannot be replicated anywhere else (especially Central Florida). Where else can you dance on the world's largest revolving dance floor under a million dollars worth of computerized lights and sounds? Where else can you take yourself back in time to the 70s and dance to Donna Summer and see the original video too? Where else can you be in a beach themed environment complete with a live band and have your drink served to you in a beach bucket? (when the Rock and Roll Beach Club was still open). All of the clubs at Pleasure Island offer unique experiences which are not matched anywhere and will probably never be recreated by any other company. Only the Walt Disney Company can create such unique experiences. No third party cookie cutter restuarant or shop will ever compare to the great loss to the overall guest experience if these clubs are demolished. None of them can make it on their own, either. They all depend on the revenue streams from each other to make the formula work. These clubs are all profitable right now, so why are they closing? Wouldn't it be much less expensive to just perform some much needed maintenance and updates to the existing buildings than to do something as drastic and demolishing them? This decision must be reconsidered or this needs to be topic number one at the next stock holders meeting. These kinds of decisions must stop before there is nothing unique at all left of the company that Walt Disney createdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-84607788076493986672008-07-14T12:14:00.000-07:002008-07-14T12:14:00.000-07:00And without Mannequins, where will all the gay men...And without Mannequins, where will all the gay men hang out?<BR/><BR/>There's always the dueling pianos at the boardwalk..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-20956784596787488492008-07-13T21:47:00.000-07:002008-07-13T21:47:00.000-07:00Without Pleasure Island, where will all the Colleg...Without Pleasure Island, where will all the College Program kids go to get kicked out of the program for underage drinking? <BR/><BR/>And without Mannequins, where will all the gay men hang out?<BR/><BR/>PI is a treasured spot for locals and especialy cast. I feel the worst for the EXTREMELY talented actors of AC. Most have other jobs around property, but they obviously love the AC and have a lot of fun, and Disney is screwing them. "The aviator who will give you a free tour of his cockpit, Hathaway Brown!" I will miss it all dearly.<BR/><BR/>I've never been to PI and not seen it packed, especially the Adventurer's Club. And even before you could bring strollers onto the island. But when I was there friday night, we could barely move in all the crowds. Not making money my ass. Disney deliberately killed it years ago by allowing children to roam the island.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22576594.post-29403865836994377972008-07-13T20:26:00.000-07:002008-07-13T20:26:00.000-07:00In regards to the previous post...While I can agre...In regards to the previous post...<BR/><BR/>While I can agree with some of your sentiment it really bigs me how people say things like:<BR/><BR/>"...from the era when WDI was still clever enough to create histories for their themed lands. "<BR/><BR/>It displays a real ignorance of the facts.<BR/><BR/>WDI STILL develops incredible back stories for virtually everything they create, and I am talking about REAL stories that actually add entertainment value... not just obscure references with hidden messages that .00001% of the population actually understands.<BR/><BR/>The work that went into the TDS version of TOT is unparalleled in the history of Disney and WDI. The backstory is INCREDIBLE, clever infinitely deeper than anything Pleasure Island ever had. The backstories at AK are insanely deep, including the very recent Everest. I could bore you with a long list but suffice it to say that it is flat WRONG to say that WDI is not "clever" enough to create themes or backstories or that they are somehow incapable of it. In fact the backstory for P.I. while certainly elaborate is probably the worst failure of any similar story structure ever attempted by Disney. It was never truly evident even to those who looked for it. In fact aside from those who READ about it there was virtually no one who actually enjoyed the backstory at all. Contrast that with something like TOT which has an intricate and meaningful backstory that can be enjoyed on several levels and is clear enough that even casual visitors will get something out of it... simply put it is MUCH more successful.<BR/><BR/>See, complaining about things just for the sake of it actually destroys future arguments when you may have more valid points or more valid things to complain about. If you are upset that AC is closing I certainly can understand that, but painting with such broad and misinformed strokes does a great disservice not only to the many people at WDI who work their asses off but also to fellow fans who end up looking like loons or "foamers" because people complain about EVERYTHING while rarely giving credit to the good stuff.<BR/><BR/>The bottom line is that almost (not quite but almost) without exception the failures of Disney's recent past have been decisions made well outside of WDI and not the direct fault of WDI themselves... DCA would be a prime example of that. Closing the AC for that matter is certainly NOT a WDI decision though it may in fact be the proper one.Teevteehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009538411830575506noreply@blogger.com