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The Disney Traveler

Pleasure Island Clubs to Close

by Susan Gunelius on July 1st, 2008

Late last week, Disney announced it’s closing the nightclubs located in Walt Disney World’s Pleasure Island.  Six clubs in total will close on September 27, 2008 including Mannequins, 8Trax, BET, the Adventurers Club, Motion, and the Comedy Warehouse. 

Disney World Pleasure Island

It will take two years for Pleasure Island to be recreated as a dining and shopping haven for a more family-friendly crowd.  According to Disney, the purpose for the redesign is to better meet the needs of Disney’s core audience - families.  Three businesses will stay after the transformation - Raglan Road (an Irish pub), Fuego by Sosa Cigars and Harley Davidson.

Some of the changes coming to Pleasure Island can be seen already from the new T-Rex Restaurant that’s already well into the construction phase to a tethered balloon that will take guests 300 feet up in the air to catch the view of Disney from the sky.  Other new venues will include a Central/South American restaurant scheduled to open in Spring 2009 and a design your own T-shirt store scheduled to open in Fall 2008. 

Changes will also be made to existing locations.  For example, Portobello Yacht Club will change to Tuscan Country Trattoria sometime this summer and Fulton’s Crab House and the Wolfgang Puck Cafe will be revamped.  The existing Marketplace Stage will also change into a larger stage that will be fully covered.

I’m actually not surprised by these changes.  What do you think?

Stop by The Disney Traveler later this week for my upcoming homage to Pleasure Island in pictures or subscribe to The Disney Traveler so you don’t miss it!

Image: Susan Gunelius

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POSTED IN: Disney Rumors & Buzz, Pleasure Island & Downtown Disney, Restaurants, Shopping, Walt Disney World

9 opinions for Pleasure Island Clubs to Close

  • Scott
    Jul 2, 2008 at 8:24 am

    I’m not surprised, especially considering some of the problems they’ve been experiencing with the guests, but it’ll be a shame to see some of the go.

    The Adventurer’s Club was a great concept, if somewhat poorly executed and I loved 8Trax. I guess Disney would prefer that folks party at Universal and families enjoy the nightlife at Pleasure Island.

  • Jon - The DC Traveler
    Jul 2, 2008 at 2:27 pm

    I never found the clubs at PI to be all that fun or unique. The attitude seemed forced and full of adults that were acting like business people trying hard to get in their “wild” fun while at a convention or tradeshow.

  • Trisha
    Jul 3, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    I’m kind of glad - I didn’t have any interest in those places anyway. Hopefully they will put something in there that I will like!

  • Pleasure Island in Pictures
    Jul 4, 2008 at 10:40 am

    […] a follow up to my post earlier this week about Disney closing the nightclubs in Walt Disney World’s Pleasure Island and replacing them with shops and restaurants, I thought I’d share a nostalgic view of […]

  • Debby Phillips
    Jul 8, 2008 at 9:02 am

    I am sad that they are closing the clubs. I have had some really memorable nights there with my best friends. We will continue to go right up until they close.

  • HRH Franklin
    Jul 9, 2008 at 6:29 pm

    This completely SUCKS. Disney IS ALREADY family friendly…the whole Disneyworld is oriented for the family. This was the ONE place adults could have fun; I loved it there.So now…MORE shops? Like you can’t find enough stuff to buy at Disney? Or places to eat. Crap…

  • Mto
    Aug 25, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    I am very sad that PI is going away. I would go there everytime I visit the Orlando area. It was a safe place to party and be yourself with no one judging you. I will also miss the the the interactioans you had with other visitors form all over the states as well as the world. I will especially miss the clubs Manniquins and 8Trec they wer the best. My disney could keep them or re-open then some where else on the property. Well I will deffinately be there on the final curtian call weend see you all there.

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    Aug 28, 2008 at 9:32 pm

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    Sep 8, 2008 at 8:42 am

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