Originally Posted By sjhym33 Sorry guys, I am not wrong on this one. I have it from a very reliable high level source that PI was not making money. My friends in Imagineering and the resorts division tell me there were no concrete plans for the area despite what was announced.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^I don't buy it. Sorry. I know people who were on the PI team before it closed. They were informed that the closing was not a money issue. And I believe anything Lee has to say about the AC. >>>And I've seen that in Epcot all the time. I guess we shouldn't let people drink there?<< >> No, but Disney should manage these situations better. << >>That's the solution. Strict enforcement of conduct laws on property anywhere in WDW. They act like it's better for a couple of obnoxious guest to ruin everybody elses's good time. Rather than throwing the offending parties out. << Exactly yes.
Originally Posted By sjhym33 And you think Disney closed a money making venture with no real plans to fill the space?
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<And you think Disney closed a money making venture with no real plans to fill the space?>> They had plans. They planned to rent the land out to third party vendors and be done with it. The plan was to replace something that was making some money with something that was going to make more(and "easy" since they would just be collecting a rent check) money.
Originally Posted By Lee hisownself >>Sorry guys, I am not wrong on this one. I have it from a very reliable high level source that PI was not making money.<< True. During it’s last few years PI was a break-even operation. The successful clubs were supporting the weaker ones. Disney’s response: Throw out the baby with the bathwater. (In earlier years, before the island was “opened up”, it was more successful.) >> My friends in Imagineering and the resorts division tell me there were no concrete plans for the area despite what was announced.<< Also true. There were no “concrete plans” at all, just a vague business concept cooked up by eager-to-advance middle management in an attempt to impress the higher-ups. The suits were sold a bill of goods based wholly on supposition and projections. Guess how it turned out? >>And I believe anything Lee has to say about the AC.<< Thank you, sir. Not being on the inside, I have no direct knowledge of the situation, but I have spent a ton of time chasing leads and sources to get to the real story. The place just meant/means that much to me. Pity I don’t have any positive news about it….or any news really… >>And you think Disney closed a money making venture with no real plans to fill the space?<< Not quite. They closed a couple money making ventures and a few failing ones with no real plans, just an idea. >>They had plans. They planned to rent the land out to third party vendors and be done with it. The plan was to replace something that was making some money with something that was going to make more(and "easy" since they would just be collecting a rent check) money.<< That’s pretty much it. MBAs armed with nifty power point presentations can spin great tales and promise great things. Shame how they don’t always work out in the real world. So here we are. Two years later. The clubs are still there, empty. Wonder how much money they could have made by keeping the best ones open all this time.....
Originally Posted By SeventyOne Re: profitability. Keep in mind, MBAs trying to look smart love to spin numbers. I remember right after the closing, someone "leaked" to Screamscape how much the AC bar was pulling in (which sounded plausible from what I've heard) vs. what the actors cost. Was not good. But that ignores the people I lined up with every Friday night who wanted to spend $25 on "a ticket to the Adventurers Club." If you credited the tickets used ONLY at the AC to the Club's revenue, I imagine it would be a much different story. Also, if PI as a whole was such a huge money-loser, why didn't they try to fix it earlier? Hadn't advertised in 2 years (the one night gets you 6 months promo, which packed the place). I would think that would be the first step. The plan was simply to ape Disneyland's Downtown Disney, which I understand is all third party. Whoever had been in charge there was transferred to Orlando, and was convinced Disney could make money from rent without the hassle of running anything.
Originally Posted By Manfried The problem with Pleasure Island is that it had no center for its soul. Just a collection of clubs is always short-lived at best.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>> I wouldn't mind seeing people get cut off more quickly. When we went to WDW when our daughter was in high school, drunks at Epcot would occasionally make remarks and sometimes even grab at her. There is no place for that in a Disney Park. I'm no prude. I really enjoy drinking. But I just don't know that people need to get sloppy drunk at a Disney venue. Other than at Jellyrolls. It should be actively encouraged (and is) there!! LOL<<< Bravo. Great post.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>That's the solution. Strict enforcement of conduct laws on property anywhere in WDW. They act like it's better for a couple of obnoxious guest to ruin everybody elses's good time. Rather than throwing the offending parties out.<<< Are they really worried they are going to loose money over that?
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>The problem with Pleasure Island is that it had no center for its soul. Just a collection of clubs is always short-lived at best.<<< The thing is...AC had s soul. It had a following. It had it's backstory. Keep THAT, if anything.
Originally Posted By Manfried Adventurer's Club had a soul, but not enough for the whole place. Frankly, Adventurer's Club would be better situated in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom. I would like to see them tear down all of the former Pleasure Island and the Downtown Disney and Lake Buena Vista area and start over.
Originally Posted By CaptainMichael <<<The problem with Pleasure Island is that it had no center for its soul. Just a collection of clubs is always short-lived at best.>>> I beg to differ, it started off whole with a backstory rivaling anything else Disney had/has come up with. The Adventurers Club was always at the core of it, and it was certainly the most-distinctly "Disney" portion of the island. Over the years, the island's soul was weakened as 3rd parties replaced original venues and other clubs became outdated. When PI closed in 2008, it was barely a shadow of its former self (90's heyday.) However, the Adventurers Club was still heartbeat and pulse of the island. It truly is a shame how many people miss the mark on what it was and what it could be. When it opened, it was perfection, and when it closed, there was more potential for it than just a 3rd party strip mall. IMAGINE what could have been done with today's tech and resources. You want restaurants? Bring back the Fireworks Factory, etc and transform BET into an AdvClub dinner show. You want shops? Bring back Avigators and all of the orignal shops with UNIQUE, themed merchandise (you know, the stuff that is flying off the shelves in Hogsmeade right now.) You want a controllable adult entertainment district? Install gates! This stuff isn't hard to figure out, and I only have a bachelors in business.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<Frankly, Adventurer's Club would be better situated in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom.>> I disagree. AC is a place you need to spend 3-4 hours at to enjoy. It was perfect in the form that it was, even if the location wasn't. But putting it in a park would make it a quick in-quick out experience, which it isn't designed to do. As for your comment with the PI's soul, I would say, though admittedly not from experience, the area had much more of a soul during the times of the nightly NYE celebration/fireworks. But I will agree that during it's later life that soul was gone.
Originally Posted By CaptainMichael <<<Frankly, Adventurer's Club would be better situated in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom>>> It wouldn't even be recognizable there. No Kungalooshes, censored jokes, and even more brats.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<It wouldn't even be recognizable there. No Kungalooshes, censored jokes, and even more brats.>> I can't even imagine how lame a MK Hoopla would be.
Originally Posted By CaptainMichael <<<I can't even imagine how lame a MK Hoopla would be.>>> 2, 4, 6, 8 now we're going to master...fastpasses and pixie dust and World of Disney: MSUSA!
Originally Posted By -em >>It truly is a shame how many people miss the mark on what it was and what it could be. When it opened, it was perfection, and when it closed, there was more potential for it than just a 3rd party strip mall. IMAGINE what could have been done with today's tech and resources. << agreed. I sadly think what happened was X years ago someone/some group decided PI needed to "die" and slowly started to put nails into it. Not update this- Close that- Change this- Change that- remove this... to the point it became clear to "everyone" how bad of a concept it was and made the decision easier to say "close". You can make the most successful of ideas and ventures into a money looser fairly easy. PI could've easily stayed on the "cutting edge" as so many of the clubs would have been easy to close one night and open a week later with a new concept/ideal. Keep it a "hard ticket" 18+ location and enforce the rules. a MK Hoopla (HOOPLA) doesn't sound entertaining to me... -em < who is enjoying tonight's beverage in an Adv Club glass
Originally Posted By Lee hisownself Slightly on topic... My phone rang at work today, naturally blaring out the Club's All-Purpose Theme Song. A customer ran across the store... "Hey, Hey! Was that the Adventurers Club? I LOVED that place!" *sigh* Me, too.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer ^ I get that sometimes with a EPCOT Center ringtone. I know the hurt.
Originally Posted By -em <<My phone rang at work today, naturally blaring out the Club's All-Purpose Theme Song.<< ENVIOUS! The one downside to having a stupid phone company is I don't get cool songs -em
