Monday, August 23, 2010

PI Update: Are Mannequins & 8TRAX Reopening?


With Pleasure Island rumors swirling out there again I thought it would be a good idea to run my every once-in-awhile Rumor Summary. Remember, these are just rumors:

RRBC: Latest rumor was that it was back at the top of the list to be demolished. Once down, a lighthouse style bar and restaurant would be built on Village Lake. Rumor is that it's coming down this October.

MOTION: Continues to be available for rental as a banquet facility and dance club. Not used very often though. No new rumors. Old rumor was that it will be torn down so that a new main walkway from Downtown Disney Marketplace can be routed through there. However, as it is the only facility with a kitchen and given Disney's desire to put in 3rd party restaurants, would they really demolish it?

ADVENTURERS CLUB/BET SOUNDSTAGE: Although they don't look like it, these two venues were in the same building. Someone recently stated that artifacts were being reinstalled onto the wall. That is absolutely not true. One of our sources was inside AC last week and there is nothing new on the walls. Source says only things remaining inside besides the chandelier are the Yakoose, Babylona and Zeus. I've already reported that a new AC will be built as part of a new Land at Disney's Animal Kingdom. I've heard nothing further regarding that information. As for the current AC/BET building, it may be coming down in October along with RRBC and some rumors put it coming down before RRBC.

MANNEQUINS & 8TRAX: We know these are in one building as well and that the power grid for the entire island is located here. So this building can't be demolished. As you likely saw, someone in the Comments section of Saturday's PI Update article is reporting that these two clubs will reopen next year. That would be incredible if they really did but don't hold your breath. This past January one of my other sources was inside Mannequins and found that the revolving dance floor appeared to still be in there. But other than that new rumor, there are zero rumors about these venues except that they were declared "off limits" according to one Island employee.

COMEDY WAREHOUSE: The rumor a few weeks ago was that a level floor was going to be installed so that the upstairs could be made available for retail. A rumor a few months ago was that comedy was returning to the Island. So there was some hope that CW would return. I have no other information.

ULTRA-LOUNGE: Just a temporary venue until permanent changes come to the Island.

Thanks to all the sources who contribute information about Pleasure Island to the Blog. I could not do this without you all.

19 comments:

Virtual Toad said...

Sigh.

tightglove.com said...

Don't tease me like that! I'm always on the lookout for any scuttlebutt on 8TRAX; so I about soiled myself when I saw your headline. It's like I need some sort of closure, two years of torture, but keeping the faith.

EasyEddy said...

PI rumors are better than DJ updates.

KingBob said...

Toad: I agree!

Tightglove: Would be great if true. But if California is really flying in this week to make decisions, then how would poster be able to say now, with confidence, that a couple places will reopen? Thus, I'm skeptical. But hopeful too.

EasyEddy: I agree!!

Anonymous said...

Well, if they do reopen ManneQueens, can they please make gay night on Friday or Saturday? Some of us have to work office hours and can't go into work week after week with a Thursday night hangover.

Anonymous said...

heck no GAY night on fri or sat

Anonymous said...

It seems hopefully that things may be going in Save PI's direction.
Hopefully Manneqinnes & 8Trax will be reopen next year.

P.S. We agree anon "let's keep Friday and Saturday nights straight".

Anonymous said...

There was never an official Gay night at Mannequins. Thursdays were popular with gays, that is true. But everyone was welcome anytime. One of the great things about it was that it attracted a wide range of people; race-age-sex-tourist-local; everyone welcome.

Anonymous said...

gay night kept pi alive, that place was always packed on thurs since the island opened

Anonymous said...

make manequins gay every night, then you will see some business.. and i am straight..gay people know how to party

KingBob said...

I'd just like to see Mannequins & 8TRAX reopened. Both were so unique and incredibly themed. Obviously they'd have to have cover charges but both locals and tourists would pack the places.

Anonymous said...

"gay night kept pi alive, that place was always packed on thurs since the island opened"
no it was not "gay" night on thus nite I was out there in the early days it was "ladies night" not gay! it wasn't all that busy had a good crowd but not packed!
the Gay crowd didn't start till 91 but then it wasn't very big! it kicked up big about 94-95 and Pleasure Island officially opened May 1, 1989

Jeff - Gainesville said...

If the clubs were to open again with restrictions to ANYONE for ANY-REASON (so long as no laws are being broken) on any particular night then it would be better to bull-doze the whole place and make it a parking lot. I'd rather see that than a mechanism for discrimination towards any group of people - gay, straight or otherwise.

KingBob said...

Way to go Jordan! Good strategy.

Jeff from GNV, there would not be any discrimination. As long as you have some GREEN, you're getting in!

Everyone, we just want our Techno and Revolving Dance Floor back again!

Anonymous said...

yeah Well the GAYS have the P-House

Anonymous said...

Gays don't make the clubs, Everybody who wants to party make the clubs, so let's all hang in there for next year, and hopefully we can dance and party again.

P.S. They'll light up P.I.

Anonymous said...

Don't count any chickens before they hatch.

Anonymous said...

"P.S. They'll light up P.I."
what the......
what does that mean?????

Anonymous said...

as for MANNEQUINS & 8TRAX demo, there is no reason the structure cannot be torn down. They would simply leave the power room and cable troughs intact. This is done all the time. There is no reason to think the Imagineers did not see this in their plans since they like to tear things down all the time and cost or patronage means nothing, aka: 20,000 Leagues, so long
Chase