PI Update: Latest News & Latest Rumors

Tonight's story is a mixture of the latest happenings on Pleasure Island as well as the latest rumors reported to me by PI sources.

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First of all, on July 19th Disney filed a construction permit with Orange County for what is only described as "Bridge #1 Improvements". This is the original bridge to PI from was Disney Village. You'll recall several months ago they removed the PI ticket window that used to stand on the island side of the bridge. Now they're going to "improve" the bridge. I have no details. You'll recall prior rumors have a main pathway from Downtown Disney Marketplace curving through the space currently occupied by Motion (which would be demolished) into the heart of PI. Perhaps the improvements have to do with making this 3-section bridge more open.

Speaking of Motion, there are no new rumors about the place and it continues to receive banquet use. Tables were set up in a banquet format and a sign just inside the door referred to some sort of "cool leader" gathering. Would they really demolish this place for a new sidewalk?

But there are fresh rumors about Rock'n'Roll Beach Club. Supposedly construction walls are going up in October, shortly after the British/European tourist season comes to an end. And supposedly RRBC is coming down first! Remember a year ago I reported on a lighthouse bar/restaurant that was going to go up on the waterfront roughly where RRBC and Motion currently come together? Well that rumor is alive again and supposedly that's what's going into that space.

Comedy Warehouse remains hiding behind those bushes and it too is the subject of a new rumor. If you've ever been inside you know the floor slopes downward towards the rear because the seating was in sort of a theater format. Supposedly they're talking about putting a level floor in there so that the building has two stories. Upstairs would be rented out for retail while downstairs would be used for storage. No news about Adventurers Club except that the AC/Soundstage building is still on the list to be demolished. Perhaps it will fall along with RRBC. But AC fans should not fret. Sources say Adventurers Club will be returning to the new land that is definitely going to be built in Animal Kingdom. The plans have already been drawn and interestingly, the very same company has also already drawn the plans for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter expansion at Islands of Adventure! I have no information though on the more important question: When?

Over at Celebration Plaza, lots going on. The Andre Caram Band was back and drew a really large crowd. They're making him out to be the next Justin Timberlake and he just might be. You all can have him though; just leave his female singing partner for me! Expect them to be one of the regular acts on the new Ultra-Lounge stage. Living statutes were back last night and sources say some new ones will be coming in a couple weeks.

Speaking of Ultra-Lounge, the furniture is in. At least some of it. Made of wicker with nice cushions, they currently have the furniture scattered over by Soundstage, Laffers and by the #3 Bridge. The metal tables and chairs remain too and they even moved the sets that had been outside PI Live Bar up to the Plaza. More wicker coming though.

But construction walls were up at Celebration Plaza as well! Remember the Celebrate Tonight crew hut and those two poles with the television monitors? They had planned to leave them there but that's changed. Disney filed a construction permit with Orange County on July 14th and all of that has been removed. Sources say that there will be a small stage built so that the performers will have a permanent place to perform. The stage will be built much closer to the Comedy Warehouse building and once completed, the furniture will be brought together to form the Ultra-Lounge. Makes sense to draw in the crowd to allow others to pass between the lounge and the construction walls that surely will go around Soundstage/Adventurers Club.

That's all I got. Nothing earth-shattering but it seems that we're seeing some progress. No rumors whatsoever about Mannequins or 8TRAX and nothing about Motion.