Thursday, November 18, 2010

BREAKING NEWS: PI to Be Replaced By Hyperion Wharf

Photo © 2010 Walt Disney Corporation - fair use claimed/ Photo from WDW website

Disney made the big announcement today that we've been waiting for!
SEE:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-daily-disney/os-disney-pleasure-island-changes-20101118,0,2869804.story
As you can see, the name Pleasure Island will be phased out and the construction will take a couple years. Artist renderings show the name being changed to Downtown Disney Hyperion Wharf. Another shows the view from the waterfront with the current Paradiso 37 to the right and something different located where Harley Davidson is currently housed. No venue names announced today. We've previously reported on the Schussler Creative concept restaurants that are likely coming.

Nothing in today's announcement says that the Mannequins/8TRAX building is coming down and indeed, the new name is prominently placed on top of the Mannequins building where the current Pleasure Island sign is located. A big disappointment, yes? But other than the name itself, there are no surprises here since the Blog reported on the nautical concept and the thousands of dollars in lighting previously. The Mannequins - 8TRAX building remaining has been reported on here as well.

27 comments:

Jeff - Gainesville said...

Man, things are really changing fast! I don't see any reason that they could not reopen the two remaining venues;~)

Thanks for the up to the minute report!

Virtual Toad said...

Hey all,

Check out the comments about this on the DisneyParks blog. More than 40 percent of the first 55 comments about Hyperion Wharf mention the AdvClub by name, either lamenting its loss, demanding its return or wondering where it fits into the new plans.

WDW, your customers are speaking, quite politely I might add. Are you listening?

Anonymous said...

Wait, didn't Disney put an end to Pleasure Island's New Years Eve every night supposedly due to concerns about disturbing guests at Saratoga Springs? The fireworks lasted, a few minutes, this mess is going to be lit from dusk till at least until 3AM! What excuse will Disney come up with to allow this I wonder.

Anonymous said...

fireworks and light are not the same! lights don't make a lot of noise. maybe I am wrong?

Anonymous said...

and I hope AC doesn't reopen! that club was small and what did offer? nothing?

Anonymous said...

A friend just tried to post on the disney blog and it did't get posted I guess Disney will not post thing they don't want to hear?

Anonymous said...

Looks like just more food/shopping ambiance with no real entertainment content that WDW's very foundation (was) built on. Welcome to the new watered down Disney, outsource, slap some paint and glitter (er.. "pixie dust") on it and hike the price of admission again. Don't worry, the unsuspecting public will never notice. Keep chipping away at your foundation Mickey, just watch what happens to your towering empire !

Anonymous said...

What a load of B/S. You guys shoudl come over to EuroDisney there is a club called Hurricanes in their Downtown Disney area it looks like a quality club

Anonymous said...

"You guys shoudl come over to EuroDisney there is a club called Hurricanes in their Downtown Disney area it looks like a quality club"
I just looked it up and well Disney closed it also!

Anonymous said...

Its a mall.

Disney Echo said...

When Walt Disney was planning Disneyland he didn't tear down beloved places like the Adventurers Club to put in an "enhanced" pedestrian walkway. Bring back the Adventurers Club: Walt would have loved it. More shopping and restaurants WDW doesn't need? No.

Anonymous said...

I still do NOT understand what the BIG deal with AC is??????¿¿¿¿¿¿ there is no way it made any real money for Disney (PI) go to any BAr and that is what AC is like not a club a bar!

Anonymous said...

Wow that rendering just sucks, they tear down several building to put in a park????? What the heck are they thinking, Hyperion Wharf is nothing more than a glorified dog walking park. BS Disney

Anonymous said...

You might as well just leave the empty buildings, don't waste your time and money Disney on this. There is nothing at DTD to draw me there, absolutely no entertainment value at all. I will be spending my time downtown and at universal. They atleast offer something for adults. Fail Fail Fail

Anonymous said...

So let me get this streight not only do they plan to do more construction, but it'll take TWO MORE YEARS!!! to complete.
Also they plan to change the name.
Atleast Manneuins & 8Trax are still untouched, so things may go in our dierction "for their reopening" "perhaps"?
P.S.
Hopefully they'll reopen a couple of clubs besides Mannequins and 8Trax for adults.

71 said...

Not trying to read too much into concept art, but...

"Silk Road" is a real restaurant, in Vegas, which uses the same logo as in the concept art for Mannequins replacement. http://www.vdara.com/amenities/silk-road-restaurant.aspx

Fuego, Raglan and Paradiso appear intact.

I again ask, how many more upscale restaurants can DTD support? It's not like the existing ones are mobbed now any time other than peak season.

Jeff - Gainesville said...

I read an article on a site called The Ledger.Com that claims that RideMakerz will be opening in the new Hyperion Wharf. Is it possible that they will be moving from the old Virgin Mega Store or is that just old news mixing with new?

Anonymous said...

Oh Well, It is what it is.

Anonymous said...

has everyone seen the amount of adventurers club comments posted on the disney blog page? So they post a blog entry they expect people to be excited about and 90% of the comments are like ok, what about the adventurers club.

If Disney has any sense they'll be readying the club for re-openning right now. Sadly, we know they have no sense.

Anonymous said...

NO CLUBS, there's nothing else to say. It's gonna be crappy.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, not all of us like clubs. For those of us with small children, this is awesome news. I'm really excited about it and can't wait for the construction to start!

Anonymous said...

Anny 5:54am - The Island wasn't just about clubs... It was about good times! The clubs just gave us a reason to stay into the evening. I'm sorry to that you have kids, but think about before you had kids and after the kids are grown up. My parents took me to the Pleasure Island clubs for the first time back in 1991. It was a fun, safe place to party. If you are excited about the "new plans" because you have kids, you have everywhere else on property to spend time and have a great time with them! When they grow out of the "Disney" age, you are going to wish that there was a place like the island where you could still have a great time with them! I honestly believe that it was "Pleasure Island" that allowed me to have a great realationship with my parents to this day... Don't get me wrong, I am kind of wondering what the "Wharf" is going to be like, but it would be just that much better if they would open one or two of the venues (even if it is a third party doing so) just to keep the spirit alive, maybe allow the younger generations to have a chance to experience adult Disney at it's best....and, back in the day, they were the BEST at it! When my parents come to O-Town, we have been heading over and spending our money at City Walk. Universal does a good job with the night entertainment, but Disney was the BEST! I think this week I am going to dig out all my old videos of the clubs and post them on You Tube. Bob, what do you think? Do we have any chance at a possible third party still coming in to reopen M or 8?? There are still plans to possibly reopen AC @ Animal Kingdom, right? LONG LIVE ALL THE GREATEST MEMORIES OF THE WORLDS GREATEST NIGHTLIFE.... "PLEASURE ISLAND"!!

Anonymous said...

Ah..the "I have small children" argument. Yes, it's not like >90% of the things to do at WDW already are for kids/families. As an adult without childen, could I have a FEW things for me??

Anonymous said...

I have children and Pleasure Island used to be our "get away.." The kids would have a sitter and we would take the buses from our resort down to PI. It was wonderful, stress free, and our time alone, away from the kids. I wish that they would atleast keep one club open, that way I could bring my kids (when they are old enough) to their first night club. I guess we will have to go to Universal and stay at their resorts....

KingBob said...

Jason, the goal of the revamped PI is to get more people than ever to come dine there. That means locals. It would come not at the expense of other Disney dining options but at the expense of establishments off property. Just don't see how $20 breakfasts at Silk Road will fly in Orlando though!

I think we'll see some new bars on the island in conjunction with the new restaurants, similar to how Raglan and Paradiso have bars with entertainment. I just don't see any clubs anymore.

Anonymous said...

"Sorry, not all of us like clubs. For those of us with small children, this is awesome news. I'm really excited about it and can't wait for the construction to start!"
if you don't want your kids around "adult" themes don't go there! so because you have kids we all have to suffer! no fun! I say STAY home!!!! mute point anyway because of people like you that told disney of stuff like this! thanks for taking away our fun! one day you will love to do something i hope someone takes it away from you as well!

Anonymous said...

I think it' funny how people complain about PI of these who have kids like someone said don't go there no one made you go there! like someone said it's over and thanks to jerks like you with kids who don't want there kids about drinking adults (not like a lot do this at home)
like someone said I hope they close your favorite place to take your kids! !!!!