Friday, July 20, 2012

PI Update: Splitsville & More

On my way to beautiful Pleasure Island Thursday afternoon and making a stop at Florida's first Wawa!  Well-known to those from the mid-Atlantic states, they're planning to build more than a hundred of these things in the Orlando and Tampa metro areas.
What makes it a bit unique is the hoagie operation.  You order and pay for your sandwich from the numerous terminals and then wait for your number to be called. The place was mobbed. As to the rest of the place, it's really just another convenience store.  While not on Disney property, this is of interest to many Disney guests. Location #1 is located on I-Drive at Central Florida Parkway near Sea World.  Welcome Wawa. Competition is always good.
An update from Downtown Disney West Side and construction on the former Virgin Mega Store.  The sign saying Splitsville is coming "Fall, 2012" remains posted.  

Blog roving reporter Thommy sent us this camera-phone photo of interior construction.  As you can see, there is a long way to go!
< Construction on the exterior facing the main pedestrian pathway continues and includes this outward expansion.


Likewise on the exterior facing the AMC Downtown Disney 24 theater complex.  I just don't see how they can possibly finish construction and open this place in 2012.  >




A firsthand look at the new DTD directional sign on the Island near Mannequins. Will post a story about the Pleasure Island name next week!

10 comments:

  1. While at GayDayS this past June, a couple of cast members told me that Mannequins was going to reopen. That's all they knew. Does anybody know anything else about this?

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  2. sorry for the crappy quality, there was Disney security standing right by it so I had to walk away and zoom in.

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  3. The Blog has some information that could lead one to believe that Mannequins might be reopening in some form. Because the information is vague, I've chosen not to publish it just yet and am waiting for other "signs" to appear that would support the information.

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    1. One good thing was that the two cast members (one works in food service at AK and the other is a lifeguard at Typhoon Lagoon ) who told me that Mannequins would be reopening is that they didn't get their information from the web. They said that they were hearing from inside Disney that it was being fixed up and that it would reopen. I pressed them for more but that's all they knew.

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  4. When Splitsville finally does open, and if the music and atmosphere are good, I can just imagine that the line to get in would rival that of Studio 54!! Everyone is so desperate for some club action at DTD/PI again, Splitsville could "clean up". I know my Mannequins gang would love to be together again at Disney. We've kinda all scattered to the wind since PI closed. Hopefully Disney execs will get to see, first hand, just how much people want clubs at PI again!!!

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  5. I'm not trying to be a downer, but no matter how great Splitsville is, it will be no Mannequins or 8 Trax. I've been to the one in Tampa and it's not so exciting. I agree, we all want something back at DTD, but I'm sure that Splitsville is not going to be what we want. It will be a place to grab a drink and bowl...not dance on a revolving dance floor, watch 80's videos, and have awesome lighting and sound systems. Damn I miss PI!

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  6. Anon at 2:20pm, we can't be sure what to make of Splitsville yet. And you can't compare it to their Tampa location because the one here will MANY times larger. We're expecting that it will have DJ's and a dance floor, but definitely not a revolving one. But yes, it could turn out to be lame.

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  7. I hope it's not lame, but I have to agree that it probably won't be anything like our beloved clubs. I think lines like "Studio 54" is a very LONG shot, but hopefully it will be something we can enjoy at DTD again! I guess only time will tell, right? Just give us one or two clubs that only Disney can create again.... Damn Mouse!

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  8. Disney must love this talk about Mannequins! is it going to reopen is it not? this keeps Disney on your mind! if WE would all just saty away from Disney Stop spending our money on Disney property to show them WE are not happy they closed all of FAV! place
    BUT I guess most LIKE when Disney does things like this to you it just tells disney they can keep on closing our FAV! places and we will BOW down and kiss butt no matter!! SHAME I SAY!!
    send Disney a Message that if you close our FAV! place we will NOT spend our HARD earned money at your HOUSE!

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  9. Anon at 10:58am, I appreciate your sentiment not to support a business that did not give you the service you expected from them. But are you saying that IF Mannequins somehow miraculously reopened, you wouldn't return?

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