PI Update: Evolutions of Mannequins

Because we have yet another rumor out there concerning the Mannequins building, we thought this would be a good time to recap the rumor history subsequent to the dance club closing in September, 2008.  It was common-knowledge that Disney's goal was to outsource everything on Pleasure Island to third parties.  But nothing happened post-closure and there was a dearth of internet chatter about what was coming.  But in December, 2009 the Save Pleasure Island Blog became aware that prior to Disney's public announcement that the clubs were being shuttered, Downtown Disney management had been wined and dined in Minneapolis by Steven Schussler of Schussler Creative.  Schussler was the guy behind the Rain Forest Cafe, T-REX Cafe and Yak & Yetti restaurant concepts and he had a whole stable of other ideas for Disney to try out.  So a leading rumor at the time was Mannequins would become a Backfire BBQ Restaurant featuring Orange County Choppers.  A restaurant that featured a stage for live music, it seemed ideal.  One has subsequently opened in Kansas City but the idea remains dormant here.

In early 2011 the concept of Pleasure Island being turned into Hyperion Wharf began to fizzle and the Blog was the first to report in April that the Hyperion Wharf concept was either indefinitely postponed or cancelled. (Ultimately cancelled.) But just prior to that, we saw the concept art piece above which had the Mannequins building turned into a Silk Road restaurant. We were never sure if this was a signed deal or just a proposal but the only other Silk Road in Las Vegas filed for bankruptcy.  So this never happened either.

Shortly thereafter we broke the story from a very reliable source that told us Downtown Disney management had given up on PI buildings becoming restaurants and shops and was willing to listen to the clubs being reopened, to be operated by third parties, as long as the concepts were "different".  That raised the hopes of thousands of PI fans from around the world.  But nothing has ever come from that and here we are more than a year later with all the clubs remaining idle!

So that brings us to today.  You'll recall the rumor this past summer of Disney setting aside a budget for new Mannequins (and Comedy Warehouse) cast member costumes.  That coupled with numerous rumors of clubs reopening gave hope once again because why would CM's need Mannequins costumes unless Mannequins was reopening?  But here's the rumor:  Mannequins will reopen as.....a banquet facility! Downtown Disney lost the ability to hold small meetings when they tore down Motion so this would allow them to get back into that game.  Might explain the costumes.  Might explain the electrical work that has been taking place inside. 

We're told that there is already a kitchen in place between Mannequins and 8TRAX, apparently located through that door pictured above at the lower right.  And for those that don't like this rumor, don't despair.  We're sure to have a new one to replace it in the near future!