PI Update: Adult Night Life Will Be There!

 

  Last year when Disney Springs was first announced as the replacement for Downtown Disney, someone questioned on Disney Parks Blog whether there would be anything for the 21+ crowd?  The next night none other than Tom Staggs answered in the affirmative.  Since then nothing has been announced except new construction featuring restaurants and renovations of existing club buildings featuring more restaurants!  So it's easy to see why people are depressed over the lack of anything remotely related to evening adult entertainment.  But there is hope.  Save Pleasure Island Blog sources down on the Island have provided us with two nuggets of new information that could point us in the right direction.  While we have no specifics at this time, these appear to be good omens!

First of all, we've been told that the contracts that are being signed by lessors for Disney Springs require everyone to be open until 2am.  This includes shops, this includes restaurants, this includes everyone.  Currently and in the recent past, shops were only open until 11pm Sunday - Thursday, until midnight on Friday & Saturday.  Table service restaurants were only open until midnight, if not earlier.  Staying open until 2am was an option. 

Secondly, we've been told that lessors can (generally) do what they want with their spaces as long as they don't interfere with their neighbors. 

What does this all mean?  The first nugget means restaurants which typically empty-out by 10pm as they always have, will need something extra to keep you or attract you for another 4 hours. And that is where adult entertainment comes in.  That means bands, DJ's, singers, etc.  Last week we posted pictures of the after-hours club aspect at Rocco's Tacos on Sand Lake Road.  It's a perfect example of how a restaurant by day and evening can turn into a dance club late at night. That's a glimpse into the future at Disney Springs!

The second nugget means that lessors can find ways to pay Disney for those not inexpensive leases and they're apparently entitled by their contract to do what they want. Outdoor entertainment such as an outdoor deck at The Boat House would be ok as long as it doesn't interfere with the outdoor entertainment offered at Raglan Road, for instance.  But it could also mean, for example only, that whatever restaurant ultimately comes to Mannequins could clear-out the tables at night and use the space as a dance club!  If they wanted to.  So don't get depressed.  Stay tuned to see how this plays out!

Concert Report: Lana Del Rey (Hard Rock Live)

That is Hard Rock Live at Universal CityWalk in Orlando.  And if you look closely, that is the queue for the sold-out concert Monday night that stretched from the club all the way to the entrance to Universal Studios!

And they were here to see singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey (USA)!

The line was so long that the 8pm start time came and went and she didn't end up coming on until around 9:20pm.

Her performance would only last an hour but she packed in nearly every song she's famous for!

A majority of the audience were teen & 20-something girls!

It was packed like sardines down on the dance floor with numerous surges forward that made things even tighter!

I only recognized about 6 songs the entire set but the crowd recognized them just fine and sang along to nearly everything!

I have to say she didn't smile a lot.  She did chat with the audience occasionally saying such things as "I'm always going to remember this evening".  Ha!

Biggest roar came from her biggest hit to date, "Summertime Sadness".

She was wearing a short lavender dress with puffy sleeves that was unimpressive if not boring to me.

Lana Del Rey does give off a retro 1960's Holiday Inn Lounge singer type of vibe!  Many compare her to 60's singer Nancy Sinatra.

"Young and Beautiful" from The Great Gatsby.

She's only 27 years old and has somehow captured the youth market despite her music being neither Hip Hop or EDM, the two biggest genres of music out there.

None of the songs she sung were the EDM remix versions that I prefer but she was pretty impressive and has a voice!

"Ride"

Closing with "National Anthem". Several of her songs have a patriotic theme to them.

At the end she stepped off the stage for about ten minutes and took selfies with fans and signed autographs.  That's very cool in this day and age.  A good time was had by all!

DJ Kimball Collins Coming To Orlando

Largely responsible for the birth of Orlando's underground scene during the late 80's/early 90's, world famous DJ Kimball Collins (USA) returns to O-town this Saturday night at Sound Bar! Currently resident DJ at KU DÉ TA and QBAR in Bangkok, this show kicks-off his U.S. tour.  His latest music has a fresh Deep House sound that will fit perfect in Sound Bar.  DJ John Debo opens!

Club Reports: Suite B Lounge, Parallel Nightclub, Firestone Live

Began my Saturday night club tour at Suite B Lounge where an all-female DJ lineup was the plan including headliner DJ Jennifer Marley (Party95.com) spotted outside!

Meanwhile inside, NLP DJ's Funkbaby and K8 were tag teaming in the booth!

Small crowd though compared to my expectations.

The music was Breakbeats and Old Skool Dance.

I always seem to miss Funkbaby's sets so I was pleased to finally get to hear her play!

The people that were here were definitely bouncing to the music!

Spotted: DJ Sandra Cruz had played earlier and stuck around to lead the dancing!

But I had people to see, places to go.  So moving on for a first time ever visit to Parallel Nightclub!

DJ C-Money (Circa Lounge, Axcess Event Center) was on the decks playing Hip Hop!

The place looks small from the outside but it's actually a huge room!

The dance floor didn't get particularly crowded here either last night.

If you're looking for fun on a Wednesday night, Parallel is all-EDM that night!

The venue exceeded my expectations!

Final stop was mega-club Firestone Live!

Another packed Saturday night!

For DJ Simon Patterson (GB)!

The entire show was non-vocal Trance!

The guy has played at Creamfields, Tomorrowland, EDC, Electric Zoo as well as having done the Essential Mix on BBC1.

Trance crowd!

The look of Trance!

The look of Trance as the music takes you up and then crashes down!

Firestone has good sightlines from all points in the club.  The stone walls that were on either side of the stage and blocked views from the edges have been removed.

Spotted in VIP: DJ J-13/Jason Carr (Suite B Lounge, Firestone Live, Bikkuri Lounge) with friends.

Firestone has Orlando's best light and sound systems by far!

And a good time was had by all!

Club Reports: Rix Lounge, Atlantic Dance Hall, Rocco's Tacos, Bikkuri Lounge

Doing some club hopping on a Friday night and beginning the festivities at Rix Lounge inside Disney's Cornonado Springs Resort.

Nice surprise finding DJ Ish (Rocco's Tacos, Bliss Ultra Lounge, Boss) in the booth spinning a mix of Oldies, Hip Hop & Dance!

Place was actually packed!

People were dancing wherever they stood!

The dance floor itself stayed relatively empty although I saw people come and go off it during my visit.  Ish says Rix is trying to bring back the crowds they once had and I can tell you they're doing it.  Drinks are a bit on the high side but there is no cover charge!

Moving over to Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney's Boardwalk Resort.  As the sign now says, there is a $5 cover charge at the club.

DJ Frankie (Frankie & The West End Boys, Rock'n'Roll Beach Club, Stitch's Club 626) was on the boards spinning requests that were mostly Top 40/Dance during my visit.

So few people go here because it's not advertised and the new cover charge isn't helping any.

Supposedly the cover charge concept is to be evaluated within the next couple weeks.

I'm told the Thursday night Karaoke night is a real bust with mostly CM's coming out and singing Disney songs.  Since they get in free and since they don't buy a lot of drinks, well.....

I've been here for lunch but this is a first time club visit to Rocco's Tacos on Sand Lake Road.

Great finding DJ Freefall (Vanity, Vintage, Dragon Room, Rok Room) in the booth playing short sets of EDM, Hip Hop, Top 40, Latin!

Club was packed wall-to-wall as I had heard!

Dancing all over the place!

A late night club element at restaurants is what is coming to Pleasure Island.  Our article on Wednesday will talk about that aspect!

Spotted in the booth hanging with the DJ:  Mrs. Freefall. Nice!

Last stop of the night to Bikkuri Lounge located in Bikkuri Sushi on Colonial Drive.

Arrived to find DJ Robb Blak (Firestone Live, Roxy Nightclub) in the booth spinning Trance!

The last Friday of every month is "Lost in Trancelation" night!

Home of the awesome color-changing light wall, there was a good crowd on hand.

Coming on around 1am, DJ KC Killjoy!

Spotted: DJ J-13 (Suite B Lounge, Firestone Live, Bikkuri Lounge) who will be spinning in The Den at Firestone Live tonight!

And a good time was had by all!