PI Update: Remembering The Causeway

Do you remember the Pleasure Island Bypass Causeway? Yes, nearly 8 years ago Disney decided it needed to construct a bypass pedestrian walkway around the main section of Pleasure Island because of upcoming heavy construction.

Pedestrians could initially still use Hill Street to traverse the Island after the clubs closed and even during the demolitions of the Comedy Warehouse, Laffers Cantina and Curl by Sammy Duval buildings. But once they began knocking down the front section of 8TRAX plus the Harley Davidson and BET Soundstage buildings, conditions would get too dangerous. So they built a relatively expensive bypass causeway over the water and around the Island.

 

When it first opened it only went to a new location for the Downtown Disney water taxi. But eventually it went all the way around and served as a complete bypass. Eastbound, it began where the balloon ride currently operates and ended at The Hub.

There was a connection to the Island between Adventurers Club and Paradiso 37 but this was not open to the public and it was more for cast members to "service" the Island.

The causeway operated for more than 3 years but by March of 2017, it had been completely demolished as Hill Street reopened for pedestrians.