Labor Day Weekend In Techno Town

Big holiday weekend with tons of "big name" DJ events taking place!!

WED   31AUG    PARLAY     DJ Saeed Younan (IRQ/USA)  TONIGHT

THU   01SEP      CELINE     DJ Vampa (USA)

FRI     02SEP     HEIST LOUNGE     DJ Aphrodite (GB)

FRI     02SEP     VANGUARD     DJ duo Gorgon City (GB)

FRI    02SEP      CELINE     DJ Thunderpony (USA)

SAT   03SEP      VANGUARD     DJ Deadmau5 (CDN)

SAT   03SEP     GILT CONCERT VENUE     DJ Lucii (USA)

SAT   03SEP     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Markem (YV/USA)

SAT   03SEP     IRON COW     DJ Mathew Scot (USA)

SAT  03SEP     GEEK EASY     DJ Ghost Data (USA)

SUN  04SEP    HOUSE OF BLUES  DJ Magic Mike (USA), DJ Icey (USA) & more!

SUN  04SEP    BARBARELLA 2.0     DJ Lavidicus (USA), DJ Rob Bates (USA)

SUN  04SEP    MCQUEENS     DJ Omnom (USA)

SUN  04SEP   SUNDAY SUNDAYS @ THE PATIO     DJ Diana Montoya (USA)

SUN  04SEP    ELIXIR BAR     DJ Eli Brown (GB)

MON 05SEP    ELIXIR BAR     DJ Miane (E)

MON 05SEP   RAYN    Daytime Pool Party: DJ Chino (USA) & more!      

DS Update: What Happened To The DJ's?

This past New Years Eve one could look in every nook and corner of Disney Springs and find a DJ playing. Indeed, this is the list we published a few days prior to the big night:

 Water Fountain Stage (Disney Springs Marketplace)

DJ Michael Wycoff

Waterside Stage (Disney Springs Marketplace)

DJ JW Jaeger alternating with a live band

Waterview Stage (Disney Springs Pleasure Island)

DJ Elliot & DJ Atomic Blonde alternating with a live band

The Edison (Disney Springs Pleasure Island)

DJ Mynd (alternating with live band & other entertainment)

                   STK Restaurant (Disney Springs Pleasure Island)

                   Main Room/Ground Level: DJ Lu_s

Upstairs Outdoor Level: DJ Marc Sparcs

Orange Node (Disney Springs West Side) (Near Orange Garage)

DJ Marjory Andrade & DJ Sebastian Rodriguez

But what's happened since then? No DJ's playing anywhere! If one looks at the weekly Disney Springs entertainment schedule such as this week's line-up here, there are plenty of vocalists, duos and bands.....but not a single DJ! "Late Night Disney Springs" with its family DJ dance parties has never returned either. We're just not sure what's going on! 

PHOTO ABOVE: DJ Scott King at Waterside Stage

DS Update: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Disney Springs Parking (But Were Afraid To Ask)

One of the biggest events to ever hit Disney Springs is happening this coming Sunday night, September 4th! It's the Labor Day Bash at House of Blues ft. DJ Magic Mike (USA), DJ Icey (USA), DJ Kimball Collins (USA), DJ Baby Anne (USA) and DJ Jimmy Joslin (USA). Most of Save Pleasure Island Blog readers are familiar with Disney Springs parking but there will be a lot of people attending, including many former Pleasure Islanders, that have not been out there in a few years. Thus, our sister website Orlando Entertainment News has a parking tips article today which you can find here.

 

Club Reports: 1-Up Orlando, Elixir Bar

Is it a game room with a bar or a bar with games? The new 1-Up has finally opened on Church Street downtown and it was the first stop last night for Orlando Entertainment News. Check it out here.

 

Concert Report: DJ Stacey Pullen (Level13 Event Center)

DJ Stacey Pullen (USA) was the headliner at last night's concert at the Level13 Event Center in Lockhart and Orlando Entertainment News was there for the pictures. You can find them here.

 

Friday Funny

 

PI Update: Club Spotting!

                 Let's go up in this beautiful balloon to do some club spotting!

Near the lower right corner, Adventurers Club lives on in the form of The Edison. It was heavily renovated but when you're in there, there are numerous places where you can see Adventurers Club.

That silver metal building of course was 8TRAX. The front of the old club was sawed-off and replaced by the new construction Sanuk flip-flop store you see there. Today most of the building serves as part of the kitchen for the adjoining Morimoto Asia restaurant and you can see where the two buildings connect. Reliable sources tell us that behind Sanuk and before the Morimoto connection is a small area where the old 8TRAX still exists!

Of course Morimoto Asia itself is our former Mannequins Dance Palace and we suspect the old revolving dance floor is still under a faux-floor installed during restaurant construction. Don't think we'll ever know for sure. If you've never eaten at Morimoto, we can tell you the food is really good! And we can also tell you that when you're inside this cavernous venue, you can see many things that scream-out Mannequins!

Beautiful Pleasure Island. That's the extent of our former clubs. Comedy Warehouse, BET Soundstage and Motion all met the wrecking ball so no remnants remain. Kungaloosh!

This Weekend In Techno Town

August is quickly coming to a conclusion!

FRI     26AUG     IRON COW     DJ Arina Krondeva (RUS/USA)

FRI     26AUG     LEVEL 13 EVENT CENTER     DJ Stacey Pullen (USA)

FRI     26AUG     CELINE     DJ Pickle (USA)

FRI     26AUG     LIL INDIES     DJ BMF (USA)

SAT    27AUG     VANGUARD     DJ Slushii (USA) 

SAT    27AUG     GILT CONCERT VENUE     DJ Champagne Drip (USA)

SAT    27AUG     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Mystic Bill (USA)

SUN   28AUG     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Marten Hørger (D)

SUN   28AUG    SUNDOWN SUNDAYS @ THE PATIO     DJ Carlos Mendoza (USA)

 

PI Update: 10 Years Ago This Month

 

Ten years ago this month, a food truck made it's fist appearance into Downtown Disney.

At Celebration Plaza, the live music being offered there began playing from a small raised stage instead of just within a roped-off area. Shown: Andre Caram Band

Our beloved 8TRAX was dark in August, 2012 but would surely reopen soon.

Ditto for Mannequins which was actually lit-up again outside after having gone dark for a few years. Groups of partiers would still arrive hoping to go clubbing, only to be told by Disney Security that the clubs had closed four years earlier.

But even with the clubs closed, a good time was had by all.  LOL.

DS Update: Theme Parks From The Air

Did you know that you can see most of the Disney theme parks from Disney Springs? Yes you can, if you go up in the tethered balloon ride! Looking at EPCOT, you can see the famous ball known as Spaceship Earth while the new Guardians of the Galaxy building is near it.

Over at Disney's Hollywood Studios, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror certainly stands out.

 

The farthest theme park from Disney Springs is Disney's Animal Kingdom where the snowy peak of Expedition Everest dominates the area.

The only park that's mostly impossible to see is Magic Kingdom. You can see parts of it but unfortunately the Contemporary Resort blocks off most of it including Cinderella's Castle. Disney Springs is in the incorporated city of Lake Buena Vista, Florida while all 4 theme parks are in the incorporated city of Bay Lake, Florida. So now you know.

Club Reports: Rayn, Barbarella 2.0, Elixir Bar

DJ KC Lights (GB) at Elixir Bar was the highlight of our Saturday evening in the city. All the pics can be found on sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

Club Reports: Bellhop, Elixir Bar, Celine, Iron Cow

DJ Rafa Barrios (E) headlined at Celine last night but it was just one of four great stops. All the pictures are on our sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

Friday Funny

 

DS Update: Gideon's Line Has Shortened

The line outside Gideon's Bakehouse on Pleasure Island ain't what they used to be. After they opened and during our subsequent visits, the line typically stretched back to Mannequins and originally wrapped around the corner all the way to 8TRAX. During our recent visit, it didn't even stretch to Mannequins' former entry point. Could be that interest is slowing down but more likely the tourist numbers are slowing down as summer comes to an end. Supposed to be some great baked goods in there!

This Weekend In Techno Town

 A few events as we go to press. Will update.

FRI     19AUG     HEIST LOUNGE     Torque: DJ Grafix (GB)

FRI     19AUG     CELINE     DJ Rafa Barrios (E)

FRI     19AUG     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Knightlife (USA) & DJ Seth Vogt (USA)

FRI     19AUG     IRON COW     DJ Lola B (USA)

SAT    20AUG     ELIXIR BAR     DJ KC Lights (GB)

SUN   21AUG     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Bruno Furlan (BR) & DJ Dose (USA)

SUN   21AUG     SUNDOWN SUNDAYS @ THE PATIO     DJ Dom (USA)

CW Update: CityWalk Later Hours To Return

Or friends at the Theme Park Shark website have informed us that Universal CityWalk is returning to 2AM closing times on weekends beginning in September! You'll recall that earlier this summer they reduced operations until just midnight every night. The new later hours return on Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights while the other nights remain closing at midnight. Thanks to Theme Park Shark for sharing this great news!

PI Update: PI Drinks At Laguna Bar

This is the Laguna Bar at Disney's Coronado Spring Resort. (Photo: Disney)

Save Pleasure Island Blog reader Troy shares with us their drink menu which for some reason reminds us of Pleasure Island even if some names were changed to protect the innocent. Thanks for sharing, Troy!

Club Reports: Neon Beach, The Vanguard, Barbarella 2.0, Neon Beach (Again)

DJ Mark Vee (USA) headlined last night's new monthly event "Fluorescent Saturdays" at Neon Beach and sister website Orlando Entertainment News was there. You can find the photo article here.

Club Reports: Fixtion, Pups Pub, Monkey Bar

Monkey Bar was our third stop last night where we found DJ Dack (USA) in the booth playing House music. Friday night pictures can be found on sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

Friday Funny

 

Friday Funny

DS Update: Dirt Has Been Turned

Finally. After more than 2 years of standstill, dirt has been turned for the construction of Summer House, the new restaurant to be located where at one time Beatrix was going to be built and at one time Bongos Cuban Cafe stood. Previous construction came to an end when Covid19 first hit.  Prior to that it appeared that electrical and plumbing underground had already been completed. So now actual construction above the dirt shouldn't be far in the future.

 

This Weekend In Techno Town

 More fun this weekend in Orlando!

FRI   12AUG     BARBARELLA 2.0     Memento Mori: DJ Lavidicus (USA)

FRI   12AUG     VANGUARD     DJ Flux Pavilion (GB)

FRI   12AUG     THE ABBEY     Grease Sing-Along

SAT  13AUG     GILT CONCERT VENUE     DJ Vnssa (USA)

SAT  13AUG     VANGUARD     DJ Illenium (USA)

SAT  13AUG     NEON BEACH    DJ Mark V (USA) & Deejay Shaolin (USA)

SAT  13AUG     ELIXIR     DJ Kyle Walker (USA)

SUN 14AUG     ELIXIR     DJ Dirty South (SRB/AUS)

SUN 14AUG    THE PATIO     DJ Chad Andrew (USA/D)

DS Update: NBA Experience Empty Again

Speaking of Virtual Reality, you're likely aware that a Star Wars-themed VR interactive show was temporarily being housed inside the space formerly occupied by the ill-conceived NBA Experience building. But that run ended late last month.

And now the place is back to just being empty again.

PI Update: 8TRAX In Virtual Reality

Ahh, beautiful Pleasure Island, home to numerous Disney-operated night clubs, all available for one admission price.

One of the most highly-themed clubs was called 8TRAX. When Pleasure Island opened in 1989, this venue opened as teen club Videopolis East which played New Wave. It was short-lived and replaced by Cage, playing New Wave, Alternative and Progressive. It too didn't last long either and by 1992, it became the heavily 70's Disco-themed 8TRAX.

 

During the early-2000's the club also added 80's Funk to the music mix.

 8TRAX, like the rest of Pleasure Island closed in September, 2008 and sat idle for close to a half decade. In 2010, a Save Pleasure Island Blog source provided us with photos of the inside of the club standing still in time. A nearby shop Curl by Sammy Duval was using the space for storage. Then in 2013 another source provided us with photos of the inside of 8TRAX under demolition with the colorful dance floor all dug up! And that would be our last visit to 8TRAX ever.....until now!

Blog reader Greg Mitchell has taken dozens of photos we've previously posted on Save Pleasure Island (and other sources) and using amazing computer skills has created a Virtual Reality visit to 8TRAX. Check it out on YouTube via this link:       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAW868gkYmE

Greg would love to hear your comments and ideas. You can use the Comment link below (Blogger membership not required) or comment on YouTube below the video (Google membership required).

Club Reports: Lizzy's, Monkey Bar, Elixir Bar, Aero Bar

Our sister website Orlando Entertainment News got to see DJ Bleu Clair (RI) last night at one of their stops and all the Saturday night pics can be found here.

 

Club Reports: Dapper Duck, The Corner, The Patio, The Vanguard, Grumpys Underground

DJ Nicole Moudaber (RL/GB) was one of last night's highlights on our downtown Orlando club tour. You can find all the pictures on sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

Friday Funny

PI Update: 8TRAX Teaser

Want to step back inside 8TRAX again? This coming Monday on Save Pleasure Island Blog we're going back inside 8TRAX, the entire club, just as you remember it! Stay tuned!

This Weekend In Techno Town

Summers are typically slow but there's been a good deal of activity this year!

FRI   05AUG      GRUMPYS     Breaks Clinic ft. DJ Berto (USA)

FRI   05AUG     VANGUARD     DJ Nicole Moudaber (GB)

FRI   05AUG     IRON COW     DJ Terron Darby (USA)

SAT  06AUG     ELIXIR     DJ Beau Clair (RI)

DS Update: Grand Centennial Exposition?

OK, so there's this planter of flowers in Exposition Park labeled as the Grand Centennial Exposition but what is that? The marker indicates it marks a "Century of Progress" since the founding of Disney Springs but the terms "century" and "centennial" infer 100 years ago but then the marker indicates 1950 which would be 72 years ago. I realize this is made-up back-story nonsense but shouldn't the made-up dates be correct?

And really, the Great Seal of the city of Disney Springs doesn't even have a date on it! Not really sure what this is all about!

DS Update: Labor Day Bash At HOB!

In the foreground above, House of Blues in Disney Springs West Side. They've been reopened for more than a year now following the covid19 closures but with few exceptions, it's been bands only and very few DJ's. When one discusses House of Blues though, conversations invariably circle around to Service Industry Night.  Yes, their famed SIN drew thousands of  patrons each Sunday night including Disney Cast Members (which got in for free) until October, 2015 when Disney finally quashed it.. There were a number of resident DJ's that led the fun over the years including Magic Mike (USA), Jimmy Joslin (USA), Richie Rich (USA) and Sandy (USA). Well, it's time to relive those days again!

A "Labor Day Bash" is happening on the Sunday night of Labor Day weekend and it will feature former resident DJ's Magic Mike and Jimmy Joslin, joined by DJ Icey (USA), DJ Kimball Collins (USA) and DJ Baby Anne (USA). This is not SIN so no free admission for CM's. We're aware that there will be a contingent of former Pleasure Islanders attending too!  This is a show you won't want to miss! Get your advance tickets here or at the House of Blues box office.