Downtown Update

Mai Thai apparently isn't a night club any longer. It must be open for business sometime because we spotted a fully stocked bar near the entrance but they are not open at night any longer, at least as we can figure out. When it was open, it was a mostly Hip Hop club.

Meanwhile, just a few doors down, Napasorn has always been just a restaurant by day and perhaps early evening. But lately there has been a nightclub aspect at night here with it open on weekend nights with Hip Hop music. Interesting switch.

Friday Funny

Always liked that song.

 

Trip Report: Avalon, Catalina Island, California

Part of  Los Angeles County in California, Catalina Island is located just under 30 miles off the coast of the mainland. The main town is Avalon, located on the east side of the island. Most of the island is a nature conservatory.

The main street facing the harbor is filled with souvenir shops and restaurants.

The Casino Building is the main landmark of the island. No longer a casino, it's now being used as a theater.

There is a Chime Tower which plays bells every fifteen minutes.

There's even a Vons grocery store, lol. Catalina Island is a beautiful island but I would get bored here after one day. Happy to be getting back on my ship and sailing away.

This Weekend In Techno Town

Activity slows down for this final weekend of April. 

THU   25APR     CELINE     DJ Zingara (USA)

FRI     26APR     MORSE CODE     DJ Johnny Park (USA)

SAT    27APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Amal Nemer (USA)

SUN   28APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Yulia Niko (D/USA)

SUN   28APR     GRAPE & GRAIN     DJ Mathew Scot (USA)

Club Report: Sail-Away Party (Carnival Radiance)

The first party on every cruise is the Sail-Away Party and on Carnival Radiance, that was led by DJ Selector Twis (SLU). The party pics are on Orlando Entertainment News here.

Trip Warning!

Another KingBob trip is underway so our articles may appear at odd times. Look for some Club Reports from the cruise ships we'll be sailing on as well as some Trip Reports from various destinations along the way. Our last trip in February involved 7 flights to and from but this trip, just 2 flights. For those that know your IATA airport and airline codes, here are the segments:

 DL  MCO - LAX 

WS  YVR-MCO

Club Reports: AC Sky Bar, Arena Art Bar, Elixir Bar

Most of us remember this place as Suite B Lounge or Peek Downtown but they're back in business as the Arena Art Bar. It was one of the venues Orlando Entertainment News visited last night. Check out all the pictures right here.

 

Club Reports: Disney Club v Universal Club

Mouseketeers, Princesses & Fairies, OH MY! Last night Orlando Entertainment News held our annual Disney club vs Universal club comparison. The pics are here.

 

Friday Funny

It pays to know the difference between music genres.

 

This Weekend In Techno Town

It's another Party Weekend!

FRI     19APR     BARBARELLA     Indie Night: DJ Smilin' Dan (USA)

FRI     19APR     CELINE     DJ Galo (USA)

FRI     19APR     VANGUARD     DJ NGHTMRE (USA)

SAT    20APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ duo Cocodrills (USA)

SAT    20APR     BARBARELLA     DJ trio Smilin' Dan, Lavidicus, Rob Bates (USA)

SAT    20APR     ARENA ART BAR:     DJ JROK (USA) , DJ MS MF (USA)

SUN   21APR     IRON COW     DJ Phibes (GB)

SUN   21APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Kolter (D)

PI Update: Sign Of The Times

While there are no longer any "Pleasure Island" signs around, there really are no customer-facing "The Landing" signs around either. That's why we continue to call it Pleasure Island. How would anyone know any different?

DS Update: Cheap Eats?

Was having a discussion recently about the cheapest places to eat in Disney Springs. Of course nothing there is inexpensive but there are several cheaper options. We believe the absolutely cheapest option in the Springs is the B.B. Wolf's kiosk where you can get a hot dog, chips and a drink for under $20. Of course you'll have to find somewhere nearby to sit.

Slightly higher in price would be Chicken Guy, where you can get a hot food chicken strips meal including a drink for around $20. And here they have both indoor and outdoor seating. Not pictured is the Earl of Sandwich where a hot sandwich, a bag of chips and a drink will be in that $20 price range. Lots of people eat in Disney Springs. Not many people eat cheap in Disney Springs.

Club Reports: Aero Bar, Morse Code, Barbarella

While we are working on our 8TRAX Reunion event, Winter Park nightclub Morse Code held a 70's Night of their own last night and Orlando Entertainment News visited. The pics are here.

Club Reports: Room 22, The Robinson, Iron Cow

It's always a great night of music when Stanton Warriors (GB) is playing in Orlando. Friday night pics are on sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

Friday Funny

That's us at the home!

This Weekend In Techno Town

More good stuff this weekend! 

THU   11APR     MCQUEENS     DJ Pacho Berrocal (USA)

FRI     12APR     CELINE     DJ Alberto Dimeo (USA)

FRI     12APR     BARBARELLA     Memento Mori: DJ Lavidicus (USA)

FRI     12APR     IRON COW     DJ duo Stanton Warriors (GB)

SAT    13APR     MORSE CODE     DJ Mighty Shari (USA)

SAT    13APR     VANGUARD     DJ Timmy Trumpet (AUS)

SAT/SUN 13-14APR     CEN FL FAIRGROUNDS     Florida Groves Music Festival

SUN    14APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Seth Troxler (USA)

PI Update: As Though They Never Existed!

Looking at some more April, 2014 pics.....ten years ago!

People hanging out beside Mannequins; ignoring the place, as though it never existed!

People walking past BET Soundstage, ignoring the place, as though it never existed!

PI Update: Walls Everywhere!

Walls everywhere, April 2014.

 

Trip Report: Boston Views

View of downtown Boston from Logan Airport.

View of downtown Boston from Marina Bay.

PI Update: An 8TRAX Reunion Is Coming!

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, June 29th. 

 

 

An 8TRAX Reunion is coming and you won't want to miss it! 

Details & Flyer soon.

Friday Funny

 

PI Update: The World's Best Cookies? Must Be!

When we last visited Pleasure Island a couple weeks ago, even at 10PM, there was a long line of customers in the queue for cookies and sweet snacks at Gideon's Bakehouse. We've still never actually tried their products because the line is always so lengthy. Some day!

This Weekend In Techno Town

Orlando remains busy this weekend!

WED  03APR     OLE RED     DJ Chino (USA)     tonight

THU   04APR     CELINE     DJ Ian Asher (USA)

FRI     05APR     CELINE     DJ Will Clarke (GB)

FRI     05APR     VANGUARD     DJ INZO (USA)

FRI     05APR     LEVEL 13 EVENT CENTER     DJ duo Golf Clap (USA)

FRI     05APR     MORSE CODE     DJ Knightlife (USA)

SAT    06APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Moblack (GH/USA)

SAT    06APR     IRON COW     DJ JASK (USA)

SAT    06APR     BARBARELLA     DJ Smilin' Dan (USA)

SUN   07APR     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Latmun (GB)

Trip Report: 4 New Airlines Added To My Roster

During last month's trip to South Africa and beyond, I had the occasion to fly 4 new (to me) airlines. My brand of choice is Delta which was flown MCO-ATL on a Boeing 757-200 and then ATL-CPT on an Airbus A350-900. Delta was the only U.S. based airline flown on this trip. Pictured above: Delta on arrival at CPT.

For the one day trip to Windhoek, Namabia, we flew on Airlink which is a South African airline. One day the route was CPT-WDH, returning the next day WDH-CPT. Both days involved the same aircraft, an Embraer E-135. Pictured above on the tarmac at WDH.

Returning home involved 3 airlines, all new to me. This is a South African Airways Airbus A320 flying from MRU to JNB. The service was extremely friendly and exceeded expectations. Pictured at MRU.

The JNB-FRA segment was flown by Condor, a German airline. They use an Airbus A330-900 on this route. This flight departed at night and flew over Africa before arriving into FRA in the morning. The service was good. Aircraft pictured at FRA.

Lastly from FRA to MCO, the flight was flown by German carrier Discover Airlines on an Airbus A330-200. Lufthansa used to fly the Orlando route but a couple years ago they switched it over to Discover, a low cost carrier they own. Discover also flies to Fort Myers and Tampa, other leisure markets while Lufthansa flies to Miami, a business market. The service was also good. Aircraft pictured at WDH.

PI Update: The Day We Broke The News IHOP Was Coming To Mannequins

We originally posted this story on April 1st, 2011. Downtown Disney officials confirmed in a press conference early Thursday evening that the former Mannequins Dance Palace night club is going to be converted into a revolving International House of Pancakes restaurant slated to open by December, 2011. According to Downtown Disney Vice-President Keith Bradford, this will be the first IHOP ever on-property and first revolving IHOP in the world. He called it an exciting new addition to Pleasure Island.  "Surveys continue to show that our Guests want more restaurant options when visiting Walt Disney World and there has been in particular requests for something open 24/7. We listen to our Guests and are thrilled to be able to offer this option."

Describing the upcoming renovations, three sides of the building will have mostly glass walls to give diners an extensive view outdoors as the central area of the restaurant completes one full revolution every four minutes. "Evening diners will be able to view the dancing fountains in Village Lake as well as activities at the waterfront Amphitheater."  "The thousands of lights that transform the area into an electric wonderland will be fully visible," he said. Likely to become a tourist attraction in its own right, the IHOP will feature Mickey-shaped Belgian Waffles. When questioned about his reference to Pleasure Island, Bradford conceded that when they learned that the cost to replace that huge Pleasure Island sign on top of the Mannequins building alone was over $8 million, they decided that there was no real need to change the name to Hyperion Wharf.