PI Update: Some PI Drinks Live On!

Two years ago Blog reader Troy alerted us to the fact that some Pleasure Island drinks still live on at Laguna Bar, located in Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. We lost his email and only recently rediscovered it.

So out to Laguna Bar we went this past Saturday night and found former Adventurers Club bartender Jessica on duty! There are no indications there is a special hidden drink menu here and you have to ask for it! It's especially helpful if Jessica is on duty when you arrive.

Ask for the "Pleasure Island" drink menu aka the "Every Day is New Years Eve" drink menu. There are 5 former Pleasure Island drinks listed although the names were changed for copyright reasons. The first one is the "Kungaloosh". Jessica tells Save Pleasure Island Blog that she can make many of the other PI drinks too even if not listed. So come visit Jessica at Laguna Bar and chit chat with her about Pleasure Island. Kungaloosh, Troy!!

Club Reports: Vines Grille, Laguna Bar, Rix Lounge, Atlantic Dance Hall

One of our stops last night was Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney's Boardwalk Resort where we found DJ Mynd (USA) in the perch. Saturday night pics are posted on Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

Club Reports: Morse Code, Iron Cow, Bikkuri Lounge

Sister website Orlando Entertainment News visited 3 venues last night and it was House music being played at every one of them. This included a great set by DJ Miraxy (USA) at Bikkuri Lounge. Friday night pics can be found here.

 

PI Update: 16 Years Tonight!

The Save Pleasure Island Blog did not do a very good job in saving Pleasure Island.We tried but it just didn't happen. And tonight is the 16th Anniversary of Pleasure Island being shuttered. 16 years!

 

PI Update: Learn The Thriller Dance!

As seen at 8TRAX, you can now learn the famous Michael Jackson (USA) dance "Thriller". And besides learning all the dance moves, you'll have the option of participating in a massive around-the-world "Thriller" experience on October 26th! Lessons are just $5 at 6PM Fridays at the Winter Park YMCA through October 26th. Scan the above QR code or go to:  www.thrillorlando.com.

This Weekend In Techno Town

Didn't September just begin like five days ago?

THU   26SEP     IRON COW   DJ Jerry The Reverend Johnson (USA) Moved to Friday

FRI     27SEP     MORSE CODE     DJ NvS (USA) & DJ Ethan McCain (USA)

FRI     27SEP     CELINE     DJ Marsh (GB/USA)

FRI     27SEP     VANGUARD     DJ duo Bonnie x Clyde (USA)

FRI     27SEP     IRON COW     DJ Mark Farina (USA) POSTPONED

FRI     27SEP     BIKKURI LOUNGE     DJ Lola B (USA)  10pm-6am

SAT    28SEP     ALTIRA POOL     DJ Frankmatik (USA)

SAT    28SEP     ATLANTIC DANCE HALL     DJ Mynd (USA)

SAT    28SEP     VINES GRILLE & BAR     DJ Romano Arcaini (D/USA)

SAT    28SEP     HOUSE OF BLUES     DJ duo Infected Mushroom (IL)

SAT    28SEP     IRON COW     DJ Noel Sanger (USA)

MON  30SEP     VANGUARD     DJ Shiba San (F) + DJ CID (USA)

PI Update: 10 Years Ago This Month

This photo taken 10 years ago this month shows the new Waterview Stage generally completed with the seating area needing finishing touches including the addition of numerous palm trees. But it also reveals so much more. It shows the Pleasure Island Bypass walkway which was used for pedestrians to bypass heavy construction taking place along Hill Street. It shows the over water platform under construction which would become home to Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar. It shows the future Boathouse restaurant. It shows the building that would become home to Joffrey's Coffee & Tea Company plus Vivoli Gelato. Lots going on 10 years ago!

 

PI Update: Ten Years Ago This Month

Ten years ago this month, the "high line" was under construction in Downtown Disney West Side with a promise of a seating area on top of it to enjoy a drink with a view. The high line did get built but the seating area, to be connected with the ground via stairs and elevator, never came to be. No explanation was announced to our knowledge.

This view seemed to show a DJ up there!

Club Reports: Barbarella 3.0, The Capital Room

Of course we remember DJ Mark Sanchez (USA) from his New Years Eve sets at EPCOT: Italy but we saw him again last night at a club called The Capital Room in downtown Sanford. In addition, we checked out the brand new Barbarella 3.0 in Winter Park. All the pictures are on sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

Club Reports: Live! At The Pointe, Morse Code, Mulligan’s,The Robinson

Pointe Orlando is now The Pointe and the upstairs is being converted into a club district called Live! at the Pointe. It's reminiscent of Pleasure Island except no one (so far) has a cover charge and they all have DJ's. It's opening weekend there and Orlando Entertainment News checked it out last night. Pics here.

 

Friday Funny

 

Trip Report: Royal Caribbean's Utopia Of The Seas

 

We previously posted two articles about the nightlife options aboard Royal Caribbean's brand new Utopia of the Seas. They can be found here and here in case you missed them. Today we're going to look at some of the other food and entertainment options on the ship which is doing 3nt & 4nt cruises from Port Canaveral. There is just SO much to do that it's impossible to see and do it all during one short cruise.

Along the ship's Royal Promenade on Deck 5, we previously reported on the Pesky Parrot. There are no cover charges at any of the bars onboard; you just pay for your drinks as you would in any bar unless you have a drink package.

Sorrento's Pizza can be found nowadays on all Royal Caribbean ships. It's open until 3AM and it is free.

Bell & Barley is an English-style pub along the Royal Promenade.

They had a guitar Top 40 singer in here nightly.

The promenade is also home to Spotlight Karaoke. It was absolutely packed every time we walked past it. Rather than have karaoke taking place in one of the ship's lounges, they gave it its own spot!

Boleros is also a feature on Royal Caribbean ships and it has its own location along the promenade. It's a Latin music club.

Promenade Cafe is also down here. It has snacks and light bites and is free.

Photo ops too! The liquor store is also located here along with the Logo store. The Royal Promenade can be found on all of Royal Caribbean's Voyager Class and Oasis Class ships.

Oasis Class ships also have a Boardwalk area. This is on Deck 6 on this ship.

This open-to-the-sky area has a free carousel with balcony cabins that look down upon it.

Playmakers Sports Bar is located out here with more than 2 dozen televisions.

There's a Johnny Rocket's branch out here too but it does cost extra.

All the way aft is the Aqua Theater which we describe in one of the other posted articles.

Boardwalk Dog House is out here as well and it's free. You can't go hungry on this ship!

On Deck 8, another outdoor area facing the sky called Central Park.

Along the walk in the woods is Park Cafe which is also free.

Down on Deck 4, The Attic. It's another bar but we did not see any events in here.

We previously posted about Music Hall located on Deck 8/9.

The ship's showband plays here. We attended a 70's Night & 80's Night here.

Studio B is also on Deck 4. It contains an ice skating rink home to the free YouTopia professional skating shows but they also do other events in here.

If you've ever sailed Royal Caribbean, you're familiar with Quest. These are the 6 finalists.

These are the 6 finalists two minutes later!

The FlowRider is an extra fee sport on Deck 16. But basketball (Deck 16) and rock climbing walls (Deck 7) are free.

As are mini-golf.....

.....and pickle ball (3 courts).

And there is so much more that we couldn't show it all. (We didn't mention the Casino, the Buffet, the specialty dinner on a train, the arcade, the water slides, the dry slides, the toga party, the silent disco and it goes on and on!) On board Utopia of the Seas, a good time was had by all.

This Weekend In Techno Town

This weekend is jammed with options!

THU   19SEP     CELINE     DJ Bou (GB)

THU   19SEP     LIVE! AT THE POINTE   DJ James Kennedy (USA)

FRI     20SEP     CELINE     DJ Blanke (AUS)

FRI     20SEP     MORSE CODE     DJ Knightlife (USA)

FRI     20SEP     VANGUARD     DJ Shiba San (F) & DJ CID (USA)

SAT    21SEP     VINES GRILLE     DJ Carlos Mendoza (USA)

SAT    21SEP     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Oscar G (USA)

SAT    21SEP     WALL ST PLAZA     DJ It's Murph (USA)

SAT    21SEP     CAPITAL ROOM BAR (Sanford)  DJ Mark Sanchez (USA)

SAT    21SEP     MORSE CODE     DJ Mike House (USA)

SUN   22SEP     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Cristoph (GB)

TUE   24SEP     ARENA ART BAR     DJ Freeda Sol (USA)

PI Update: As Bleak As Ever

Let's cross this bridge one more time to beautiful Pleasure Island. Well, let's not. The only venue over there with potential dancing is The Edison Orlando but sadly they no longer create a dance floor after the radio shows are finished for the night. Instead, the music ends at 11PM and nothing happens after that. Post-covid, we've never seen the return of Late Night Disney Springs either. Pleasure Island is as bleak as ever.

PI Update: The Motion Corridor

While shops on Hill Street on Pleasure Island has suffered from quite a bit of turnover, this spot has remained remarkably stable. This is the so-called "Motion Corridor" which used to be the service/garbage area behind Raglan Road and adjacent club Motion. When this area was converted from Cast-only to a retail area, the 3 stores that opened there all remain in business today. On the left, flip-flop store Havaianas is still there. On the right, Chapel Hats and Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC are still there. That's pretty impressive!

 

Club Reports: Privilege Day Club (Nassau), Aqua Theater, Studio B (Utopia Of The Seas)

An absolutely amazing aqua show aboard Utopia of the Seas and we've posted a few pictures over on our sister website Orlando Entertainment News. Check it out here.

Club Reports: Sail Away Party, Pesky Parrot, Schooner Bar, Music Hall (Utopia Of The Seas)

We met DJ Ruby Voo (BR) at the Sail Away Party on Day 1 of this cruise on Royal Caribbean's brand new ship, Utopia of the Seas. We visited several clubs on the ship that first day and you can find the pics on sister website Orlando Entertainment News here.

 

Friday Funny

 

PI Update: Magic Marshmallows?

The newest kiosk addition at Riverboat Square on Pleasure Island is Wondermade Magical Marshmallows. The other three kiosks there remain the same as before. The marshmallows come in an assortment of flavors and some are made with alcohol although that cooks-out during the manufacturing process.

 

This Weekend In Techno Town

The DJ's just keep on coming!

THU    12SEP     TACO KAT     DJ Derek Fereal (USA)

THU    12SEP     IRON COW     DJ Darcii Darka (USA)

FRI     13SEP     CELINE     DJ Westend (USA)     

SAT    14SEP     VANGUARD     DJ Marauda (AUS)

SAT    14SEP     SANFORD BREWING     DJ Jason Brown (USA)

SAT    14SEP     ABBEY ORLANDO   Gimme Gimme Disco 70's Night

SAT    14SEP     FALCON BAR     DJ Spank (USA)

SUN   15SEP     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Andruss (MEX)

 

DS Update: Candy Cauldron Renovations

Long-operating Candy Cauldron in Disney Springs West Side closed last month for extensive renovations.

It is supposed to reopen this Fall but no exact date has been announced.