The Vault of Walt

In this past week's edition of Orlando Weekly, writer Seth Kubersky did an article about a new book recently released called The Vault of Walt by Jim Korkis. Korkis was a guest speaker this past weekend at the Adventurers Club Reunion aka ConGaloosh 2010. Anyone into Disney history would enjoy this book, which is available at Amazon.com where you will find a whole lot of information about the book and author. Korkis' first job, by the way, was making balloon animals on a brand new Pleasure Island. The Orlando Weekly article talks about how Adventurers Club fans refuse to let AC die! What I find intriguing with both the article and the book is Korkis' theory about Pleasure Island. Referring to all those PI back story plaques you can still find scattered around the island, he says, "From the perspective of the bean counters , once Pleasure Island achieved its intended purpose of killing off attendance at downtown Orlando's Church Street Station, the stories behind the Adventurers Club and Pleasure Island at large became irrelevant." I think we all know that PI was Disney's attempt to capture all the money driving off Disney World every night. I think we all know how successful they were too. What none of us can understand is how upper Disney management tolerates all that money driving off property once again. Some of it downtown; but much of it to their major competitor!

Club Report: Roxy (DJ Robbie Rivera)

DJ 19Sixty (Rok Room) opened for Rivera and kept the dance floor full.

Robbie Rivera waiting to step on to the podium.

Rivera on the decks!

Awesome performance last night by DJ Robbie Rivera (USA) at Roxy Nightclub! Playing music the old-fashioned way (without a laptop), he played an incredible string of what I would call Progressive House songs to an absolutely packed club. We sometimes wonder whether those in their 20's & 30's care anymore about Techno/House music but that's what the crowd mainly consisted of last night and it was clear they knew the music and how to dance to it. My only disappointment was that he only played one Robbie Rivera hit (at least that I recognized) and that was Back to Zero. Listen for Rivera's Juicy Show on Sirius/XM.

Haus Musik Tonight

Attention to the 500+ Blog readers of North Carolina! Orlando's very own DJ Leony is spinning House music in Charlotte tonight at the ultra-club Kazba! The music should be similar to his mix shows performed on Sirius/XM BPM and RadioDanz.com. The Kazba club is located at 210 E. Trade Street in Charlotte.

Closer to home, Leony's good friend DJ Robbie Rivera will be performing in Orlando tonight at Roxy night club. Roxy has been hosting quite a few house music DJ events during the past year so expect large crowds! Roxy is located on Bennett Road, just north of East Colonial Drive. Rivera's Juicy Show can be heard in the United States and Canada on Sirius/XM satellite radio.

Club Report: 80's Night at The Groove

Another 80's Night at The Groove last night and another good crowd. The parking garages were jammed and it took me 10 minutes to find a parking space on the 3rd level but it was Halloween Horror Nights that caused that. Since DJ Doc used to work at 8TRAX, Thursday nights at The Groove are very similar to a night at 8TRAX.

 

Breaking News: Mannequins Dance Floor Missing!!

According to one of the Disney Security guards that works on the Island, a week or so ago a door was found ajar at Mannequins so a second security officer was called and they went inside together to make sure no one was in there. There wasn't.....but the Mannequins revolving dance floor was gone! The X-frame was still there; the beams that held up the turntable. And the machinery was still there. But the turntable itself; that large round piece made mostly of wood, was not. The guard had no idea where it went or why they would take it out. I wouldn't think that anyone would buy it without everything else too, right? One of my sources speculates that it could be out for refurbishment; such a thing had been done at least once before for refurbishment years ago. I like the optimism.

PI Update: Daytime Views

 

We've had some cool weather in Orlando these past few days and what better place to be cool, than beautiful Pleasure Island. I know my night pictures are often too dark to see a lot of detail so I made a point today to get out there before the sun went down. The top picture shows the construction wall around the stage in front of Portobello where niche musical groups often play. The middle picture shows the view from the T-Rex Cafe side of the bridge including the recently completed east span. To the left on that picture, the west span is now blocked off. The bottom photo above shows the west span removed and under construction.

At Planet Hollywood, new brick pavers are being installed near the AMC Pleasure Island 24 water fountain.

 Halloween decorations have been installed around Downtown Disney including this grouping near The Hub. These are the only such decorations on Pleasure Island.

 Finally, looking back into Motion and our prior discussion about that refrigerator on a pallet.Can anyone tell us what those other devices are to the right of the refrigerator?They look like portable sinks...but why? Also, another refrigerator on a pallet. Sources say that Motion is still being used for meetings, but only for Disney employees.

Lyrica Closes Downtown, Vain to Open

After just a year of operation, downtown's largest club Lyrica has closed down. A new club, Vain, is to open in that space on October 28th. Not sure if the existing owners are just starting over or whether there are new owners. Lyrica had some success with live bands and their Visage reunions. Less successful was their July attempt at House music on Saturday nights. No one knew about it. And if you're off Orange Avenue, you're invisible so heavy advertising is critical. Back in the day though, club Cairo did well there for a few years.

I don't know much about the club business but one observation I've had about a lot of clubs is the total lack of theming. Mannequins had a theme. 8TRAX was heavily themed. In the city, Aahz used to have an Oz theme. Antigua has a Caribbean-island theme. Red Coconut has a 50's Vegas theme. But how do you develop a theme out of club names like Bliss or Tabu or Vain? Writing from the perspective of the customer, clubs ought to use names that are catchy and can be themed to death. Those kinds of places are more likely to catch-on.

Just Dance on Cebu Pacific Airlines

Spreading like wildfire across the internet, must share this video of the preflight safety instructions on board Philippine carrier Cebu Pacific, with visions of Lady Gaga & Katy Perry in the aisle of this Airbus A320.

Aahz Encore Returning to Orlando

Probably the greatest night of House/Techno music I ever experienced was last Thanksgiving Eve when they held the Aahz Reunion in downtown Orlando at the old Beacham Theater. It was a 20th anniversary of the club that defined the House scene back in late 80's and early 90's. The original Aahz DJ's Kimball Collins (Aahz) and Dave Cannalte (Aahz, Mannequins) return this Thanksgiving Eve for Aahz Encore. Tickets are $15 at wantickets.com and locally at The Drop Shop. It wasn't just the music. The lighting brought in was fantastic and the crowd was generally older since it included so many who used to party at Aahz. Lots and lots of Mannequins people. Unless you're going out-of-town for the holiday, you need to attend this! Taking place Wednesday, November 24th at the old Beacham Theater, better known now as Tabu Night Club. But nothing like Tabu.

DJ Paul Oakenfold Returning to Orlando

Earlier this year when DJ Paul Oakenfold (GB) performed at Firestone Live, he promised to return to Orlando a 2nd time later in the same year. He's keeping that promise as he brings his Facelift tour to town on Thursday, November 11th, again at Firestone Live. Tickets are now on sale for $20 at groovetickets.com and wantickets.com. The club was absolutely jammed last time!

Club Report: Atlantic Dance Hall

Had not been out to Atlantic Dance Hall on a Saturday night in quite awhile and did not have high expectations. One thing I should have learned by now is that you just never know what you're going to find at ADH. Some Tuesday nights can be packed and some Saturday nights can be dead. But not last night. The place was already mobbed shortly after 10pm when I arrived. Twice as many people as were there for the Pleasure Island Reunion the previous Friday night. Lots of familiar faces from Mannequins, 8TRAX and Motion dancing to a good evening of music from DJ Pat. Atlantic Dance is located at Disney's Boardwalk Resort and admission and parking are free. It's the only remaining Disney-operated dance club.

PI Update: Island Hopping

Another Saturday Night and I ain't got no money.... - Cat Stevens, sort of. (1974)  No money? There are some free clubs downtown but then I'd have to pay for parking. Parking is free at CityWalk but the entertainment isn't. But then it dawned on me. Free parking AND free entertainment. What better place, then beautiful Pleasure Island! Pictured above is "classical music with a groove" as played by Nova Era, performing last night on Stage Right in the Celebration Plaza Ultra-Lounge.

One of the same two "human statutes" performing outside Soundstage.

Large crowd of on-lookers seated in the Ultra-Lounge and standing by. Laffers Cantina was doing a brisk business selling drinks.

Fresh trash inside club Motion is an indication of a recent event of some sort in there. Full of banquet tables and chairs, there is absolutely no indication that demolition is imminent!

Another look at that new DTD Guidemap.

Finally, 3 pictures of construction status on the PI No.1 Bridge from Marketplace. Construction on the east span has been completed and is open to pedestrians. The truss bridge on the west span has now been removed and they're about to begin construction of its replacement.

EPCOT: Eat to the Beat Begins

The Eat to the Beat concert series at EPCOT kicked off yesterday with Taylor Dayne. Nice line up of performing artists this year. Multiple performances each evening. The annual EPCOT Food & Wine Festival also began yesterday. If you haven't been out to EPCOT in awhile, there are a few new food venues to consider. Karamelle Küche has opened at Germany featuring freshly made caramel products. There is a new pizza parlor at Italy and a new on-the-lake restaurant at Mexico. Unfortunately, no new rides but as you probably know, the original 3-D film Captain EO has returned featuring Michael Jackson.

Club Report: The Groove 80's Night

Groove bartender Katy in civilian attire!!

It wasn't anywhere near as crowded last night for 80's Night at The Groove as it had been last week and two weeks ago. But there seemed to be a large number of groups of 5 or more people and it was these groups that kept things lively, dancing to 80's hits spun by DJ Doc Wells (8TRAX). Lots of drink specials and free PacMan. Always a lot of fun! (Please note that because Halloween Horror Nights is now taking place, the standard $15 parking fee is in effect late into the evening. But FREE parking still begins at 10pm.)