PI Update: What WAS Pleasure Island:

As we approach 10 years from the date Pleasure Island died, I thought it appropriate to explain just what Pleasure Island was.  I get the "what was Pleasure Island" question often from people who didn't live here or were too young to have ever gone.

Back in the 80's, Disney used to watch guests by the hundreds leave property at night to head to downtown Orlando for nightlife. So they decided to do something about it and that something was Pleasure Island. It consisted of 5 highly-themed dance music clubs and 2 adult comedy clubs. A multi-club Pass got you admission to all the venues; it was club-hopping to the max.  Sadly, Disney closed it all down in September, 2008.

Mannequins Dance Palace: Featuring "techno music" (House, Trance & Dance) and one of the world's few revolving dance floors, this club had been operating at PI since the very beginning. It was world famous and it was the crown jewel in Disney's nightclub collection.

8TRAX: Originally featuring just 70's disco music, it evolved to also include early 80's MTV hits. It had been operating successfully since 1994 when it replaced The Cage which played progressive music. When PI opened, the club was called Videopolis East which played new wave.

BET Soundstage Club: A multi-level club featuring Hip Hop music and some old school, this club had been operating since 1998 when it replaced the Neon Armadillo country music club.

Motion: The largest dance floor on PI was home to Top 40 videos which by its very nature is a lot of Hip Hop music and contemporary hits. This club opened in 2001, replacing PI's second attempt at country music called The Wildhorse Saloon. Despite the popularity of country music, neither country venue sold enough drinks to remain in business.

Comedy Warehouse: An improv comedy club featuring no doubt the best comedians in Orlando. The shows developed out of interaction with the audience, meaning every show was different.

Adventurers Club: A 1930's style British/South African explorer's club was comedy presented in a most unique setting and manor that was next to impossible to put into words. 

Rock'n'Roll Beach Club closed in February, 2008 which predated the announcement that all of the clubs were closing by 4 months.  As the name described, it featured live Rock bands inside. Prior to it becoming RRBC, it opened as XZFR Rockin' Rollerdrome, a club that played Rock music while patrons roller-skated around the place as they drank alcoholic beverages. XZFR didn't last long!

And that my friends, was Pleasure Island.  RIP.

PI Update: A Night At Mannequins CD

Back in the 00's there was a dearth of radio options featuring electronic music so I did as many used to do, make a mix-tape. But the cassettes of the 70's, 80's & 90's had given way to CD-R technology and my first attempt at a music CD was called "A Night at Mannequins (Volume 1)".   
While subsequent editions of the series featured music from the current year, Volume 1 in 2006 contained several years worth of now-classic songs as heard inside Mannequins and played often by DJ Peapod. The song line-up was:

1) Who The Funk     Shiny Disco Balls
2)  Ferry Corsten     Rock Your Body Rock (Extended Mix)
3)  Infernal     From Paris To Berlin
4)  Ferry Corsten     Fire (Radio Edit)
5)  Rhianna     Umbrella    (Abercrombie & Fitch Mix)
6)  Faith Evans     Mesmerized (Freemasons Mix)
7)  Kelly Clarkson     Since U Been Gone  (Jason Nevins Mix)
8)  Pussy Cat Dolls     Don't Cha (Ralphi Rosado Hot Freak Mix)
9)  Lange (ft. Skye)     Drifting Away  (Radio Edit)
10) Milk Inc.     Walk On Water (Extended Mix)
11) Delerium     Silence (Scape Remix)
12) Toni Braxton     Hit The Freeway  (Hex Hector Club Mix)
13) Tiësto     Just Be  (XM Short Version)

While there are a few big name DJ's on here, what is noteworthy back then is so many of the Mannequins songs of the mid-00's were actually Top 40 or Hip Hop hits remixed by a DJ into a Dance song. The DJ explosion and dawn of the heyday of EDM was still a half-decade away. Do you own a copy? With only 15 made, it's a real collectors item! 

It's a real shame that Mannequins is not here to experience the boom. Far ahead of its time from both a sound and especially lighting perspective, the place would be packed nightly were it still around today. 

Club Reports: Independent Bar, Vinyl Arts Bar, Peek Downtown

By now you know if it's at all possible on a Saturday night, I'm going to try to drop by Independent Bar!

Just as it should be, DJ Indie John (USA) in the booth playing the tunes!

Early-to-mid-80's New Wave!

Dance floor just beginning to see some activity at this early hour.

Spotted in VIP: The AAHZ boys!

It's the music everyone knows the words to and there's always a great vibe here!

Now over to Vinyl Arts Bar where you'll always find House or Techno!

DJ Diana Montoya (USA) was in the booth upon my arrival!

Built in an old house, the DJ booth and dance floor can be found in the living room!

The fog machine was working overtime and it was really difficult to get pics in the main room!

An awesome taco bar has been added in the kitchen area of the house.

DJ Kristen Knight (USA) would take over next!

House music all night long!

The dance floor stayed busy!

Diana Montoya's set while I was there was all non-vocal House where every selection from Kristen Knight was House with vocals!

Great vibe at VAB too and it was hard to pull myself away!

But leave I must and Peek Downtown was next on the agenda!

DJ Agni (USA) on the decks!

Peek.....was packed!

The music was all Trance during my visit!

Of course we know Agni as one of the resident DJ's for the monthly "Lost In Trancelation" series at Bikkuri Lounge!

DJ Agni opened for Markus Schulz (D/USA) a few weeks ago at Gilt Nightclub and opens for Ilan Bluestone (GB) this coming Saturday night at the same club!  In Trance We Trust!

Pretty girls always want to hang out with the DJ!  Gisela!

Spotted in VIP: Sage Sappho

Amazing vibe in here too. What a night!

And a good time was had by all!

Club Report: PI @ PH (Parliament House)

EDITORS NOTE: For close to 10 years, former Mouseketeer Thommy Sandvick has served as a "roving reporter" for Save Pleasure Island Blog. After the PI clubs were closed, he stayed close to the Island rumor mill so that we could share the latest scoops to our readers. For awhile, he even lived under the No. 2 Bridge so he could roam the Island at night after Disney Security went home! (not really)  We're happy to post his club report from Parliament House below:

As has been the case for the last 10 years, Thursday of Gay Days kicks off with PI @ PH at the world famous Parliament House Resort!

First stop is "A Night of Perpetual Comedy" hosted by the Orlando Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.  Don't let the name fool you - these oddly dressed sisters raise money for various LGBT organizations in Central Florida.  I believe 6 different organizations received money at this year's show.

And now, on with the show starting with none other than Carol Stein (Comedy Warehouse) on the keys!  You can also find her performing in the UK Pub at EPCOT. 

Make no mistake, this is a Comedy Warehouse reunion show through and through, despite any direct mention of the name.  First up, a random person was chosen from the audience -sans phones - and a song was created!  Next up was Mary (Comedy Warehouse) who nowadays voices the pre-show for "Happily Ever After" at Magic Kingdom.

Another improvised song!​

An episode of

Schmepardy! 

The capacity at Parliament House is huge!  The outside courtyard was quite filled by 11pm.

Pool! Let's get soakin wet! (but no one ever does).

You can't have PI without fireworks at midnight! (West End Stage)

Or Phantom of the Opera (Mannequins) at 12:30!  They brought in a live vocalist who performed that high note!  Impressive!

And you can't have Parliament House without drag queens!  One thing I really like about the venue is unlike other places, the drag shows have their own dedicated theater (on normal nights) which means the music doesn't stop on the dance floor during drag shows. 

 You can never go wrong with Go Go Girls Boys!

A good time was had by all!

Save Pleasure Island Blog roving reporter Thommy posing with Earl from the Pleasure Island ticket booth as Mannequins staple "Proud" played. Big thanks to Thommy for this article as well as all the information provided these past 10 years!  In real life, Thommy serves as High Performance Coach, Motivational Speaker and Small Business Advocate. Check out his website for more information at
https://www.facebook.com/tsandvick

K-POP Returns To American Charts

It's been 6 years since K-Pop has made any impression on the American music charts. Who can forget Psy and his massive dance hit "Gangnam Style"!  I still hear it in clubs.

Well, K-Pop apparently back in the form of boy-band BTS and their song "Fake Love", the first release off their album "Love Yourself: Tear".  The album has made it to #1 on Billboard's Top Albums chart. It's nothing like "Gangnam Style" and it just sounds like Korean Hip Hop to me.  But judge it for yourself!