Concert Report: Duke Dumont (Celine)

I usually don't go out on school nights but it was Duke Dumont night at Celine!

At Celine nearly everyone heads up to the rooftop early in the evening.

The dance floor up here got packed quickly!

With a lot of Dirtybird House music being offered!

Spotted on the rooftop: Traci, Myah, Michaella & Lanie

It was quickly midnight so it was time to go downstairs to the main room.

Got to see the final half hour of a great set by DJ duo Yakai (USA).

And it was packed!

A light show was going on.

Vans were the shoe of choice.

And then, there he was!

DJ Duke Dumont (GB)

He played a song called "Red Light Green Light" which I had never heard before. When the vocalist says Red Light, everyone stops dancing followed by Green Light and everyone goes crazy!

Spotted on the dance floor: Erin and Birthday Girl

Duke Dumont going Deep House on us at times and there was one song that had a very 90's Progressive House vibe to it.

Packed to the rafters!

He had last played Orlando at the much-larger Beacham in June, 2017.

Celine certainly isn't small though.

That reminds me. The Chainsmokers (USA) play at Amway Center on October 26th.

Last night, a good time was had by all.

PI Update: Hindsight Is 20/20

This month in 2012 we linked to a rumor posted on a website called Disney Gossip that indicated Disney was bringing an adult entertainment district back to Downtown Disney. We critiqued it pretty harshly:

Could Disney be planning a new adult entertainment district for Downtown Disney?  Save Pleasure Island Blog roving reporter Thommy brought to our attention a post on the Disney Gossip website where the author has pieced together various internet forum posts and a lot of imagination for his theory that such a district is indeed coming.  

 There are several things problematic with the article.  First of all, the author says that Disney doesn't like all that money leaving property so they've decided that the best way to compete with Universal's CityWalk is to really compete with them.  But there is no explanation as to why Disney would have had to have had a major change of heart about nightlife.  We know Disney does not like money leaving their property every night; that's why PI was created to begin with.  But Disney wasn't naive when they made the decision to shut PI. They knew they would lose the club business to CityWalk and obviously were willing to let that happen. That posting does not say why they've changed their mind?

The next problem with the article is that supposedly the plan is for a two level entertainment complex. That's all great and all but we have to wonder how Disney would supposedly fill such a place with third party operated venues when they can't get even a single vendor interested in what is already there at Pleasure Island.  And what about Pleasure Island, a place that is already there and could easily accommodate night clubs with a minimum of expense compared to something entirely new?

Maybe Disney has finally noticed all the money leaving property each night, one rental car, one taxi and one bus load at a time. We know an expanded DTD is coming, we know a parking garage is in the future, we know an I-4 ramp to DTD is likely. Maybe the solution is indeed to put nightlife in a place separate from the shoppers.  Regardless, adult nightlife needs to return to Disney World asap and if that article is true, bring it on!  But the Blog has heard no rumors of such a thing, unfortunately. 

So here we are 7 years later. We now know that no adult entertainment district was ever built and nightlife has negligibly returned to what became Disney Springs. I do like that our posted rumors of an expansion, a parking garage and a ramp from I-4 did come true. We'll continue to monitor our Island.

This Weekend In Techno Town

THURSDAY APR 11
Biggest show of the weekend takes place tomorrow night at Celine for DJ Duke Dumont (GB). Sure to be packed! House.

THURSDAY APR 11
Also tomorrow night but over at Gilt Nightclub is the return of DJ What So Not (AUS). Attracts the younger crowd. Trap / Bass.

FRIDAY APR 12
It's been a couple years since Mercer (F) played Orlando but he'll be headlining this time at Celine. Future House / Nu Disco.

SATURDAY APR 13
It's been a few years since I last saw Wax Motif (AUS) and he always delivers some great beats! Saturday night you can see him at Elixir Bar.  House.

SATURDAY APR 13
It's been awhile since DJ Robby Clark (USA) played his hometown but you can check him out at Iron Cow this Saturday night and you can see that lineup!  House.

SUNDAY APR 14
The patio at Elixir gets revved-up again on Sunday evening at they bring in DJ Hector Couto (E) to the booth. DJ Fatkat (USA) opens!  House / Tech House.

PI Update: Our Mannequins Residents DJ's

Dominick Morrison was the Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday night resident DJ at Mannequins. You can currently find The Dom playing downtown at Aero Bar as well as other venues. You'll also often find him doing lighting for shows at The Beacham or House of Blues. His biggest gig of the year takes place on New Years Eve when he rocks the plaza at EPCOT: China with an all-EDM & House set. It's a do not miss event!

Dave Cannalte was the Thursday night resident DJ at Mannequins. This was of course Cast Member Night when CM's could get in for free. The club was absolutely packed. Dave does not currently have any local residencies but he continues to do shows around town such as the recent 70's Disco night at Remix. His biggest gig of the year takes place on Thanksgiving Eve when he rocks The Beacham for the annual AAHZ Reunion with Kimball Collins. It's a do not miss event!

Jim Fox dba DJ Peapod was the Friday-Saturday-Sunday night DJ at Mannequins. After PI closed he hung around Orlando for awhile but electronic music had not taken off until a few years later so we're not aware of any clubs he played here. We know he was about to sign a contract to play at The Groove but they wanted him to play Hip Hop so the deal never happened. That just wasn't his style. He eventually relocated back to upstate New York and we've not heard from him since last year. We're not aware whether he still DJ's up there.

PI Update: Easter Island

A lot of people like to go out for dinner on Easter Sunday but may have not thought of PI as the place to go. The Edison, Maria & Enzo's and Enzo's Hideaway are all offering Easter Sunday specials and you need to book early because this is exactly the kind of thing that sells-out!.
Details here.

Trip Report: Mexico City Day 2

After doing a walking tour around part of Mexico City on Friday, my desire for Saturday was to go to see the ancient pyramids. Thanks to my guide Natasha, I was able to get there via a bus departing from the city's Norte bus station.

It's about a one hour journey away from the city.

Still under excavation, this is a smaller pyramid that greets you upon arrival.

You can't climb to the top but even where you can climb is high and steep!

Looking further north, the massive Pyramid of the Sun on the right and the smaller Pyramid of the Moon about a mile away on the left.

The journey up the Pyramide del Sol begins here.

It is truly amazing! While the famous Aztecs lived here too, these were actually built thousands of years earlier.

The journey up the Pyramide de la Luna begins here.

 

 Ancient art.

After a couple hours wandering around, it was time for the coach back to Mexico City.

I always love trying out transportation systems in the various cities I visit so Natasha led us into the Metro system of Mexico City.

The system is extensive with 195 stations across 12 lines and rides are just 5 Mexican Pesos which is about 25¢ U.S.

Thank you again Natasha! Amazing day today and a good time was had by all.

Trip Report: Mexico City Day 1

I have previously visited Tijuana, Nogales and Cozumel in Mexico but this was a first visit to the nation's capitol, Mexico City.

With my hotel located on the famed Paseo de la Reforma, I found I was right in the heart of the city.

Full of amazing statutes.

Christopher Colon aka Christopher Columbus.

The Museo Nacional de la Revolucion.

Monumento a la Madre

Right across from my hotel, the stunning Monumento a la Independencia.

Good times in Mexico City!

Was looking for souvenirs on Ave Londres and heard the distinctive beats of Techno and EDM blasting out onto the street from El Bandazo. So of course I had a duty to check it out!

DJ Stone Performance (MEX) was on the decks pumping out some great music!

With my mid-afternoon visit there were only a few patrons in the club but with this being a Friday I'm sure it would get packed later! It was a good way to end Day 1 in CDMX!

Friday Funny

EDC Orlando Tickets Are On Sale

EDC-Orlando tickets went on sale yesterday and you can get early bird prices by purchasing now. Layway plans are available where you pay a small deposit now and then they debit your bank account monthly up until the event. 
EDC-Orlando is going big time this year with 3 days of music running from 1pm until midnight on Friday, Saturday & Sunday, November 8-10. There will also be more stages so it's going to be crazier than ever!  Single day tickets are typically offered much closer to the event but for now the advance tickets are only for the entire festival!
DJ's won't be announced for several more months.
http://tinyurl.com/y6muamnw
 

This Weekend In Techno Town

THURSDAY APR 4
Damn, just saw DJ Throttle (AUS) being interviewed at the Nexus Radio Music Lounge last week in Miami and now he's playing Celine this Thursday!  EDM.

FRIDAY APR 5
You can't beat the line-ups at Celine and on Friday night they've got Martin Doorly (GB) in the club!  House.

FRIDAY APR 5
Some of Orlando's classic House DJ's join DJ Fobia (USA) this Friday night at Peek Downtown and that includes Leo Montoya (USA) and Ed Abisada (USA).  House.

SATURDAY APR 6
It's always a special night when Miami-based Oscar G (USA) comes to town and he'll be playing Saturday night out on the patio at Elixir Bar.  House / Latin House.

SUNDAY APR 7
We saw Latmun (GB) on the main stage at EDC-Orlando in 2017 and he'll be leading the line-up pictured for "Protocol Sessions #1" at Elixir Bar on Sunday.  House.

SUNDAY APR 7
Dom Dolla (AUS) has been around awhile but his current hit "Take It" is generating all the buzz so even on a Sunday night you can expect a crowd at Celine.  House.

New Artist: Angelica Joni

During Miami Music Week I met several agents for Dance singers but I did not get a chance to actually check out their songs until I got back to Orlando. Among the standout songs was this one by Angelica Joni (USA) called "Weightless". This contains all the elements of a pure EDM song and if it would just get noticed, it could be huge. Check it out!

DS Update: Waffle House Coming To Springs

Disney announced over the weekend that its first on-property Waffle House will be coming to Disney Springs this Fall. To be twice the size of a typical Waffle House, it will be located on vacant land immediately west of House of Blues. The press release acknowledged the need for more breakfast options at Walt Disney World and this being the first of several Waffle Houses coming on-property.

 © 2019  IMAGE TRIP ADVISOR One thing that will differentiate the Disney Springs location from other Waffle House locations in the area will be the availability of Mickey-shaped waffles. No info yet on whether Waffle House advance reservations or Disney Dining Plan will be accepted. Stay tuned to the Blog for more details.