PI Update: Comedy Warehouse Demolition Begins!

The Blog usually runs one or two PI Updates every week but today marks 3 straight days of exciting news from beautiful Pleasure Island!

We previously published the construction permit and it's finally begun:  the demolition of Comedy Warehouse began yesterday!  Difficult to see because they've begun in the far corner. (CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE)

Zooming in a bit we can see some of the outer structure pulled-away!

Upstairs front side facing Celebration Plaza, no visible demolition here.....yet!

And nothing visible even here from The Waterfront.  But we've witnessed how quickly Motion and Rock'n'Roll Beach Club were demolished so we know this won't take long!

Dropping by Planet Hollywood to see what's up!

Dining guest Tara, visiting from the UK, making a request for some Springsteen from DJ Tony Z (Atlantic Dance Hall, Le Rouge Wine Bar).

The place was packed with a long line outside stretching up the stairs.  PH is supposed to be closing to be renovated into The Observatory but this seems to be just speculation at this point.  The place is already a cash cow!

We previously reported that Downtown Disney Lot H was closed to guests.  The front half will be used for a demolition and construction staging area for Disney Springs while the rear half is being used for bus parking.  This is the lot in front of Planet.

Lots I, J & K (directly in front of Downtown Disney West Side) were supposed to be closed this past Monday but they're still open and were packed last night. This is where Disney's first parking garage structure is to be built.  Plenty going on; come check it out for yourself!

PI Update: New Bridge To Pleasure

Yesterday we showed you the demolition walls that are up on Pleasure Island.  Guests will be able to traverse the Island during much of the demolition and construction but apparently at some point that is going to become unsafe so plans are in place to build a temporary bridge from Downtown Disney West Side to Pleasure Island at the mouth of the Waterfront.  Floaters have been installed to keep any pollution reigned in.

File photo of a Village Lake river otter (center) playing under the tree adjacent BET Soundstage. They're sooo cute!

Will this temporary bridge go directly across the Waterfront entrance from here to Soundstage?

Or will it be a floating bridge that somehow connects to the other side?

Presumably a direct bridge could connect to that existing but narrow walkway that runs behind Soundstage.

And then travels at ground level behind Adventurers Club.

But that ends at the bottom here and would require the use of these pictured stairs that run between AC and Paradiso 37.  What about all the strollers?  Is that really the plan though or are we misunderstanding this?

PI Update: Demolition Wall Extended To Mannequins!

Beautiful Pleasure Island is still here and you can still visit!  We've previously posted how the new demolition wall begins on the No. 4 Bridge from Downtown Disney West Side.

And we've previously posted the wall coming up past Comedy Warehouse and ending at Laffers Cantina.  Both are slated for demolition.

A couple weeks ago we showed you the wall being extended even further, past the recently relocated Curl by Sammy Duval store and the long-closed 8TRAX dance club.

Imagine my horror this weekend as the wall was extended further again, now blocking the upstairs entrance to Mannequins and going on as far as the eye could see!  Was Mannequins now completely surrounded too?  Say it ain't so!

At the Hub, the wall wraps around the now-closed Apricot Lane store and PI Live Bar!

And from this angle Mannequins looks doomed!

But thank God, no!  The wall ends where our favorite club begins.

Mannequins lives!  We don't know what's coming down in the Mannequins complex of connected buildings which are now all surrounded by walls.  But hope remains because those walls, at least right now, do not surround Mannequins Dance Palace!  Come on Disney,  put a nightclub back in there and let a real nightlife option return to beautiful Pleasure Island The Landing!  

Club Report: The Groove

Back to The Groove at Universal CityWalk on a Saturday night!  Who needs downtown?

Tampa's DJ Mondo (Amphitheatre, Green Iguana, 93.3FLZ) putting out Top 40/Dance/House!

Compared to last week he was playing a bit more of the older songs typically heard at The Groove but he mashed them up with current House songs to give them a great vibe!

And once again The Groove was jammed!

We first encountered DJ Mondo when he and DJ X opened for DJ Icey a couple years ago!

Admission is just $7.00 for one CityWalk club, or $12.77 for the all-club Party Pass which includes Red Coconut Club, Bob Marley's, Pat O'Brien's, Rising Star and for one more weekend only, Latin Quarter.

You can never go wrong with Go Go girls!

They handed-out color-changing glow wands around 12:30am.

Can you spot a Mannequins girl in this picture?

Mondo will be playing at TG every Saturday night in July and August!

Except for Saturday, August 10th when he's opening for the #16 DJ in the world, Paul van Dyk (D) at Amphitheatre instead!  Tickets here.  (Paul van Dyk also performs in Orlando two nights earlier with tickets available here.)

Smile please.

Compared to downtown, it's nice coming home not smelling like an ashtray!

There were no lulls in the music; the Dance hits just kept on coming!

As 2am approached, the crowd thinned-out a bit.....but not much!

Nearing the end with an Avicii (S) mashup!

And a good time was had by all!

Wait...a good time was had by all.....except one!

Blog Mission Statement and Disclaimer

As we're in to the second half of the year, it's time for my twice-annual Blog Mission Statement and Disclaimer:
The original goal of the Save Pleasure Island Blog was to rally support to reverse the decision to close Pleasure Island. There were Save Pleasure Island and Save The Adventurers Club petitions and letter/e-mail campaigns. Unfortunately, all that fell on deaf Mouse ears.

The current mission is to keep you informed about what is happening with the clubs on our beloved Island. Factual information is provided when available but most of what is printed on here is rumor-based. Please understand that rumors by their very nature are very unreliable. Even if a rumor was true at one time, it's possible that things change and it never becomes true. Thus, readers should consider the information on this Blog to be fiction and opinion and not rely on any of it in any way. Do you have any inside information? Please email me at: king bob of the north at gmail dot com.  Thanks so much to those of you that have been doing that all these years.

With PI closing so many people kept asking me where I would be hanging out. Thus, this Blog also evolved into reporting on nightclub alternatives and DJ concerts playing EDM. Only the Save Pleasure Island Blog covers the clubs, the clubbers and the DJ's. 

In conjunction with Federal Trade Commission Rule 16 CFR Part 255, all opinions are my own and I accept no consideration for any endorsements made.

Permanent club listings in a format based on the PI clubs can also be viewed at sister Blog www.orlandoclublist.blogspot.com. Thanks for tuning in!

Mango's Is Coming To Orlando

Anyone who has ever spent an evening restaurant or club-hopping on South Beach has invariably stumbled across Mango's Tropical Cafe.  The loud music, girls dancing on the bar and the Michael Jackson tributes always catch the attention of passersby!  Well Mango's is coming to Orlando and will open in 2014.  It's to be located at 2102 International Drive which is just south of Sand Lake Road (SR 482) on the west side of the street.  This is across International Drive from where the new I-Drive Live & I-Shops will be located.  As you can see from the concept art, the 3-story venue will also feature a rooftop dance club!  I-Drive keeps getting better and better and this will draw from Disney guests unless Disney puts some nightlife in Disney Springs!

Club Report: The Fifth (Disco Lunch)

If it's the third Thursday of the month, there's only one place to eat lunch....The Fifth downtown, home to their "Throwback Lunch".  Dance to just one song and get 50% taken off your lunch bill including drinks!

DJ Catalina was on the boards playing 80's New Wave!

Where else can you go dancing during the daytime?

Getting down to "Safety Dance"!

My group....a good time was had by all!

This Weekend In Techno Town

THURSDAY JUL 18
One great show after another coming to O-Town!  Tonight the DJ trio Swanky Tunes (RUS) is performing at The Beacham.  Orlando's DJ Crespo (Tier Nightclub) opens followed by DJ duo Project46 (CDN).
($15-20)

Also tonight over at Firestone Live, Dubstep DJ Cookie Monsta (USA).
($15)

SATURDAY JUL 20
More action at Firestone Live this Saturday night with DJ/Producer Matt Lange (USA) performing on the main stage.  Dance and especially Trance, he's got two tracks on the upcoming Anjunadeep 05 compilation!
(FREE TICKETS MIGHT STILL BE AVAILABLE HERE.)

In another few years we're going to be reliving the early '00's like we're doing the 80's & 90's now and one name that will bring back a flood of memories will be Dance singer Abigail (GB).  She's performing live this Saturday night at Parliament House!  She's sure to sing her biggest hit, "You Set Me Free". 
(Price N/A)

SUNDAY SEP 28
Slingapours, the only real dance club at Wall Street Plaza, is closing after this weekend and they're having a "Turn The Lights Out" party this Sunday night beginning at 6pm.  And they're not saying what's replacing it!  Thanks to reader and Pleasure Islander KenS for bringing this to our attention because you know I loved this place so much.  Not.
(FREE)