PI Update: Live Entertainment Continues

One never knows what one is going to find when one crosses that bridge to Pleasure Island!

What I found was a realization that I had not been out to Pleasure Island at night in a very long time. Way too long!  So it was good to see some familiar faces providing PI entertainment such as the Andre Caram Band here in front of Soundstage Club.

Featuring singer Drey-C, I just caught him and the band doing an Avicii hit as their last song of the night in front of the huge crowd!

Who says there's no dancing on Pleasure Island!

Paradiso 37 offers live entertainment.

Usually they have DJ's playing dance music but last night a Latin music duo was performing some Salsa.

Within earshot is Raglan Road.

Which had their own duo outside on the patio performing Irish.

At Fulton's Stage another large crowd was gathered.

The Bryan Malpass Band was performing Rock tunes and Top 40.

Spotted: Nicholas Marks who would be coming on next with his gypsy guitar.

Meanwhile Mannequins was lit-up all pretty.  In reality it awaits its fate.

PI Update: Comedy Warehouse Shows Begin Today!

The Comedy Warehouse shows are back at Disney Hollywood Studios for 2 weeks beginning today!  Included in regular park admission, former castmembers from Comedy Warehouse on beautiful Pleasure Island reprise their popular improv comedy roles.  Because the shows rely on audience participation, each one is different.  This is the third straight year that DHS has offered CW performances.  Showtimes can vary daily so check your DHS Times Guide upon arrival. Now through January 5th at the Premier Theater.

PI/CW DJ Doc Has Retired

We recently heard from former Pleasure Island DJ Doc Wells and learned that he has retired from the DJ business!  Doc was a favorite DJ of ours at 8TRAX and as pictured above, at Disney's Atlantic Dance Hall.

One of the bright spots shortly after the closure of Pleasure Island clubs in September, 2008 was when Universal CityWalk announced that they were going to operate a Thursday night "80's Night at The Groove" beginning in late January, 2009. And it was going to feature "DJ Doc Wells spinning dance, new wave, hair bands and more!"  It was designed to capture some of the 8TRAX crowd.  Wells would eventually incorporate some 70's Disco into the mix too and the weekly event would draw more people on Thursdays than TG used to see on that night.  But after a couple years he gave up the gig and 80's Night at The Groove would not do that well without him, leading to it getting axed. He's pictured above in the booth at The Groove.

And pictured here playing Top 40 at Nona Tap Room out near OIA, Doc Wells has retired from the DJ business but remains a long-time castmember with Disney!  Like 8TRAX, we miss him!

Electric Run Coming To Orlando

Do you like to run?  Are you in to Electronic Dance Music?  If the answer is yes to both questions then Electric Run is for you!  Taking place at the Central Florida Fairgrounds on February 15th, this 5k run/walk takes place at night with lots of glowy things along the route and of course lots of EDM!  Registration has begun; full details can be found on the Electric Run website!  Is it a run or is it a rave? Yes!

CW Update: Cigarz Closing Party

As we previously reported, Cigarz at Universal CityWalk will be closing to make way for a new restaurant coming to that location on the upper level near the theaters.  And the date has now been announced; the final date for their tobacco store will be New Years Eve and they're having a Closing Party for the bar one night earlier, Monday, December 30th, from 6pm to 2am. Ironically, Pleasure Island too lost its cigar store/bar Fuego this year with it holding its final night on September 30th.

This Weekend In Techno Town

THURSDAY DEC 19
Jacksonville gets DJ Icey (USA) this Thursday at upscale Suite nightclub!
($15-$20)

FRIDAY DEC 20
DJ Atnarko was one of just two locals to play at EDC-Orlando this year and he headlines this event at Sandwich Bar!  (NA)

SATURDAY DEC 21
If it's the Saturday before Christmas then it's time for Future Sound of Breaks' annual "Leaders of the True School" event!  This year they feature Freq Nasty, Dynamix II, Agent K & Bella and many more!  Firestone Live.
($30)

Roxy Nightclub has Matan Zohar this Saturday night, much better known as DJ Mat Zo (GB). He's come into recent fame from his collaboration with Porter Robinson on megahit "Easy".
($20)

DJ Bella Sarris (AUS) will be at Soundbar. A resident of Berlin, Germany, she specializes in Tech House.  ($10)

PI Update: Garage Going On Up

Updating you on construction of Disney Springs' new West Garage.

No longer just working down in the dirt, construction has now gone vertical!  We're told the work is ahead of schedule but 2015 is the soonest that the first garage will open unless they somehow expedite the schedule.  Local visitors can of course check out progress anytime they're at the World but for our readers around the country and around the world, we'll keep you apprised of the progress here on Save Pleasure Island Blog.

PI Update: Are The Food Trucks Failing?

Out at Downtown Disney on a beautiful weekend morning and finding the new Disney food trucks gathered in a circle, wagon train style, adjacent Cirque.

It's kind of a cool concept with each truck representing somewhat unique food from the different theme parks at Walt Disney World.  Namaste Cafe here represents Disney Animal Kingdom.

Likewise, the World Showcase of Flavors truck has foods from EPCOT's World Showcase.  Prices seem pretty decent; this is Disney World after all, but I've never found food trucks anywhere in Orlando to be bargains. But how are the trucks actually doing?  One of our sources down on Pleasure Island says not so good.

The actual word the source used was "fail".  I can't confirm that.  But from personal observation I don't recall ever seeing more than a couple in-line at any of the food trucks.  Of course I'm not there all the time.  Interestingly, above the driver's door on each truck the owner is identified as the Walt Disney World Company.  We were told long ago that Levy Restaurants, a company with actual restaurants on Pleasure Island (Portobello, Fulton's Crab House), operates them.  The Superstar Catering truck above represents Disney Hollywood Studios.

The Fantasy Fare truck offers food from Magic Kingdom. These new vehicles are state-of-the-art with a large video monitor offering menu pics and prices.  I've seen the trucks parked in places such as Bongo's lawn so not sure if the plan is to leave them here by Cirque permanently or keep moving them around.  Let's hope for their success because they offer food choices that you'd not otherwise find all in one location.  Of course I'm still waiting for the truck serving wings!

Cosmic Gate Coming To Orlando

Another great show is coming!  DJ duo Cosmic Gate (D) returns to Orlando on Friday, January 17th at Firestone Live.  They played at EDC-Orlando last month and they were on my list to see but I was trapped at the main stage, surrounded by thousands of Ferry Corsten/Marcus Schulz fans (which wasn't such a bad thing) and couldn't get over to see them. Their previous show in Orlando this year was ironically also on January 17th when they blew-out Roxy! Another do not miss event, this time at far-larger Firestone Live!  Tickets here.

Christmas Music At SeaWorld

SeaWorld, Orlando's underrated theme park that has been gaining profitability this year since the opening of its Antarctica ride.  And it's all decorated-up this month and there's plenty of Christmas music to be had!

During the day, look out for the Groove Chiefs!

As evening falls, The Polar Express ride has carolers dressed-up as train conductors, performing barbershop quartet style.

There are some showings of Elmo's Christmas Wish show, a show which is thankfully short!

Got to have a live Christmas band!

Sometimes you have to make your own music!  Inside Shamu Stadium time passes with everyone in attendance invited to sing-along to the tunes as the words are presented karaoke-style!

And this is how a mime leads a sing-along prior to Clyde & Seamore's Countdown to Christmas show!

And Christmas tree lights in the lake dance to Christmas music multiple times on select dates. Looking for something more traditional this season? Give SeaWorld a try as it's better than ever! (Well, except that they don't give away free beer anymore!)

Concert Report: DJ Paul Oakenfold (Vain Nightclub)

Moving on to Vain Nightclub downtown, located in the spot where club Cairo used to operate early last decade.....but much nicer now!  Long line to get in at 12:30am.

Through the haze, former #1 DJ in the world Paul Oakenfold (GB)!

A huge crowd was on hand, packed wall-to-wall on the dance floor!

Great to see the youngsters embracing the older DJ's that made the scene what it is today, twenty years ago!

Spotted behind Oaky: DJ Suzy Solar (USA).  Her Breaky/Trancy hit "Ocean of Love" appears on Oakenfold's 2004 album "Creamfields".

Nice sound and lighting systems inside Vain. The club has improved immensely since when it first opened as Orlando's first 3D club, whatever that meant!

Oakenfold's first performance in Orlando since he did two shows at Firestone in 2010.

His set was nearly 100% non-vocal Trance!

 Oakenfold was the first big name DJ to have a residency at a Las Vegas casino, something that quickly spread to the others.  The mega-club Rain Nightclub was located at The Palms Casino.

Headbands & hoops!

Spotted: DJ's Vitamin C (Silly Grape) & L'il B (Bikkuri Lounge).

It was completely crazy down there on the floor!

But a good time was had by all!