Club Reports: Cleo's Lounge, Vanity Nightclub, 180 Grey Goose Lounge

First time visit to Cleo's Lounge downtown, a place I had been told about but had never been to.

The main room contains a large bar and a lot of televisions with sports playing.  And a lot of people!

There's no DJ so the Top 40 music is canned.  No dancing here.  Moving on.

Moving on to the much more upscale Vanity Nightclub!

Saturday night resident DJ Hilton Ferris at the controls (alternating with DJ Freefall) playing a 100% Dance/House format.

A really beautiful facility that has unfortunately siphoned many of the guests away from sister clubs Vixen, Vintage and The Fifth downstairs.

Dance floor was full but not "impossible to move" full like we've seen it before. I think a concert by world-renowned DJ Sasha a couple miles north impacted much of downtown last night.

Spotted on the dance floor: Mannequins Girls!!

Keep it moving Bob!  Next stop was 180 Grey Goose Lounge, the club that's located rooftop at Amway Center.

Resident DJ's Jimmy Joslin (front) and Jay Mac (rear) playing Top 40/Dance/House!

Awesome views of downtown Orlando from here.  And for road geeks, an awesome view of I-4.

There's usually a few people dancing here but last night it became a regular dance party!

It started with just a few.....

...but before you knew it, pretty much everyone in the whole outdoor area was dancing!

All EDM at the Amway last night! Great music!

And a good time was had by all!

Club Reports: Independent Bar, Vain Nightclub

Independent Bar is always a great place to begin a night out downtown, offering good drinks at reasonable prices.

And you never know what you might spot on the dance floor here!

Next heading over to Vain Nightclub.  They might have the biggest attitude but they're definitely not Orlando's largest club.

The reason for coming.....Starkillers (USA)!

Starkillers is DJ Nick Terranova.  First show in Orlando in 3 years!

I wondered how much of a crowd he would draw since he's become relatively unknown amid the deluge of new DJ acts out there now.

The club was relatively full but nothing like the Oakenfold concert in here a couple months ago.

His set was nearly all commercial House music.

You can never go wrong with Go Go girls!

You can see it was pretty full, just not packed!

Starkillers plays in Clearwater tonight!

Had not seen Starkillers play since Electric Sun Festival in Jacksonville in 2012.  That was the festival where allegedly most of the DJ's did not get paid.

Taking a picture of the picture-taker!

And a good time was had by all!

Does Anyone Remember When Disney Had An Adult Nightclub District Called Pleasure Island?

Does anyone still remember this place?  There were 5 dance clubs: BET Soundstage Club, 8TRAX, Mannequins Dance Palace, Rock 'n' Roll Beach Club and Motion.  There were 2 comedy clubs:  Adventurers Club and Comedy Warehouse.  It was all on an island so that access was limited to just those with tickets. No strollers. The clubs were non-smoking. Lots of security so you always felt safe. What a clever idea. CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

PI Update: Parking Woes Continue

It's still possible to try to park in Downtown Disney's Parking Lots A-G, the lots that cover the area from Marketplace through Pleasure Island.  But those lots are relatively small and you run the risk of getting in, not finding anything and then having to extricate yourself.  From the lot in front of PI, it's no longer possible to continue to Planet Hollywood as Lots H-K are under construction and blocked.  You're forced to turn left here, travel along the edge of the PI bus loop and back out onto Buena Vista Drive (BVD) across from the Hess station.

The first of two parking garage structures are under way in what were Lots H-K.

The closed area ends here by Disney Quest.  Lots L and higher are open although there are various issues within some of the lots here as well.

There normally are two left turn lanes leading from eastbound BVD into the Cirque entrance.  But because two lanes would have to quickly merge into one after the left turn, Disney has blocked off one of the two left turn lanes, leading to a very long line!

Late afternoon this past weekend that line stretched back to nearly Bonnet Creek Drive.  Would hate to see what this looks like during dinner hours on Friday and Saturday nights!  If you're coming out for a time specific event such as a movie during peak times, recommend that you get here about an hour earlier than you normally would have arrived.

This Weekend In Techno Town

THURSDAY FEB 20
Soundbar has the Tech House sounds of DJ Dave Seaman (GB) this Thursday!  ($10)

 Ignition Thursdays continue at Firestone Live and this week they have DVBBS (CDN) fresh off their megahit with Borgeous, "Tsunami"!
($11-$15)

FRIDAY FEB 21
It's been about 3 years since DJ Nick Terranova dba Starkillers (USA) has played Orlando. Straight House & Electrohouse at Vain!
($10)

While just around the corner at Tier Nightclub they have DJ Sidney Samson (NL); House & Dutch House. ($10)

While just around the corner in the other direction The Attic has DJ duo Mako (USA) playing a more progressive style of House along with Techno!
($8)

SATURDAY FEB 22
This Saturday night at Firestone Live, one of the world's greatest Techno DJ's of all time, Sasha (GB)!
($16 - $25)

While in Daytona the opening of a real EDM club, PLUR, this week featuring DJ Mark Sanchez! (USA) who blew out the masses at EPCOT this past NYE! (FREE)

PI Update: West Side & Marketplace Updates

Yesterday's article covered all the action on beautiful Pleasure Island.  Today we continue our journey through Downtown Disney beginning with Splitsville.  Nice crowd on the downstairs patio enjoying a few frosty cold ones!

While a duo provided some decent entertainment playing Oldies.

The sign facing Buena Vista Drive still advertises Dancing.  They must be referring to that little jig we all do when we bowl a strike.

Isn't this a new directional sign in front of Cirque?  I sure don't remember it.

Featuring BBQ sandwiches and ribs, the smell surrounding the new Smokehouse at House of Blues is to die for!

The new Starbucks in former Wetzel's Pretzels seems to be moving at a snail's pace.

Long line at Characters In Flight. No price increase this year which means adults are still $18, $15 with AAA/CAA, and everyone flies for $10 before 10AM.

OK, let's take the slow boat to Marketplace!

Pollution barriers are up, the barges are here and construction of the new walkway shortcut is underway. It will run from near Rainforest Cafe to.....

.....to near T-REX Cafe, allowing patrons to bypass the heavily trafficked areas near LEGO Imagination Center and World of Disney.

This area is currently completely blocked off.

Concept art shows the shortcut going generally straight across, perhaps with a slight curve.  But this intial installation zig zags so I'm not sure what's up.

Did I see a demolition permit for the Pollo Campero building?  Remember the Blog reported this first one year ago here.

Yes, there really is a Dunkin Yo Yo kiosk on the No. 1 Bridge, lol.

And at Downtown Disney this past weekend, a good flight was had by all!  Thursday we'll have a parking update.