Walt Disney World Resort Unveils Bold New Vision for Downtown Disney

[TheAdventurer]

I hope they are "cannibalizing" their dining locations.....

because I...for one....am sick of two hours waits and "sorry...we're booked" at the restaurants.....

the more restaurants....the merrier......

i hope they continue to add food until none of the restaurants are full....it's good for the guest....

Is it that hard to get a table in DTD? I've only eaten there twice, both times at Raglan Road, and didn't have a reservation or any problem getting a tbale. I also know a number of places at DTD aren't included on the dining plan. I suppose if it is, then more dining locations are necessary, but I was under the (possibly false) impression that it wasn't very hard to get a table there, and the diffculty in getting tables was more with resturants at the theme parks.

However, I still can't imagine anybody went to DTD and said 'You know, it was ok, but there just weren't enough places to shop." I would guess that adding more shops would mean less sales at the existing ones.

[lockedoutlogic]

Is it that hard to get a table in DTD? I've only eaten there twice, both times at Raglan Road, and didn't have a reservation or any problem getting a tbale. I also know a number of places at DTD aren't included on the dining plan. I suppose if it is, then more dining locations are necessary, but I was under the (possibly false) impression that it wasn't very hard to get a table there, and the diffculty in getting tables was more with resturants at the theme parks.

However, I still can't imagine anybody went to DTD and said 'You know, it was ok, but there just weren't enough places to shop." I would guess that adding more shops would mean less sales at the existing ones.

it might not be as hard to get a table at downtown.....but it's not that easy....and has become pretty bad as it has impossible in the parks over the last few years....

rainforest is always mobbed......pucks, bongos, and house of blues now turn people away.....

the only place that is "easy" to get into is planet hollywood....which is terrible and should have been closed and removed years ago along with the rest of them.....

if they are going to continue pushing dining plans.....they need more options.....

this widely used "no walk up" policy that seems to be in place in the parks has gotten completely out of hand....

[RBrooksC]

I am really not too heartbroken over this. I went to the Adventure's Club once and I loved it. It was very much my speed and my humor. I also interacted with the Chambermaid so when it was her part in the main show, I was the person with whom she interacted in the audience. However, this was the only time I ever went to PI.

I can say this, Disney was at an impasse when it came to PI. I know that I would never pay a gate charge to get into an area where I would only frequent one club. It would have been a waste of money for me. I am sure there were plenty of other guests who thought the same thing.

So, to hopefully encourage more people going to the clubs, they removed the turnstiles and allowed everybody to pass through the area and pay for each club. Then this brought in the riff raff who would rather hang out at PI instead of the local mall.

I get enough of that garbage up here in Baltimore, why would I want to subject myself to it at Disney. So, then you had less guests going there to avoid those people. So, you had this spiral downward trend that would be difficult to remedy in PI/DTD current configuration.

What always happens in this is the quality clubs get axed because they are associated with something that failed as a whole. I wouldn't put it past Disney to open up The Adventure's Club or the Comedy Club elsewhere on the Disney Property.

I think this is a great decision by Disney. Now, being a great decision doesn't mean it will be great execution. If they fail in that, it will not be successful no matter how great the idea is.

[SurferStitch]

So, to hopefully encourage more people going to the clubs, they removed the turnstiles and allowed everybody to pass through the area and pay for each club. Then this brought in the riff raff who would rather hang out at PI instead of the local mall.

You don't pay for each club. You just don't have to pay the PI fee until you enter the first club. After that, you can go into any club and not have to pay again. So, it's not a smaller fee at each club, it's just one fee paid at the first club you enter.

[jjramsey]

As for the parking, if they threw in a covered 'people mover' that went from one end to the other of DTD, people would not mind parking at the opposite end of DTD if needed. plus it would make it easier to visit multiple stores, even if they are at opposite ends of DTD.

[Imagineer1981]

So they are closing unique venues like the Comedy Warehouse and especially the Adventurer's Club, just to add more (3rd party) shops and restaurants... Oh, wait, there's a balloon too... This is not the idea of a brilliant imagineer, but of a short-sighted accountant...

I agree, I think the comedy club and adventures club were unique enough that they should stay. Unfortunately Disney shot themselves in the foot when they changed PI's addmission rules. No one wants to go drink and dance with 4 year olds running around. Also, once they removed CM night, it really died...CMs where what kept that place going and made it popular for tourist to go to...sad sad sad

[Bethanymouse]

This sounds like its going to be great! We usually make one stop in DTD, recently it has been more for Wolfgang than for the shopping experience. We find it to be very crowded and hard to navigate with so many people. Hopefully this will open up the shopping area. Thanks for the info!

[jnfr2424]

I agree, I think the comedy club and adventures club were unique enough that they should stay. Unfortunately Disney shot themselves in the foot when they changed PI's addmission rules. No one wants to go drink and dance with 4 year olds running around. Also, once they removed CM night, it really died...CMs where what kept that place going and made it popular for tourist to go to...sad sad sad

I am so saddened to see Pleasure Island go away...this is where I celebrated my 21st birthday and partied the night away at Mannequins. Had tons of fun with CM's in 8trax and I was there when the Beach Club was a roller skating rink...I used to love eating at the Fireworks Factory before I partied when it became Motions and I was there when BET opened as well as getting the best original souvenirs right there at PI. I will be in WDW for Thanksgiving which I purposely got tickets for La Nouba Thanksgiving night to party next door in PI afterwards....so now what?

[GoldenDreams]

I agree with those that would like to see the Adventurer's Club and the Comedy Warehouse moved to the parks. AC would be great at Animal Kingdom and the CW would be really fun at Hollywood Studios. Both of these could work fine with both kids and adults.

That being said, we have avoided Downtown Disney as much as possible lately. It's WAY too crowded and you can't get a quick bite to eat. We basically hit the Lego Store and leave as quickly as possible. If this new plan spreads people out a bit, that may be good.

[nstarv]

I can't imagine that for all the feedback guests could give Disney on improving WDW, the overwhelming response would be for more restaurants and shops.

The answer to any problems at Pleasure Island is not closing some of the places, like Adventurer's Club and Comedy Warehouse.

Certainly, it does not need all the nightclubs it presently supports, but I can't imagine you will find too many families with small children in tow after the dinner hour going from shop to shop. From my own experience with kids, that will wear thin fast and create much consternation among family members.

Maybe the thing to do is to close Pleasure Island to local residents and make it only admissable with WDW Park Hopper Passes and not with a single entry admission or a separate annual pass. My guess is that the people who 'hang' around all the time are area residents as opposed to 'transient' guests there for vacation.

I also question the need for more stores and restaurants in light of the fact that WDW has plans to build hotels and shopping on the west side of the resort grounds anyway.

Adventurer's Club and Comedy Warehouse are places that families can go with kids, as we have all no doubt seen in our travels. However, once the witching hour of 9pm arrived, you needed a wristband to get in (when I last went) to PI. It is at this time that young and elder adult have a place to play - away from the fun and fantasy that attracts families with small kids.

I know that when I next return with my two small children, I won't be dragging them through shops at Downtown Disney after the dinner hour because it will be their normal bed time and, given how tired they will be from a full day of fun in the sun, I do not want them out late, getting cranky and irritable, putting a damper on an otherwise good day.

For families, Downtown Disney is a daytime activity that ends after dinner, at which time it is an adult experience. I do not believe this will change - no matter how many restaurants and shops are added.

Everyone who has every had a moment's fun at either the Adventurer's Club or Comedy Warehouse should get on the phone, contact disney guest relations on line, send an email or snail mail, to urge them to rethink some of this "bold vision". Let's keep the AC and the CW alive and well for all to enjoy!

[locutus]

I have been hearing rumors and found out from my Vacation Club advisor they are true. All the clubs on PI are going to close. From what Ive read here many of you seem glad to hear this. WHY? Yes--we need even MORRRE resteraunts and gift shops Disney. Like there arent enough of these places on property now. Another good thing Disney has to go and ruin. Ive been going to PI every trip to Disney since I turned 21 and have always had a blast watching the live bands, seeing the great comedy shows, and celebrating "new years" evry time. What are adults supposed to do without the clubs to go to? Sit at a resteraunts bar (think tgif or similar) I can do that off property. People mention that they can now take families there. You always could during the day. Those people are missing the point of what PI was--a place for grownups to go to at night---when the kids should be in bed!! Thanks again Disney...whats next...stopping fireworks shows in the parks?

[CAS]

I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. I'm thinking, "This must be the end of Disney doing away with its own iconic pieces; they won't get rid of much else that people obviously love." And then they do something like this.

PI was one of, if not the primary, highlights of our trips. We love to come with our daughter, we love to come with the grandparents and other friends...but a night at PI with just the wife and I is something that really brings us together. After long, hot days at the parks there's nothing better than getting away from the shops, restaurants and regular Disney stuff to let loose in a mature atmosphere; it's like Disney purposely provided an adult antidote to Mickey Mouse burnout. It was genius.

But all good things come to an end. No more kungaloosh. I'll miss you Yakoos. I'll miss you second martini from third floor Mannequins.

I also don't understand those who agree with the move to close the nightclubs in favor of shops. I'd bet that if you ask 100% of the men on vacation that over 95% of them would rather be asleep than at another store with their credit card in hand at 11:00pm.

I'll be calling and writing them. In our choice of vacation spot this one has gone from a 99% to clearly a 75%, and if you know us that's a stock price that you never thought you'd see.

[Marker]

Those people are missing the point of what PI was--a place for grownups to go to at night---when the kids should be in bed!!

But is that the business that Disney wants to be in? They could put in casinos and strip clubs too, I'm sure that would be fun for adults, but it's not Disney's niche. Disney is, and I hope remains, about family entertainment, not adult entertainment. If folks want clubs to go to, there are plenty of opportunities in the area, but they don't have to be on Disney property. I think the comments about using WDW Transportation as a designated driver spoke loudly as to the sort of entertainment WDW was providing, and I just don't see that as Disney's thing. It's not a right or wrong issue with me, I'm all for going out for some "adult" fun, just not at Disney.

Thanks again Disney...whats next...stopping fireworks shows in the parks?

I really don't see that as an equal comparison, or a logical progression at all.

For what it's worth, I say "Thanks again Disney" also, but NOT in a sarcastic way.

[Seasonscraps]

But is that the business that Disney wants to be in? They could put in casinos and strip clubs too, I'm sure that would be fun for adults, but it's not Disney's niche. Disney is, and I hope remains, about family entertainment, not adult entertainment. If folks want clubs to go to, there are plenty of opportunities in the area, but they don't have to be on Disney property. I think the comments about using WDW Transportation as a designated driver spoke loudly as to the sort of entertainment WDW was providing, and I just don't see that as Disney's thing. It's not a right or wrong issue with me, I'm all for going out for some "adult" fun, just not at Disney.

I thought Disney was in the business of being a vacation destination for families - all families. Some of them include children, some of them don't. It seems Disney has gone out of their way to capture as many vacation dollars as possible (Magical Express & Disney Dining come to mind) So why would they turn away this opportunity?

Not everyone going to Disney brings children - it's an extremely popular honeymoon destination. But maybe, just maybe, adults that enjoy the Magic of Disney the parks provide during the day would also enjoy a place where they can dance, laugh & have a couple of drinks without kids. I don't think that's a terrible thing.

I also think they send a positive message by being the designated driver. What's wrong with that? They are the designated driver for people that Drink Around the World Showcase, do the Monorail Crawl or even just go to dinner. It's great PR and they are still going to running the buses anyway for the stores and restaurants - where some people will still drink anyway.

Clearly something needed to be done about PI - It became a big mess but I think it started out as something really fun!!

[smartinez1]

Ok, I only read the first 5 pages of posts, but I wanted to add my .

1. I too will miss the clubs at PI, but thank goodness they still have a couple on the boardwalk, for all of us adults that want a night out to drink and dance.

2. Everyone has been talking about the riff-raff that hung at PI, do you think they will move to the boardwalk now, since it will be more like PI with the clubs?

3. I think adding more restaurants is a plus! We are going in December, and at exactly 180 days out, I still had trouble getting a lot of my first choices for dinners! I also think it's great, more restaurants, means more choices and now we might be able to play a night by ear and actually do a walk up dinner if we feel the need, as opposed to having to stick to a strict schedule! I mean, a couple of times on past trips, we decided to leave the parks early, cuz we were all exhausted instead of waiting for our dinner ressie, we cancelled, then got stuck eating at the food court. It would have been nice to have had the option of maybe going and relaxing for awhile, then deciding on a late dinner somewhere, but without ressie's, we were almost always out of luck!

The only thing I do wish is that they keep adding more restaurants in the parks, too many times those are always booked, and for us who sometimes book spur of the moment for a month away trip, it's hard to get anything sometimes!

[smartinez1]

One other thing I wanted to add, was most of the time we visited the clubs at PI, they were dead anyway, I think less clubs (just the ones at the boardwalk) would probably be better anyway, I prefere a crowd when I go to a club, and this may help fill them up more. I will however miss the comedy club and the AC!

[Seasonscraps]

One other thing I wanted to add, was most of the time we visited the clubs at PI, they were dead anyway, I think less clubs (just the ones at the boardwalk) would probably be better anyway, I prefere a crowd when I go to a club, and this may help fill them up more. I will however miss the comedy club and the AC!

I generally found the club crowd started to dwindle after they took down the gates to get into PI. It seemed once people paid the admission price, they sauntered in & out of the clubs. The paying at the door was probably a turn off and then when you toss in the groups of kids hanging around the whole atmosphere changed.

I do agree 10000000% with your other post about needing new restaurants both in and out of the parks. I wonder if they will be included on the dining plan or not.

[disneyorvegas]

Well, I just want to say my goodbyes to PI. There is no doubt that once Disney messed with it, without any apparent appropriate gameplan, the end was inevitable. About ten years ago my wife and I had one of the best nights ever anywhere, hands down! Now we've done the Key West Duval crawl, Vegas, Bahamas, Reykjavik Iceland, etc., all great party spots, but this night at PI was one of the best ever. We danced and partied at 8Traxx, the place was packed, but not ridiculous. They still did the New Years Eve thing, and they had the West End Stage rocking with music videos and Frankie and the West End Boys. We had one other night there that was fun before the changes started, but I just want to go on record that PI was at one time a fantastic fun place. It's unfortunate that those days are gone for good probably, but we will never forget PI for that one night in particular, I am thankful that at least we got to experience it at it's best.

[DisneyOtaku]

Even though I'm of age to enter the clubs, I never did because I'm not into the club scene. I love the idea of more resturants (maybe not so much the shops though).

I don't like the ideaof having to pay to enter DTD as a whole OR putting it with a park hopper ticket because we always drive in a day before our ticket begins and we eat at Wolfgang Punk's Express for dinner. If the place was limited to where I had to pay more to enter the property, I wouldn't pay the extra.

[Jeff G]

I read about this a few days ago but didn't have time to post at the time and I haven't read all of the posts but I see there are mixed opinions in the few I read. I'm in favor of the changes for several reasons.

DTD has gone from a place where adults traveling to Disney could get away for fun to a place where a lot of locals loiter and cause problems. My DW and I did DTD in 1994 while on our honeymoon and we had a blast. A few years later we were heading from the Market Place to the west side with my DD. While passing through DTD a few young men made crude sexual comments aimed at my DW and stated she should leave me and go with them. Very disappointing to witness at WDW. While on our last trip there was a a fight at DTD that the local news picked up on. WE now avoid the DTD area in the evening. This area has become a blemish to the Disney World resort and if the changes help clean the image up I'm all for it.

As for additional shopping and dining, it may not sound exciting but every time we go to the Market Place in the evening it is packed beyond belief with full restauraunts. I'm sure the additional stores will do well and if the restauraunts have decent food I'm sure they will be full. The moves should also help link the Market Place and the West Side. If they only could do something with the parking now.