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Pleasure Island Puts Party On Hold

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By KEITH MORELLI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 27, 2008

TAMPA - Pleasure Island, the lounge-heavy party zone of Walt Disney World that caters to young and restless clubbers, is shuttering its saloon doors this weekend. Disney officials say the place is being "reimagined."

In June, the definitive theme park and resort near Orlando announced plans to retool its Downtown Disney area, calling for new shopping areas, eateries and other attractions. The plans call for the phasing out of Pleasure Island as it exists.

Closed by Sunday will be 8 Trax, The Adventurer's Club, Mannequins Dance Palace, BET Soundstage Club, Motion and The Comedy Warehouse.

On the resort's Web site, Disney officials say guests want more shopping and dining in the area and, and "we want to position Downtown Disney for long-term success."

So the Downtown Disney area over the next several months will change. New features will be added, including attractions such as a hot-air balloon and a dinosaur-themed area. But mostly, Pleasure Island will be changed into an eating and shopping area.

Pass-holders to Pleasure Island have an out. If they want a refund on their passes, they can get a prorated amount by going to any guest relations location or vacation planning booth at Disney World or by calling (407) 827-2281.

Holders of premium annual passes will be able to play a round of golf at Disney's Oak Trail Golf Course for the inconvenience. To make tee times, which are required, premium pass-holders can call (407) 939-4653 or go to www.disneyworldgolf.com.

Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak said Friday that the resort has gotten few complaints about the changes at Pleasure Island.

"It's been a very smooth transition," she said. "We made the announcements early enough in June to provide pass-holders a long enough time to make arrangements."

The changes are reflecting guest surveys, she said.

"We regularly research feedback from guests," she said, "and they want more dining and shopping experiences."

What will replace the shuttered nightclubs has not been announced, she said.

"We've got teams flying around the globe searching for unique experiences," she said.

Other attractions being tweaked or added include T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure, which will open this fall. The dinosaur-themed family eatery will serve lunches and dinners and feature life-sized animated dinosaurs.

Several new restaurants will open in Downtown Disney this spring. The eateries will feature Central and South American cuisine, specialty drinks and live music along a waterfront.

To make way for the new offerings, the last day of operation for the six Pleasure Island clubs will be today. Other Pleasure Island businesses, including Raglan Road, Fuego by Sosa Cigars, Curl by Sammy Duval, Orlando Harley-Davidson and the outdoor food and beverage locations, will remain open during the transition.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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