Disney to give the former Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney a makeover

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

There will be new life at Pleasure Island — but with a new name, look and purpose, Walt Disney World announced Thursday. Construction will begin this month on the Downtown Disney entertainment area, which will be renamed Hyperion Wharf. Several Pleasure Island buildings have sat idle since Disney closed its nightclubs in favor of more dining and shopping opportunities in 2008. Four of those clubs will be demolished to make room for new eateries along the waterfront area.

Read more from The Orlando Sentinel.

Jerry's avatar

I bet we've seen the end of Mannequins....

LostKause's avatar

A friend of mine posted on Facebook:

I really hate the name, "Pleasure Island." Maybe they should rename it after some obscure Greek Mythology reference and what the heck, let's throw in a character name from "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Yeah, that's it. That'll be awesome.

I didn't get it at first, but when I did, I found it to be really funny.

And I agree. Hyperion Wharf sounds really silly.

Last edited by LostKause,
crazy horse's avatar

Just what they need....more shops and restaurants.


what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard.
Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it.
I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Jeff's avatar

They do need more restaurants. The selection down there blows.


Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog

Off the top of my head I can name Rainforest Cafe, Bongos, that crab boat thing, a couple of counter service places, and a McDonalds.

To say that selection "sucks" is to be too kind, I think.


- Julie
@julie

Tekwardo's avatar

They can name it whatever they want as long as they keep Raglan Road.


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Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.

The McDonald's is gone now (replaced by a mexican place I think) and yes...they do need more sit down dining over there. (Also a fan of Raglan Road.)

LostKause's avatar

I was saddened to hear that McDonald's is gone. It was one of the cheapest selections there, and I will always love to eat at McDonald's, cheap or not. I "could" eat there every day, if necessary.


Raglan Road is staying AFAIK. I hear Paradiso is pretty good, too.

Travis: watch this. Immediately.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390521/


LostKause's avatar

Thanks Brian. I've seen it. It made me stop eating their food for about a year. Maybe I need to see it again.

I don't drink or use drugs, nor do I overindulge in junk food or candy. I don't even drink caffeine or take an aspirin when I have a headache. If occasionally eating at McDonald's is the worst thing that I do, I must be doing pretty good. :P


Tekwardo's avatar

Brian, yeah Raglan is staying. LOVE that place. I'd go back to Disney just to eat there. It was the only thing that was really doing anything at PI when we were there 3 years ago (during spring break) so the fact that everything else is going doesn't surprise me.


Website | Flickr | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook

Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.

I confess that I found it anticipointing, but that might have been because I was comparing the food at Raglan to the food at a lovely Irish pub on the Brighton coast, that I had visited just a few months prior.

The only thing I'll really miss from "old" PI is the Adventurer's Club. That place was a hoot, and very nearly unique. The comedy warehouse was fun too, but you can do improv comedy in any reasonable city. When my wife and I were there on a long weekend away from the kids, we spent a lot of time in AC, a little time in CW, and never once set foot into any of the other clubs.

Last edited by Brian Noble,

I miss Pleasure Island. Terribly.

Are shops and restaurants enough to draw people to the area? There certainly isn't much for attractions/shows/entertainment at Downtown Disney. Not sure what the draw is, really.

-Nate

Raven-Phile's avatar

I have fond (and very fuzzy) memories of PI. I loved that place. When Disney does your driving for you, it makes it even better. :)

Jeff's avatar

If you've spent any time at City Walk, you know Downtown Disney sucks. As much as I'm a fan of Disney World, there just isn't anything there that draws me. It has no vibe, no excitement, no anything. I don't know if they just tried to hard to family-ize it or what, but I find it completely boring. I've had many a good time around City Walk though.


Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog

DD is a mediocre manifestation of a good idea. Or maybe the reverse.


My author website: mgrantroberts.com

It sounds like they want to make downtown disney a larger draw to families and kids and are slowly taking out the more adult/teen stuff. I don't think that is a good idea because even though lots and lots of adults and teens go to disney and have a great time at some parts there is that very childish thing goin on and Downtown Disney always seemed to me ( at least in the past few yeara until recently) like it was a draw to the adults/teen groups that come so that they don't always have to be stuck in the kid land of Disney the whole entire vacation. But then again The MGM park (or what ever it is called) is a big draw to mostly those age groups. Still there is a big need for downtown disney to have these adult things to do so that they don't spend all day in one park. Epcot is cool too with the countries and could intrest anyone but The MGM thing and Downtown areas are kinda for the party people. Anyway i always think why go to downtown disney when there is a better draw to City Walk

eightdotthree's avatar

I don't mind Downtown Disney but agree there is nowhere interesting to eat, especially if your vegetarian.


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