Pleasure Island to close and changes coming to Downtown Disney

Fans of Disney’s Pleasure Island may already have heard the news -- that on September 27, 2008 the Island as it stands will be closing. Major plans have been unveiled for a new vision for Downtown Disney -- with extraordinary new shopping and dining experiences and a re-themed Pleasure Island.

“We are committed to offering guests new and exciting experiences they can only have at Walt Disney World Resort,” said Downtown Disney Vice President Kevin Lansberry. “Our bold new vision for Downtown Disney reflects the feedback we receive from our guests each and every day and will enable us to continue to offer the high-quality entertainment that is our hallmark.”

During the next 12 months the 120-acre shopping-dining-entertainment complex will be enhanced with one-of-a-kind interactive experiences for guests.

The first will see a giant hot air balloon capable of carrying 30 guests 300 feet into the air tethered over the water between Bongos and Wetzel’s Pretzels in the West Side area. Anyone who has been to Disneyland Paris may notice similarities with their balloon -- though the Orlando version will be lit internally and look slightly different.

Other new experiences will include:

• T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure. The dinosaur-themed family eatery will open in fall 2008 and will serve up pizzas, pastas, seafood and more. The restaurant will feature life-size animated dinosaurs, bubbling geysers, waterfalls and a fossil dig site.
• A Hanes design-your-own t-shirt store will also open this fall.
• In spring 2009, E-brands Restaurants, an Orlando-based, multi-concept restaurant group, will premier its newest concept at Downtown Disney. The high-energy, casual eatery will feature authentic Central and South American cuisine, specialty drinks and live music along the waterfront.

As Pleasure Island is re-imagined over the next two years guests also will enjoy a brand new mix of shopping and dining experiences.

“Our guests tell us they want additional shopping and dining experiences at Downtown Disney,” added Lansberry. “We are currently considering a number of unique concepts from around the globe as we re-imagine Pleasure Island and look forward to sharing our progress over the coming months.”

To make way for these dramatic enhancements, all of the clubs currently on Pleasure Island will close on Sept. 27. Other locations on Pleasure Island, including Raglan Road, Fuego by Sosa Cigars, Curl by Sammy Duval, Orlando Harley-Davidson and outdoor food and beverage locations, will remain open during the transition.

Many popular Downtown Disney locations will also undergo enhancements to support the changes:

• The Portobello Yacht Club will be transformed into a Tuscan Country Trattoria. The refreshed menu features authentic Italian dishes and signature favorites and a re-designed interior along with an outdoor dining space.
• Goofy’s Candy Company will add a special new room so that families can host one-of-a-kind birthday parties at Downtown Disney.
• More entertainment will be welcomed via a larger covered Marketplace Stage which will also serve as a new premier venue for Disney Magic Music Days.
• Fulton’s Crab House will update its interior fixtures and furnishing and exterior.
• Wolfgang Puck Café will feature an enclosed glass patio offering guests a year-round outdoor dining experience.

Guests will already have seen enhancements at World of Disney, Wolfgang Puck Express, Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop, Earl of Sandwich and Cap’n Jack’s Restaurant.

Inside the Magic’s Ricky Brigante spoke to Kevin Lansberry to confirm the details of the press release:

For some fabulous concept art of the things to come at Downtown Disney visit the Orlando Attractions Magazine blog.

I never was a fan of Pleasure Island -- being an early bird at the parks just never seemed to sit well with late night entertainment -- however I do regret that I never got to see the Adventurer’s Club -- if you are planning atrip before September 27 be sure to experience it before it closes. We do however love spending time at Downtown Disney and it seems like its going to become an even better place to spend some time away from the parks -- I only wish that they would enhance the parking lot with more spaces to support this! Looks like it could be a good time to start using those Disney buses

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