The old Pleasure Island logo

Comedians in the Comedy Warehouse perform a musical number

Pleasure Island is a section of themed nightclubs at the Walt Disney World Resort within the Downtown Disney shopping, dining and entertainment district. Its main venues typically operate from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. nightly. Pleasure Island officially opened May 1, 1989, but had a "soft opening" beginning Friday, April 28, 1989 Image File history File links Picture from Disney World. ... Image File history File links Picture from Disney World. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1206x1104, 351 KB)Picture from Disney World. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1206x1104, 351 KB)Picture from Disney World. ... The Cinderella Castle is the symbol of Magic Kingdom. ... There is also an area called Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California; see Downtown Disney (California). ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... April 28 is the 118th day of the year (119th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...

The site is most often thought, to be named for the fictional 'Pleasure Island' in the book Pinocchio, of which the Disney studio made a film adaptation. In the book, children on the island are allowed to play and never work. However, these unsupervised children smoke, drink alcohol and generally misbehave (sometimes in adult-like ways), and are eventually punished by being changed into donkeys that have to work in salt mines. Art by Fritz Kredel (1900-73) The Adventures of Pinocchio (Italian: Le avventure di Pinocchio) is a novel for children by Italian author Carlo Collodi. ... Pinocchio is the second animated feature in the Disney animated features canon. ... Smoke from a wildfire Smoke is a suspension in air (aerosol) of small particles resulting from incomplete combustion of a fuel. ... Functional group of an alcohol molecule. ... For the adult insect stage, see Imago. ... Binomial name Equus asinus Linnaeus, 1758 For other uses, see Donkey (disambiguation). ... A salt mine is an operation involved in the extraction of salt. ...

The fictional backstory of the Florida site has nothing to do with the Pinocchio story, however. According to the lore created by Walt Disney Imagineering, the island's nightclubs were once home to a shipping company owned by adventurous businessman Merriweather Pleasure. A great storm destroyed the business and Mr. Pleasure disappeared with the warehouses remaining behind. Years later, these warehouses were refurbished and converted into nightclubs. Walt Disney Imagineering was formed by entertainment mogul Walt Disney on December 16, 1952 as WED Enterprises (WED: Walter Elias Disney) to develop plans for a theme park and to manage Disneys personal assets. ...

From 1990 through New Year's Eve 2005, Pleasure Island celebrated New Year's Eve with a fireworks show every night at midnight. The quality of this article or section may be compromised by peacock terms. You can help Wikipedia by removing peacock terms. ...

Attractions

Adventurers Club cast

Comedy Warehouse - a nightclub featuring an improv comedy troupe. Originally featuring a parody show called "Forbidden Disney," the club soon attracted a large return audience. The move to the improv format after a couple of seasons was made to keep the show always fresh. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1236x1060, 340 KB)Picture from Disney World. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1236x1060, 340 KB)Picture from Disney World. ... Improvisational comedy (also called improv or impro) is comedy that is performed with a little to no predetermination of subject matter and structure. ...

Adventurer's Club - a 1930s-style British explorers club featuring a staff of flamboyant characters portrayed by improv actors. Located at Pleasure Island within the Walt Disney World Resort, The Adventurers Club provides a completely different style of entertainment than you will find anywhere else. ... Face The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ...

Mannequins Dance Palace - a techno-trance dance club featuring a revolving dance floor. This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ...

8TRAX - a 1970s and 1980s themed dance club. Opened in 1994 replacing: The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ...

Videopolis East - opened in 1989 playing new wave music on 170 video screens. In 1990 it was renamed Cage adding more progressive music before closing in 1993.

Motion - a dance club featuring Top 40 music videos. Opened in 2001 replacing: Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... New Wave is a term that has been used to describe many developments in music, but is most commonly associated with a movement in Western popular music, in the late 1970s and early 1980s inspired by the punk rock movement. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Top 40 is a radio format based on frequent repetition of songs from a constantly-updated list of the forty best-selling singles. ... A music video (also video clip, promo) is a short film or video meant to present a visual representation of a popular music song. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Fireworks Factory - pyrotechnics themed restaurant operated by Levy Restaurants. According to the island's fictional backstory, Merriweather Pleasure manufactured fireworks in the building until one of his cigars caused an explosion. The restaurant was decorated with authentic pyrotechnic props from the Grucci family. Open from 1989-1997.

Wildhorse Saloon - country music dance club and BBQ restaurant opened in 1998 to capitalize on the Country/western dance craze at the time. Operated by Levy Restaurants and Gaylord Entertainment Company, which also operated a Wildhorse in Nashville, Tennessee. They eventually sold their interests in the building back to Disney and the venue closed in 2001.

Rock 'n' Roll Beach Club - a rock-themed dance club featuring live bands (usually local cover bands). Opened April 4, 1990 replacing: Pyrotechnics is a field of study often thought synonymous with the manufacture of fireworks, but more accurately it has a wider scope that includes items for military and industrial uses. ... Levy Restaurants is a restaurant franchise company specializing in providing premium-quality vending and food services to major entertainment and sports venues. ... Fireworks by Grucci of Long Island, New York is a family run pyrotechnics business. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... It has been suggested that Grilling be merged into this article or section. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Country/western dance also called Country and Western dance, encompasses many dance forms or styles, which are typically danced to country-western music, and which are stylistically associated with American country and/or western traditions. ... Levy Restaurants is a restaurant franchise company specializing in providing premium-quality vending and food services to major entertainment and sports venues. ... Gaylord Entertainment Company operates a number of hotel, resort, and media companies. ... Nickname: Location in Davidson County and the state of Tennessee Coordinates: Country United States State Tennessee Counties Davidson County Founded: 1779 Incorporated: 1806 Government  - Mayor Bill Purcell (D) Area  - City  526. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...

XZFR Rockin' Rollerdrome - a short lived club where guests could strap on skates and dance to rock and roll music.

BET Soundstage Club - a hip-hop and R&B dance club. Operated by Black Entertainment Television (formerly BET Holdings Inc). Opened in 1998 replacing: Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... Rhythm and blues (also known as R&B or RnB) is a popular music genre combining jazz, gospel, and blues influences — first performed by African American artists. ... Black Entertainment Television is an American cable network based in Washington, D.C. targeted toward African-American audiences in the United States. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...

Neon Armadillo - a club featuring live Country music bands, operated from 1989-1998.

Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant - operated by Great Irish Pubs Florida. Opened in October 2005 replacing: This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Merriweather's Market - A food court that operated from 1989-1993.

Pleasure Island Jazz Company - a club featuring live jazz musicians. Opened August 27, 1993. Closed in 2005.

There are also a number of small shops and boutiques located between Adventurers Club and Rock 'n' Roll Beach Club. Many of these shops closed in March 2006 as part of the renovation of the island (see "Future Plans"). Food court at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Jazz is a musical art form that originated in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States around the start of the 20th century. ... August 27 is the 239th day of the year (240th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Adjacent attractions

Fulton's Crab House - a seafood restaurant operated by Levy Restaurants since March 10, 1996. Originally opened on May 1, 1977 as the Empress Lilly (an homage to Walt Disney's wife). Operated by Disney, the restaurant was an authentic re-creation of a 19th century Paddle steamer in Rococo (Louis XIV) style. The boat lost its paddle wheel and smoke stacks upon becoming Fulton's. Fultons Crab House is a riverboat restaurant at Walt Disney Worlds Marketplace shopping complex. ... Levy Restaurants is a restaurant franchise company specializing in providing premium-quality vending and food services to major entertainment and sports venues. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year (70th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... The Empress Lilly is a 220 by 62 foot sternwheeler riverboat on Lake Buena Vista, Florida. ... For the company founded by Disney, see The Walt Disney Company. ... A paddle steamer, paddleboat, or paddlewheeler is a ship or boat propelled by one or more paddle wheels driven by a steam engine. ... North side of the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo - carriage courtyard: all the stucco details sparkled with gold until 1773, when Catherine II had gilding replaced with olive drab paint. ...

Portobello Yacht Club - a restaurant featuring regional Italian cuisine operated by Levy Restaurants. Opened with the clubs in 1989. Levy Restaurants is a restaurant franchise company specializing in providing premium-quality vending and food services to major entertainment and sports venues. ...

Planet Hollywood - a restaurant chain celebrating show business and celebrities. Opened December 17, 1994. Planet Hollywood at night, Downtown Disney, Florida, USA Planet Hollywood, a theme restaurant chain inspired by the popular portrayal of Hollywood, was launched in New York on October 22, 1991, with the backing of Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Demi Moore. ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ...

AMC Theatres Pleasure Island 24 - Movie theater megaplex. Expansion of the existing venue opened with Downtown Disney West Side in 1997. AMC Promenade 16 multiplex in the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles, California. ... A typical multiplex (AMC Promenade 16 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, United States). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Multiplex (movie theater). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

2006 Renovations

Major renovations to Pleasure Island were made in March 2006 with the hope to stop the declining attendance. These changes included the closing and dismantling of the West End Stage and the Hub Stage. The area formerly occupied by the West End Stage is the location of the new pedestrian bridge to Downtown Disney West Side and provides visitors a more line-of-sight from Pleasure Island to West Side. The building which previously included stores and a fast food restaurant has been completely renovated and will reopen with new shops by early-2008. The removal of the Hub Stage opened a small area to a view of the lagoon located behind Pleasure Island including a dock.

The new docks constructed allow boat transportation links between West Side, Pleasure Island, Marketplace and Disney resorts across the lagoon and up the Sassagoula River.^[1] Construction of a T-Rex Restaurant will begin in 2007 near the current location of the pedestrian bridge to Downtown Disney Marketplace. Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

2007 Entrance Policy

Effective January 1, 2007, the dance clubs reverted to a policy which required guests to be age 21 or older. Minors may still visit the Comedy Warehouse, Adventurer's Club as well as visit shops and restaurants.

Trivia

• The March 2006 South Park episode The Return of Chef showed the character of Chef becoming a member of a club called the Super Adventure Club (meant as a parody of Scientology). The layout of the headquarters of the Super Adventure Club was patterned after the interior of Pleasure Island's Adventurer's Club. It's believed that the research for this episode was done on South Park co-creator Trey Parker's honeymoon.

• The licensing agreement with BET Holdings Inc for the BET Soundstage Club (opened 1998) was before Black Entertainment Television was purchased by Viacom in 2000. Viacom is a competitor to The Walt Disney Company.
• The Ticket Booths at the Entrance are former coaches that used to be used on the Fort Wilderness Railway that operated from 1973-1977 and featured restored steam locomtives and passenger cars

This article is about the animated television series. ... The Return of Chef episode 1001 (#140) of Comedy Centrals animated series South Park and aired on March 22, 2006. ... Scientology is a system of beliefs and practices created by American pulp fiction[1][2] and science fiction [3] author L. Ron Hubbard in 1952 as a self-help philosophy. ... Randolph Severn Trey Parker III (born October 19, 1969) is an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning American animator, screenwriter, film director, voice actor, actor and musician. ... Black Entertainment Television is an American cable network based in Washington, D.C. targeted toward African-American audiences in the United States. ... Viacom (NYSE: VIA) (NYSE: VIAb) is an American media conglomerate with various worldwide interests in cable and satellite television networks (MTV Networks and BET), and movie production and distribution (the Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks movie studios). ... Viacom (NYSE: VIA) (NYSE: VIAb) is an American media conglomerate with various worldwide interests in cable and satellite television networks (MTV Networks and BET), and movie production and distribution (the Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks movie studios). ... The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) is one of the largest media and entertainment corporations in the world. ...

External links

• Official Pleasure Island website

References

1. ^ http://wdwhistory.com/FindFile.Ashx?/Downtown_Disney/Pleasure_Island/