WDW Daily News

I recently read another article about some confirmed and rumored changes coming to Disney World. It seems that every day you can hear something new about this ever evolving destination. One of the items I have been following closely is the revitalization project of the former Pleasure Island complex.

In its heyday, Pleasure Island was the place to go for night life while visiting the Orlando vacation corridor. Numerous clubs with varying themes offered an array of dancing and entertainment options. Restaurants dotted the area and a smattering of boutique shops made for a great night.

There was a lot of planning that went into the original Pleasure Island. Opening in 1989, as with all Disney undertakings, PI had a back story. Each building was part of the story and throughout the property, there were plaques erected to detail the building’s “history” and how it played into the grander scheme of this over the top adult playground.

Sadly, most or all of the plaques have been lost over the years due to closures, demolition or repurposing of the structures there. I’m not sure what the new “story” is for what is to become the new Disney Springs, but out of respect for my old stomping grounds, I thought I would share the text of the original Pleasure Island Story.

I was lucky to be a part of the opening at Pleasure Island. I celebrated my birthday there each year as well as many other occasions. It was cutting edge, a carnival, a place where you could really let go and meet up with locals and tourists alike, all in the name of pure FUN! My many thanks and appreciation to Joe Rohde and his team of imagineers, artists and fellow revelers for creating this sadly missed place to play.

PLEASURE ISLAND (entrance plaque on the bridge by the ticket booths)

Founded 1911

An unverifiable, anecdotal, purely subjective, theoretical alleged purported history. Also, ersatz. A living monument to “the wise fool, the mad visionary, the scoundrel, the scalawag, and the seeker of enjoyment.” Merriweather Adam Pleasure, who purchased the island in 1911. Pleasure’s profitable canvas manufacturing/sail fabricating empire, founded on this site, provided him with the capital to indulge his lifelong interest in the exotic, the experimental, and the unexplainable. Known as the Grand Funmeister, Pleasure disappeared during his 1941 circumnavigation of the Antarctic. His sons, Henry and Stewart, took over the island and the Pleasure enterprises. Their mismanagement led to bankruptcy in 1955; Hurricane Connie hit that same year, and Pleasure Island was abandoned. In 1987, Archaeologists uncovered the site and its remains, and a large scale reclamation project was begun. In 1989, the new Pleasure Island was re-opened and dedicated to the legacy of Merriweather Adam Pleasure: “Fun for all, and All for fun!”

I strongly recommend you take some time and get to know the Disney Cast Members – you will be amazed at what you learn! We have made many friends over the years and still keep in touch. Waiting in the cue, enjoying a meal at your favorite restaurant, boarding Disney Transportation or checking in to your villa – they all have a story to tell.

Even more so, make sure you thank them for all they do to make your experience magical! If you have really received some pixie dust for an extra magical experience, please take a few moments and go to Guest Relations and tell them about it. They will get the information to the Cast Member and their supervisor so they can be recognized for their special efforts. We have even seen people hand out pre made, homemade, thank you notes to cast members they felt had gone above and beyond – what a great idea!

Two special Cast Members gave us that ‘extra’ pixie dust on a number of different occasions. Concierge Nancy at Port Orleans made one of our first trips home extra magical at every turn. We watched our young daughters wishes come true over and over again for 8 days. And ‘Cousin Richard’ at the 50’s Primetime Café has made us laugh until our stomachs hurt on two separate trips home. We will always cherish one special moment discussing riding the bus, and making sure it had clean windows, with him one evening during dinner (only a handful may get that reference – but still funny every time). I believe he even called ‘Mom’ over to the table to see if that was the bus she rode….

The important thing to remember is, although you are on vacation – maybe even a once in a lifetime vacation – don’t forget to discover all the amazing Cast Members trying to help you have an incredibly magical time. The tips and tricks they bring to the conversation can be priceless – like where the best seats are on Soarin’ (and then making sure you get those seats, just because you asked!). They are a wealth of knowledge and insight into making your experience just a bit better. ‘Do you trust me?’ disneydad1972@gmail.com

When you are preparing for a trip to WDW, there is so much planning that has to take place in order to get the most out of your vacation. Many people feel that they have to plan every moment of each day in order to have fun. After many trips to the World, I have finally learned that it is necessary to take some time out of everyday to enjoy some spontaneous fun. Take a break from all of the fast pass + planning, and just do something low key. For example, take a boat ride on the Seven Seas Lagoon. This is an immensely relaxing way to spend time on your vacation. There are lots of other fun boat rides too. You can tour Bay Lake by riding from the Contemporary to Fort Wilderness or to Wilderness Lodge. Remember, you are on vacation, and you should take some time to unwind and just enjoy the time that you get to spend with your family!

Another way to relax is to visit any of the resorts that surround the Magic Kingdom. All of these resorts are beautiful, and you can spend hours just walking around and exploring what each resort has to offer. I have spent many enjoyable hours just sitting in the lobby of the Grand Floridian listening to the piano or to the band. In addition, the Contemporary Resort offers some beautiful views of WDW property, and who doesn’t love watching the monorail drive through the building? Also, the Polynesian Resort offers gorgeous views as well as relaxing music to help you wind down after a long day at the parks. Wilderness Lodge has a grand lobby that has so much history as well as many hidden Mickeys to explore. If you want to feel like you are far away from civilization, head over to Animal Kingdom Lodge and enjoy all of the animals that can be found on the savannah. At night, they even offer night vision goggles that allow you to see the animals. The Boardwalk Inn also offers a great deal of entertainment. You can enjoy the placid water views or just walk around the shops.
If you have already toured the resorts, take some time to refuel by the pool. Just take some time to relax and enjoy the amenities at your resort. All Disney resorts should be explored because each one is so full of rich details and theming. Remember, you don’t have to spend every minute of your vacation in the parks in order to enjoy yourself!

If you are looking for relaxing ways to enjoy the parks, you can always take in some of the live entertainment that is offered on a daily basis throughout all four parks. I always enjoy the Dapper Dans as well as the Main Street Philharmonic when I am visiting Magic Kingdom. The Citizens of Hollywood also put on amazing shows at Hollywood Studios! They interact with the guests and are just so funny! They add to the ambiance of the Studios, and I never get sick of seeing what new shows they come up with next. In Epcot and Animal Kingdom, there are lots of opportunities to enjoy live music as well as fun characters who hang out in the parks. Basically, there is so much to do at WDW, there should never be a reason for you not to be enjoying your vacation.

So, next time you visit the world, make an effort to spend less time planning and more time enjoying spontaneous magical moments with your family! That is what vacation is all about. Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!