Downtown Disney restaurant ~ Orlando, Florida
[Pleasure Island was primarily a nighttime entertainment complex with two comedy clubs and four dance clubs. These clubs closed permanently on September 27, 2008. New shops and restaurants were planned to open to replace the closed clubs, but the economic recession of 2009 delayed plans. Only one new restaurant has opened to date.
While the Village/Marketplace and West Side have always been free to enter, Pleasure Island required the purchase of admission and was closed during the day. Beginning in summer 2004, Pleasure Island became free to enter, and only those guests entering the nightclubs were charged admission.
On November 18, 2010, Walt Disney World Resort announced a project named Hyperion Wharf, which was planned to replace the Pleasure Island complex. Pleasure Island would have undergone extensive renovations and re-theming to transform into the early twentieth century wharf-themed entertainment area. New shopping and dining locations would have also been added. In July 2011, it was announced that these plans have been delayed. These plans were later cancelled in favor of Disney Springs. Construction began in April 2013 on Disney Springs, a complete remake of the section, which will be completed by 2016.]
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Disney_%28Florida%29
Tags: Orlando Florida Central Florida United States mini-vacation fun downtown downtown disney lunch pleasure island color colorful lake blue sky dock buildings sunlit Downtown Disney West Side restaurant Bongos Cuban Cafe ceiling palm fronds curves columns balcony tiki-hut
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It was a beautifully crisp and brilliant morning on this first day of November. Here we were in Orlando, Florida after having spent the day before (Halloween) at EPCOT enjoying ourselves at the International Wine & Food Festival. We decided to stop by Downtown Disney for lunch on our way out of town and back to our home in South Florida. Seeing this beautiful balloon reminded me that no matter where you are...you can fly! Enjoy your Autumn days and have a wonderful Winter! ~ Downtown Disney ~ Orlando, Florida
[Characters in Flight opened in Spring 2009 and features a giant tethered balloon that soars 400 feet, providing 360-degree views of the Walt Disney World Resort. It is operated by Aerophile and is
very similar to PanoraMagique located at Disney Village at Disneyland Paris.]
Take this balloon ride ~ www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiBJ54AEuQk
[Pleasure Island was primarily a nighttime entertainment complex with two comedy clubs and four dance clubs. These clubs closed permanently on September 27, 2008. New shops and restaurants were planned to open to replace the closed clubs, but the economic recession of 2009 delayed plans. Only one new restaurant has opened to date.
While the Village/Marketplace and West Side have always been free to enter, Pleasure Island required the purchase of admission and was closed during the day. Beginning in summer 2004, Pleasure Island became free to enter, and only those guests entering the nightclubs were charged admission.
On November 18, 2010, Walt Disney World Resort announced a project named Hyperion Wharf, which was planned to replace the Pleasure Island complex. Pleasure Island would have undergone extensive renovations and re-theming to transform into the early twentieth century wharf-themed entertainment area. New shopping and dining locations would have also been added. In July 2011, it was announced that these plans have been delayed. These plans were later cancelled in favor of Disney Springs. Construction began in April 2013 on Disney Springs, a complete remake of the section, which will be completed by 2016.]
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Disney_%28Florida%29
Red Rubber Ball ~ www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbDKN0dk54M
Tags: Orlando Florida Central Florida United States mini-vacation fun downtown downtown disney lunch pleasure island color colorful red balloon lake blue sky I can fly! dock buildings puffy clouds blue dark side of the balloon tether reflect old antique vintage circus balloon turn of the century throwback stripes Characters In Flight opened 2009 Observation Balloon Ride
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The structure originally known as the The Empress Lilly is a static full-size replica of a paddle steamer riverboat on Village Lake. It is 220 feet long and 62 feet wide. Though it resembles a boat, it is actually a boat-shaped building on a submerged concrete foundation.
The Empress Lilly was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering to look as authentic as possible. The gingerbread scrollwork and stained-glass detailing hearkened back to the days of Mark Twain's Mississippi River. The paddlewheel at the aft end constantly churned, though the ship never moved. It greeted guests for the first time on May 1, 1976, when it was christened by Walt Disney's widow, Lillian Disney, for whom it was named. It originally housed four separate entertainment and dining areas:
The Baton Rouge Lounge, located forward on the main deck. Here patrons could relax at the bar and enjoy the music and comedy of the Riverboat Rascals. Many of these musicians played in the Baton Rouge for years and became local legends. Some of them included "Fast Eddie" Erickson, Dave Tobiasen, Tom Bucci, Denny Zavett, Ralf Reynolds, Mike Gentry, Randy Morris, Dan Riley, John Charles, Andy Fielding and Bill Dendle.
Steerman's Quarters, in the main deck's aft section, specialized in certified Angus beef. Its décor featured nostalgic imagery of America's western cattle. In the aft end of the room, giant windows overlooked the churning paddlewheel.
The Fisherman's Deck, a seafood restaurant, was located forward on the promenade deck.
The Empress Room, aft on the promenade deck, was a formal dining room that required reservations. It was extravagantly decorated with gold-trimmed walls and Rococo (Louis XIV) style appointments. Hungarian chef Garry Reich developed the original menu to cater to upscale tastes.
The Empress Lilly was also one of the first locations of the famous Disney Character Breakfasts.
In the mid-1990s, as a cost-cutting move, Disney began to engage outside partners to take over operations of many of its restaurants. It was decided the Empress Lilly would come under new management, and Levy Restaurants signed a contract to operate the "ship" for 20 years. On April 22, 1995, the Empress Lilly served her last meals. All interiors were subsequently ripped out and a new décor for a single restaurant put in place. The old smokestacks and paddlewheel were removed due to rust and rot and were not replaced. The restaurant opened as Fulton's Crab House on March 10, 1996.
Fulton's Crab House ~ Downtown Disney ~ Orlando, Florida
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Disney_%28Florida%29
Tags: Orlando Florida Central Florida United States mini-vacation fun downtown downtown disney lunch pleasure island color colorful lake blue sky dock buildings sunlit paddle-steamer river boat replica The Empress Lilly Fulton's Crab House 220 feet long 62 feet wide restaurant
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Downtown Disney restaurant ~ Orlando, Florida
Planet Hollywood opened on December 17, 1994. Jenny, the shrimping boat used
in the 1994 film Forrest Gump, is located on the northwest corner of that restaurant.
Bubba Gump Shrimp ~ video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=youtube+jenny+forrest...
[Pleasure Island was primarily a nighttime entertainment complex with two comedy clubs and four dance clubs. These clubs closed permanently on September 27, 2008. New shops and restaurants were planned to open to replace the closed clubs, but the economic recession of 2009 delayed plans. Only one new restaurant has opened to date.
While the Village/Marketplace and West Side have always been free to enter, Pleasure Island required the purchase of admission and was closed during the day. Beginning in summer 2004, Pleasure Island became free to enter, and only those guests entering the nightclubs were charged admission.
On November 18, 2010, Walt Disney World Resort announced a project named Hyperion Wharf, which was planned to replace the Pleasure Island complex. Pleasure Island would have undergone extensive renovations and re-theming to transform into the early twentieth century wharf-themed entertainment area. New shopping and dining locations would have also been added. In July 2011, it was announced that these plans have been delayed. These plans were later cancelled in favor of Disney Springs. Construction began in April 2013 on Disney Springs, a complete remake of the section, which will be completed by 2016.]
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_Hollywood
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Disney_%28Florida%29
Tags: Orlando Florida Central Florida United States mini-vacation fun downtown downtown disney lunch pleasure island color colorful lake blue sky dock buildings sunlit Planet Hollywood restaurant fountain globe Jenny shrimpin' boat original from movie Forrest Gump Bubba Gump Shrimp Lieutenant Dan
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Downtown Disney restaurant ~ Orlando, Florida
[Pleasure Island was primarily a nighttime entertainment complex with two comedy clubs and four dance clubs. These clubs closed permanently on September 27, 2008. New shops and restaurants were planned to open to replace the closed clubs, but the economic recession of 2009 delayed plans. Only one new restaurant has opened to date.
While the Village/Marketplace and West Side have always been free to enter, Pleasure Island required the purchase of admission and was closed during the day. Beginning in summer 2004, Pleasure Island became free to enter, and only those guests entering the nightclubs were charged admission.
On November 18, 2010, Walt Disney World Resort announced a project named Hyperion Wharf, which was planned to replace the Pleasure Island complex. Pleasure Island would have undergone extensive renovations and re-theming to transform into the early twentieth century wharf-themed entertainment area. New shopping and dining locations would have also been added. In July 2011, it was announced that these plans have been delayed. These plans were later cancelled in favor of Disney Springs. Construction began in April 2013 on Disney Springs, a complete remake of the section, which will be completed by 2016.]
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_Puck
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downtown_Disney_%28Florida%29
Tags: Orlando Florida Central Florida United States mini-vacation fun downtown downtown disney lunch pleasure island color colorful lake blue sky dock buildings sunlit Downtown Disney West Side restaurant Wolfgang Puck entrance palms
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