The History of the Adventurers Club: Disney's Lost Comedy Nightclub
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- Опубліковано 20 лип 2024
- The Adventurers Club was something original and unique for Disney, a venue where you weren’t just an observer but where you directly became part of the show, story and experience.
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Oh this brought tears to my eyes...my husband and I honeymooned at WDW and ended up spending 5 of our 10 nights at The Adventurer's Club...one of the best entertainment experiences ever. I truly wish Disney would recognize that this was classic magic and find a new home to bring it back...we love Trader Sam's but it's too tiny to provide the depth of story that we got in Florida...Kungaloosh!
Same with my honeymoon! I bet we spent over half the nights at the Club. We never really did see any of the other places on Pleasure Island because a blues club or whatever simply was never going to compare with the improv at the Adventurers Club
No kidding! I'm still sad that my family never got to experience this attraction. This, along with 20,00 Leagues were two attractions I remember my late father saying he'd most like to see. Too bad 20,00 L. was gone by the time we got there, and the Explorer's Club wasn't in our meal plan... =(
We were on our Honeymoon as well. We must've wondered in the back door by the masks, and just wanted to have a drink. Then slowly, subtly, weird things like talking masks and barstools that sink started happening. It was so delightful not knowing what was going on. Eventually we ended up upstairs, where we could hear the thousands of dancing homing pigeons on the roof😂what a blast. I was sorry it was gone, I wanted to bring my children
I had my wedding reception here in '06. All the characters interacted with us as we slowly got drunk as hell. It was expensive as hell to rent this out, but this was one the best times Ive ever had.
Cool best location for this and great memories
My wife and I walked in there one night...not knowing anything about the place. The next few hours can only be described as magical. I don't think I every laughed so hard, and I saw others having an equally wonderful experience. By nights end, I was totally smitten with the world they created around me.
I started my WDW career in 1995. So many Thursday Night Cast member P.I. were spent in the Adventurers Club. A bad haircut gave me my nickname of Little Hat Girl because I always wore a hat. I really think some of the beginnings of Adventures club came from a little hole in the wall bar called the Big Bam Boo. Many a cast member and Imagineer hung out there. There were nametags all over the walls and something new to discover in the multiple rooms. It was a dive and a place that the tourist rarely found out about. There were drawings by Imagineers on napkins. Womens bras hung from the rafters and I am not sure that the place had been cleaned in decades. Great memories none the less.
I don’t see why this couldn’t be brought back and placed in Adventureland as part of an expansion
There was original rumours that the Skipper Canteen restaurant at the Magic Kingdom would implement features from the Adventurers Club but unfortunately when it opened there were only some mentions made to SEA (Society of Explorers and Adventurers) but nothing more. - Luke
Or even Animal Kingdom or the Boardwalk. The Nomad Lounge and Jock Lindsey's retain some of the concept, with Nomad serving Kungaloosh beer.
@@ReviewTyme I was so disappointed by Skipper Canteen just because I expected something along the lines of TAC.
There are so many perfect and compelling ways to wedge a location into any of the parks, or even all of them. Imagine a different Adventurer’s Club outpost in Morocco, Galaxy’s Edge, Adventureland, and even Pandora. It would be a strange fish out of water experience with a lot of room for storytelling on how they got to these places and times.
I love your comment, there are so many places it could fit. I think AK lodge would be perfect.
I miss this place the most of anything Disney World has removed. It was amazing and the theming and show fit in so well into Disney’s style. Hate that they removed it. It would fit in in current Disney Springs fine and didn’t need to go. Would love to see it brought back and sure it would be a huge hit, but not counting on it.
I used to go there 2-3 nights a week when I worked for Disney. It was my absolute favorite nighttime activity and nothing could ever come close to it again.
I was lucky enough to be able to visit this club a few years before it closed. I was only a preteen though, escorted by my mother and her then-boyfriend, who was a huge fan of the place. I remember the cast being so funny and welcoming. One moment that was especially delightful was when we were leaving the club to go see the comedy show - the cast member we were talking to said goodbye to us, but then when we got in line for the show, he was somehow right there in front of us, and continued the story he was telling us before he was "so rudely interrupted by our departure". How he snuck over there without us noticing I will never know! I remember planning to go back when I was finally 21, but of course the place closed. I loved the ingenuity, engagement and friendly atmosphere, the jokes and the different little events and songs that would happen through the night. I think if Disney brought this back (though it seems they won't) it could be successful. I think most modern attractions are missing the heart that this place had, it would be nice to have it back.
I was very happy I got to see this place back in early 2005..Pleasure Island was doing poorly then, and we were able to get five day passes for only $40 each, and we went each and every night and had an absolute blast! We spent at least an hour plus in Adventure Club each night (also, the Improv Comedy Warehouse..)...Kungaloosh! And All Hail The Plaid Monkey!
That sounds amazing, it's such a shame this place is closed, it honestly is the closed Disney experience I wish most I had the chance to visit! - Luke
ReviewTyme me too
This was excellent. Just excellent. I so miss “The Club” every time I visit Disney Springs. Kungaloosh!
I only saw one night at the Adventurer's Club, but the next day, I forced my friends to go back to Pleasure Island so I could pick up an Adventurer's Club t-shirt and some other merch. It's been almost thirty years since I was last there, but I still miss the place.
something that's rarely mentioned and shouldn't be forgotten was how the improvisational actors would rotate roles; ie, take turns playing each of the roles. Really speaks to their talent !!
Used to go there all the time as a kid. Still makes me mad I'll never be able to go get a drink there on my 21st. Kungaloosh.
Emma the Bear same here man sucks I wish they would bring it back!!!!
If you go to the Nomad Lounge at Animal Kingdom you can get a Kungaloosh beer.
I was so happy that I finally could visit Mannequin's Disco when I turned 21. Wasn't my kind of club at all, I rather would hang out at Adventure's Club or Comedy Warehouse but it always nagged me before that I couldn't go in there. Also, some of their dance shows were pretty cool. Also, the turning dance floor was fun as well. Another cool thing was that you could identify yourself at the turnstyle as designated driver (I don't drink alcohol, so I didn't mind anyways), then you got a special colored admission band plus 4 coupons for free soft drinks.
This was one of the most immersive fun experiences. My wife and I were there a few times towards the end of its long run, and are sad that it's gone. After the first time we could not wait to get back there!
It's shocking why they would decide this wouldn't fit in with the new Disney Springs. Out of everything in Pleasure Island, the Adventurers Club is the one thing that would fit perfectly in with stuff like Jock's and The Edison.
I remember visiting this place back in the 90s when my grandmother used to take my brother and me to Florida. Pleasure Island really wasn't for little kids, but it was fun to walk around and see the different buildings (I used to wave at Jessica Rabbit). The Adventurers Club's exterior reminded me of the front part of the Wisconsin Dells' Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum.
I wish I could have come back when I was older. At least I got to be there.
I only experienced this as only a 12 year old kid, and I gotta tell you, it's one of the few things I absolutely miss.
I went there maybe a grand total of four times. I wish I could have gone more frequently. It was immensely fun. You had to love the place the instant you set eyes on Zeuss, with his fishing line tangled up, all across the room. An organ, crashed through the stag,played by the ghost of it's organist. And an ever changing cast, playing the resident heroes of the place. And smashing cocktails, for all!
Thanks so much for this post. I was a cast member in the early 90s and spent many a night at The Adventurers Club. I have so many wonderful memories of hanging out there. It was a sense of community amongst strangers united by great entertainers.
Kungaloosh!!! My Adventurer Daughter Eva and I were caught on film while visiting this amazing club... Legendary!!!
While I'm still sad the club has been gone for more than a decade now, I'll admit that I've been happy to see some occasional Adventurers Club mentions in recent years (I guess Disney figured enough time had passed that they could once again talk about Pleasure Island stuff). I was thrilled to bump into the AC characters during one of the recent runDisney events and was even lucky enough to get a photo with them.
I'm decorating my apartment to this theme.
That's going to be amazing! What a great idea! - Luke
@@ReviewTyme I've covered nearly all my living room wall space in old maps, different masks, weapons, shelves of idols, pots, and knick-knacks, shark teeth, butterfly collections, old safari photographs, ect.
You wouldn't believe what you can find at flea markets!
Oh wow! You will soon be and honorary member of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers at this pace! - Luke
Goals
@@ReviewTyme Now if only I had people who'd come and visit me...
So glad to find your video, brought back such fond memories. We were blessed to be in the mask room with Jim Henson and his family. My brother in law rolled his stool over and got his autograph on a pamphlet from Pleasure Island
This is probably my favorite video by you, you got me emotionally invested in a place I’ve never heard of man.
I love the adventures club so much. My parents went there all the time when they were dating and they finally got engaged there in the 90s. They took me and my siblings there all the time and I didn’t really know what was going on but I have such strong memories in the mask room in the library and interacting with the actors and just having so much fun. It honestly makes my dad cry that it’s gone. Maybe one day they will bring it back
This also reminds me, how short nights were back then. After a WDW vacation, I could have used another vacation :-) I usually stayed at Pleasure Island until closing time at 1AM, then took the bus back to the hotel, so I got to bed by 2AM. Mickey called for the wake-up call at 6:30 AM since I wanted to be in the park for morning extra hours.
I loved this place so much, it hurt when it closed. I wish you could have went Mr. Author of the video, you would have had a fantastic time. Kungaloosh.
Without the smallest doubt, this is the single thing I miss from the history of Disney. I had the great fortune to spend two nights at The Adventurers' Club during a trip with friends to Disney and it was as magical as anything to be found there.
The host performers were amazing; making us feel as though we were old friends who had been sorely missed and whose return was most welcome. The interiors were vivid and so full of detail it was difficult to catch everything that was going on. Spotting a ship in a bottle behind the bar as it weathered a storm within the bottle and sank from sight was wondrous. Watching the walls of masks bedevilling the Colonel and calling him a liar as he attempted to build on his own glory with stories of each mask's recovery or capture. Where to look? What to see? What did I miss?
The Adventurers' Club was amazing and will always be something I miss dearly from Disney's Magic.
My brother and I used to go every week when I was in college. We wore period outfits and did improv in the main salon with the cast. One of my brother's fake business cards (for parapsycholgist "Dr. Aldon Nile") was placed in a display case by the floor manager. Who knows where most of those wonderful props are now.
I wish they would bring it back. Had so much fun there.
This is one of the best videos I have ever seen on UA-cam period. Thank you so, so much for making this. I’m actually crying right now.
I was able to visit in 2007. Glad I experienced it. Great overview.
Even though I only got to go a couple times years ago as a teen, I am still absolutely obsessed with this place and the SEA. Also, shout out to that serendipitous cameo from Lou Mongello of WDW Radio!
It Was The Very, Very Best! Miss it so much!
Sorely missed because it was clever as heck. Like a mashup of Tiki Room and TGI Fridays. It was so much fun! And the 2nd room was an amazing surprise... the piano would smoke and come to life on its own. There was nothing wrong with this place. Such a shame.
With my Pleasure Island Annual Pass, I started going to the Adventurers Club back in January 1990. Wow!
I really miss it. Last week my wife & I flew down to WDW and ended up in Trader Sam's with some ol' friends. It's similar to the AC in some ways ... but certainly not the same.
#Kungaloosh
Great video! I'm glad I found your channel! I'm working my way through all the videos :D
Adventurers Club was great and I'm forever sad it's gone. It's especially sad to dine at The Edison and realize where the different parts of the club used to be. :'(
I went there I loved it more than anything at Disney explorer demonstrations and talks were the best !!! I can't remember his name but the explorer who did the demonstration about the giant pigeon .....I miss that place I felt like crying when It got taken down Disney will never have a more fun emersive experience than the Adventurers Club
I visited Disney Springs on my last trip. Needless to say all the character Downtown Disney once had was drained. The fun we had at Downtown Disney became a memory. It was just a lot of extra walking through a place that we could go to in the Smokies (which ultimately is 100 times better because it has a Ferris Wheel. Needless to say the only good thing to come out of that night was a photo with the Coke Cola bear and an opening day Pin from Shanghai Disneyland. I was only a kid when Pleasure Island was shut down and finally being of age I could see my family (with no kids) having a wonderful time at the Adventurers club and Comedy Warehouse. I could easily see it being something we'd return to year after year despite the price just because of how fun it was.
It was the best. Never have I seen a place like it.
Spent most of my 20's at Adventurers Club. Miss it all too this day. 💔
This is the place my friend and I went to in 98, we loved it. So much fun.
I was fortunate enough to get to go first hand in 2007 and I'm so grateful for the experience. It was the best thing I've ever done on any trip anywhere. And I've been a lot of places. I've never laughed so hard in my life.
It's one of the places I most wish I could have visited at Disney. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much, it truly sounds like a special place! - Luke
Yee Haw Bob has the drinking song as part of his set. I was wondering what the song was from, haha! Awesome video, man. I just discovered your channel today and binged all the history stuff in one sitting. Great way to spend an afternoon sick in bed. Totally agree that this is THE extinct Disney thing I'd most love to do.
I loves this place. My first visit was in 94 or 95. When I was working at Disney in in 2007 until it closed we went at least once a week. I was fortunate to be there on the last night, fir one last ride. Kungaloosh!
I got to go back in the late '90s. I loved it.
This was truly a unique experience. So much fun. The first few years it was open it was not overly crowded and it was easy to get inside. Then they started to allow corporations to rent the place out when it opened, and you couldn't enter until like 10 PM. At that time the guests from the corporations were having such a good time, they would never leave, and it was way over crowded to enjoy yourself. It was just luck of the draw as to when it was rented out. But it was sooo much fun, nothing like ever. !
I loved this place, i went every time i was in Downtown Disney
I don't miss much of the past. Time does march on.
But . . . the Adventurer's Club . . . I miss that ol' place. I first discovered it in 1991 and fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. It was the massive rumpus room basement I would like to have had. On our first visit there was when it was time, my wife was "volunteered" into performing on the Radio Show. An experience totally 180° from her normal introverted lifestyle. She must have been doing too good. The one actor who was like running the show, would change his lines somewhat so my wife would miss her cue, and then he would do something, like nudge her to get her to say her next line. Very nice light comedic moment. It was also nice to see her come out of her shell for once, also. Every night during our stay, that's where I'd be.
People here say they could bring it back . . . I don't agree. It would be a corporate shell of itself. It would be too popular. It could never have the charm of the original, and thus would be a disappointment. Take the concept, but change the vibe. Trader Jack's could adopt some of the type of show, and interactions. But there can never be another Adventurer's Club in Orlando. Put one in Tokyo S.E.A. That would be the best adoptive home.
When I was in Florida for the next couple of years, I had to make the pilgrimage to Orlando to spend one more glorious evening there, as I would never know which time may be my last. February of 1994 was my last visit.
Kungaloosh, and farewell to "the Club".
You’re spot on about it not working for a reboot. They couldn’t sanitize it enough for the corporate world view of modern Disney. The British Colonial theme alone would be considered offensive; ala the removal of several original props, stories and skipper jokes in The Jungle Cruise attraction. Innuendo humor like this wouldn’t be tolerated now either. The organic quality of the experience would be lost. Times change, and so do attitudes and preferences; c’est la vie.
I didn’t visit WDW until 2004 and I didn’t know about The Adventurer’s Club or I would have loved to see it in person. Hopefully I’ll see some of the remnants in Tokyo Disneyland one day.
Apparently they had too many people just visiting and not ordering any drinks. I really miss this place and the Comedy Warehouse too!
I miss it so much! :-(
I've seen this. Very different. A lot of fun. Wish I had more to share with the actors there. They were too good.
You know, many of us are missing the AC. Why don’t we all actually become the adventurer’s club? Is anything stopping us from continuing on the magic?
If you see me on a trail or at a campsite in my Xterra it is named the Kwango Kate. Let’s adventure, make some stories and explore. Kongaloosh!
I just found your channel and absolutely love it! The Adventurers Club is definitely one of the things at Disney I most wish I could have experienced. While I did go to Disney many times while it was open, my family never went over to Pleasure Island. The Adventurers Club sounds like it was an amazing place!
It truly is the one Disney thing I wish I could have experienced first hand as well, thanks for the kind words! - Luke
So sad this is gone. I bought a adventure club shirt at Disney Style .
My favorite experience for the week I was in Disney of 2005
I'm just here because it's a map in Garry's Mod.
Man. We were there when the Adventurer's Club was open. It sounded amazing and like something that I really would have enjoyed, but my sister, unfortunately wasn't old enough to go so we couldn't go to it.
I used to love this!
Was the best thing about Disney, hands down
You are so underrated!
This club closed when I was 8 years old, before I ever knew anything about the Society of Explorers and Adventurers
I went to this in Pleasure Island in 1994 as an 11 year old. I loved it but thought no way could you stage that, and that it was pre-determined but made to look like improv (like professional wrestling).
Also, I continued to hollar Kungaloosh. People sometimes call the police
The Adventures Club should have been a themed dining venue instead of a bar. Having a separate showroom did not make any sense, but I would have as a dining room.
I still don’t see why aside from corporate creative bankruptcy this amazing club couldn’t still exist in Disney Springs.
Oh the distance to the store
Dang. Sounds like fun.
I wish I could have seen this.
I miss the Adventures Club. It should have been made into a sit down restaurant
You used to be able to buy a canteen and get unlimited cheap refills. Woah buddy that was worth the price
At least we have the GMod map…
It's sad I am no able to experience this in Hong Kong Disneyland. I hope in future plans of Hong Kong Disneyland, they build a Disney springs like shopping district which I feel like it'll appeal a lot more guest!
It's a shame Hong Kong doesn't have a Dining, Shopping and Entertainment district to keep guests around after the park closes, the Resort becomes so barren after park hours. - Luke
@@ReviewTyme I agree
@4:52 - *and his ridiculous, single droopy earlobe.
Does anyone know the name of the intro music?
Is there a story about the club and why it's trapped in the same night over and over again. If you keep going back and know codes can you move the story along?
The entire Pleasure Island celebrated New Years Eve every night. It was a way for Disney to increase nightly visitors.
Disneyland and California Adventure have stripped away almost all mentions of these guys because in California, we hate fun
Fun fact: you looked this up because you played the Garry’s mod map
KONGALOOSH!!!!
Est.1927-1937
I was a bartender there
JOE ROHDE (RO-DEE)
One thing I hate I never saw
Although it's not quite the same, try visiting Trader Sam's Grog Grotto at the Polynesian Resort. Bar stools sink, employees act improvisationally, and certain drink orders elicit theatrical changes around the bar.
I was there once, it was boring and the improv made no sense. The crowd was too huge to interact with anyone.
First like
I thought it was a stupid place. I went in there a couple of times and I didn't like it at all. It made no sense and you don't know what to do when you go in there. A bunch of people yelling and making some sort of "look at me" noise to get everyone's attention. It wasn't for me. I know I'm not the only one that felt like that. I preferred the Cage dance club and the Comedy warehouse.
It's a good thing it's gone. It represented colonialism and the 1%. This video should be deleted as hate speech for not pointing that out.
You seem like so much fun 😒