News: Disney closing Pleasure Island nightclubs

Posted at 3:35 PM EDT (1935 GMT)

Jun. 28th, 2008 -- Walt Disney World is closing its six nightclubs at Pleasure Island.

The clubs will close after Sept. 27 to make Downtown Disney more family friendly. Disney will reopen Pleasure Island with more restaurants and stores over the next couple of years.

Disney officials are calling the change "a bold new vision" for Downtown Disney.

Pleasure Island opened in 1989 and was blamed by some for a decline in downtown Orlando's nightlife in the 1990s. It sits in the middle of two areas marketed to families, so the music, drinking and partying stood out from the rest of the atmosphere.

Though the nightclubs are closing, the other businesses on Pleasure Island will remain open. They include restaurants, a cigar bar and clothing stores.

For more, visit orlandosentinel.com.