3. Forbidden Disney

Most people remember the fantastic improv show at the Comedy Warehouse. Building on suggestions from the audience, the talented cast created shows that could easily rival television’s Whose Line Is It Anyway? But far fewer remember what used to take place inside the Comedy Warehouse during the early days.

Forbidden Disney was the first time Disney publicly spoofed itself. A 45-minute musical extravaganza making fun of everything from classic characters to long lines for attractions, it was both one of the most popular shows Walt Disney World has ever done and one of the most polarizing. Those who loved it, really, really loved it. But those who were opposed made their opinions heard loudly and clearly. Thus, the Forbidden Disney Wars began.

The show was in a constant state of flux as management and writers tried to push the envelope as far as possible without going over the edge. Eventually, it was deemed too controversial and scrapped altogether in favor of the improv show.

4. Rotating dance floor and drunken roller skating

Mannequins Dance Palace was a rite of passage for many Pleasure Island fans, as it was one of the only over-21 clubs, and by far the trippiest. Bizarre lighting, techno-trance music, and a full complement of both real and human mannequins turned the place into an underground-style nightclub that always seemed more East Village than Walt Disney World. But the rotating dance floor was arguably the best feature. The later it got, the drunker the clientele, the more pileups on the edge of that floor. It was great for people watching!

But the rotating floor at Mannequins had nothing on the original idea for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Beach Club. In its early days, it was known as the XZFR Rockin’ Rollerdrome. Hey everyone, let’s go get drunk and strap on a pair of roller skates! What could possibly go wrong? It closed for obvious reasons less than a year into Pleasure Island’s existence. The Beach Club kept much of the same theme, but turned the skating rink into a shoes-required dance floor.

5. Videopolis East

For those of us who came of age at just the right time, Videopolis East is indelibly embedded in our teenage memories. When Pleasure Island opened in 1989, it was an odd mix of adults-only (Mannequins) and family-friendly (most other clubs, where children were welcome with a parent). While adult supervision was required on most of the Island, Videopolis East was a teens-only hangout. It got its name from the original Videopolis, then a Fantasyland music venue inside Disneyland.

A no-alcohol nightclub with new wave music, 170 video screens, and a dystopian futuristic theme represented by strange machinery, Videopolis East was suddenly the coolest place in town for local and visiting teens. I met the cast of the 1990s Mickey Mouse Club there a few times, as well as kids from around the world. Still, the middle of an adult-oriented, gated nightclub complex might not have been the smartest location for a no-alcohol teen club.

Videopolis East closed in less than a year and was replaced by The Cage. Same nightclub, same premise, but now those under 18 had to be accompanied by an adult and the club sold alcohol. That lasted until December 1992, when it closed to become the adults-only 8TRAX, playing the best of the 1970s and 1980s.

Did I leave out any of your favorites? What do you miss most about Pleasure Island? Let us know in the comments!