The Night Kingdom?!

(I posted this on my other blog on Friday, but I feel so strongly about it that I decided to bring it over here, too.)

I love Disney's Adventurers Club. With the recent changes at Pleasure Island, the future of the Club has been in question. Recently an interesting new rumor has surfaced on Jim Hill's site, and I'm not sure what to think about it.

Apparently Disney wants to open a new "park" to compete with Seaworld's Discovery Cove. Admission will be more expensive than the other parks, and it will not feature any rides or other traditional attractions. Instead, it will have a gourmet restaurant, broadway style show, and special experiences like a bat cave, hippo feeding encounter, and night vision animal watching. I think it sounds like a great after-hours idea for Animal Kingdom, but weak as a stand-alone park.

The problem is that supposedly The Adventurers Club would be relocated to act as the portal into this park. From the sound of it, it would no longer be a separate club, which means that unless you want to pay the $300 entry fee for the park you won't get into the Club either. I think this is a horrible idea. Having the Club characters appear at this new park could be good, and I wouldn't mind ANOTHER club popping up elsewhere - but they need to leave the real Club alone. If they really want to move or expand it, they still need to make it accessable to everyone, not just those who are on their way into the Night Kingdom.

The Club is much more than a glorified lobby, and it shouldn't be treated as such! We have planned trips to Orlando for the specific purpose of going to the Club. It is a large part of all of our WDW trips, and I would be sad to lose that. The Club has engaging characters and a gifted cast that ensures that no two visits are the same. It is one of the hidden gems of Walt Disney World, one of the most unique experiences on Disney property. The Club is a destination in and of itself; it shouldn't be reduced to a waystation on the way through to your next Adventure.