DennyP Travel Forums Resorts Hedonism II Is The Disco Still Relevant?

On my recent New Year's Eve Trip, I made a point of stopping into the disco just about every night of the week and found it virtually empty. A DJ was playing music, bartenders were present, but there were few (if any) people at the bar or on the dancefloor.

I seem to recall in years passed that more folks were in the disco but the numbers have declined over my last couple of trips. Thus my question: Is the disco still relevant?

Has anyone else noticed this decline in the disco usage or is it just my perception? (Maybe the time of year I'm going?)

Also:

• Do you think the disco should be re-purposed?
• If so, what should it be? If not, why keep it around if so few visit?
• Should they hold more events to draw people there (e.g., bring back the PJ Party?)?

Does it still smell like stale beer? Hopefully this was fixed during the remodeling.

My findings at the disco and my recollection over time are similar to yours. I think it is relevant, just currently less attractive than the piano-bar. That may correspond with the evolving demographic but some don’t go for the piano-bar. I think they used to have more dancing at dinner with Roots Explosion, but Showtime has seemed to take over in place of what I recall as being more “dinner and dancing.” So with less dancing at dinner, sometimes it is nice to have a place with a little room to dance. They held the foam party in the disco on one of my trips. That was very fun.

@Carter - I did not notice any foul smells when I went in, but you raise a good point. In the past, the smell wasn't very good and that is probably what turned off some folks (that and perhaps the air circulation wasn't always as good as it could have been).

I also recall a few foam parties inside the disco; the past couple of years, they have been held in that area just outside the disco (that former "skating rink"?).

But you're right -- the piano bar does seem to be the more attractive option these days. After the piano bar, however, I would have expected the disco to be busier but it wasn't. So what's everyone doing? Hot Tub? Playroom? Hanging out in the courtyard?

I used to enjoy doing the Disco, but somehow it just started to be less fun - the crowds got thinner until the scene was dead.
Probably, if a new wave of thirty somethings were to make Hedo a return destination the energy would come back, but that hasn't happened either.

I blame Social Media for making people too self conscious of themselves and unwilling to let their hair down.

I think it depends on the guests that are there on any particular week. When groups make it a point to promote it as one of the focal points of the nights' after dinner festivities and actively remind guests that they should come to the disco at a certain time it gets a lot more traffic, the dance floor fills up, and it's a lot of fun.

It would be even better if Hedo opened it up earlier than 10:30PM... 9:30 would be good. I've been putting this on the suggestions card, hopefully they'll eventually listen.

Agree. Felt like I was visiting a ghost town whenever I went there. It was almost spooky.


I would not discount that, but it certainly seems to me that the energy level at the piano bar can tend to be pretty high most nights, even with us geezers.

But in order for the place to fill up, wouldn't the group would have to promote their event as open to all and not just to members of their group?

I'm not opposed to that idea either. My guess as to why they don't implement that policy is that they are afraid it might detract from what's going on at the piano bar on any given night.

Of course. The disco is always open to all when it opens at its normal time at night. What I mean is when groups make it a point to remind their guests that there's going to be a party in the disco starting at a certain time via whatever itinerary/schedule that they provide and through verbal reminders from hosts, it's a lot more likely that people show up.

I know Winston or the other EC's make announcements about what's going on at the end of the nights' shows, but a lot of people (especially Hedo first timers) end up missing those and wondering what there is to do after dinner.

I think you've hit on the key point here: repetition. Only one announcement, some people will show up. Make multiple announcements throughout the day (e.g., beach, pools, piano bar) would reach a larger number of people and reinforce the event with those who heard it previously. This increases the likelihood that more people would show. As we know from TV commercials, repeat it enough times and the message will eventually resonate.

Ah, repeat it often enough and it becomes the truth....grin!

Another thing I've encountered on past trips is that some guests don't even realize where the disco is until a few nights have passed and they've learned by word of mouth. Maybe up on the upper deck near the steps that lead down there, there should be a lit sign for the disco (which is now called Four Play Club according to the Hedo webpage) with an arrow pointing down to the entrance because that door down by the disco bar is pretty hidden if you're not looking for it.

Interesting point -- veterans would know where to look for it, but for first-timers, it might be something of an Easter egg hunt.

It's not too difficult to follow the sound to the disco. You can hear (and feel) it pretty much across the resort.

We've been to Hedo many times and have never been fans of the disco. For us the music is to loud. One would think they would play a slow dance song once and a while.

We always loved the disco, been to Hedo 40 times or so. In the mid 90s, it was always jacked up and that energy kept up for 10-12 years. I think part of the decline of the Disco, younger folks don't seem to dance as much. Add the fact that many stay almost exclusively at the Piano Bar for hours. Back in the day, you could literally feel the vibe of the resort, and you followed it. Especially, when there was a group of folks, didn't have to be a formal group, brought that certain "something" that attracted others...energy!!!! Without the energy is the disco, it began to be boring.

We are returning to Jamaica on 2/4 for 8 nights. Now we stay on the beach at other resorts. But we will be visiting on a night pass this time...just to see the ole gal one more time.

IMO, the disco was smelly, hot with a terrible sound system. The DJ did not even try to play to the demographic of the crowd and seemed to play for his own enjoyment only. I had hoped the extensive renovation would bring back the crowds. Last November it was all new and shinny but they still didn't have any seating in the bar area and it was almost empty every night I passed through after the piano bar closed. I'm hopeful they have completed furnishing it and will attract the crowds back.

In November on Thursday before the ECs were fully prepped for the foam party, my husband and I and another couple popped into the Disco. 70s disco was playing so we got in a hustle and checked out the new furniture/decor. NO one else was there at that time. NO smelliness when we were there.

I agree with Anita...making better music will always appeal to folks, but so many long-time guests stopped going so advertising a newer ambiance would be needed.

I found the "renovation" of the disco a bit underwhelming, especially when compared to the renovations done elsewhere on the resort. True, it didn't smell bad but if that's the best you can say about it, then there's a problem. Seats at the bar would definitely be a good idea. Hopefully, they're not finished updating it and will take that suggestion to heart.

I believe there is still some furniture on order for the disco but I doubt bar seats are part of it. Inconsistent with the vibe they want there... keep bar traffic moving and people dancing. There's plenty of seating away from the bar if you want to chill.

I guess that means we have to drag the chairs from the patio outside into the bar? (Assuming the chairs are still there, of course)

Precisely! Not exactly an ambiance that communicates "come on in and stay a while".

True, but I assumed (perhaps incorrectly) that seating was more for folks who wanted to "play".

I haven't been to Hedo in a few years, but from what I remember of the disco bar, there was always a crowd pressed up against the bar ordering drinks. Bar stools would have been a huge impediment.

I miss the fact that you can no longer go down the water slide and attempt to butt-slam the Disco window...

I believe they got rid of the slide a while back because someone got seriously injured (but my memory may be failing me on that one).

It was also falling apart.

I recall the same thing.

I remember one of our girls trips going down the slide over and over until they finally closed it....we were hanging out in the bottom pool and heard this squeaky sound over and over ...eventually this dude comes inching down the slide without the water on....it was pretty funny....and we may have been drunk as well, which added to the hilarity.

The water slide was sold and is still in use at a waterpark down the street.

Probably not allowing nude sliding, though!

Glad we got to use the slide when it was new and very popular.

Is there ANY seating in the bar area now? Last November they had a few tall table tops, but no chairs and nothing where their used to be bench seating.

Cushioned Bench seating around parts of the perimeter are in the main bar area of the disco. The stadium hard wood seating is mostly missing from the dance floor.

Is the removal of the hardwood seating an improvement or a detriment? On the one hand, its removal creates more space for dancing, but on the other hand, if fewer people are actually dancing, wouldn't it be good to have it available as additional seating choices?

The stadium seating was nice for pole dancing events.