Merriweather Adam Pleasure

**Merriweather Adam Pleasure** is the central character from the defunct *Pleasure Island* area of Downtown Disney in *Walt Disney World*.

## History

### Biography

#### Background

Merriweather Adam Pleasure was born on the November 18 of 1873 in New South Frewsberg, Pennsylvania to mining magnate August W. "Gold Rush Gus" Pleasure and actress Lydia "The American Venus" LaMarr. While August attempted to get Merriweather into the family mining business, Merriweather rebelled at the age of 18 and made his own fortune by selling commodities on the *New York* *Curb Exchange*. With this wealth, Merriweather Adam Pleasure became a tycoon in the steel industry. In 1898, he courted a woman named Isabella Domenico whom after only three weeks, he married.

By 1900, Pleasure was a member of the *Society of Explorers and Adventurers*, a guild of aristocratic colonizers from across the globe. Pleasure was also seemingly a member of their splinter-faction, "The Pillagers Brigade" which had the mission of robbing Indigenous peoples of their artifacts. Pleasure would have been part of an 1899 mission to The Congo Basin alongside senior member Harrison Hightower III where they were attacked by angered locals leading to Hightower and his manservant Smelding being separated from the group.

In 1900, Pleasure went on a riverboat expedition for S.E.A. in Florida's Kissimmee river where he survived an alligator attack. This expedition was commemorated by S.E.A. by mounting the oar and gator-skull from the mission on a wall outside of the Enchanted Tiki Room in Polynesia. As a member of the society, Pleasure would visit their secret base in the colonial mansion of fellow member and British colonizer, Dr. Albert Falls.

#### Pleasure Island

On the New Year's Eve of 1901, the Pleasures had their first son in the form of Stewart Pleasure. On the same day in 1905, they had another son named Henry. While sailing in the Gulf of Mexico, Merriweather had visions of a germanic deity known as, "The Funnmeister" which lead Pleasure to the Ferderber Peninsula of Central Florida. Here, Pleasure encountered the ghosts of Indigenous worshipers of the Funmeister before he purchased the land.

In 1912, the Pleasures had a daughter named Merriam Pleasure and upset that she wasn't born on a holiday, they legally changed her birthday to New Year's Eve. While colonizing the peninsula, Pleasure also established a new business called *Pleasure Canvas and Sailmakers*. Prior to 1913, Pleasure became disaffected with the *Society of Explorers and Adventurers* so created his own splinter-faction known as, "The Adventurers Club". An original member of this club was Theodore Roosevelt, a friend of the Pleasures who often visited the peninsula.

In 1917, Pleasure celebrated the end of World War I by setting off, "The World's Largest Firecracker" which turned the Peninsula into, "Pleasure Island". In 1918, the Pleasures had a mansion constructed on the island which quickly became cramped by his trophies from his hunting, archaeology and colonial pillaging. Due to the cramping of the manor, Pleasure had a headquarters for the club constructed on Pleasure Island in 1921 by renowned architects Sir Edwin Luytens, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and Eliel Saarinen. In 1927, the club had their first, "Balderdash Cup" competition which was also the only Balderdash Cup which Pleasure won.

On Pleasure Island, Merriweather's constant celebrations had him become known as, "**The Grand Funnmeister**". Pleasure also created various establishments for technological and scientific studies across the island where he created a flying device called, "The X-Thing" and tried making contact with aliens. In 1937, he constructed a new, even larger mansion off of Pleasure Island as an anniversary present for Isabella.

#### Disappearance

In 1944, a group of corrupt land-developers tried to take Pleasure Island to turn into a resort. Before they had the opportunity, Hurricane Charlotte swept across Florida on the December 31 of 1944. Pleasure was last seen evacuating Pleasure Island and then subsequently disappeared. Decades later, archaeologists saw what appeared to be Pleasure's ghost, inviting them to the island.

### Development history

Merriweather Adam Pleasure was created for the *Pleasure Island* area of Downton Disney in Walt Disney World.

## Jungle Cruise appearances

### Skipper Canteen

In the Falls estate is a fez belonging to Merriweather Adam Pleasure and books by him including, "Another New Year", "Global Night Celebrations" and "American Prosperity Abroad".

### Tropical Hideaway

On a wall in this island location is an oar commemorating Merriweather Adam Pleasure's 1900 river-expedition on the Kissimmee river of Florida.

### Other connections

#### Jungle Cruise

In Alberta Falls' office within the boathouse of the Lost Delta is a parcel sent to her by Merriam Pleasure at the Adventurers Club. Pleasure Island used to be referenced in the Amazon River Base via a parcel addressed to the office of Pamelia Perkins.

#### Tower of Terror

A group portrait including Pleasure from the Adventurers Club was later revealed to depict the Pillagers Brigade and Harrison Hightower III on the Congo expedition where he stole Shiriki Utundu.

#### Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar

Trader Sam has a framed photograph of Merriam's mother, Isabella Pleasure riding the Orient express in 1907. There are also various references to the Adventurers Club and Sam's affiliation with them.

## Other appearances

### Aunty's Beach House

A portrait from the Adventurers Club originally stated to depict Merriweather appears in the home of late Adventurers Club member, "Dreamy Ka'imi". A letter from Pamelia Perkins identifies it as portraying the Pillagers Brigade of Harrison Hightower III in the Congo in 1899.

### Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Merriweather Adam Pleasure is the fictitious namesake for this Walt Disney World spa. In the spa's fictional backstory, he created the building as an anniversary gift for his wife Isabella.

### D-Street

Pleasure is mentioned on a plaque on the history of Scooter the peacock's taxidermy body.

### Pleasure Island

Pleasure was referenced throughout this area of Downtown Disney.

## References

1. ↑ http://www.mainstgazette.com/2009/08/estate-suitable-for-someone-of-their.html
2. ↑ https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2021/07/16/photos-new-jungle-cruise-characters-introduced-as-guests-enter-attraction-queue/
3. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BeKke44FPhb/