While I do have a "youngish" child, I also travel to Disney without him -- and many parents enjoy letting their kids have fun in one of the resort "clubs" while they go to an adult "club" themselves. (Again, Sue pegged it beautifully -- adult doesn't mean x-rated or objectionable, it just means something geared towards adults.)
I'm hoping that the physical location of the A/C in a spot that could be left as a stand-alone place might be hope for it being saved. Disney might be willing (if enough people write to them to voice their complaints about losing such a fine source of entertainment) to let it remain or to re-open it once the construction around it is complete. BTW, although the petition is great, personal and individual letters to Disney will have far more impact -- I urge everyone who feels strongly about this (and any) change at Disney to write to them. Emails are good, but printed and mailed letters are said to have even more weight with them.
Seriously, with what has happened to homogenize Disney's merchandising over the past 18 months, I can see why they would want to bring in outside vendors -- they themselves aren't offering the "repeat customer" much to spend their money on. But that doesn't mean they have to raze a wonderful source of fun.
Eileen
PS - here's two ways to make your voice heard -- directly to Disney!
Walt Disney World Guest Communications
P.O. Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040
guest.mail@wdw.disneyonline.com