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Month: September 2015

Ep 47 – Look Who’s Talking

On today’s show we go way off topic when Robert from Mickey Updates joins us. It’s a packed show with hot takes, new insights and plenty of news regarding local tourism. During The Punch List Jay, Jake, Brian and Ken talk about the huge news coming out of Port Canaveral, what the tragedy in Seattle means for the future of duck tours, the odd move for Night of Joy, plus what a petition might’ve just helped bring back to WDW. It’s a big show but stick around for a big announcement at the end.

Show Notes

Hosts

Recording Dates: Main Event- 9-27-15 | Punch List- 9-28-15

Music

 

The Punch List

-News We Skipped-

 

Recommendations

 

The Main Event

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Ep 46 – That Seven Year Saving The Island Itch

Today King Bob of the Save Pleasure Island blog stops by to talk Disney Springs, the 7th anniversary of the closure of Pleasure Island and the future of night life in Central Florida. The interview takes place on location at Disney Springs and part walking tour, part history lesson and part look at the future.

During the Punch List the crew talks about Blizzard Beach, Disney canning cover bands, Pop Century’s odd new menu, local celebrity sightings, downtown hotel towers, local roadside attractions and much more.

The show is flipped from the regular model with an extended Punch List and shorter Main Event but today’s show has even more news in it than usual.

Show Notes

Hosts

The Punch List Music

The Main Event Music

Closing Song

Recording Dates- Punch List: 9-21-2015 | Main Event: 9-18-2015 at Disney Springs

The Punch List

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Ep 45 – Cali VIPs

Today we have a full house as all but two of the regular hosts join us in a Punch List full of rabbit trails and additions. We talk about a giant observation that’s not in Orlando, a Soarin’ ride that’s not at Epcot, something that is closing at Magic Kingdom which the theme park community all seems ok with, a future where Orlando might not be the top tourist destination, and how to properly build a good drainage ditch.

During the Main Event we go high-end when Jake gives a trip report from Discovery Cove and his VIP tours at Disneyland, UOR and USH. He also mentions some from his visit to San Francisco’s Walt Disney Family Museum, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and more.

Show Notes

Hosts

Recording Date: Punch List: 9-13-15 | Main Event: 9-14-15

The Punch List Music

The Main Event Music

Closing Music

The Punch List

Disneyland announces new $300 breakfast that allows you to eat on the Jungle Cruise’s African veldt and captain a Jungle Cruise boat.

WDW announces new dessert party that will take place on one of 7 Seas Lagoon’s double-decker ferry boats. Its only $99.

Now along with Magicbands Disney will ship you luggage tags when you book a hotel room at WDW 

China shuts down 153 factories so that Shanghai Disneyland can have blue skies

UAE could rival Orlando’s tourism numbers

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Ep 44 – Tim Grassey’s Great Big Beautiful WDW Rumor Round-Up

Today we skip the news and instead bring the longest interview we’ve ever done with over an hour and half of uninterrupted Tim Grassey goodness. The show covers almost every single rumor currently circling Walt Disney World with a few new ones as well. Tim gives details on why Joe Rohde says he doubts Giant Pandas will ever come to DAK, why Tim thinks Osborne Lights might be moving to DTD and how accurate these Frontierland rumors are. Some Universal comparisons are brought into the conversation and at the end of the interview Ken asks ‘What? No love for Ferris Wheels or alligators?’ Not today Ken, not today.

Show Notes

Hosts

Recording Date: 9-1-2015

Music- Main Event Intro

The Punch List

While we skip The Punch List on today’s episode here a few of the bigger tourism stories from the past week.

Wet n Wild sues to stop drainage into the man-made lake

Artegon Cinemark getting $3 Million upgrade

Smart City fined $750,000 for blocking Wi-Fi signals (Smart City is the telecom provider of OCCC)

World’s largest arcade game being built-in OSC during Maker Faire Orlando

Pearl Seas Cruise Line announces cruise from Port of Palm Beach to Cuba

Florida Ports Council Elects New Chairman

Space Coast Office of Tourism to step up promotions next year

Former Miami Detective says now is the time to legalize prostitution

Pitbull partners with Visit Florida as our state’s newest brand ambassador 

St. Augustine celebrates 450th Anniversary with new distillery

Jungle Cruise Sunrise Safari Breakfast at DL

Now along with Magicbands Disney will ship you luggage tags when you book a hotel room at WDW 

Robot butlers hired at Aloft hotels

DreamWorks leaves Disney distribution deal, is DW headed to UOR?

Events

Magical Dining Month– Now through Sept 30

M.C. Escher at Dali Museum now through Jan 3

O-Town Mac Down for GKTW – Sept 12

The Pineapple Ball – Oct 17

Cast of Willy Wonka coming to Spooky Empire – Oct 30- Nov 1

The Main Event

WDW Theme Parks

E-Ticket Report

Tim Grassey Recommends- Keys to the Kingdom Tour

Gregory of UUOP’s question

Joe Rohde’s Instagram post regarding Dinorama

WDW Theme Parks Giant Panda info

Bungalower’s question

Winter Park’s former Pig Sculpture

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Ep 43 – Kubersky’s Art Night At The Cat Cafe

Seth Kubersky stops by to talk about his new Universal Orlando guidebook. The local art scene, the future of 192, casinos, and California theme parks are all discussed. Plus what type of shoes Seth loves to wear to theme parks and his favorite district in town to go out for a night on the town. During the Punch List we talk about all the new hotel rooms announced for the area (over 2,000 in the past week alone!), our private conversation with the Maglev company, the future of museums in St Pete and Central Florida’s new cat café that’s about to open. News from Tampa, Daytona, Port Canaveral, Skyplex, iSquare, and SeaWorld is also included.

Show Notes

Hosts

Recording Dates: Main Event- Aug 26, 2015 | Punch List- Aug 31, 2015

Punch List Intro

Main Event Intro

Closing Song

 

Punch List

  1. UOR announces 400 more rooms in two new towers.
  2. Rosen announces 1,200-1,500 more rooms, spread across three OCCC area hotels (Shingle Creek, Centre and Plaza)
  3. New 365 room hotel announced for Universal Blvd (beside the Imagine Westin, across OCCC)
  4. Bike lanes, bus lanes discussed at I-Drive meeting
  5. New details on the SLR/I-Drive pedestrian bridge
  6. New renderings of Skyplex released
  7. Maglev chat- Groundbreaking by end of year, Phase 1 is OIA to I-Drive, Phase 2 I-Drive Circulator
  8. iSquare announces first retail tenant…a Subway
  9. Falcon’s to start licensing Turtle Trek for attractions world-wide
  10. Brevard Zoo plans an aquarium
  11. The Florida Aquarium partners with Florida Museum of Photographic Arts on new exhibit
  12. New $75 million western and native American art museum planned for St Pete
  13. Escapology announces a new room
  14. A Cat Café planned for Clermont (near 192/27 interchange)
  15. Daytona Lagoon sold to United Parks, $2 Million upgrade planned

 

The Main Event

 

Events

Magical Dining Month– Now through Sept 30

M.C. Escher at Dali Museum now through Jan 3

The 4th Annual Great Irish Hooley – Sept 4-7 @ Raglan Road

O-Town Mac Down for GKTW – Sept 12

The Pineapple Ball – Oct 17

 

Next Week on OTR – Tim Grassey of WDW Theme Parks and E-Ticket Report

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