May 31, 2018
Ep 140 – Madame Tussaud’s Orlando talks Justice League
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Todd Andrus, Merlin’s Head of Marketing for its’ Orlando attractions, joins Ken, Ed, and Jake in the studio to discuss Madame Tussaud’s Orlando museum’s new Justice League attraction. The conversation includes details on the development of the new exhibit, the history of the attraction, and what we can expect next for Merlin in the Orlando market.
Then in Hour 2, Jake shares exclusive new details regarding updates happening at both the former Artegon mall and WonderWorks. Ken discusses the Hyperloop that might soon be connecting Orlando to Tampa. Then the guys talk about all the recent Universal rumors, including Star Trek, James Bond, and the most recent news regarding Nintendo. A new stage show rumored for DHS, updates at The Crayola Experience, and many other news items are discussed as well.
Recording Date- May 25, 2018 in Studio B at WPRK in Winter Park, FL
Important Links
POV of the boat ride at Madame Tussaud’s Singapore that Ken seems obsessed with
Madame Tussaud’s Ghostbuster attraction
NEWS
New details on Artegon’s replacement
The Crayola Experience gets a new exhibit
Hyperloop between Orlando and Tampa might be in the works
Mickey and the Magician stage show might be coming to WDW
May 24, 2018
Ep 139- Monarchs and Movies
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Full Sail’s Jacob Kaplan and Casey Tanous stop by to discuss the school’s role in launching The Monarch Initiative. This new program is filling Central Florida with beautiful murals and plants to help bring awareness to the plight of pollinators. National Geographic has taken note of how Audubon Park has taken a lead in the program. The conversation includes deep dives into the role of eco-tourism and how local businesses contribute to the area’s general wellbeing.
Then Orlando Film Commissioner Sheena Fowler calls in to discuss the area’s film industry. The conversation includes mentions of the new ‘Deal or No Deal’ filmings set to take place at Universal Orlando, the role local governments had in getting Tomorrowland to film here, and why Georgia and Louisiana are now better known for their film industry than Florida.
Recording Date: May 18, 2018 in Studio B at the WPRK Studios in Winter Park, FL
Important Links
News
I-Drive 360 is now ICON Orlando 360
American Dream Miami megamall is approved
New 1,200 room hotel heading to Universal Boulevard
U.S. Special Olympics coming to Orlando in 2022
Gambling Amendment gets hit by a lawsuit
Disney denies AR windows on monorails
May 8, 2018
Ep 138 – The Queen of Medieval Times
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We’re joined in studio by one of the Medieval Times queens and a show designer. They share their behind the scenes stories from over the years at Medieval Times, including the incredible work that went into the latest show. This new show is one of the company’s most ambitious and most historic.
Hour Two is filled with news including an update to the Florida Mall story we talked about a few weeks back. We also touch on the latest news from WDW including Dan Cockerell’s retirement and the end of Night of Joy.
Recording Date- April 27, 2018 in Studio B at WPRK Winter Park, FL
Show Notes
Hour One
Hour Two
Florida Mall panic at Apple store prompts a lawsuit
Trolls Topia- 4th park land, Kids Zone?
Night of Joy confirmed cancelled for WDW
Dan Cockerell, VP of Magic Kingdom Suddenly Departing Company
Fun Spot Orlando gets a Headrush 360
I-Drive’s high-flying StarFlyer debut pushed to June
Ride-sharing Safr coming to Orlando, focuses on women’s safety
April 26, 2018
Ep 137 – Holly V Kapherr talks the future of travel agents, Marineland, and Florida tourism
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Tourism writer Holly V. Kapherr talks about her recent Marineland article in Travel Weekly, her work with boutique hotels, and the future of casinos in Florida.
Recording Date- April 20, 2018 in Studio B at WPRK Studios in Winter Park, FL
Show Notes
Holly V Hapherr’s Travel Weekly | Orlando Weekly | Twitter
Travel Weekly’s Marineland coverage
Jeff Vahle has officially been named as president of Disney Signature Experiences.
- 2010 pact, the Tribe is bound to make monthly payments for the exclusive right to offer certain games, including blackjack
Air travel safety
- The last time there was an uncontained engine failure in a U.S. plane was in Sioux City, Iowa in 1989. That accident killed 111 of the plane’s 296 passengers
- almost 29,000 commercial flights a day in US
- Asiana in 2013 in San Fran last major incident
- 40 deaths worldwide in 2017
April 19, 2018
Ep 136 – The disturbing trend of chaos at The Florida Mall + poetic justice on Kirkman
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Ken points out a disturbing pattern of safety concerns at The Florida Mall. Then Ed and Ken discuss the latest news from both the Pirates Dinner Theater and the Main Street Theater.
SeaWorld’s latest issues with the SEC might actually have a silver lining. Ken gives the history behind Universal’s latest land grab and why Pointe Orlando needs to be even more worried.
Recording Date: April 13, 2018
Show Notes
Florida Mall panic
- 11 ppl injured
- 2016 incident in August 9 people injured (Shooting in parking lot in February)
- 2012 Nike incident
- Disney Springs Christmas panic event, only injury was a person who cut their foot
Magic Kingdom Theater removed from Coming Soon site
Rumors have been there for some time | Feb 2 article
- June 2017 SEAS stated in a regulatory filing “concerning disclosures and public statements made by the company and certain executives and/or individuals on or before August 2014, including those regarding the impact of the ‘Blackfish’ documentary, and trading in the company’s securities”
Ocean Odyssey opening 10 locations in the Middle East
National Travel and Tourism Office pulls their numbers after “probable undercount for 2017”
Universal land buy
- Endless Summer Resort
- ThrillGeek Podcast locations
- Disney Decade Op/Ed
Pointe Orlando Funky Monkey closes, Tommy Bahama closing