March 9, 2017
Ep 96 – Kings Bowl, Florida Sports Expo contest, and James Gray in the closest
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This episode we start off with announcing a new contest we’re running over the next 24 hrs. Then we sit down with Robert Morris of Kings Bowl to discuss bowling in Orlando, managing an attraction on I-Drive, and the future of local tourism. After Morris leaves we have an extended Punch List where we go through a ton of local news including new details on Volcano Bay, info on Avatar, and a State Senator shares the latest on gondolas in Orlando.
Hosts
- Ken Storey
- Robert
- Ed
- Brian of Orlando Park Pass
- Jim of WildGravity Travels
- Andy of Theme Parks and Travels
- Jake of Orlando Park Pass
- Hotel Correspondent – Kyle
- Show Researcher – Jay
- Show Historian – Kevin Yee
Special Guest- Robert Morris, Director of Sales & Guest Systems Development at Kings Bowl
Recording Date- Feb 24, 2017 on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park
Punch List
Universal-
- Mark Woodbury Becomes Vice-Chairman of Universal’s Parks
- Universal Parks and Resorts Launch National Advertising and Brand Campaign
- Halloween Horror Nights 27 Vacation Package On Sale Now
- ProSlide teases new ride, could this be the one Ken announced in May of 2016?
Disney-
- Celebration at the Top with Fireworks Viewing at California Grill
- Shutters, Old Port Royale, and More Closing in 2017 at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- PI Update: Edison Blueprints
- Price increase for the 2017 Disney Dining Plan
- New D-Tech On Demand Station in ESPN Wide World of Sports (more coming to Pandora)
- Walt Disney World adds retro RV food truck to Fort Wilderness Resort with new takes on campground grub
- Dusty on MiceChat brings up the old rumor of $2 billion in new investments in MK/Epcot including Brazil coming to World Showcase
SEAS-
Other Attractions
- KSC to give visitors 6 seconds to Mars…err, weightless
- LEGOLAND Florida to Host Batman Movie Days in March 2017
- Breaking: Skyplex adds another heart-stopping thrill to ride portfolio
- Florida Mall adds 3 first-to-market specialty concepts
News
- American Maglev tells us new news within 90 days
- After last week’s show Florida State Senator told Ken that she “I still like the idea for going east and west hook up to sunrail” (with gondolas).
- After 52 years Cocoa cancels the Easter Day Surf Competition
- Senate pushes gaming deal
- Rick Scott fumes as House tourism bill moves ahead
- Florida’s Siesta Beach named best beach in the U.S. by TripAdvisor
- 138th Silver Spurs Rodeo brings out families, critics (20,000 to 25,000 people showed up)
- Phillips Center’s second phase to break ground next month
- Bank to take over Fashion Square Mall on Thursday
- Orlando to vote on $975M in OIA bonds and debt to build new terminal, more
- Metro Orlando hotels see increase in room rate, slight dip in January occupancy
- National tour operator seeks tax incentives to make Orlando its co-headquarters
- Chicago investor pays $6M for 26-acre resort on W192
- ContraVest buys land on Universal Blvd for second-phase apartments
- Madame Tussauds London getting its own giant-sized King Kong animatronic in new “Skull Island” experience
- Merged economic development/chamber group announces new name
- Jimmy Buffett community coming to Daytona
- iFly reveals opening date for new I-Drive location(two all-glass wind tunnels on April 27) What happened to the Skydiving museum that was announced for next door?
- Bass Pro opens in Daytona, more of the One Daytona project open this year
Comments and End of Show Notes-
February 21, 2017
Ep 95 – Seven Seas Food and Wine with a side of Flavortown
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In this food heavy episode of #OTRonFM Jim and Ed talk about their recent media review of Planet Hollywood. SeaWorld’s new Seven Seas Food and Wine Festival is reviewed by everyone, including Kevin Yee, who adds some context to this new food and wine festival in his Bigger Picture segment. We also react to the news coming out of Coronado Springs, Jim reviews Rivers of Light, and Ken goes in-depth with what’s happening regarding these rumors of a gondola transit system coming to WDW. It’s a Disney heavy episode but that’s where the news was this week!
Hosts
- Ken Storey
- Robert
- Ed
- Brian of Orlando Park Pass
- Jim of WildGravity Travels
- Andy of Theme Parks and Travels
- Jake of Orlando Park Pass
- Hotel Correspondent – Kyle
- Show Researcher – Jay
- Show Historian – Kevin Yee
Recording Date- Feb 17, 2017 on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park
Important Links
- Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs getting updates
- Disney blogoverse goes gondola crazy
- Geyser Point opens at Wilderness Lodge
- Rick Scott rallies to save Visit Florida. (He calls it “all politics,” asks “Why wouldn’t you market yourself? You don’t stop marketing yourself.”) More info here
- Florida welcomed nearly 113 million tourists in 2016
- 8th annual Entertainment Designers Forum scheduled for March 3
- Feb 25th– 3nd Annual “Be My Neighbor Day” Comes to Winter Park
- Jimmy Buffett community coming to Daytona
- Bass Pro opens in Daytona, more of the One Daytona project open this year
- BB-8 meet a Radio Shack robot meet and greet coming to DHS
- iFly reveals opening date for new I-Drive location (two all-glass wind tunnels on April 27) What happened to the Skydiving museum that was announced for next door?
- Excelsior Capital preps 38 acres on Palm Parkway for retail/commercial
- New Chefs, New Menu at Jiko—The Cooking Place at DAK Lodge
- In age of giant cruise ships Norwegian orders line of smaller boats, plans to use them to go to less traveled ports
- Revive is the name of the coffee stand at MK TL, special More S’mores Latte drink to be offered exclusively at kiosk
- Universal reveals ticket prices for its new VB water park in info packet to UK travel agents and it’s the same as a day at MK! ($126)
- Cuba isn’t as popular for tourists as many had thought it would be
- Disney Closes Side Entrance for Hollywood Studios Guests
February 18, 2017
Ep 94 – Dark Nights at CityWalk and a Roadtrip to Hogan’s Beach Shop
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In this episode of #OTRonFM we have a news roundup with news from nearly every single corner of Central Florida. We’re extra energetic this week after SoFlo Energy Drinks drops off some drinks for us. We chug the caffeine and dive into the news. We talk with someone who was at CityWalk when the power went out. Jim calls in with a review of Paddlefish. Ken gives a trip report from Hogan’s Beach Shop in Clearwater. We discuss the name of Fun Spot Kissimmee’s new coaster. And we ask if SeaWorld is properly training their employees these days.
Hosts
- Ken Storey
- Robert
- Ed
- Brian of Orlando Park Pass
- Jim of WildGravity Travels
- Andy of Theme Parks and Travels
- Jake of Orlando Park Pass
- Hotel Correspondent – Kyle
- Show Researcher – Jay
- Show Historian – Kevin Yee
Recording Date- Feb 10, 2017 on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park
Important Links
Fun Spot names its’ new coaster
Hulk Hogan partners with Joshua Wallack for new I-Drive beach shop
Is there an issue with employee training at SeaWorld? We debate if there’s been a recent decline in quality at the park.
Paddlefish is reviewed by Jim
Happily Ever After fireworks announced for Magic Kingdom
Bonnet Creek expands convention center
Is Grand Flo getting a major overhaul? Ken says no.
IAAPA announces new location for Orlando HQ
Holy Land Experience gives details and numbers for this year’s free day
New food association launches in Central Florida
The I-4 Eyesore tower could be finished by end of the year
DisneyQuest is confirmed to be closing, NBA Experience on the way
February 16, 2017
Ep 93 – UUOP goes viral and Ken asks…begs… for Planet Hollywood love
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Lee Mallaby of the Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast tells of how Jim Hill caused UUOP to go viral. Then Lee shares the latest information and rumors regarding Universal Orlando. The show starts with Ken expressing concern over Planet Hollywood getting a fair review. After Lee’s interview, the guys discuss the short-lived ArteGone twitter account.
Hosts
- Ken Storey
- Robert of Orlando Theme Park Updates
- Edof Orlando Theme Park Updates
- Brian of Orlando Park Pass
- Jim of WildGravity Travels
- Andy of Theme Parks and Travels
- Online Trends Correspondent – Jake of Orlando Park Pass
- Hotel Correspondent – Kyle
- Show Researcher – Jay
- Show Historian – Kevin Yee
Special Guest – Lee Mallaby of the Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast
Recording Date- Jan 27, 2017 on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park | Mallaby Interview Jan 25, 2017
Important Links
February 14, 2017
Ep 92 – Artegon goes but Art Stays
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On this #OTRonFM we have Shannon Youngs who is opening a brand-new showroom for local artists, including many of the artists who formerly called Artegon home. We discuss what went wrong at Artegon and how in the end it could be a positive thing for the Orlando area in the end. The owners of Gods & Monsters call in to share all the latest info on both their temporary and their permeant locations. Then Florida Soap Company calls in to share details on their new Altamonte location. Then we close out the episode with Ed opening his brand new MagicBand and we discuss the differences between version 1 and 2.
Hosts
- Ken Storey
- Robert of Orlando Theme Park Updates
- Ed of Orlando Theme Park Updates
- Brian of Orlando Park Pass
- Jim of WildGravity Travels
- Andy of Theme Parks and Travels
- Online Trends Correspondent – Jake of Orlando Park Pass
- Hotel Correspondent – Kyle
- Show Researcher – Jay
- Show Historian – Kevin Yee
Special Guest – Shannon Youngs of the 1280 Palmetto Showroom
Recording Date- Feb 2, 2017 – Live on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park