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Author: KLStorey

Ep 39 – John Frost Talks Orlando

John Frost of The Disney Blog stops by to talk Disney, Marvel and the future of Orlando’s theme parks. Living wage initiatives, SeaWorld, Gatorland and, yes, even casinos are all brought up in the conversation. During The Punch List Lissa and Ken get into it over parking at Disney World. Mr Brian weighs in on the new interactive shots bar coming to downtown Orlando and asks ‘are food trucks still a trend?’ LGBTQ rights in Osceola County are discussed ahead of an important vote there. Old Town announces a redo. Plus we recommend some upcoming events around the region.

Show Notes

Hosts

Song One (Punch List)

Song Two (Main Event)

Song Three (Closing)

Recording- The Main Event July 30, 2015 | The Punch List Aug 3, 2015

 

The Punch List

OCSC unveils new stadium. 25,500 capacity, fan plaza next door, canopy covering every seat, $155 Million fully privately funded.

New renderings and details for iSquare megamall.

Skyscraper changes ride manufacture: S&S out, Intamin in.

Old Town gets $10 Million in improvements.

Osceola County looks to add sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to protection from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Orlando celebrates being a Paper Town and proves they didn’t read John Green Day’s book (now a movie!)

Lissa was correct. Some scenes were filmed in Orlando.

Busch Gardens shuts down because of the rain

Gatorland hatches 19 Nile Crocodiles.  First time in 2 years.

World’s 5th largest cruise ship – Norwegian Epic – to sail from Cape Canaveral in November 2016

Swan & Dolphin gets into the food truck game

WDW gets new Director, Parks Arrival Experience, Program Management and Park Support. Valeria Bunting was the GM of Port Orleans and has worked previously at both MK and DAK.

DTD maps now list it as ‘Transforming into Disney Springs’ and districts are using new names finally. Save PI pointed out The Tunnels are being worked on.

Figment comic Series 2 heads to Epcot

The Main Event

The Disney Blog

Summary of rumors for SW at DHS in 2016

400 acres near the OCCC being sold

Disney and More article referencing possible SWO buyout

Caesars Magical Empire

Titanic Orlando experience

Fun Spot

Florida Resident Deals at Gatorland

This Week Around Orlando

Main Street Restaurant Week $5 – $30 prix fixe meals at 49 local restaurants

Mango’s hosting job fair August 7, 8

Taste of the Nation is Aug 8. GO!!

Florida Kids and Family Expo – August 29-30

The 21st Annual Harvest Grape Stomp is Aug 15 at Lake Ridge Winery

He Says, She Says. A Disney talking podcast. Follow along on Twitter @DisneyTalking

Next week we have BriMan from Orlando United joining us to talk HHN 25.  OU Radio had Robert Niles on last week.

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Ep 38 – Living the Florida Life with Dani of This Florida Life/Bay Lake Society

Dani of This Florida Life joins us today for our Main Event. She gives an industry insider perspective on the hospitality bubble and what it means for the future of Orlando. Plus she talks Bay Lake Society and much more. Richie stops by for The Punch List where we cover the recent rape at Downtown Disney, the new peer-reviewed study on captive killer whales, Ripley’s expansion plans to Africa, and recent construction announcements around Orlando.

Macau casino giant Galaxy Entertainment is buying 5% in SBM to diversify into other markets, Macau performance under expectations. Galaxy Ent shares are down 46% due to Macau’s performance. Hong Kong hotel occupancy rates down for the 9th straight month. China’s economy is off. Japan’s shrank last quarter, “a soft patch.” Does all of this point to a bubble in Orlando? Dani weighs in during the Main Event.

Show Notes

Hosts

Ken

Lissa

Special Guest – Dani of This Florida Life

Recording Dates: Punch List- July 26, 2015 | The Main Event- July 21, 2015

The Punch List

Ken Recommends- Resort Loop episode with Len Testa

Rape at HOB

Carjacking near DTD

HKDL’s Golden Mickeys show had its final performance this past weekend. How long till MK gets a show like this? Earvengers talked about this a few weeks ago.

Fantasmic testing reserved seats, rows and sections.

Comcast revenue skyrockets.

Iconic Daytona Speedway sign is removed

Orlando ranks 10th for fastest growing hotel market 4.5% growth in Orlando.

  • Davidson County, Tenn., which includes the Nashville metropolitan area, with 6.7 percent growth. Hillsborough County came in second overall with 6.12 percent growth. Employment in Orange County, FL reached 49,724 in 2014, up from 47,583 recorded for the previous year.

New peer reviewed study on Killer Whales released in the Journal of Mammalogy by the Oxford University Press. It found no difference in life expectancy between SEAS whales and wild populations. And found wild calf survival rates of Southern Resident killer whales to be significantly less that SEAS (79.9% vs 96.6%).

New apartments announced for the SWO area. Part of the Marriott Grande Pines Golf Club redo. $40 Million, 282 units

Orange County proposes mixed use development on 28 acres beside Aquatica.

$7.2 Billion in real estate sales across Orlando in the last 12 months.

Joshua Wallack may help pay for SLR/I-Drive ped bridge

Orlando HQ’d Ripley’s returns to Africa for the first time since 1933 when Robert Ripley visited. New 12 city traveling show stops by shopping malls in South Africa.

Last week we talked about the Tripadvisor Top 25 Theme Parks. E-Ticket Report did an excellent rundown of all 25 parks and gave insights into the American parks on the list.

The Main Event

Bay Lake Society

Ken Recommends- Dani’s Trader Sam’s article on Touring Plans

Dani Recommends- The Boathouse

Mango’s Orlando

iSquare Orlando

Dani Recommends- When visiting Orlando take a ride on SunRail on the day you visit Florida Mall

Dani Recommends- Park Ave in Winter Park

Dani Recommends- Downtown Sanford

Dani Recommends- Wekiva Island

Closing Remarks

Next week I’ll joining a new podcast. He Says, She Says. A Disney talking podcast. Follow along on Twitter @DisneyTalking

Speaking of podcasts check out The Park Blogger had a great show with Lite’em and Hyde this past week. WDW Today did an excellent job with their offsite episode last week, I give them a thumbs up for that but wish they had focused more on I-Drive, Park Ave and maybe even some places like downtown Sanford.

Happy birthday to space flight at Cape Canaveral. 65 years ago this past week.

Next week we’ll have John Frost of The Disney Blog joining us!

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Ep 37 – Low Ratings With Josh Gonzales

Josh Gonzales stops by today to share what he found while exploring TripAdvisor. We talk about restaurant ratings, off beat theme parks and Jake loses his gum. The Citrus Tower, Yalaha, Hot Krust, Artegon and Mythos are all mentioned in some detail. Ken has his usual random facts including some actually interesting ones for a change. The Punch List is Disney heavy with mentions of Prince Harry, Houlihan’s and a major identity theft ring busted in Orlando. Your credit card might’ve been stolen last time you visited Orlando but today’s show will at least make smile (or cry, or at least sigh heavily).

Show Info

Hosts

Song One

Song Two

Song Three

Recording Dates – Main Event – July 17, 2015 | The Punch List – July 21, 2015

The Punch List

  • Walmart proposed for 192 just off Disney property.
  • Shanghai Disneyland details released. First impressions? Anything there that we might see in Orlando? (Ken’s Tomorrowland comparison article)
  • SW Launch Bay from Shanghai might come to DHS? Screamscape and other sources are reporting it. Didn’t Jim Hill mention this coming to Innoventions awhile back?
  • Radio Harambe reporting that a SW themed Blue Sky Cellar might be coming to the SW meet and greet going into the old Animation Courtyard. Kevin Crossman joined the guys on the last episode and mentioned it.
  • Rumors of work in Frontierland, part of the $3 Billion WDW updating. Could this be the long proposed boardwalk between BTM and HM? That would close the Rivers of America but open the possibility of new attractions on Tom Sawyer Island. 416 ft from old TSI raft loading dock/smoking area to HM dock.
  • D23 details announced. George Lucas, Susan Lucci named Disney Legends. Parks gets 90 min presentation.

The Cardboard Art Festival

Taste of Nation Orlando

The Main Event

TripAdvisor Orlando Restaurant Rankings

3042 Ranked Restaurants

2 Hot Krust Panini Kitchen (Turkey Lake)

5 The Melting Pot (Sand Lake)

10 The Cheesecake Factory (Conroy Rd)

14 Fishbones (Sand Lake)

15 Olive Garden (I Drive)

16 Longhorn Steakhouse (Vineland Ave)

31 Red Lobster (I Drive)

38 Sanaa

47 Publix??

64 California Grill

153 Mythos

TripAdvisor Orlando Attraction Rankings

8 WDW

14 Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe

20 Gatorland

59 Jellyrolls

82 Holy Land Experience

166 Greenwood Cemetery

206 Festival Bay Mall/Artegon

 

Angel’s restaurant at MainGate

Planet Hollywood’s Stuff’s Magic Burger

Josh Gonz Recommends- Cowfish milkshakes, Bread Box.

Jake thinks PR’s Taco Palace has tiny tacos

Ken was wrong. Bill Whitaker founded Press 101. Hot Krust has Evan Dimov at Title Manger and Biff Godfret as Reg Agent listed

Bacon flavored seaweed

Ken Recommends- The Chicken Alfredo at the Sand Lake Road McDonald’s

Publix sub shop April Fools joke

Informative article from 2002 on the Millenia/Conroy interchange

Info on the TBN takeover of Holy Land Experience

2013 article on the planned Orlando TBN studio

Holy Land’s tax free loophole

Ken Recommends- Reptile World Serpentarium

Ken Recommends- Save Pleasure Island blog

The mystery of the I-4 Flea Market

Greenwood Cemetery Moonlight Strolls

Ken Recommends- Following Orlando Cemetery on Twitter

Citrus Tower

Presidents of Hall of Fame

Life-size replica of Graceland in Pine Hills

Jake Recommends- Roadside America

Ken Recommends- UCM Museum/Abita Mystery House

Ken then goes off how we should all sleep during the day

Splendid China themed Winn Dixie

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Ep 36 – Coloring A Whole New Mall

Today Mark of Orlando Mall Guide stops by to talk about the new Crayola Experience attraction and the new Dining Pavilion at the Florida Mall. He also gives his thoughts on Artegon, the new I-Drive megamall and Disney Springs. During the Punch List Richie, Ken and Jake talk about religious freedom in the workplace, the future of camping at Disney World and the general public’s lack of interest in space travel.

Show Notes

Hosts

Song One

Song Two

Recording Dates: Punch List – July 12, 2015 | Main Event – July 10, 2015

Punch List

Fire alarm at The Orlando Eye

UCF area apartment fire

Bill Cosby removed from DHS

Bill Cosby column now DHS’s newest photo-op

Epcot gets a new VP

Ken on Resort Ears Part One | Part Two

Fort Wilderness cabins getting remodeled

Ken thinks FW will be closing sooner than later.

Disney Family Culinary Experience at The Contemporary

Sikh Cast Member wins lawsuit against WDW

Shanghai Disneyland information released July 15

Is Magic Kingdom getting updates? Richie expects so.

Richie- “I’ll be excited when Disney builds another ride; that’s when I’ll be excited for Magic Kingdom.”

Disney Anaheim announces $1.1 Billion expansion

Richie recommends: Variety for TWDC news

LA Times report on Star Wars at DL

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata Dies At 55

McDonald’s on SLR/I-Drive breaks ground on July 20

The Chew tv show comes to Epcot, Food & Wine booths coming to Future World

New memorial exhibit opens at KSC dedicated to Challenger and Columbia

Do you know about tourism in Cuba? We’d love to talk with you on the show! Message us for more information.

Main Event

Crayola Experience at The Florida Mall

The Florida Mall’s new Dining Pavilion

I Love This Bar & Grill closure

Gods & Monsters Grand Opening

OSC’s new gift shop

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Ep 35 – HUGE Rumors, Big Fire and Tall Tower

On today’s show we have a full Punch List with a hotel fire, Skyplex gets FAA approval, The Orlando Eye gets evacuated, more bad news at Artegon and rumors say Fun Spot is about to open their checkbook. Then Kyle and Ken share recent trip reports of when they hosted out-of-town guests. Kyle gives details on touring at DHS and DAK with pregnant guests then Ken talks about I-Drive 360, Artegon and Port Canaveral’s Exploration Tower. Richie, Jay, Jake and Griffin throw in their hot takes during The Punch List and everyone leaves hoping the NBC Media Center is just a bad dream.

Show Notes

Hosts

Song 1

Song 2

Recording Dates- Punch List – July 5, 2015 | Main Event – July 1, 2015

Punch List

Avanti Resort fire

Orlando Eye broke down

Skyscraper at Skyplex gets FAA approval

Fun Spot news

Old Town’s redo

Toby Keith’s at Artegon closes

Chipotle is coming to OIA

Where were the crowds on the 4th at UOR?

NBC Media Center pics

Main Event

Frozen Summer Fun

DAK poop

I-Drive 360

Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral

Florida Beer Company

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