October 27, 2015
Ep 51- Ripley’s, Ringling and Skyplex with Jason of Orlando Fun & Food
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
FM Radio content is 00:06:55 through 01:09:30. In our very first FM episode Jason of Orlando Fun & Food stops by to talk Skyplex, Ringling, plastic annual passes at Universal, and more. During the trends report Jake talks about Back To The Future Day, a baby rhino and the dismantling of The Hulk coaster. In the after show Jay, Ken and Robert get into an in-depth debate about steel coasters in Orlando, self driving cars and what causes empty shopping malls.
Show Notes
Hosts
Events and Disney Correspondents-Lissa and Nicki
Online Trends Correspondent-Jake of Orlando Park Pass
Hotel Correspondent-Kyle
Touring Shows and Media Correspondent- Richie
Special Guest- Jason of Orlando Fun & Food
Recording Date: 10-19-15
News of The Week
iSquare helipad, updated design gets City of Orlando MPB approval
The Coop gets MasterChef Season 1 winner Whitney Miller at Chef de Cuisine
OCSC announces new pro Women’s team (Orlando Pride)
USH adds more dates for HHN, will Orlando follow?
Disney Channel orders more Descendents– will we see any Descendents in the parks?
Artegon sells Cinemark land, other nearby land– Will it survive?
Ringling adds no new show in 2016, Gold tour closes (Red, Blue shows remain)
Trends of the Week
- BTTF Day at Universal – Doc in a car | Marriage proposal
- The UOAP Facebook group distracted itself from their ongoing plastic pass debates to share BTTF memes for the day. (All hell breaks loose on the UOAP FB group when members just won’t shut up about plastic passes.)
- Hulk track is slowly disappearing piece by piece
- Pics of insane crowds at HHN fill social media
- Shaq joins the Tanked reality show to film the season finale at SeaLife Orlando (Premiering Nov 20 on Animal Planet)
- WestJet unveils Frozen themed plane
- New celebrity filled golf tournament announced, will benefit the Florida Hospital for Children.
- Sentosa to test self-driving vehicles within months
- OCSC’s Adian Winter swims with dolphins at Discovery Cove
- Southern White Rhino born at BGT
Other things we referenced this week
Ripley’s attractions in Gatlinburg
October 20, 2015
Ep 50 – The One We’ve Been Teasing
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
On today’s 50th episode of Orlando Tourism Report we cover a wide-range of topics in the Punch List including a new huge ship coming to Port Canaveral, confusion in town regarding the DPAC hotel project, a plane crash that killed a co-founder of one of the region’s most controversial attractions, and the very latest in SeaWorld’s ongoing battle with the California Coastal Commission.
Then in a shortened Main Event we finally announce the thing we’ve been teasing since August. It’s true! Orlando Tourism Report will now be on FM radio.
Show Notes
Hosts
- Ken
- Brian
- Robert of Mickey Updates
- Jay
- Events and Disney Correspondents-Lissaand Nicki
- Online Trends Correspondent-Jake of Orlando Park Pass
- Hotel Correspondent-Kyle
- Touring Shows and Media Correspondent- Richie
Recording Date: 10-19-15
Music
The Punch List
- SEAS announces its pursuing legal action against the CCC ruling
- SWO opens Pass Member Lounge
- Machine Gun America co-founder dies in South Florida plane crash
- 3 new retailers announced for Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores outlets
- Disney announces dates for the Christmas Day Parade taping (and its much earlier than expected)
- Epcot’s Candlelight Processional list gets filled
- Flying Fish closes for lengthy refurb, reimagining
- Fulton’s Crab House (13), Wolfgang Puck Grand Café (36) make Top 100 highest grossing restaurants in U.S. list
- Disney World offers new “better for you” snacks that feature minimalist character tie-ins
- Special events around the SW Ep VII premiere planned for DHS
- MCO officials meet Wednesday to discuss who will be the ‘design and engineering services architect of record’ for the $1.8 billion South Terminal (HNTB Corp, PZ Aviation Group JV, KBJ Architects). Fentress Architects is providing design consultation for the terminal.
- Melbourne Airport adds Orlando to name in hopes for increased traffic
- MCO passenger counts up 6% in August (3.2 million)
- Norwegian Epic (5th largest ship in the world) confirms Port Canaveral as its home port (4100 passengers)
- Jacksonville Maritime Museum closes due to lack of attendance and financial support
- Spain’s Paramount theme park in Alhama de Murica looks to be dead, despite developers denial
- Orlando City Soccer Club bringing Orlando City B USL team to Eastern Florida State College (Will likely announce a women’s team this week)
- USFL might be looking to bring a football team to Orlando
- Snap announces second gallery space in Downtown Orlando
- IAAPA Attractions Expo 2015 to feature the 2nd largest trade show floor in the event’s 97 year history, sells out of indoor floor space
- Orlando Eye shuts down again for technical difficulties
- Amazon abruptly shuts down Amazon Destinations, its hotel and reservation site. | Priceline and TripAdvisor sharing some services
- DPAC hotel project adds condos, increases in size
- 890 unit Grande Palisades resort near WDW to open in 2016
- Bella Collina’s condo hotel project changes names, will be suite only
Things We Loved This Week
Imagineer Cornelius Vanderbilt Wood bio on WDWInfo
St. Pete’s Dali Museum makes list of 23 amazing museum buildings to see this year
Victoria & Albert’s makes TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Travelers’ Choice Restaurants in the U.S.
Peas & Carrots are at WDW; follow along all week for a fun semi-outsider’s perspective
Marriott Island’s Dragon Point to rise again in 2017 | History of Annie the Dragon
Creative City Project (Ken thanks Beastly Kingdom for the reminder)
Events
Oct 21-25 Orlando Film Fest
Oct 24- Cows ‘n Cabs in Winter Park
Oct 30-31- Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic
Nov 13-15 Winter Park Concours d’Elegance
Nov 14- Food Truck Wars stops by Artegon Marketplace
Nov 14-22 Festival of the Trees at OMA (tickets on sale now)
Nov 21- 2nd Annual Run for Wildlife 5K at BGT (Register before Oct 31 for $40, $50 afterwards)
Nov 20-22- Latin Baseball Festival at WWOS
Dec 5, 12, 19, 26 Barista Bootcamp at the 4 Seasons Orlando
Main Event
The Orlando Tourism Report is now bringing the local hospitality conversation to a new weekly show on WPRK 91.5 FM. OTR is the only podcast devoted to all aspects of Central Florida tourism. OTR’s first show on WPRK will be on Thursday, Oct 22, 2015. This weekly show will air Thursdays from 10 to noon. This live show will feature in-studio guests, locally relevant music, and news and information related to City Beautiful’s most important industry. Orlando Tourism Report will now be available live to the entire community on FM radio and the convenient TuneIn App.
We will continue to produce and release weekly podcasts, now moving it to every Sunday. The podcast will feature original content with some highlights from the WPRK 91.5 FM broadcast.
October 13, 2015
Ep 49 – The Big Blue Super Long Whale of Show With Eric Davis
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
SeaWorld is the focus of today’s main event when Eric Davis stops in to talk about the recent ruling from the California Coastal Commission that might mean an end to breeding in SeaWorld’s original park. The future of the company, orcas in captivity, that bizarre social media day earlier this year and more discussed in the firework filled conversation.
During the Punch List Robert and Ken talk about the recent monorail breakdown at WDW, the abrupt closure of the CSI exhibit, new hotels proposed for 192, OSHA’s rulings on the WDW Speedway accident, and that 400 acres that’s about to go up for sale. Southern cooking, Pitbull, Ferrari World, and I-4’s newest exit ramp are all worked into the conversation.
Show Notes
Hosts
- Ken
- Brian
- Robert of Mickey Updates
- Jay
- Disney – Robert of Mickey Updates
- Events-Lissa and Nicki
- Online Trends Correspondent-Jake of Orlando Park Pass
- Hotel Correspondent-Kyle
- Touring Shows and Media Correspondent- Richie
- Special Guest- Eric Davis
Recording Date: 10-12-15
Eric Davis Speech Song | Speech
Punch List
- Monorail breaks down at WDW
- CSI, 7220 abruptly shuts down
- Jungleland might reopen
- Robert References- Victory Village on 192
- 3 Hotels proposed for Osceola Heritage Sq
- Legoland movie attraction
- OSHA fines Petty Holdings $7,000, cites them in WDW speedway death
- I-4 exit ramp to Disney Springs opens
- New Chocolate shop coming to Disney Springs
- Chef Art Smith opening Florida themed restaurant at Disney Springs
- Club Disney dance party coming to DHS
- Disney announces Port Canaveral as home port for 3 ships in 2017
- Holland Cruises announces new make your own wine program aboard cruises from Port Everglades, Ft. Lauderdale
- Pitbull named Norwegian Escape’s ‘godfather’
- Blackjack agreement about to expire
- Over 400 acres in tourist district is going up to auction
- More details emerge regarding the I-Drive Marriott golf course near SWO
- Residential portion include 260 single family homes, 176 townhomes and 700 apartment homes.
- 423 single family homes/townhomes approved on Oct 8
- UOR confirms Hulk refurb will be done by B&M
- HHN Orl expands Scareactor dining experience
- iSq site work begins, their Twitter becomes active
Things We Loved This Week
- Rare Okapi born at Lowry Park Zoo “yet-to-be-named male calf was born to mom “Betty” on September 24, weighing in at 42 pounds”
- Aardvark born at BGT
- Skift- Samantha Brown talks about the evolution of travel tv programming
- Juice Bikes adds 8 more stations in Orlando
- Ticket prices at Disney parks- WDW Today podcast shares their insights, Motley Fool wonders if Disney went too far
- Len Testa & Laurel stop by ResortLoop to talk about their DCL cruise
- John Kivus stops by MMOM to talk about RopeDrop.net + reactions to Ken’s interview
- UUOP talk team member stories (including Jaws, FFL and HHN) with Stephen of Extended Queue
Not Mentioned But Still Loved-
- Missing cobra captured, reality star owner might lose his license to keep the snake
- Bellamy Young (Scandal) visits UOR
- Austin Mahon visits Orlando, causes lines at HHN, surprises guests at Madame Tussauds
- Derek Burgan shows off his drawing skills. Could he be the next Walt Disney?
Events
Oct 9-31- Underground Vampire Bar at DRIP
Oct 17- African Penguin Awareness Day at BGT
Oct 17- Brian Miser (The Human Fuse) will be fired from bar to bar in a cannon in downtown Orlando to promote Captain Morgan’s Cannon Blast Bar Crawl (at Wall St Plaza)
Oct 17- Orlando Creative City Project
Oct 24- Cows ‘n Cabs in Winter Park
Oct 30-31- Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic
Nov 13-15 Winter Park Concours d’Elegance
Nov 14-22 Festival of the Trees at OMA (tickets on sale now)
Nov 20-22- Latin Baseball Festival at WWOS
Dec 5, 12, 19, 26 Barista Bootcamp at the 4 Seasons Orlando
Main Event
Behind The Thrills – CCC bans breeding at San Diego, what’s next?
SeaWorld announces new position for Matt Rearden (former VP of Business Affairs) as Sr Business Development Officer
SEAS disappeared from the Fla Dept of Education website briefly
SeaWorld Erin Sea McKinney
October 9, 2015
Ep 48 – GREAT SCOTT!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Singles now outnumber married adults in the US. Today we talk with a single guy who just spent a week on vacation in Orlando. How does being alone affect how you tour the parks? Plus his impressions on WDW, UOR, HHN and Orlando in general. During the Punch List we cover OMA’s big announcement, WDW ticket prices, New Smyrna Beach’s new paid parking plan, dog days at Legoland, Parliament House’s big finical mess and more. We also talk about Watch Me Eat’s latest review of a Chinese buffet and the latest food news from around the region.
Show Notes
Hosts
- Ken
- Brian
- Jay
- Events and Disney Correspondents-Lissaand Nicki
- Online Trends Correspondent-Jake of Orlando Park Pass
- Hotel Correspondent-Kyle
- Touring Shows and Media Correspondent- Richie
- Guest – Great Traveling Scotty
Recording Dates: Main Event- 10-6-15 | Punch List- 10-5-15
Music – The Punch List Music | The Main Event Music | Closing Song
Punch List
- OMA announces plans to move, build new iconic home in DT Orlando
- Prices go up at WDW, DL
- Rafiki to meet guest at WDW
- DVC Thanksgiving Feast at the Contemporary
- The Good Dinosaur replacing Walt Disney biopic at DHS
- SeaWorld announces new position for Matt Rearden (former VP of Business Affairs) as Sr Business Development Officer
- Parkview Resort proposal deferred to fix inadequate outbound queueing
- New Smyrna to start charging out of towners to park
- Carnival announces onboard wi-fi
- Cell phone discounts on DCL
- Orange Air cancels Orlando Sanford to Cancun flights
- Legoland Florida Water park Dog Day Nov 8 for Humane Society fundraiser
- Parliament House told to repay debts immediately or get new loan. If not it goes to auction Nov 1st
- Chef Norman Van Aken to open new restaurant in Mt Dora
- Watch Me Eat reviews the NY China Buffet in LBV
Events
Oct 9 – Jake’s Beer Fest at Royal Pacific
Oct 9-31- Underground Vampire Bar at DRIP
Oct 31-31- Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic
Nov 13-15 Winter Park Concours d’Elegance
Nov 20-22- Latin Baseball Festival at WWOS
Dec 5, 12, 19, 26 Barista Bootcamp at the 4 Seasons Orlando
Main Event
September 29, 2015
Ep 47 – Look Who’s Talking
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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
- Ken
- Brian
- Jay
- Events and Disney Correspondents-Lissaand Nicki
- Online Trends Correspondent-Jake of Orlando Park Pass
- Hotel Correspondent-Kyle
- Touring Shows and Media Correspondent- Richie
- Guest – Robert of Mickey Updates
Recording Dates: Main Event- 9-27-15 | Punch List- 9-28-15
Music
The Punch List
- Port Canaveral- CEO resigns, entertainment district moves ahead
- Side Reference to Boehner’s resignation- Dan Webster seems interested in the job
- Ride The Ducks accident in Seattle. Is enough being done to ensure tourists are safe? How long did it take to get parasailing regulations here?
- Disney Dining Buddy shuts down, DIS Dining Agent shifts website to ‘coming soon.’ John Kivus on Ropedrop.net asks- Is this the end of third party dining reservation sites?
- Night of Joy moves to Wide World of Sports
- Downtown Disney is now Disney Springs. Neverland Tunnels.
- Epcot’s Food & Wine gets gift card bracelets. Why not Magicbands? Why two options?
- Flik returns to DAK (but only during a character meal)
- Peco Bill’s goes Mexican.
- Season of the Force dates go out on the AP site (honest accident or on purpose leak?)
- Dania Beach’s Hurricane gets a demo date (Spring 2016)
- TopGolf plans new attraction on Universal Blvd (property owned by Orlando Equity Partners)
- OCCC unveils 20 year growth plan
- Expedia announces retail centers in Kissimmee, Orlando
- Hilton investigating possible credit card breach at numerous US properties
- TWDC announces new independent director on the board
-News We Skipped-
- Georgia Aquarium loses bid to import belugas
- SunRail Southern leg gets full funding, now the focus is on the OIA connector
- Comcast buys 51% of USJ, Richard Bilbao thinks it could mean more/better investment in Orlando
Recommendations
- UCF’s Knight Library was rated the #1 college bar in the nation
- Fort Lauderdale’s Mai-Kai Tiki Bar named #1 tiki bar in the world
- The Paris Review’s exposé on Mick Jagger’s 1965 summer at a hotel in Clearwater where he wrote Satisfaction. Via Orlando Weekly.
- Passport to Dream’s Contemporary Resort posts following the resort from 1971-today.
The Main Event
- Nile Ethiopian Restaurant
- Great Escape Room
- Pixels at the Parks tours Mangos
- Perkins at Skyscraper at Skyplex
- George and the Dragon attack
- Bill Kitchen thrill rides (US Thrill Rides)
- Proposed Silver Screen Resort at UOR
- Ramada Michotel on Sandy Lake
- Ken thinks the Wet ‘N Wild resort being like the Lowes Hollywood
- Orl Park Pass- Shanghai Disneyland article