Ep 97 – Nick Ilasi Talks Disney & Callers talk Fallon

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Nick Ilasi (@DadonDisney) stops by the studio to talk about his Florida Plunge story, what excites him the most in the next few years at WDW, and how he began podcasting. Callers join the show to talk about Fallon and SeaWorld’s Food & Wine Fest. And during the news the guys discuss the latest rumors coming out of Disney Springs.

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- Nick (@DadOnDisney)

Recording Date- March 3, 2017 on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park (10AM-Noon)

Punch List

Disney

1. Cars 3 Extended Look Debuts at Daytona 500 (Will we see a Florida version of Cars Land themed to Daytona Beach? PLEASE!!!)
2. RUMOR: Cirque Du Soleil – La Nouba Coming to an End at Disney Springs (is a West End remodel about to happen?)
3. Second Fort Wilderness Food Truck Coming to Disney

(On the local food truck front, there has been a major backlog for truck build-outs as one of the main food truck builders has a supposed mystery client who has rush ordered 10 highly themed food trucks.  The new trucks will be ready by mid-summer)

4. RUMOR: 10-Story Tower, Waterfront Dining, and More Changes Coming to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
5. Miss Adventure Falls opening at TL on March 12
6. ‘Avatar’ merchandise available at Disney World

SeaWorld

1. SeaWorld attendance, revenue dip in fourth quarter(When will we see positive numbers coming out of SEAS?)
2. Blue Horizons is confirmed to be ending, more educational show starting next month
3. Busch Gardens new president faces headwinds in amusement park industry
4. New Book Chronicles Busch Gardens Tampa History

Universal

1. Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon opens at USF and the reviews aren’t good

• Bill Paxton tribute

2. (OW) Universal is testing a room service droid at Cabana Bay Beach Resort

I-Drive/Tourist District

1. O’Connor Capital updates 69-acre retail center plans on Daryl Carter Pkwy
2. Gaylord Palms Resort finishes water park improvements
3. Large hotels planned for construction will break Orlando’s current growth plan (Sentinel seems to indicate that iSq is still happening)
4. 100-plus permits for local commercial projects pulled in past 3 weeks
5. Osceola’s W192 Development Authority ups grant money to $3M in 2018 budge
6. DeBartolo Development to build new apartments in Reunion Resort (Is the coalesce between the tourist and non-tourist distinctions finally coming to an end?)

Beyond the tourist district

1. Drive Shack leases Lake Nona land, awaits permits to break ground on golf facility
2. Orange County tourist tax collection up in January
3. Groundbreaking Ceremony for the 1,700 Seat Acoustical Hall Set for Next Week
4. Orlando Museum of Art acquires more art for their collection
5. First of Four New Trains at Orlando International Airport is Installed and Running
6. (OW) Art31 sets Maitland aglow for the month of March
7. Spooky Empire Mid-Season Convention announces Malcolm McDowell, Dee Snyder, and other ‘retro’ guests

Beyond Orlando

1. 44 Florida hotels land Forbes Travel Guide ratings
2. Tourists to the U.S. Set a New Spending Record Last Year ($247.1 billion international travelers spent in the U.S. last year is a 0.4 percent increase from the $246.2 billion they spent in 2015)
   • Will the Dollar’s rise mean a negative impact in 2017?
3. Hard Rock Hotel Malta Announced for 2020
4. Downtown Miami Site for 1700-room Convention Center Hotel Expected to Close in Weeks, Per Report (1700-room hotel with 600,000 square feet of convention space)