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Ep 148- Orlando Parks Rover reports on a accident at SeaWorld plus the latest on Artegon, SeaWorld, WDW, and Gatorland

Orlando Parks Rover’s Kevin Sweeney calls in to tell us the about the animal accident he witnessed at SeaWorld Orlando. Then we take a deep dive into the latest news from Artegon, Gatorland, WDW, Orlando’s history museum. Plus we cover more details on the latest lawsuits against Ripley Entertainment after the Branson Duck boat accident.

Recording Date – 8/3/18 at the WPRK studios in Winter Park, FL

Important Links

Scary video showing a dolphin falling out of a tank at SeaWorld Orlando | Orlando Parks Rover

Gatorland to host rally for military wheelchair athletes

Praise Wave Returns To SeaWorld Orlando For The Second Time This Year (is SW looking to fill a void left by Disney ending Night of Joy?)

SeaWorld extends free beer promo, announce a craft beer festival

Free beer coming to an end at Busch Gardens Tampa but they’re debuting an entire beer festival the very next day

Marriott developer to buy Dabney school site in Leesburg

Tokyo Disneyland installs x-ray scanners for all bags, metal detectors for all guests

New details, including financing info, leaked regarding Epcot’s on-again, off-again $450 million Brazil pavilion

Filming begins for Disney’s Jungle Cruise movie starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt

Wells’ Built and Orange County History Center launch $10 joint ticket offer

Govt documents show SeaWorld Orlando’s Aquatica water park to get a new ride

Ripley gets sued in Orlando

Coast Guard opens the highest level investigation into Ride the Ducks

Michael Dezer announces $25 million Dezerland FEC for north Miami, plans to move his auto museum to Artegon.

Royal Caribbean showing Netflix film shot on Harmony of the Seas

Sky Princess to have Princess Cruises’ largest balconies

Carnival Triumph gets $200 million upgrade and a new name

Cool hurricane season

WB haunts impacting HHN?

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Ep 131 – Scott Swenson talks SeaWorld Parks

It’s a SeaWorld heavy show when Scott Swenson, former Director of Creative Services at Busch Gardens Tampa, stops by the studio to discuss his more than 20 years with the company. The first hour is filled with insider stories for the past twenty years at Busch Gardens Tampa including never before shared details on the beginning of Howl-O-Scream, the background to that well known photo of the Howl-O-Scream and Halloween Horror Nights teams joining together, plus a ton of stories from the early days of Rhino Rally and Akbar’s Adventure Tours. Hour Two is focused on the current company with Swenson’s reactions to the huge leadership shake-up currently happening at SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment.

Recording Date: Friday, March 2, 2018, in WPRK’s Studio B in Winter Park, Florida

Special Guest: Scott Swenson

 

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Ep 128 – Viva la Mexico

In this Mexico focused special episode Ken and Ed take the first hour to discuss all the latest news, including the latest on SeaWorld Orlando’s Sesame Street plans, the rumors on the return of Ringling Brothers, and the retail tenants of Margaritaville.

Hour Two is filled with news and reports from one of Orlando’s biggest competitors, Mexico! An exclusive interview with officials from Mexico’s new resort Amikoo gives never before shared details on what this massive complex will include. Then Robert calls in and gives a trip report from his recent vacation at one of Mexico’s all-inclusive resorts.

Recording– Feb 9, 2018, in Studio B at WPRK 91.5 Winter Park, FL

Show Notes

New details on SeaWorld Orlando’s Sesame Street

BGT closes Jungala but has a great summer concert line-up

Margaritaville Resort Retail Village, Sunset Walk, lists the retail tenants

Epcot might be getting a new name

Vivo planned for Universal Studios Hollywood

 

Amikoo Resort

Travel and Leisure

Dreamworks replaced by new IP

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Ep 103- Busch Gardens History-apalooza

Grab your favorite sample of a Busch beer, find some shade, and enjoy this history filled episode of #OTRonFM.  Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez joins the guys to discuss his new Images of America book all about Busch Gardens Tampa. We start with the earliest days of gardens that sprung up beside the brewery and work our way through history to the coaster mecca it is today. We discuss Dwarf Village, the giant pandas, the monorail, and more in this wild episode of #OTRonFM

Hosts

Special Guest-

Recording Date- April 7, 2017 on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park (10AM-Noon)

Important Links

Images of America – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

WPRK

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Ep 96 – Kings Bowl, Florida Sports Expo contest, and James Gray in the closest

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

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-

  1. Mark Woodbury Becomes Vice-Chairman of Universal’s Parks
  2. Universal Parks and Resorts Launch National Advertising and Brand Campaign
  3. Halloween Horror Nights 27 Vacation Package On Sale Now
  4. ProSlide teases new ride, could this be the one Ken announced in May of 2016?

Disney-

  1. Celebration at the Top with Fireworks Viewing at California Grill
  2. Shutters, Old Port Royale, and More Closing in 2017 at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
  3. PI Update: Edison Blueprints
  4. Price increase for the 2017 Disney Dining Plan
  5. New D-Tech On Demand Station in ESPN Wide World of Sports (more coming to Pandora)
  6. Walt Disney World adds retro RV food truck to Fort Wilderness Resort with new takes on campground grub
  7. Dusty on MiceChat brings up the old rumor of $2 billion in new investments in MK/Epcot including Brazil coming to World Showcase

SEAS-

  1. SeaWorld reports decline in attendance
  2. Rumor- SWO to get new round raft ride

Other Attractions

  1. KSC to give visitors 6 seconds to Mars…err, weightless
  2. LEGOLAND Florida to Host Batman Movie Days in March 2017
  3. Breaking: Skyplex adds another heart-stopping thrill to ride portfolio
  4. Florida Mall adds 3 first-to-market specialty concepts

News

  1. American Maglev tells us new news within 90 days
  2. 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).
  3. After 52 years Cocoa cancels the Easter Day Surf Competition
  4. Senate pushes gaming deal
  5. Rick Scott fumes as House tourism bill moves ahead
  6. Florida’s Siesta Beach named best beach in the U.S. by TripAdvisor
  7. 138th Silver Spurs Rodeo brings out families, critics (20,000 to 25,000 people showed up)
  8. Phillips Center’s second phase to break ground next month
  9. Bank to take over Fashion Square Mall on Thursday
  10. Orlando to vote on $975M in OIA bonds and debt to build new terminal, more
  11. Metro Orlando hotels see increase in room rate, slight dip in January occupancy
  12. National tour operator seeks tax incentives to make Orlando its co-headquarters
  13. Chicago investor pays $6M for 26-acre resort on W192
  14. ContraVest buys land on Universal Blvd for second-phase apartments ­­­­
  15. Madame Tussauds London getting its own giant-sized King Kong animatronic in new “Skull Island” experience
  16. Merged economic development/chamber group announces new name
  17. Jimmy Buffett community coming to Daytona
  18. 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?
  19. Bass Pro opens in Daytona, more of the One Daytona project open this year

Comments and End of Show Notes-

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