Tag: Boardwalk

June 1, 2016

Ep 76 – A Gator Wedding and Holy Land Dreams

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We have trip reports galore on today’s show. Ken visits the Holy Land Experience, Mr. Brian checks out Animal Kingdom after dark and Jim sees what Legoland Florida has in store for summer. The Punch List includes HUGE news coming out of Fun Spot Kissimmee, an odd story regarding China’s Wanda Group, less booze at Epcot, and fun facts about a serial killer who spent time in downtown Orlando.

During the Main Event, we have a wedding planner stop by the studio to give us details on some of the wildest weddings ever seen in Orlando including one that involved a Joan Rivers lookalike and a live alligator. Dawn of ComeSeeOrlando calls in to give us a live report from MegaCon. Plus, we talk about the odd new bus routes that WDW just rolled out.

All of that and plenty of tacos on today’s Orlando Tourism Report!

Show Notes

Hosts

Ken Storey
Robert of Mickey 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
Touring Shows and Media Correspondent- Richie

Recording Date: Punch List 5-31-16 |#OTRonFM 5-27-16

Music: Song One | Song Two

Punch List

Disney

No more margaritas stand at Epcot

Gone Mad Party happening daily at Grand Flo

WDW makes getting to a water park more difficult

Muppets pizzeria at DHS

China’s Warren Buffet (Wand Jialian- he owns Wanda Group) says Disney isn’t ready to compete there, says he has a pack of wolves ready

Universal

Raises day of ticket prices

Auditions for two characters (Penolope and Jaques) happening June 6 for Toothsomes

Kong preview on NBC

Other

Old Town/Fun Spot announce partnership

Brevard Zoo offering $5 day on June 3

Tacky Tourist Party at History Center June 9

3 Florida beaches named best in U.S.

Serengeti Overlook restaurant opens at BGT (for other SEAS news make sure to check out the SEAS News Wire)

Trip Reports

Mr Brian – DAK at Night

Jim – WildGravity at Legoland Imagination Zone

Ken – Holy Land Experience Part 1 | Part 2

Ep 44 – Tim Grassey’s Great Big Beautiful WDW Rumor Round-Up

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Today we skip the news and instead bring the longest interview we’ve ever done with over an hour and half of uninterrupted Tim Grassey goodness. The show covers almost every single rumor currently circling Walt Disney World with a few new ones as well. Tim gives details on why Joe Rohde says he doubts Giant Pandas will ever come to DAK, why Tim thinks Osborne Lights might be moving to DTD and how accurate these Frontierland rumors are. Some Universal comparisons are brought into the conversation and at the end of the interview Ken asks ‘What? No love for Ferris Wheels or alligators?’ Not today Ken, not today.

Show Notes

Hosts

Ken
Brian
Jay
Events and Disney Correspondent- Lissa
Online Trends Correspondent- Jake of Orlando Park Pass
Hotel Correspondent- Kyle
Touring Shows and Media Correspondent- Richie
Special Guest- Tim Grassey of WDW Theme Parks

Recording Date: 9-1-2015

Music- Main Event Intro

The Punch List

While we skip The Punch List on today’s episode here a few of the bigger tourism stories from the past week.

Wet n Wild sues to stop drainage into the man-made lake

Artegon Cinemark getting $3 Million upgrade

Smart City fined $750,000 for blocking Wi-Fi signals (Smart City is the telecom provider of OCCC)

World’s largest arcade game being built-in OSC during Maker Faire Orlando

Pearl Seas Cruise Line announces cruise from Port of Palm Beach to Cuba

Florida Ports Council Elects New Chairman

Space Coast Office of Tourism to step up promotions next year

Former Miami Detective says now is the time to legalize prostitution

Pitbull partners with Visit Florida as our state’s newest brand ambassador

St. Augustine celebrates 450^th Anniversary with new distillery

Jungle Cruise Sunrise Safari Breakfast at DL

Now along with Magicbands Disney will ship you luggage tags when you book a hotel room at WDW

Robot butlers hired at Aloft hotels

DreamWorks leaves Disney distribution deal, is DW headed to UOR?

Events

Magical Dining Month– Now through Sept 30

M.C. Escher at Dali Museum now through Jan 3

O-Town Mac Down for GKTW – Sept 12

The Pineapple Ball – Oct 17

Cast of Willy Wonka coming to Spooky Empire – Oct 30- Nov 1

The Main Event

WDW Theme Parks

E-Ticket Report

Tim Grassey Recommends- Keys to the Kingdom Tour

Gregory of UUOP’s question

Joe Rohde’s Instagram post regarding Dinorama

WDW Theme Parks Giant Panda info

Bungalower’s question

Winter Park’s former Pig Sculpture

July 21, 2015

Ep 37 – Low Ratings With Josh Gonzales

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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

TripAdvisor Top Theme Parks in the World– IOA #1, Discovery Cove #2, MK #3, USH #4, DHS #5, USF #6
New details emerge about the Tacky Tourist McDonald’s. Grand opening Feb 2016, current one will close around the end of December
Prince Harry’s Invictus Games coming to WWOS May 8-12. The only international adaptive sporting event for active and veteran service members
Nik Patel hotel auction going on right now. Ends Wednesday morning.
Last remaining Houlihan’s in Florida closing July 26. It’s in Colonial Plaza on Hwy 50 near Downtown. It’ll become an Ale House.
Gaylord Palms unveils details on its Christmas offerings.
Major identity theft ring busted at Preferred Guest Resorts. At least 1,855 victims identified.
WWII bomb found, exploded on St Pete beach.

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