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Tag: Busch Gardens

Ep 119- Earnings Reports, BG Rumors, and a Double Murder

With new Quarterly Earnings Reports from Disney, SeaWorld, and Merlin all within the last few weeks. Ken looks at the numbers and the news surrounding each company. He touches on the Merlin Busch Gardens rumors, talks about the below estimate revenue coming out of Disney, and all the no good, very bad news coming out of SeaWorld.

Kevin Yee talks about The Great Movie and Universe of Energy and Ken shares his thoughts on hotel security. Plus a gruesome double murder at a resort shocks a small Florida community that hasn’t seen a single murder in nearly two decades.

Hosts

Recording Date- August 11, 2017, on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park (10AM-Noon)

Show Notes

DIS (The Walt Disney Company)

  • Revenue below estimates: $14.24 billion vs. the expected $14.42 billion, according to Thomson Reuters
  • Earnings Per Share above estimates: $1.58 vs. the expected $1.55
  • Operating Income
  • Media and networks: $1.84 billion vs. $1.99 billion expected, 22% decline YoY due to ESPN issues
    Parks and resorts: $1.17 billion vs. $1.09 billion expected (18 percent year-over-year growth)
    Studio: $639 million vs. $636.6 million expected
    Consumer and interactive: $362 million vs. $394.6 million expected
  • “Operating income growth for the quarter reflected an increase at our international operations, while results at our domestic operations were comparable to the prior-year quarter. Segment results benefitted from the timing of the Easter holiday, which fell in the third quarter of the current year compared to the second quarter of the prior year.”
  • Disney point to “to labor and other cost inflation, increased operations support costs, new guest offerings and the dry-dock of the Disney Fantasy in the current quarter” for their higher output. This was offset by increased guest spending related to “increases in average ticket prices for sailings on our cruise ships and admission to our theme parks, as well a higher daily average hotel room rates and food and beverage spending”.

 

SEAS (SeaWorld Parks and Resorts)

  • 353,000 fewer visitors in the first half of 2017
  • $373.8 million in revenue vs. expected $394 million
  • Net loss of $237.0 million for the first half of 2017 includes a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $269.3 million.
    The company expects to achieve targeted $40 million in net cost savings by the end of 2018, is identifying additional areas for cost reduction.
  • Net loss of $175.9 million for the second quarter as admission revenue fell 6%
  • Annual passholders increased by 15 percent
  • March ‘17 – Total Debt of $1.61 B
  • Joel Manby speaks to Tampa Bay Times

 

MIINF (Merlin Entertainment)

  • visitors increase by 6.2 percent to 29.7 million
  • revenue up 19.4 percent to $893 million (£685 million).
  • Pre-tax profit unchanged at $65 million (£50 million).
  • London attractions saw domestic visitation “immediately and significantly reduced” following attacks but “cautious on international visitation over the key summer trading period given the lag between international bookings and visitation.”
  • Merlin chief financial officer Anne-Francoise Nesmes regarding Busch Gardens buy – “It takes two parties to do a deal so we do not know what SeaWorld’s intentions are but we do believe that those assets are interesting and we could certainly do a lot with them particularly around accommodation, so to us it’s about having the right discussion with a willing partner and making sure we have the right financial return.”

 

  • Six Points include grow current attractions, make them destination resorts, synergize, new midway and Legoland attractions, and acquire.

(Could we see a Six Flags/Merlin bidding war?)

Other comments for the show-

Double murder at Zota Beach Resort in Longboat Key

Goodbye to GMR and UoE

New batch of CPers in town, is this the most vlog friendly batch yet?

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Ep 112- Brewer and More

Kevin stops by the studio in this extended episode where the guys discuss SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and all the other summer events happening around town. Food, random news, and a surprise phone call keep it interesting.

Hosts

Recording Date- June 23, 2017, on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park (10AM-Noon)

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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 99 – The Seth Kubersky Dinner Show

Seth Kubersky stops by the studio and tells stories of his years working in the local dinner theater scene. He talks about how those early years in local dinner theaters helped shape his views of Orlando today.

Then in the second hour we talk about the latest news including new details on OPD’s new headquarters, the Panda Express on I-Drive closing, and a nighttime show at USJ.

Hosts

Special Guest- Seth Kubersky

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

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Ep 98 – @JLBNerdy Visits Orlando & Ken Tries to Talk Nintendo

One of OTR’s oldest and most dedicated fans stops by the studio as part of a grand non-Disney weekend she planned with Ken. News involves confirmation of two rumors from the previous week’s show and Ken gives exclusive new details on what Nintendo at UOR will look like.

Hosts

Special Guest- Jenny (@JLBNerdy)

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

Punch List

 

Osceola leaders: Smart sensors, resorts and training programs to generate more jobs

Omni Orlando Resort execs foresee big payoff from expansion set to open in May

GOAA’s Kruppenbacher, Villages’ Lester among Scott’s picks for constitution panel

Omni Orlando Resort execs foresee big payoff from expansion set to open in May

Orlando airport contractors helped fund board member’s campaign

La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil Will Host Its Final Disney Springs Performance This December

Taste of the Nation Becomes Taste! Central Florida and Sets a 2017 Date

Caribbean Carnaval Coming to Loews Sapphire Falls Resort

Bike Week set to roll into Daytona Beach

Florida Mall unveiling high-tech children’s ‘Play Park’ in spring

Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge names firm to design new building

Creative City Project renames annual event

Amendments governing heights of airport-adjacent developments to change

Give Kids The World gets Intergalactic makeover and pays tribute to Founder

Miami’s SkyRise unveils crown jewel attraction with Skyway observation pods @SkyRiseMiami

Mayor Buddy Dyer unveils giant WrestleMania title belt at Lake Eola

Brightline installs new CEO, reveals 2.5-year delay on Orlando leg

Regal Pointe Orlando debuts 4D movie technology today

House gives tentative approval to abolishing incentives

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