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Tag: Busch Gardens

Ep 84- Halloween Blowout with Ricky Brigante, Dawn Sabato and Hurricane Matthew

Our Halloween blowout episode includes two special guests. First up we have Dawn of Come See Orlando. She talks about what she’s learned from working as the media rep for numerous I-Drive attractions, including the failed CSI: The Experience. She also shares her thoughts on the boom in zombie laser tag attractions, why Orlando is such a Halloween hot spot and more. Ken and Robert give a trip report from Howl-O-Scream.

Then Ricky Brigante stops by the studio to chat about Catharsis, his new immersive haunted house experience. Ricky also shares his thoughts on why Orlando can’t seem to have a successful year-round haunt attraction and the changes he’s seen since he first founded Inside the Magic years ago.

We also talk about Central Florida’s reaction to Hurricane Matthew and what lessons we hopefully learned from this near miss.

Hosts

Special Guests

  • Dawn Sabato of Come See Orlando
  • Ricky Brigante of Inside The Magic

Recording Date- Originally aired on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park on Friday, October 21, 2016.

Important Links

Catharsis

Inside the Magic

Come See Orlando

WPRK

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Ep 79 – Orlando’s Own Brexit

On today’s show Ken, Robert and Ed are joined in Studio B by Simon and Susan Veness of Veness Travel Media. Simon is the author of ‘The Brits Guide to Orlando,’ the best-selling guide of its kind in the U.K.  Simon and Susan discuss their observations in the changing demographics of Orlando tourism and how the larger trends in Florida are affecting it. Brexit and changes to the OCSC are both discussed in detail.

Show Info

Hosts

Special Guests

Recording Date- Originally aired on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park on Friday July 7th, 2016.

Music- Song One

 

Important Links-

WPRK

Brit Guide to Orlando

Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World

OTR Ep 28 – Floating Cars Get Across The Pond

UK vacation time

Orlando demographics

British American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida

HLE updates

Nickelodeon promotes Experience Design execs

Lake Eve Resort on I-Drive sold

MK gets Auto-PhotoPass photo stations

UOR tests out VR with Hulk experience

UOR files paperwork for new 600 room hotel

KSC announces Heroes & Legends to be sponsored by Boeing

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Ep 76 – A Gator Wedding and Holy Land Dreams

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

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

MusicSong 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

 

Other Important Links

Just Marry

Wedding at MegaCon

ComeSeeOrlando

Nick Ilasi

Tom Morrow’s Mouse

WPRK

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Ep 74 – ASHes of Zombies and Reality TV

FM content begins at 01:30:00 mark. Ashley Nickell of Restaurant ASH stops by the studio to talk about her time on Hell’s Kitchen, Orlando’s foodie scene and the struggle of helping operate a locally owned restaurant on I-Drive. We talk about eating guinea pigs, meeting Gordon Ramsey and why Orlando has so many reality TV stars. During the Punch List Brian calls in from Disney Springs to give us an on-location report of the newest addition to Orlando’s shopping scene. We also have an on-location interview from I-Drive’s new Zombie Outbreak laser tag experience. Quarterly earnings from the area cruise lines and Disney are discussed. ‘News’ from Busch Gardens, One Daytona and the Brevard Zoo are all discussed as well.

Show Notes

Hosts

Recording Date: Punch List 5-16-16 |#OTRonFM 5-14-16

MusicSong 1 | Song 2

Punch List
Other Important Links

Restaurant ASH

Hell’s Kitchen

WPRK

SIN Month at Holy Land

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Ep 70 – It’s a Great Big Beautiful Space

On today’s show we’re joined by Brendan Byrne, 90.7 WMFE’s Space reporter. He shares his experiences from reporting on Kennedy Space Center and talks about the future of space tourism in the Central Florida market.

During the Punch List Andy and Jim talk about big news coming out Busch Gardens plus Clearwater Aquarium’s massive new expansion plans.

Show Notes

Hosts

Recording Date: Main Event- 4/6/16 | Punch List- 4/13/16

Music: Song 1 | Song 2

Punch List

Adam Sandler IS NOT moving Melbourne Florida

I-Drive Bazaar (SW corner of SLR and I-Drive) could be rebuilt (Rich at OBJ reporting based on discussion filings)

Orlando’s hotel supply to increase by 2.8% in the next two years (45.6 mill room nights available in 2017)

Clearwater Marine Aquarium goes on the defensive about new expansion plans

 Florida HQ’d Carnival Cruises to use reality shows, game shows to promote cruising

Legacy Florida money approved for Lake Apopka ($5 Mill per yr), Everglades ($200 Mill per yr)

North Florida’s Apalachicola River named the most endangered river in the nation

BGT closes Tidal Wave, is something new coming to Stanleyville?

Mako gift shop readies to open

 

Disney

Grand Florida gets new carpet, new $15 tour

Ample Hills Creamery coming to Disney’s Boardwalk resort

Olaf to begin meeting guests at DHS

Tower of Terror might be getting a bar and/or a Guardians of the Galaxy overlay

Disney Springs Town Center to open May 15

 

 

Other Important Links

Kennedy Space Center

WMFE

Intersection

Are We There Yet space podcast

Colin Byrne

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