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Ep 50 – The One We’ve Been Teasing

On today’s 50th episode of Orlando Tourism Report we cover a wide-range of topics in the Punch List including a new huge ship coming to Port Canaveral, confusion in town regarding the DPAC hotel project, a plane crash that killed a co-founder of one of the region’s most controversial attractions, and the very latest in SeaWorld’s ongoing battle with the California Coastal Commission.

Then in a shortened Main Event we finally announce the thing we’ve been teasing since August. It’s true! Orlando Tourism Report will now be on FM radio.

Show Notes

Hosts

Recording Date: 10-19-15

Music

The Punch List

  1. SEAS announces its pursuing legal action against the CCC ruling
  2. SWO opens Pass Member Lounge
  3. Machine Gun America co-founder dies in South Florida plane crash
  4. 3 new retailers announced for Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores outlets
  5. Disney announces dates for the Christmas Day Parade taping (and its much earlier than expected)
  6. Epcot’s Candlelight Processional list gets filled
  7. Flying Fish closes for lengthy refurb, reimagining
  8. Fulton’s Crab House (13), Wolfgang Puck Grand Café (36) make Top 100 highest grossing restaurants in U.S. list
  9. Disney World offers new “better for you” snacks that feature minimalist character tie-ins
  10. Special events around the SW Ep VII premiere planned for DHS
  11. MCO officials meet Wednesday to discuss who will be the ‘design and engineering services architect of record’ for the $1.8 billion South Terminal (HNTB Corp, PZ Aviation Group JV, KBJ Architects). Fentress Architects is providing design consultation for the terminal.
  12. Melbourne Airport adds Orlando to name in hopes for increased traffic
  13. MCO passenger counts up 6% in August (3.2 million)
  14. Norwegian Epic (5th largest ship in the world) confirms Port Canaveral as its home port (4100 passengers)
  15. Jacksonville Maritime Museum closes due to lack of attendance and financial support
  16. Spain’s Paramount theme park in Alhama de Murica looks to be dead, despite developers denial
  17. Orlando City Soccer Club bringing Orlando City B USL team to Eastern Florida State College (Will likely announce a women’s team this week)
  18. USFL might be looking to bring a football team to Orlando
  19. Snap announces second gallery space in Downtown Orlando
  20. IAAPA Attractions Expo 2015 to feature the 2nd largest trade show floor in the event’s 97 year history, sells out of indoor floor space
  21. Orlando Eye shuts down again for technical difficulties
  22. Amazon abruptly shuts down Amazon Destinations, its hotel and reservation site. | Priceline and TripAdvisor sharing some services
  23. DPAC hotel project adds condos, increases in size
  24. 890 unit Grande Palisades resort near WDW to open in 2016
  25. Bella Collina’s condo hotel project changes names, will be suite only

Things We Loved This Week

Imagineer Cornelius Vanderbilt Wood bio on WDWInfo

St. Pete’s Dali Museum makes list of 23 amazing museum buildings to see this year

Victoria & Albert’s makes TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Travelers’ Choice Restaurants in the U.S.

Peas & Carrots are at WDW; follow along all week for a fun semi-outsider’s perspective

Marriott Island’s Dragon Point to rise again in 2017 | History of Annie the Dragon

Creative City Project (Ken thanks Beastly Kingdom for the reminder)

Events

Oct 21-25 Orlando Film Fest

Oct 24- Cows ‘n Cabs in Winter Park

Oct 30-31- Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic

Nov 13-15 Winter Park Concours d’Elegance

Nov 14- Food Truck Wars stops by Artegon Marketplace

Nov 14-22 Festival of the Trees at OMA (tickets on sale now)

Nov 21- 2nd Annual Run for Wildlife 5K at BGT (Register before Oct 31 for $40, $50 afterwards)

Nov 20-22- Latin Baseball Festival at WWOS

Dec 5, 12, 19, 26 Barista Bootcamp at the 4 Seasons Orlando

Main Event

The Orlando Tourism Report is now bringing the local hospitality conversation to a new weekly show on WPRK 91.5 FM.  OTR is the only podcast devoted to all aspects of Central Florida tourism. OTR’s first show on WPRK will be on Thursday, Oct 22, 2015. This weekly show will air Thursdays from 10 to noon. This live show will feature in-studio guests, locally relevant music, and news and information related to City Beautiful’s most important industry.  Orlando Tourism Report will now be available live to the entire community on FM radio and the convenient TuneIn App.

We will continue to produce and release weekly podcasts, now moving it to every Sunday.  The podcast will feature original content with some highlights from the WPRK 91.5 FM broadcast.

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Ep 48 – GREAT SCOTT!

Singles now outnumber married adults in the US. Today we talk with a single guy who just spent a week on vacation in Orlando. How does being alone affect how you tour the parks? Plus his impressions on WDW, UOR, HHN and Orlando in general. During the Punch List we cover OMA’s big announcement, WDW ticket prices, New Smyrna Beach’s new paid parking plan, dog days at Legoland, Parliament House’s big finical mess and more. We also talk about Watch Me Eat’s latest review of a Chinese buffet and the latest food news from around the region.

Show Notes

Hosts

Recording Dates: Main Event- 10-6-15 | Punch List- 10-5-15

Music – The Punch List Music | The Main Event Music | Closing Song

Punch List

Events

Oct 9 – Jake’s Beer Fest at Royal Pacific

Oct 9-31- Underground Vampire Bar at DRIP

Oct 31-31- Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic

Nov 13-15 Winter Park Concours d’Elegance

Nov 20-22- Latin Baseball Festival at WWOS

Dec 5, 12, 19, 26 Barista Bootcamp at the 4 Seasons Orlando

Main Event

Scotty’s 360 video of Illuminations

Sloppy Taco Palace

Scotty at WDW

Scotty at UOR

He Says, She Says Podcast

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Ep 47 – Look Who’s Talking

On today’s show we go way off topic when Robert from Mickey Updates joins us. It’s a packed show with hot takes, new insights and plenty of news regarding local tourism. During The Punch List Jay, Jake, Brian and Ken talk about the huge news coming out of Port Canaveral, what the tragedy in Seattle means for the future of duck tours, the odd move for Night of Joy, plus what a petition might’ve just helped bring back to WDW. It’s a big show but stick around for a big announcement at the end.

Show Notes

Hosts

Recording Dates: Main Event- 9-27-15 | Punch List- 9-28-15

Music

 

The Punch List

-News We Skipped-

 

Recommendations

 

The Main Event

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Ep 46 – That Seven Year Saving The Island Itch

Today King Bob of the Save Pleasure Island blog stops by to talk Disney Springs, the 7th anniversary of the closure of Pleasure Island and the future of night life in Central Florida. The interview takes place on location at Disney Springs and part walking tour, part history lesson and part look at the future.

During the Punch List the crew talks about Blizzard Beach, Disney canning cover bands, Pop Century’s odd new menu, local celebrity sightings, downtown hotel towers, local roadside attractions and much more.

The show is flipped from the regular model with an extended Punch List and shorter Main Event but today’s show has even more news in it than usual.

Show Notes

Hosts

The Punch List Music

The Main Event Music

Closing Song

Recording Dates- Punch List: 9-21-2015 | Main Event: 9-18-2015 at Disney Springs

The Punch List

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

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

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 450th 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

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