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Tag: Epcot

Ep 132 – March News Round-Up

It’s our monthly news round-up and it’s a doozy! New details on Universal’s Russian plans, the latest on the PeopleMover updates we broke 3 weeks ago, Brightline’s report card, the latest on Disney rumors, and tons of cruise news. It’s been a busy month since our last news round-up so this is a not to be missed episode!

Recording Date: March 9, 2018, in Studio B at WPRK Studios in Winter Park, Florida

Show Notes

New liquor law means more boozy cocktails for Orlando’s restaurant-goers

Brazil’s Senate Approves New Open Skies Agreement With United States

Record number of Brazilians heading to Orlando

Orlando Travel Academy gets an upgrade

NYC’s Cafe D’Avignon opening five outposts in Orlando

Orlando Starflyer to open in May

4DX Review of A Wrinkle in Time

Hard Rock HQ’s Orlando departure to result in 184 layoffs

Sands sells Pennsylvania casino

Universal moving ahead with Beijing, big projects in the works for Orlando

  • Europe park scouting continues, is this the Moscow resort in a new location?

Brightline president: ‘Train ridership is 3 times what we expected’

Queen Latifah named Carnival Horizon godmother

Norwegian Cruise Line getting showcase terminal in Miami

Norwegian rescues woman on Bahamas cruise who fell overboard

Disney releases renderings of its latest cruise ships

New Swan & Dolphin hotel renderings released

Walt Disney World Might be Developing the Old River Country Site According to Permits Just Filed

Bonnet Creek Resorts To Receive New Signs

  • New JW Marriott construction continues, should be visible from I-4 by mid to late-summer

Epcot might be getting a Mary Poppins dark ride

Illuminations update is moving forward

Epcot’s Odyssey to become flex-space

Could Black Panther be coming to Disney World after all?

Could Indiana Jones be moving to DAK?

Tower of Terror updates expected

After more than two years of documentation Google finally unveils Street view from inside Disney parks. 2016 article | 2017 article

Coco won for Best Animated Feature and “Remember Me” won for Best Song.

Susan Arnold Named Lead Independent Director of Disney

Disney shareholders vote against CEO Iger’s pay package

Unions protest outside of Shareholders meeting for better pay

$2B overhaul coming to Disneyland Paris resort

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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 115 – D23 Predictions with Nick Ilasi

Nick Ilasi, better known as the Dad on Disney, joins Ed and Ken for a discussion on all the latest WDW rumors and what we might hear from each at this week’s D23 event. Jenny calls in for a some small talk and we finally announce the winner of our June giveaway!

Hosts

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

Important Links

WPRK

D23

Tom Morrow’s Mouse

Ken’s D23 predictions article

 

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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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Ep 95 – Seven Seas Food and Wine with a side of Flavortown

In this food heavy episode of #OTRonFM Jim and Ed talk about their recent media review of Planet Hollywood. SeaWorld’s new Seven Seas Food and Wine Festival is reviewed by everyone, including Kevin Yee, who adds some context to this new food and wine festival in his Bigger Picture segment. We also react to the news coming out of Coronado Springs, Jim reviews Rivers of Light, and Ken goes in-depth with what’s happening regarding these rumors of a gondola transit system coming to WDW. It’s a Disney heavy episode but that’s where the news was this week!

Hosts

Recording Date- Feb 17, 2017 on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park

Important Links
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