Tag: Epcot

October 9, 2015

Ep 48 – GREAT SCOTT!

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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

Ken
Brian
Jay
Events and Disney Correspondents-Lissaand Nicki
Online Trends Correspondent-Jake of Orlando Park Pass
Hotel Correspondent-Kyle
Touring Shows and Media Correspondent- Richie
Guest – Great Traveling Scotty

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

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

September 29, 2015

Ep 47 – Look Who’s Talking

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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

Ken
Brian
Jay
Events and Disney Correspondents-Lissaand Nicki
Online Trends Correspondent-Jake of Orlando Park Pass
Hotel Correspondent-Kyle
Touring Shows and Media Correspondent- Richie
Guest – Robert of Mickey Updates

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

Music

The Punch List

Port Canaveral- CEO resigns, entertainment district moves ahead
- Side Reference to Boehner’s resignation- Dan Webster seems interested in the job
Ride The Ducks accident in Seattle. Is enough being done to ensure tourists are safe? How long did it take to get parasailing regulations here?
Disney Dining Buddy shuts down, DIS Dining Agent shifts website to ‘coming soon.’ John Kivus on Ropedrop.net asks- Is this the end of third party dining reservation sites?
Night of Joy moves to Wide World of Sports
Downtown Disney is now Disney Springs. Neverland Tunnels.
Epcot’s Food & Wine gets gift card bracelets. Why not Magicbands? Why two options?
Flik returns to DAK (but only during a character meal)
Peco Bill’s goes Mexican.
Season of the Force dates go out on the AP site (honest accident or on purpose leak?)
Dania Beach’s Hurricane gets a demo date (Spring 2016)
TopGolf plans new attraction on Universal Blvd (property owned by Orlando Equity Partners)
OCCC unveils 20 year growth plan
Expedia announces retail centers in Kissimmee, Orlando
Hilton investigating possible credit card breach at numerous US properties
TWDC announces new independent director on the board

-News We Skipped-

Georgia Aquarium loses bid to import belugas
SunRail Southern leg gets full funding, now the focus is on the OIA connector
Comcast buys 51% of USJ, Richard Bilbao thinks it could mean more/better investment in Orlando

Recommendations

UCF’s Knight Library was rated the #1 college bar in the nation
Fort Lauderdale’s Mai-Kai Tiki Bar named #1 tiki bar in the world
The Paris Review’s exposé on Mick Jagger’s 1965 summer at a hotel in Clearwater where he wrote Satisfaction. Via Orlando Weekly.
Passport to Dream’s Contemporary Resort posts following the resort from 1971-today.

The Main Event

Nile Ethiopian Restaurant
Great Escape Room
Pixels at the Parks tours Mangos
Perkins at Skyscraper at Skyplex
George and the Dragon attack
Bill Kitchen thrill rides (US Thrill Rides)
Proposed Silver Screen Resort at UOR
Ramada Michotel on Sandy Lake
Ken thinks the Wet ‘N Wild resort being like the Lowes Hollywood
Orl Park Pass- Shanghai Disneyland article

September 22, 2015

Ep 46 – That Seven Year Saving The Island Itch

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Today King Bob of the Save Pleasure Island blog stops by to talk Disney Springs, the 7^th 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

Ken
Brian
Jay
Events and Disney Correspondents-Lissaand Nicki
Online Trends Correspondent-Jake of Orlando Park Pass
Hotel Correspondent-Kyle
Touring Shows and Media Correspondent- Richie

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

Issues at Blizzard Beach
Mulch sweat and shears leaving
WDW adds lots of EMHs in December, are EMHs here to stay?
Peter Pan closed for quick update. When will we get Anaheim’s updates
Disney firefighters union
Brunch at Narcoossee’s
Pop Century gets crazy new menu
Jock Lindsey opens, Disney on Dad’s coaster tweet
SIN cancelled at HOB
Mike of Mike & Molly opening pizza joint in Hunters Creek
Ken Recommends- A TMZ Orlando

September 8, 2015

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

August 18, 2015

Ep 41 – Wars of Sabers and Wands

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On today’s show Griffin of Epcod joins Ken, Jay, Jake and Richie to discuss all the WDW related announcements from D23. Booze in Magic Kingdom, Super Heroes in Epcot, live actors in Rivers of Light, and Slinky Dog vs Barnstormer are discussed. Then Richie and Ken go at each other when Richie calls Star Wars Land the ‘Potter Swatter’ we’ve been talking about.

During the Punch List Lissa and Ken discuss the new Jimmy Buffet town being built on 192, another list that Orlando is #1 on, lots of good food, and the horrific crime that recently took place on a Carnival Cruise ship. Cruising to Cuba, a set of new twin 75 story tall towers in Tampa and bicycle ride that makes you work to escape it are also brought up.

Show Notes

Hosts

Ken
Lissa
Jay
Jake of Orlando Park Pass
Richie
Special Guest- Griffin of Epcod.com

Song One (Punch List)

Song Two (Main Event Intro)

Song Three (Closing Song)

Recording Dates: Main Event- Aug 16, 2015 | Punch List- Aug 17, 2015

The Punch List

MargaritaVillage coming to Kissimmee

New artwork added to Chef Mickey’s

German’s model railroad gets extensive refurbishment.

Del Frisco’s opens on I-Drive

Orlando #1 convention destination in the nation. Chicago dropped to #3, Vegas sits still at #2

USWN Soccer Team vs Brazil on Oct 25 at the Citrus Bowl

La Modeleine coming to Florida Mall and Millenia area

Johnny Rivers (former Exec Chef of WDW) teams up with Petrakis (Cask & Larder, Ravenous Pig) for proposal for new café at MCO

Executive Chef of the Alfond Inn invited to the James Beard House in NY

Sanford’s Limo Cycle creates cycling escape game

Daytona Rising 85% complete. $400 Million, 101,000 seat grandstand, 40 escalators. 4.5 months to go. Construction began July 8, 2013. Jan 30-31 Rolex 24 will be first event in the finish facility.

Carnival announces plans for cruises to Cuba. Fathom brand (a social impact focused cruise brand) 710 passenger ship. Would be the first U.S. based cruise ship operator to sail to Cuba. Plans call for every other week beginning in May 2016.

Carnival Valor crew member arrested in Brevard County for sexually assaulting an underage boy (13-16) on a cruise.

Port of Tampa Bay announces new plans that include a 75 story tall tower and new cruise terminals

BGT announces new partnership with Blair Witch Executive producer Robin Cowie for HOS

Florida Kids and Family Expo – August 29-30

O-Town Mac Down for GKTW – Sept 12