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Tag: Harry Potter

Ep 41 – Wars of Sabers and Wands

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

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

 

The Main Event

Here’s the D23 Announcements for each WDW park:

MK- Skipper Canteen

Epcot- Frozen Ever After, Innoventions West Closure, Soarin’ Around the World, Super Hero HQ

DAK- Rivers of Light, Pandora, Night Safari

DHS- Star Wars Land, Star Wars Launch Bay, Toy Story Land

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Ep 37 – Low Ratings With Josh Gonzales

Josh Gonzales stops by today to share what he found while exploring TripAdvisor. We talk about restaurant ratings, off beat theme parks and Jake loses his gum. The Citrus Tower, Yalaha, Hot Krust, Artegon and Mythos are all mentioned in some detail. Ken has his usual random facts including some actually interesting ones for a change. The Punch List is Disney heavy with mentions of Prince Harry, Houlihan’s and a major identity theft ring busted in Orlando. Your credit card might’ve been stolen last time you visited Orlando but today’s show will at least make smile (or cry, or at least sigh heavily).

Show Info

Hosts

Song One

Song Two

Song Three

Recording Dates – Main Event – July 17, 2015 | The Punch List – July 21, 2015

The Punch List

  • Walmart proposed for 192 just off Disney property.
  • Shanghai Disneyland details released. First impressions? Anything there that we might see in Orlando? (Ken’s Tomorrowland comparison article)
  • SW Launch Bay from Shanghai might come to DHS? Screamscape and other sources are reporting it. Didn’t Jim Hill mention this coming to Innoventions awhile back?
  • Radio Harambe reporting that a SW themed Blue Sky Cellar might be coming to the SW meet and greet going into the old Animation Courtyard. Kevin Crossman joined the guys on the last episode and mentioned it.
  • Rumors of work in Frontierland, part of the $3 Billion WDW updating. Could this be the long proposed boardwalk between BTM and HM? That would close the Rivers of America but open the possibility of new attractions on Tom Sawyer Island. 416 ft from old TSI raft loading dock/smoking area to HM dock.
  • D23 details announced. George Lucas, Susan Lucci named Disney Legends. Parks gets 90 min presentation.

The Cardboard Art Festival

Taste of Nation Orlando

The Main Event

TripAdvisor Orlando Restaurant Rankings

3042 Ranked Restaurants

2 Hot Krust Panini Kitchen (Turkey Lake)

5 The Melting Pot (Sand Lake)

10 The Cheesecake Factory (Conroy Rd)

14 Fishbones (Sand Lake)

15 Olive Garden (I Drive)

16 Longhorn Steakhouse (Vineland Ave)

31 Red Lobster (I Drive)

38 Sanaa

47 Publix??

64 California Grill

153 Mythos

TripAdvisor Orlando Attraction Rankings

8 WDW

14 Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe

20 Gatorland

59 Jellyrolls

82 Holy Land Experience

166 Greenwood Cemetery

206 Festival Bay Mall/Artegon

 

Angel’s restaurant at MainGate

Planet Hollywood’s Stuff’s Magic Burger

Josh Gonz Recommends- Cowfish milkshakes, Bread Box.

Jake thinks PR’s Taco Palace has tiny tacos

Ken was wrong. Bill Whitaker founded Press 101. Hot Krust has Evan Dimov at Title Manger and Biff Godfret as Reg Agent listed

Bacon flavored seaweed

Ken Recommends- The Chicken Alfredo at the Sand Lake Road McDonald’s

Publix sub shop April Fools joke

Informative article from 2002 on the Millenia/Conroy interchange

Info on the TBN takeover of Holy Land Experience

2013 article on the planned Orlando TBN studio

Holy Land’s tax free loophole

Ken Recommends- Reptile World Serpentarium

Ken Recommends- Save Pleasure Island blog

The mystery of the I-4 Flea Market

Greenwood Cemetery Moonlight Strolls

Ken Recommends- Following Orlando Cemetery on Twitter

Citrus Tower

Presidents of Hall of Fame

Life-size replica of Graceland in Pine Hills

Jake Recommends- Roadside America

Ken Recommends- UCM Museum/Abita Mystery House

Ken then goes off how we should all sleep during the day

Splendid China themed Winn Dixie

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Ep 35 – HUGE Rumors, Big Fire and Tall Tower

On today’s show we have a full Punch List with a hotel fire, Skyplex gets FAA approval, The Orlando Eye gets evacuated, more bad news at Artegon and rumors say Fun Spot is about to open their checkbook. Then Kyle and Ken share recent trip reports of when they hosted out-of-town guests. Kyle gives details on touring at DHS and DAK with pregnant guests then Ken talks about I-Drive 360, Artegon and Port Canaveral’s Exploration Tower. Richie, Jay, Jake and Griffin throw in their hot takes during The Punch List and everyone leaves hoping the NBC Media Center is just a bad dream.

Show Notes

Hosts

Song 1

Song 2

Recording Dates- Punch List – July 5, 2015 | Main Event – July 1, 2015

Punch List

Avanti Resort fire

Orlando Eye broke down

Skyscraper at Skyplex gets FAA approval

Fun Spot news

Old Town’s redo

Toby Keith’s at Artegon closes

Chipotle is coming to OIA

Where were the crowds on the 4th at UOR?

NBC Media Center pics

Main Event

Frozen Summer Fun

DAK poop

I-Drive 360

Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral

Florida Beer Company

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OTR – Episode 5 – Ground Control to Seth Who Robs Banks

With Diagon Alley officially opening in less than 48 hours these next couple of days will be hard for all of us Potter fans.  We got two of the biggest local names in hospitality journalism together to share their experiences from the media preview of Diagon Alley and Hogwarts Express.  Seth Kubersky of Orlando Weekly and Touring Plans plus Banks Lee of Attractions Magazine joined us for an in-depth discussion into their experiences at Universal’s recent media event.

Show Info

Hosts-

Bob from Pixels at the Parks
Ken
Jake
And OTR’s very own Kyle and Richie

Special Guests-

Banks Lee
Seth Kurbersky

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