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Ep 143 – Orlando Comedy Festival with Matt Gervia

Matt Gervia comes on the show to talk about this weekend’s Orlando Comedy Festival. 90 mins of laughter, stories of how comedy theater is used in local theme parks, and some interesting insights into his work at local attractions such as Fun Spot, Crayola Experience, and 360’s 7D Theater.

Ken also gives a review of Jurassic World: Lost Kingdom in the 4DX format and talks about some new legal action now being taken after last week’s horrific roller coaster accident in Daytona Beach.

Ed says hi.

The Orlando Comedy Festival takes place June 23, 2018. Workshops begin at 10 AM, performances begin at 5 PM. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office.

Recording Date: June 22, 2018 at WPRK Studios in Winter Park, FL

Important Links

Power 2 Improv

Orlando Comedy Festival

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Ep 133 – Parking Fees vs Resort Fees with Kill Resort Fees Founder Lauren Wolfe

We try catching up on the latest news with this episode. News includes a billion dollar upgrade coming to Royal Caribbean, the significance to the new name at Gary Goddard Design, a mystery around a deleted article on The Dis, and the big changes coming to Lowry Park Zoo.

Kill Resort Fees Founder Lauren Wolfe calls in to talk about the new parking fees at WDW, why Disney likely won’t be adding a resort fee, and her work on bringing light to these hidden fees.

Recording Date– March 16, 2018, in Studio B at WPRK Winter Park, FL

Special GuestKill Resort Fees Founder Lauren Wolfe

Show Notes

Gary Goddard leaves, Legacy Entertainment new name

Disney restructuring

DCL changes eastern Caribbean itinerary as islands still work to recover from Maria

Tomorrowland Expo party confirmed for MK

The Dis deleted an article on a mechanics death

Food prep employees at MCO picket

Vacation homes no longer pay school impact fees

Rocket launches at KSC might soon be 3x the current rate

Shrek 4-D leaving?

Lowry Park Zoo renamed, announces major updates

Brevard Zoo announces inclusion plan for those with special needs, Jeff Corwin announces he’ll be visiting the zoo

Magic Sports and Entertainment district

Royal Caribbean’s billion-dollar expansion

Crystal Cruise update

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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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OTR at IAAPA #IAE17 The Floor is OPEN! Day 2

With the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2017 Trade Show Floor opening this morning we have tons of news to talk about plus interviews with Guy Nelson of Dynamic Attractions, Brian Marrow of SeaWorld, and our first reactions to this year’s event.

Recording Date– 11/14/2017 7:30PM

Today’s Guests

Brian Marrow- VP Theme Park Experience Design, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment

Guy Nelson- CEO, Dynamic Attractions

 

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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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