Orlando Archives - Page 78 of 82 - Orlando Tourism Report

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

September 1, 2015

Ep 43 – Kubersky’s Art Night At The Cat Cafe

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Seth Kubersky stops by to talk about his new Universal Orlando guidebook. The local art scene, the future of 192, casinos, and California theme parks are all discussed. Plus what type of shoes Seth loves to wear to theme parks and his favorite district in town to go out for a night on the town. During the Punch List we talk about all the new hotel rooms announced for the area (over 2,000 in the past week alone!), our private conversation with the Maglev company, the future of museums in St Pete and Central Florida’s new cat café that’s about to open. News from Tampa, Daytona, Port Canaveral, Skyplex, iSquare, and SeaWorld is also included.

Show Notes

Hosts

Recording Dates: Main Event- Aug 26, 2015 | Punch List- Aug 31, 2015

Punch List Intro

Main Event Intro

Closing Song

Punch List

UOR announces 400 more rooms in two new towers.
Rosen announces 1,200-1,500 more rooms, spread across three OCCC area hotels (Shingle Creek, Centre and Plaza)
New 365 room hotel announced for Universal Blvd (beside the Imagine Westin, across OCCC)
Bike lanes, bus lanes discussed at I-Drive meeting
New details on the SLR/I-Drive pedestrian bridge
- 436 Double Decker Proposal (Ken was a little off, it was proposed in 1986)
New renderings of Skyplex released
Maglev chat- Groundbreaking by end of year, Phase 1 is OIA to I-Drive, Phase 2 I-Drive Circulator
iSquare announces first retail tenant…a Subway
Falcon’s to start licensing Turtle Trek for attractions world-wide
Brevard Zoo plans an aquarium
The Florida Aquarium partners with Florida Museum of Photographic Arts on new exhibit
New $75 million western and native American art museum planned for St Pete
Escapology announces a new room
A Cat Café planned for Clermont (near 192/27 interchange)
Daytona Lagoon sold to United Parks, $2 Million upgrade planned

The Main Event

Events

Magical Dining Month– Now through Sept 30

M.C. Escher at Dali Museum now through Jan 3

The 4^th Annual Great Irish Hooley – Sept 4-7 @ Raglan Road

O-Town Mac Down for GKTW – Sept 12

The Pineapple Ball – Oct 17

Next Week on OTR – Tim Grassey of WDW Theme Parks and E-Ticket Report

August 4, 2015

Ep 39 – John Frost Talks Orlando

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John Frost of The Disney Blog stops by to talk Disney, Marvel and the future of Orlando’s theme parks. Living wage initiatives, SeaWorld, Gatorland and, yes, even casinos are all brought up in the conversation. During The Punch List Lissa and Ken get into it over parking at Disney World. Mr Brian weighs in on the new interactive shots bar coming to downtown Orlando and asks ‘are food trucks still a trend?’ LGBTQ rights in Osceola County are discussed ahead of an important vote there. Old Town announces a redo. Plus we recommend some upcoming events around the region.

Show Notes

Hosts

Ken
Lissa
Brian
Special Guest- John Frost of The Disney Blog

Song One (Punch List)

Song Two (Main Event)

Song Three (Closing)

Recording- The Main Event July 30, 2015 | The Punch List Aug 3, 2015

The Punch List

OCSC unveils new stadium. 25,500 capacity, fan plaza next door, canopy covering every seat, $155 Million fully privately funded.

New renderings and details for iSquare megamall.

Skyscraper changes ride manufacture: S&S out, Intamin in.

Old Town gets $10 Million in improvements.

Osceola County looks to add sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to protection from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Orlando celebrates being a Paper Town and proves they didn’t read John Green Day’s book (now a movie!)

Lissa was correct. Some scenes were filmed in Orlando.

Busch Gardens shuts down because of the rain

Gatorland hatches 19 Nile Crocodiles. First time in 2 years.

World’s 5^th largest cruise ship – Norwegian Epic – to sail from Cape Canaveral in November 2016

Swan & Dolphin gets into the food truck game

WDW gets new Director, Parks Arrival Experience, Program Management and Park Support. Valeria Bunting was the GM of Port Orleans and has worked previously at both MK and DAK.

DTD maps now list it as ‘Transforming into Disney Springs’ and districts are using new names finally. Save PI pointed out The Tunnels are being worked on.

Figment comic Series 2 heads to Epcot

The Main Event

The Disney Blog

Summary of rumors for SW at DHS in 2016

400 acres near the OCCC being sold

Disney and More article referencing possible SWO buyout

Caesars Magical Empire

Titanic Orlando experience

Fun Spot

Florida Resident Deals at Gatorland

This Week Around Orlando

Main Street Restaurant Week $5 – $30 prix fixe meals at 49 local restaurants

Mango’s hosting job fair August 7, 8

Taste of the Nation is Aug 8. GO!!

Florida Kids and Family Expo – August 29-30

The 21^st Annual Harvest Grape Stomp is Aug 15 at Lake Ridge Winery

He Says, She Says. A Disney talking podcast. Follow along on Twitter @DisneyTalking

Next week we have BriMan from Orlando United joining us to talk HHN 25. OU Radio had Robert Niles on last week.

July 21, 2015

Ep 37 – Low Ratings With Josh Gonzales

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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

TripAdvisor Top Theme Parks in the World– IOA #1, Discovery Cove #2, MK #3, USH #4, DHS #5, USF #6
New details emerge about the Tacky Tourist McDonald’s. Grand opening Feb 2016, current one will close around the end of December
Prince Harry’s Invictus Games coming to WWOS May 8-12. The only international adaptive sporting event for active and veteran service members
Nik Patel hotel auction going on right now. Ends Wednesday morning.
Last remaining Houlihan’s in Florida closing July 26. It’s in Colonial Plaza on Hwy 50 near Downtown. It’ll become an Ale House.
Gaylord Palms unveils details on its Christmas offerings.
Major identity theft ring busted at Preferred Guest Resorts. At least 1,855 victims identified.
WWII bomb found, exploded on St Pete beach.

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

July 7, 2015

Ep 35 – HUGE Rumors, Big Fire and Tall Tower

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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.