Orlando Archives - Page 80 of 82 - Orlando Tourism Report

April 24, 2015

Ep 29 – Mid-Atlantic Fender Bender with a Big Pile of Dirt

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On today’s show we have an incredible interview with a Dawn Sabato of 7220 I-Drive (Home of CSI: The Exhibit, Consumed by Art and the new Leonardo da Vinci exhibit). She shares the latest details on the new da Vinci exhibit plus what it took to get the exhibit here all the way from Austria. She also shares her experiences with being one of the local attractions in the shadow of the Big 3.

On the Punch List today Ken and Kyle talk about the latest SWO rumors, give new details on the Sand Lake Road McDonalds that just announced a major update and give insights what they think of the latest Disney rumors. The cruise industry, scuba diving and the I-4 Ultimate Project are all included as well.

Show Info

Music

Song 1

Song 2

Song 3

Hosts

Ken

Kyle

Special Guest- Dawn Sabato

Recording Dates

Punch List – 4-23-2015
Interview – 4-21-2015

Show Notes

Punch List

DoubleTree by UOR is for sale

I-4 Ultimate Makeover

Florida is #1 in Cruise Industry

Norwegian Cruise Lines to offer free drinks on select cruises

Disney Cruise Line’s announce major new additions (Star Wars, Wreck-It Ralph, etc.)

Orlando United’s SWO restaurant rumor

OU’s SWO giga-coaster rumor

Deerfield Beach’s very odd artificial reef

Man pees in Hard Rock Hotel ice machine

Kobe Scorpion Bowl

Main Event

Interview with Dawn Sabato of EMS Exhibits (CSI: The Experience, Consumed By Art, Our Body, etc.)

5 Takeaways from the Interview

All the exhibits at 7220 will be evolving and changing over the next few years
EMS plans to stay in the Orlando market and is willing to change to do it
Special events will play a role in 7220’s future
Options for multiple ages and demographics are important in the Orlando market

Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to retail on I-Drive

April 7, 2015

Ep 28 – Floating Cars Get Across The Pond

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First up today is a Punch List with Jay and Lissa plus we’re joined by Jake who is taking the Caption E.O. news pretty hard. After a touchy exchange between Ken and Lissa regarding Disney Jay brings up some UOR news.

Then for the Main Event today we have Part 2 of the interview with Simon and Susan of Veness Travel Media (Part 1 was posted March 16). They give their unique insights into the local British tourism trends and weigh in on all the news including Star Trek attractions, Star Wars and where SeaWorld goes from here.

Show Info

Music

Song 1

Song 2

Hosts

Special Guests

Recording Dates

Punch List- March 28, 2015
Interview with Simon and Susan- March 5, 2015

Show Notes

Punch List

WDW

Tomorrowland in Future World. Is Caption EO leaving for good? Does this point to future developments (Carousel of Progress rumor)? Innoventions Westis closing April 29 and in Disneyland its closing for 2 months, what does this mean?
Pirates of the Caribbean closed for the summer.
50 Cent’s audio company is sponsoring Star Tours. WTF?
Theme Park Insider noticed what looks to be a new road being built near DHS. Is this the new entrance?
Trader Sam’s opens. Will the lines be a staple of this new bar?
Amphibious Cars arrivedand they look awesome!
Marvel store coming to DTD

UOR

Updates to (what is likely) Kong from Amusement Buzz

Legoland Florida

Lego Friends announced as final room theme of LLF Hotel. Is it smart to focus so heavy on a gender specific brand

MAIN EVENT

Part 2 of the interview with Veness Travel Media (Part 1 is here)

5 Takeaways from the Interview

Paramount is bringing an ‘American style’ park to U.K. and it will be interesting to watch how its received.
Simon and Susan think gaming will be a bad mix for Orlando
Tampa, Daytona and Miami have the adults covered, Simon and Susan think Orlando should be family focused
SeaWorld does a great job of conservation but they could do more to focus on it
192 may have to give up on tourism as the main draw for certain segments of the road, but not the entire road.

March 30, 2015

OTR Ep 27 – Skeletons and Presidents

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On today’s extra long episode Ken and Kyle start off with huge news coming out of SeaWorld. Then Lissa joins in for rest of the Punch List. The wave of recent hotel announcements is covered along, yet more announced for Skyplex, the new bus-only lanes coming to I-Drive, and the latest on Miami’s megamall.

Then Mark Brisson, Executive Director of Skeletons: Animals Unveiled, calls in for a discussion on I-Drive 360, the future of the region and much more. The conversation focuses on safety, the future of the SLR-I-Drive intersection and what it takes to be successful in the most intense tourist district in the nation.

Show Info

Ken
Kyle
Lissa of Magical Enchanted Vacations | Lissa’s introduction SideChat
Special Guest- Mark Brisson of Skeletons: Animals Unveiled

Recording Info

SEAS President Reactions Recorded – Mar 21
The Punch List Recording – Mar 17
Mark Brisson Interview – Mar 13

Song One | Song Two

Show Notes

::Punch List::

SEAS

New President is announced and he looks like the right choice.
Is Bloomin’ Brands coming to SeaWorld?
BGT releases a statement regarding its otters. #OtterGate isn’t mentioned in it.

Tourist District and Related News

Planet Hollywood condo hotel coming to Lake Bryan/535
11 story condo hotel and retail project coming across from SWO
DPPAC might get fancy hotel
Hyatt Place at Church St proposed
Patel hotels bought
Skyfall at Skyplex announced at State of I-Drive
The property that Chuck Whittall mentioned at State of I-Drive that he will be developing over next 5 years
American Maglev confirms expansion plans beyond I-Drive
BRT coming to I-Drive?

Outside of the region

DollyWood readies to open its DreamMore Resort
Miami Megamall gets 1^st approval

::Main Event::

Interview with Mark Brisson of Skeletons: Animals Unveiled

5 Take-Aways from the Interview

Skeletons: Animals Unveiled is working with Boy and Girl Scouts to have badge programs at the museum
They’re aiming for attendance in the 100K-400K range
Special Events will be a central funding source for Skeletons: Animals Unveiled
Mark predicts a day when parts of I-Drive will be pedestrian plazas
He doesn’t seem to expect the Tourist Development Tax distribution plan to change anytime soon

March 12, 2015

OTR – SideChat 7 – Here Come The Lions

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In today’s SideChat we’re joined by Simon and Susan of Veness Travel Media. Simon is the author of The Brits Guide to Orlando, the #1 selling Orlando travel guide in the U.K. For this special SideChat though we pick his brain on soccer. He is a regular writer for MLS.com and SkySports.com. He has also written about American sports for most major British newspapers and has been featured on the BBC. Today we discuss the Orlando City Soccer Club’s first MLS season, what this new team means to Orlando tourism and how Kaka will impact Brazilian tourist’s vacation plans.

Show Info

Ken Storey

Kyle

Jay

Special Guests – Simon & Susan of Veness Travel Media

Show Notes

Orlando City Soccer Club

Kaka

South Florida Condo Sales

MLS Largest attended games

Atlanta confirmed as an expansion

SunRail

Church Street Station

Mag-lev I-Drive plans | Overall plans

David Beckham’s plans for a Miami MLS expansion

January 27, 2015

OTR – Ep 22 – The 43.7 Million Dollar Question

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In the first episode of 2015 Kyle and Ken are joined by Jay of Orlando Tourist Blog. The guys cover all the news they’ve missed over the past month including Artegon’s Christmas Eve death, Gwazi’s closing, the coaster rumors at SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa, Universal Orlando’s non-stop construction, restaurants at Disney Springs and more before sharing their thoughts on pay at Walt Disney World compared to that of Bob Iger’s.

Show Info

Ken Storey

Kyle

Jay

Recorded Jan 22, 2015