Mark Baratelli shares stories about his time at Disney Cruise Lines and why he loves Orlando. He talks about his Food Truck Bazaar and how it helped shape Orlando’s massive food truck scene. Ken talks about his recent trip to Busch Gardens and Robert asks how I-Drive 360 is doing.
On today’s show Ken, Robert and Ed are joined in Studio B by Simon and Susan Veness of Veness Travel Media. Simon is the author of ‘The Brits Guide to Orlando,’ the best-selling guide of its kind in the U.K. Simon and Susan discuss their observations in the changing demographics of Orlando tourism and how the larger trends in Florida are affecting it. Brexit and changes to the OCSC are both discussed in detail.
Today we come back from our break with a round-up of the news. Then during the Main Event we have the original Dreamfinder, Ron Schneider, join us to chat about Walt’s Frozen Head, his views on Orlando tourism and the future of the industry.
We have trip reports galore on today’s show. Ken visits the Holy Land Experience, Mr. Brian checks out Animal Kingdom after dark and Jim sees what Legoland Florida has in store for summer. The Punch List includes HUGE news coming out of Fun Spot Kissimmee, an odd story regarding China’s Wanda Group, less booze at Epcot, and fun facts about a serial killer who spent time in downtown Orlando.
During the Main Event, we have a wedding planner stop by the studio to give us details on some of the wildest weddings ever seen in Orlando including one that involved a Joan Rivers lookalike and a live alligator. Dawn of ComeSeeOrlando calls in to give us a live report from MegaCon. Plus, we talk about the odd new bus routes that WDW just rolled out.
All of that and plenty of tacos on today’s Orlando Tourism Report!
The Punch List is filled with I-Drive news items including the latest on the sky-high proposal for Artegon. During the Main Event I-Drive hotelier, Micah Bass stops by to talk about the good and the bad of owning I-Drive’s only LGBT hotel and nightclub. News from Disney Springs, SeaWorld and Port Canaveral all comes up. Oh yeah, and showers in the VIP rooms. It’s a wild day on OTR
