Tag: CityWalk

August 11, 2015

Ep 40 – No Flakka’n Around With BriMan of Orlando United

Subscribe: Email | RSS

Today we are joined by BriMan of Orlando United for a discussion on the past, present and future of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando. Miami’s new megamall, Mango’s and Columbian burgers are brought up in this fun chat. During the punch list we talk about those shocking Q2 results from SEAS, updates to Magic Kingdom, Zagat’s latest Orlando rankings and a new museum opening in town devoted to pencils. In the pre-Punch List chat Ken reviews Taste of the Nation 2015 while Lissa tells of some bad service she recently received at DHS. Ken admits to disliking Kickstarter while Jay admits to not listening to the show.

Show Info

Hosts

Ken
Lissa
Jay
Jake of Orlando Park Pass
Nikki of Lasting Impressions
Special Guests- BriMan of Orlando United

Song 1 (Punch List)

Song 2 (Main Event and Show Closing)

Song 3 (Main Event Closing)

Recording Dates- Punch List- Aug 9, 2015 | The Main Event- Aug 5, 2015

The Punch List

Taste of the Nation- SeaWorld | Universal

SEAS Q2 numbers (84.5% drop in profit) Joel Manby announces news on Nov 6 (International expansion details are expected then)

Disney Q3 Numbers

The Guardian reports new details on the Russian belugas that NOAA blocked The Georgia Aquariuam getting. Some of those would be headed to SeaWorld too.

BTMR getting updates

Duffy Meet and Greet closing at Epcot

New homes announced for Golden Oak. Prices start at $5 Million.

Zagat releases Best of Orlando restaurant list. Cress beats V&A, Capa at 4 Seasons ‘noteworthy’ but not on ranked list.

New restaurant announced for downtown by what Scott Joseph calls a ‘Dream Team’

Casey Anthony celebrated there after her ‘victory’

New friendly match announced for Citrus Bowl. Richard at OBJ asked ‘Can Orlando be Mexico’s favorite soccer city?’

OIA area Holiday Inn sells for $14 Million. JHM Hotels bought it.

Leogland Florida’s Legoland Dollars now listed on Travelex Currency Exchange Boards. The first time any theme park has had its internal currency listed on an outside exchange

Dixon opens new pencil museum in Lake Mary (free but reservations required)

The Main Event

Orlando United

HHN Forums on OU

USJ Night Parade

Ken is hiding in this questionable ATL IG post

Miami Wilds

Miami Megamall

Junior’s Columbian Burgers

Upcoming Events and Closing Remarks

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

Florida Kids and Family Expo – August 29-30

O-Town Mac Down for GKTW – Sept 12

Walt Disney’s hometown launches a Kickstarter to build a replica of its Autopia (based on one Walt gave them in 1966) in the middle of the town.

Fulton’s Crabhouse at Disney Springs offering kids cooking classes

July 28, 2015

Ep 38 – Living the Florida Life with Dani of This Florida Life/Bay Lake Society

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Email | RSS

Dani of This Florida Life joins us today for our Main Event. She gives an industry insider perspective on the hospitality bubble and what it means for the future of Orlando. Plus she talks Bay Lake Society and much more. Richie stops by for The Punch List where we cover the recent rape at Downtown Disney, the new peer-reviewed study on captive killer whales, Ripley’s expansion plans to Africa, and recent construction announcements around Orlando.

Macau casino giant Galaxy Entertainment is buying 5% in SBM to diversify into other markets, Macau performance under expectations. Galaxy Ent shares are down 46% due to Macau’s performance. Hong Kong hotel occupancy rates down for the 9^th straight month. China’s economy is off. Japan’s shrank last quarter, “a soft patch.” Does all of this point to a bubble in Orlando? Dani weighs in during the Main Event.

Show Notes

Hosts

Ken

Lissa

Special Guest – Dani of This Florida Life

Song One (Punch List intro)
Song Two (Main Event intro and outro)
Song Three (Closing)

Recording Dates: Punch List- July 26, 2015 | The Main Event- July 21, 2015

The Punch List

Ken Recommends- Resort Loop episode with Len Testa

Rape at HOB

Carjacking near DTD

HKDL’s Golden Mickeys show had its final performance this past weekend. How long till MK gets a show like this? Earvengers talked about this a few weeks ago.

Fantasmic testing reserved seats, rows and sections.

Comcast revenue skyrockets.

Iconic Daytona Speedway sign is removed

Orlando ranks 10^th for fastest growing hotel market 4.5% growth in Orlando.

Davidson County, Tenn., which includes the Nashville metropolitan area, with 6.7 percent growth. Hillsborough County came in second overall with 6.12 percent growth. Employment in Orange County, FL reached 49,724 in 2014, up from 47,583 recorded for the previous year.

New peer reviewed study on Killer Whales released in the Journal of Mammalogy by the Oxford University Press. It found no difference in life expectancy between SEAS whales and wild populations. And found wild calf survival rates of Southern Resident killer whales to be significantly less that SEAS (79.9% vs 96.6%).

New apartments announced for the SWO area. Part of the Marriott Grande Pines Golf Club redo. $40 Million, 282 units

Orange County proposes mixed use development on 28 acres beside Aquatica.

$7.2 Billion in real estate sales across Orlando in the last 12 months.

Joshua Wallack may help pay for SLR/I-Drive ped bridge

Orlando HQ’d Ripley’s returns to Africa for the first time since 1933 when Robert Ripley visited. New 12 city traveling show stops by shopping malls in South Africa.

Last week we talked about the Tripadvisor Top 25 Theme Parks. E-Ticket Report did an excellent rundown of all 25 parks and gave insights into the American parks on the list.

The Main Event

Bay Lake Society

Ken Recommends- Dani’s Trader Sam’s article on Touring Plans

Dani Recommends- The Boathouse

Mango’s Orlando

iSquare Orlando

Dani Recommends- When visiting Orlando take a ride on SunRail on the day you visit Florida Mall

Dani Recommends- Park Ave in Winter Park

Dani Recommends- Downtown Sanford

Dani Recommends- Wekiva Island

Closing Remarks

Next week I’ll joining a new podcast. He Says, She Says. A Disney talking podcast. Follow along on Twitter @DisneyTalking

Speaking of podcasts check out The Park Blogger had a great show with Lite’em and Hyde this past week. WDW Today did an excellent job with their offsite episode last week, I give them a thumbs up for that but wish they had focused more on I-Drive, Park Ave and maybe even some places like downtown Sanford.

Happy birthday to space flight at Cape Canaveral. 65 years ago this past week.

Next week we’ll have John Frost of The Disney Blog joining us!

July 21, 2015

Ep 37 – Low Ratings With Josh Gonzales

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Email | RSS

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 14, 2015

Ep 36 – Coloring A Whole New Mall

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Email | RSS

Today Mark of Orlando Mall Guide stops by to talk about the new Crayola Experience attraction and the new Dining Pavilion at the Florida Mall. He also gives his thoughts on Artegon, the new I-Drive megamall and Disney Springs. During the Punch List Richie, Ken and Jake talk about religious freedom in the workplace, the future of camping at Disney World and the general public’s lack of interest in space travel.

Show Notes

Hosts

Ken
Lissa
Jake of Orlando Park Pass
The ghost known as Richie
Special Guest- Orlando Mall Guide Mark

Song One

Song Two

Recording Dates: Punch List – July 12, 2015 | Main Event – July 10, 2015

Punch List

Fire alarm at The Orlando Eye

UCF area apartment fire

Bill Cosby removed from DHS

Bill Cosby column now DHS’s newest photo-op

Epcot gets a new VP

Ken on Resort Ears Part One | Part Two

Fort Wilderness cabins getting remodeled

Ken thinks FW will be closing sooner than later.

Disney Family Culinary Experience at The Contemporary

Sikh Cast Member wins lawsuit against WDW

Shanghai Disneyland information released July 15

Is Magic Kingdom getting updates? Richie expects so.

Richie- “I’ll be excited when Disney builds another ride; that’s when I’ll be excited for Magic Kingdom.”

Disney Anaheim announces $1.1 Billion expansion

Richie recommends: Variety for TWDC news

LA Times report on Star Wars at DL

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata Dies At 55

McDonald’s on SLR/I-Drive breaks ground on July 20

The Chew tv show comes to Epcot, Food & Wine booths coming to Future World

New memorial exhibit opens at KSC dedicated to Challenger and Columbia

Do you know about tourism in Cuba? We’d love to talk with you on the show! Message us for more information.

Main Event

Crayola Experience at The Florida Mall

The Florida Mall’s new Dining Pavilion

I Love This Bar & Grill closure

Gods & Monsters Grand Opening

OSC’s new gift shop

May 6, 2015

SideChat 10 – Dutch, Sharks and Blockbusters

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Email | RSS

On today’s SideChat Banks Lee joins Jay and Ken to geek out this summer’s upcoming blockbuster movies including Sharknado 3 (which Banks makes a cameo in). Disney Spring’s The Boathouse, the summer dance party at Typhoon Lagoon and Dutch Lombrowski all come up in conversation.