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Tag: Epcot

Ep 62 – February News Roundup

As violence rings out across Central Florida we stop to ask what more needs to be done to keep tourist safe. We then talk about the Anthem of the Seas and its storm damage. A new 34-story tall guitar, fish tanks at Rainforest Café and street view at Magic Kingdom are discussed. Legoland, Brevard Zoo and Epcot all come up as well. Today’s show is a 2 hour roundup of the recent news.

Show Notes
Hosts

Date of Recording: 2/10/16

Song One 

Punch List

News of violence fills the tourist district. 2 dead at Florida Mall, 2 dead in mass shooting at nightclub on Universal Blvd (with another mass shooting in a Tampa strip club)

Storm with 100+ mile an hour winds hit Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas, after wild night at sea the rest of the itineraries are cancelled and the ship sails home early, RV gives all aboard a full refund and 50% off a future cruise.

Seminoles propose $1.8 Billion in new development for their casinos including a 34 story guitar shaped tower in Hollywood, Florida.

Google Street View spotted walking around Magic Kingdom

Cheerleading confirmed for WWOS, is this the end of Indiana Jones Stunt Show?

Circle of Life movie abruptly closes for lengthy rehab at Epcot. Will it return?

DAK’s Rainforest Café fish tanks closed for rehab, will the local Rainforest Cafés become fish-less like the Mall of America location recently did?

Brevard Zoo to offer 2 new behind the scenes tour

Legoland files plans for new development across the street from current resort

4 Points on I-Drive to gets new owner, $4M update

Sports complex beside Artegon asks for 6 month extension on permits

Wallack’s Hollywood Garage requests to add to more floors, 200 more spaces

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Ep 58 – Seth Goes Off (Property)

Today we have a backlogged episode from the holidays when Seth Kubersky stopped by to talk about his latest Unofficial Guide Series book; Beyond Disney. In this guide Seth and Bob Sehlinger cover all of the great attractions that you would miss if you just stayed on Disney property. The conversation covers security at Disney World, the entertainment at Holy Land Experience, the awe-inspiring displays of Kennedy Space Center and more. Seth gives some history of his time in Central Florida and rabbit trails include chats about Artegon, the future of I-Drive and what makes a good roadside attraction.

Show Notes

Hosts

Date of Recording:  Dec 17, 2015

Song 1

Links for this episode

Beyond Disney 

The Unofficial Guides

Touring Plans

The Holy Land Experience 

Kennedy Space Center

Artegon

Live Active Cultures on Orlando Weekly

He Says, She Says Show

WPRK

 

 

 

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Ep 56 – Thanksgiving for Holy Land, ICE and random UOR news

On this special extra long holiday show Robert and Ken are joined by Jake in the studio. The recording took place on Thanksgiving and includes a rundown of different local holiday events, plus a trip report to Holy Land Experience, ICE! At Gaylord and the latest news from Universal Orlando.

Show Notes

Hosts

Date of Recording: Nov 26, 2015

Other Important Links

ICE! at Gaylord Palms

Holy Land Experience

He Says, She Says Podcast

WPRK

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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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Ep 48 – GREAT SCOTT!

Singles now outnumber married adults in the US. Today we talk with a single guy who just spent a week on vacation in Orlando. How does being alone affect how you tour the parks? Plus his impressions on WDW, UOR, HHN and Orlando in general. During the Punch List we cover OMA’s big announcement, WDW ticket prices, New Smyrna Beach’s new paid parking plan, dog days at Legoland, Parliament House’s big finical mess and more. We also talk about Watch Me Eat’s latest review of a Chinese buffet and the latest food news from around the region.

Show Notes

Hosts

Recording Dates: Main Event- 10-6-15 | Punch List- 10-5-15

Music – The Punch List Music | The Main Event Music | Closing Song

Punch List

Events

Oct 9 – Jake’s Beer Fest at Royal Pacific

Oct 9-31- Underground Vampire Bar at DRIP

Oct 31-31- Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic

Nov 13-15 Winter Park Concours d’Elegance

Nov 20-22- Latin Baseball Festival at WWOS

Dec 5, 12, 19, 26 Barista Bootcamp at the 4 Seasons Orlando

Main Event

Scotty’s 360 video of Illuminations

Sloppy Taco Palace

Scotty at WDW

Scotty at UOR

He Says, She Says Podcast

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