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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 49 – The Big Blue Super Long Whale of Show With Eric Davis

SeaWorld is the focus of today’s main event when Eric Davis stops in to talk about the recent ruling from the California Coastal Commission that might mean an end to breeding in SeaWorld’s original park. The future of the company, orcas in captivity, that bizarre social media day earlier this year and more discussed in the firework filled conversation.

During the Punch List Robert and Ken talk about the recent monorail breakdown at WDW, the abrupt closure of the CSI exhibit, new hotels proposed for 192, OSHA’s rulings on the WDW Speedway accident, and that 400 acres that’s about to go up for sale. Southern cooking, Pitbull, Ferrari World, and I-4’s newest exit ramp are all worked into the conversation.

Show Notes

Hosts

Recording Date: 10-12-15

The Punch List Music

The Main Event Music

Eric Davis Speech Song | Speech

Closing Song

Punch List

  1. Monorail breaks down at WDW
  2. CSI, 7220 abruptly shuts down
  3. Jungleland might reopen
  4. 3 Hotels proposed for Osceola Heritage Sq
  5. Legoland movie attraction
  6. OSHA fines Petty Holdings $7,000, cites them in WDW speedway death
  7. I-4 exit ramp to Disney Springs opens
  8. New Chocolate shop coming to Disney Springs
  9. Chef Art Smith opening Florida themed restaurant at Disney Springs
  10. Club Disney dance party coming to DHS
  11. Disney announces Port Canaveral as home port for 3 ships in 2017
  12. Holland Cruises announces new make your own wine program aboard cruises from Port Everglades, Ft. Lauderdale
  13. Pitbull named Norwegian Escape’s ‘godfather’
  14. Blackjack agreement about to expire
  15. Over 400 acres in tourist district is going up to auction
  16. More details emerge regarding the I-Drive Marriott golf course near SWO
    • Residential portion include 260 single family homes, 176 townhomes and 700 apartment homes.
    • 423 single family homes/townhomes approved on Oct 8
  17. UOR confirms Hulk refurb will be done by B&M
  18. HHN Orl expands Scareactor dining experience
  19. iSq site work begins, their Twitter becomes active

Things We Loved This Week

Not Mentioned But Still Loved-

Events

Oct 9-31- Underground Vampire Bar at DRIP

Oct 17- African Penguin Awareness Day at BGT

Oct 17- Brian Miser (The Human Fuse) will be fired from bar to bar in a cannon in downtown Orlando to promote Captain Morgan’s Cannon Blast Bar Crawl (at Wall St Plaza)

Oct 17- Orlando Creative City Project

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 14-22 Festival of the Trees at OMA (tickets on sale now)

Nov 20-22- Latin Baseball Festival at WWOS

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

 

Main Event

Behind The Thrills – CCC bans breeding at San Diego, what’s next?

SeaWorld announces new position for Matt Rearden (former VP of Business Affairs) as Sr Business Development Officer

SEAS disappeared from the Fla Dept of Education website briefly

Journey to Atlantis Texas

Blue World ProjectOBJ

Awesome Ocean

Unofficial SeaWorld Podcast

SeaWorld Erin Sea McKinney

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Ep 36 – Coloring A Whole New Mall

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

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

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Ep 35 – HUGE Rumors, Big Fire and Tall Tower

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.

Show Notes

Hosts

Song 1

Song 2

Recording Dates- Punch List – July 5, 2015 | Main Event – July 1, 2015

Punch List

Avanti Resort fire

Orlando Eye broke down

Skyscraper at Skyplex gets FAA approval

Fun Spot news

Old Town’s redo

Toby Keith’s at Artegon closes

Chipotle is coming to OIA

Where were the crowds on the 4th at UOR?

NBC Media Center pics

Main Event

Frozen Summer Fun

DAK poop

I-Drive 360

Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral

Florida Beer Company

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Ep 33 – May’s Big Rewind with Epcod, Elvenage and Sir Owen Disney

After a whirlwind month of announcements and news we gather some theme parks fan to break it all down. Sir Owen Disney, Epcod and Elvenage join Jake, Richie and Ken to discuss their takes on all of this past month’s news. The future of SeaWorld, the chances of Skyplex actually ever happening and the role of Value Resorts at the modern Walt Disney Role all come up. Hot takes on the latest news, reviews of Tomorrowland, gambling’s impact on Florida, and a lot more in the news round-up episode.

 

Show Info

Hosts
Special Guests
Recording Date
  • May 30, 2015
Music

 

Show Notes

News Round-Up from May
I-Drive and Surrounding Area-
Disney-
SEAS –
UOR-

 

Additional Notes

Wisconsin Dells- Noah’s Ark Water Park (with non-tube rides)

Ken’s M&M Star Wars treats

Camden Park

Darien Lake

Little Amerricka in Wisconsin

Epcod’s Tomorrowland rampage One | Two | Three | Four | Five

OTR’s tweet regarding Volcano Bay stucco work

Mr Brian in Orlando’s sad trip to I-Drive 360 (Broken exhibits at SEALife One | Views from The Orlando Eye One, Two)

Ken Recommends- Tin Roof at I-Drive 360

Florida Citrus Tower

Jack Recommends- #OrlandoEye on Instagram

#AskSeaWorld’s utter failure on Twitter

Sir Owen Disney Recommends- Christmas at SeaWorld

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