Know the city | Know the industry

Tag: IOA

Episode 78 – Ron Schneider Breaks The Silence

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.

Hosts

Recording Date: Punch List- June 27, 2016 | Main Event- July 1, 2016

MusicSong One

Punch List

WDW

Beaches reopen with fences after gator attack

Port Orleans food court to get updated

V&A’s Scott Hunnell is promoted to GF Exec. Chef

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique gets a new location

More WDW restaurants test walk-in availability

Universal

Volcano Bay info released

PETS rumors heat up

Not long until Sapphire Falls opens

Other

SeaWorld address sea pens during investor call

Port Canaveral goes up on parking

Hyatt House announced for Caravan Court (136,160 sq ft, 168 rooms, on-site restaurant)

Orlando Attractions Unite

I-Drive plaza sells, redevelopment likely

Westgate Standoff causes ripple effects

ph askes to get bigger

Other Important Links

Walt’s Frozen Head

From Dreamer to Dream Finder

WPRK

Theme Park University

Continue Reading

Ep 76 – A Gator Wedding and Holy Land Dreams

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!

 

Show Notes

Hosts

Recording Date: Punch List 5-31-16 |#OTRonFM 5-27-16

MusicSong One | Song Two

 

Punch List

Disney

No more margaritas stand at Epcot

Gone Mad Party happening daily at Grand Flo

WDW makes getting to a water park more difficult

Muppets pizzeria at DHS

China’s Warren Buffet (Wand Jialian- he owns Wanda Group) says Disney isn’t ready to compete there, says he has a pack of wolves ready

 

Universal

Raises day of ticket prices

Auditions for two characters (Penolope and Jaques) happening June 6 for Toothsomes

Kong preview on NBC

 

Other

Old Town/Fun Spot announce partnership

Brevard Zoo offering $5 day on June 3

Tacky Tourist Party at History Center June 9

3 Florida beaches named best in U.S.

Serengeti Overlook restaurant opens at BGT (for other SEAS news make sure to check out the SEAS News Wire)

 

Trip Reports

Mr Brian – DAK at Night

Jim – WildGravity at Legoland Imagination Zone

Ken – Holy Land Experience Part 1 | Part 2

 

Other Important Links

Just Marry

Wedding at MegaCon

ComeSeeOrlando

Nick Ilasi

Tom Morrow’s Mouse

WPRK

Continue Reading

Ep 75 – Rockits From The Past

On today’s show we hit 88 MPH and unthaw another one of our Winter Break shows. This one is a New Year’s Eve 2016 Special with Rockit Man. We chat with him as he prepares for it 10,000th ride on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Jake, Robert, Ed, and Ken are joined by Rockit Man and his girlfriend for a chat about all the wild thrill rides in Orlando. Richie ends up on the phone by the end of the interview correcting Ken’s incorrect info regarding ABC. During the Punch List, Ken tries to hide the fact that he’s at work but a loud buzzing gives it away. Gatorland, the Sanford Airport and Old Town are all discussed during the Punch List.

Show Notes

Hosts

Recording Date: Punch List 5-24-16 |#OTRonFM 12-31-15

MusicSong 1 | Song 2

 

Punch List

Sanford Orlando International Airport gets influx of new development

Grad Night H20 coming to Typhoon Lagoon

Muppets pizza restaurant coming to DHS

Uniq Hotel Orlando gets updated design

Gatorland submits plans for a swamp buggy attraction

Old Town is getting a new Ferris Wheel

 

Other Important Links

WPRK

Rockit Man’s 10,000th ride of Rip Ride RockIt

Continue Reading

Ep 73 – A Hotel Phoenix and Riverboat Nightmares

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

Hosts

Date of Recording: Punch List 5/9/16 | #OTRonFM 5/6/16

Music: Song 1 | Song 2

Punch List

DHS’s new entrance and interchange

New renderings show how Disney Spring’s Empress Lily (Fulton’s) will look when it reopens as Paddlefish

Chinese trash Shanghai Disneyland before it even officially opens

Shanghai Disneyland’s new TRON coaster looks insane

Wolfgang Puck, Bongos rumored to be leaving Disney Springs after Disney supposedly told them they need new kitchens 

Helipad proposed for Artegon. (One of 3 now proposed or under construction on I-Drive)

Andretti Karting indoor go-cart part of proposed FEC next door to Top Golf on Universal Blvd

Other Important Links

The M Hotel

Revere nightclub

WPRK

Continue Reading

Ep 59 – Brian Goes Global

Brian returns from Asia with a trip report from Thailand and Tokyo Disney Sea. Jim stops in to talk about all of the news coming out of SEAS lately. Kevin Yee discusses the layout of the Tokyo Disney resort. The news includes the latest closures from DHS, tram news from UOR and Coke moving into Disney Springs. Ken gives reviews of Otronicon 2016 and Ringling’s last visit to the Amway Center before they retire the elephants.

Show Notes

Hosts

Date of Recording:  Jan 20 , 2015

Punch List

DHS actually pulls off a Villain themed event

DHS next typhoon of closures hit, could the Earful Tower be moved to Disney Springs?

Habit Heroes closes at Innoventions (all that’s left is Sum, storm struck House and colortopia)

Rumor – Joy, Sadness coming to Epcot

World of Coke coming to Disney Springs

SEAS Update with Jim

SWO begins removing fast rising floors in orca tanks

SWO- Wild Days media event, Mako topping off, Manatee exhibit refurb, Wild Artic reopened (god no!) and all around updates

SEAS begins rolling out new focus on upcharge events (blog post on BGT interactions | trademarks for SWSA interactions )

BGT- Cobra’s Curse elevator lift is going up, rumors of 2018 coaster,

Lowry Park – Baby zebra

Weekend Adventure nature block (including SEAS tv shows) tops syndicated ratings for Dec 28- Jan 3 week (Judge Judy was #2)

Local News

Willie the Adarvark at DAK, now at the Planet Watch

The Delaney boutique hotel announced for Downtown South (ORMC)

Universal confirms VB tram from parking garage

Roboasis behind walls. Any news there?

BJ theater is gone, Twister is see-thru. Hello Kitty coming along. Kong- queue.

Otronicon

Ringling -> return of Legends. Last time of elephants in Amway.

Efteling’s new dark ride

Bruce Vaughn out, Bob Weis in at WDI

Other Important Links

Kevin Yee’s Top Tips for Visiting Tokyo Disney Resort

Mr Brian’s Thailand Video Trip Report

He Says, She Says Show

Epcot’s Daredevil Circus with Regis Philbin

Coaster Casters

WDW Navigators

WPRK

Sonny’s Smokin’ Showdown Jan 30 at Central Florida Zoo

Continue Reading