On this special episode of OTR Ed, Jake, Jay, and Ken chat about their winter trips. Ken reviews Dollywood and why he hated Lightning Rod. Then in Hour 2 Ken gives his top 9 under the radar stories to follow in 2019 before saying goodbye to Orlando.
Recording Date: Dec 28, 2018 at the WPRK Studios in Winter Park, FL
Today we have a special interview with Joshua Wallack, the visionary behind Skyplex and Mango’s Orlando. He sits down with us to talk about the struggle to build Skyplex, the benefits to the community, the new parking garage plaza, and Mango’s (which will be the largest Latin club in the U.S.).
During a shortened Punch List Jay, Jake and Ken talk Universal, I-Drive and Mummies.
Don’t forget to tune in tomorrow through Friday for the latest IAAPA coverage.
On today’s show Griffin of Epcod joins Ken, Jay, Jake and Richie to discuss all the WDW related announcements from D23. Booze in Magic Kingdom, Super Heroes in Epcot, live actors in Rivers of Light, and Slinky Dog vs Barnstormer are discussed. Then Richie and Ken go at each other when Richie calls Star Wars Land the ‘Potter Swatter’ we’ve been talking about.
During the Punch List Lissa and Ken discuss the new Jimmy Buffet town being built on 192, another list that Orlando is #1 on, lots of good food, and the horrific crime that recently took place on a Carnival Cruise ship. Cruising to Cuba, a set of new twin 75 story tall towers in Tampa and bicycle ride that makes you work to escape it are also brought up.
Daytona Rising 85% complete. $400 Million, 101,000 seat grandstand, 40 escalators. 4.5 months to go. Construction began July 8, 2013. Jan 30-31 Rolex 24 will be first event in the finish facility.
Carnival announces plans for cruises to Cuba. Fathom brand (a social impact focused cruise brand) 710 passenger ship. Would be the first U.S. based cruise ship operator to sail to Cuba. Plans call for every other week beginning in May 2016.
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.
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.