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Tag: Orlando Tourism Report

Ep 104- I-Drive NASCAR and so can you!

Robert and Ken visit the famous I-Drive NASCAR indoor karting experience and then have the crew stop by for a special episode of OTR. This episode includes a full hour of exclusive podcast content never heard before + one hour of #OTRonFM content from the April 21st episode. Hear as everyone talks about their favorite memories of old school I-Drive, what makes NASCAR such a huge brand, and why I-Drive NASCAR is here to stay.

Hosts

Recording Date- March 31, 2017 on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park (10AM-Noon)

Important Links

I-Drive NASCAR

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Ep 103- Busch Gardens History-apalooza

Grab your favorite sample of a Busch beer, find some shade, and enjoy this history filled episode of #OTRonFM.  Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez joins the guys to discuss his new Images of America book all about Busch Gardens Tampa. We start with the earliest days of gardens that sprung up beside the brewery and work our way through history to the coaster mecca it is today. We discuss Dwarf Village, the giant pandas, the monorail, and more in this wild episode of #OTRonFM

Hosts

Special Guest-

Recording Date- April 7, 2017 on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park (10AM-Noon)

Important Links

Images of America – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

WPRK

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Ep 96 – Kings Bowl, Florida Sports Expo contest, and James Gray in the closest

This episode we start off with announcing a new contest we’re running over the next 24 hrs. Then we sit down with Robert Morris of Kings Bowl to discuss bowling in Orlando, managing an attraction on I-Drive, and the future of local tourism. After Morris leaves we have an extended Punch List where we go through a ton of local news including new details on Volcano Bay, info on Avatar, and a State Senator shares the latest on gondolas in Orlando.

Hosts

Special Guest- Robert Morris, Director of Sales & Guest Systems Development at Kings Bowl

Recording Date- Feb 24, 2017 on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park

Punch List

Universal-

  1. Mark Woodbury Becomes Vice-Chairman of Universal’s Parks
  2. Universal Parks and Resorts Launch National Advertising and Brand Campaign
  3. Halloween Horror Nights 27 Vacation Package On Sale Now
  4. ProSlide teases new ride, could this be the one Ken announced in May of 2016?

Disney-

  1. Celebration at the Top with Fireworks Viewing at California Grill
  2. Shutters, Old Port Royale, and More Closing in 2017 at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
  3. PI Update: Edison Blueprints
  4. Price increase for the 2017 Disney Dining Plan
  5. New D-Tech On Demand Station in ESPN Wide World of Sports (more coming to Pandora)
  6. Walt Disney World adds retro RV food truck to Fort Wilderness Resort with new takes on campground grub
  7. Dusty on MiceChat brings up the old rumor of $2 billion in new investments in MK/Epcot including Brazil coming to World Showcase

SEAS-

  1. SeaWorld reports decline in attendance
  2. Rumor- SWO to get new round raft ride

Other Attractions

  1. KSC to give visitors 6 seconds to Mars…err, weightless
  2. LEGOLAND Florida to Host Batman Movie Days in March 2017
  3. Breaking: Skyplex adds another heart-stopping thrill to ride portfolio
  4. Florida Mall adds 3 first-to-market specialty concepts

News

  1. American Maglev tells us new news within 90 days
  2. After last week’s show Florida State Senator told Ken that she “I still like the idea for going east and west hook up to sunrail” (with gondolas).
  3. After 52 years Cocoa cancels the Easter Day Surf Competition
  4. Senate pushes gaming deal
  5. Rick Scott fumes as House tourism bill moves ahead
  6. Florida’s Siesta Beach named best beach in the U.S. by TripAdvisor
  7. 138th Silver Spurs Rodeo brings out families, critics (20,000 to 25,000 people showed up)
  8. Phillips Center’s second phase to break ground next month
  9. Bank to take over Fashion Square Mall on Thursday
  10. Orlando to vote on $975M in OIA bonds and debt to build new terminal, more
  11. Metro Orlando hotels see increase in room rate, slight dip in January occupancy
  12. National tour operator seeks tax incentives to make Orlando its co-headquarters
  13. Chicago investor pays $6M for 26-acre resort on W192
  14. ContraVest buys land on Universal Blvd for second-phase apartments ­­­­
  15. Madame Tussauds London getting its own giant-sized King Kong animatronic in new “Skull Island” experience
  16. Merged economic development/chamber group announces new name
  17. Jimmy Buffett community coming to Daytona
  18. iFly reveals opening date for new I-Drive location(two all-glass wind tunnels on April 27)  What happened to the Skydiving museum that was announced for next door?
  19. Bass Pro opens in Daytona, more of the One Daytona project open this year

Comments and End of Show Notes-

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Ep 92 – Artegon goes but Art Stays

On this #OTRonFM we have Shannon Youngs who is opening a brand-new showroom for local artists, including many of the artists who formerly called Artegon home. We discuss what went wrong at Artegon and how in the end it could be a positive thing for the Orlando area in the end. The owners of Gods & Monsters call in to share all the latest info on both their temporary and their permeant locations. Then Florida Soap Company calls in to share details on their new Altamonte location. Then we close out the episode with Ed opening his brand new MagicBand and we discuss the differences between version 1 and 2.

Hosts

Special Guest – Shannon Youngs of the 1280 Palmetto Showroom

Recording Date- Feb 2, 2017 – Live on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park

Artegon – Where are they now?

Gods & Monsters

WPRK

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Ep 89 – Otronicon, Virtual Adventures and Tilly

Robots, rockets, and video games take over the Orlando Science Center January 13-16, 2017. We have Orlando Science Center’s VP of Communications, Jeff Stanford, stop by the studio to tell us about Otronicon, KidsTown, and much more. Ed geeks out about gaming celebrities that will be at Otronicon and Ken tells stories about citrus.

During the conversation news breaks that Tilikum has passed away at SeaWorld Orlando.

Then Robert calls in with an interview from Virtual Adventures, the new virtual reality attraction at the Florida Mall.

Hosts

Special Guest – Jeff Stanford – VP of Communications, Orlando Science Center

Recording Date- Jan 6, 2017 – Live on WPRK 91.5 Winter Park

Music- Song 1

Important Links

Otronicon

Orlando Science Center

 

WPRK

Virtual Adventures

SeaWorld’s statement on Tilikum’s passing

News

Leadership changes at SeaWorld, Busch Gardens

Universal Orlando worker’s death ruled accidental electrocution

Single day meal plan announced for MK

Joffery’s Coffee coming to Tomorrowland

Armed Forces History Museum to close

What’s going on with The Tunnels at Disney Springs

International Palms Resort on I-Drive sold, update planned

 

 

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