Rumors Archives - Page 6 of 8 - Orlando Tourism Report

November 19, 2015

OTR at IAAPA IAE 2015 Day 3 – Dynamic Attractions, VR Coasters & Bill Kitchen

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Today’s IAE Review highlights from our OTR on FM radio show. Today on the radio, we had Robert live from the International Attractions Expo. A few different guests stopped by to chat with us live on the radio. Thomas Wagner of VR Coasters, the minds behind incredible Oculus Rift experience at Fun Spot’s Freedom Flyer, stops in to discuss the role of virtual reality in theme parks. Then we have Guy Nelson, the CEO of Dynamic Attractions, discuss the role of Dynamic Attractions in the rapid growth of amusement parks in Asia. Nelson also chats about the future of Orlando and gives details on the future of the new Dynamic Attractions Amusement Development Center in Orlando. We close out the radio show with a unique phone call from Bill Kitchen, the inventor of the Polercoaster and Skycoaster, where he discusses the latest in the fight between Skyplex and Universal.

Beavertails, inflatables and Fun Spot are all also discussed during today’s show as well.

Show Notes

Hosts

Ken Storey
Robert of Mickey Updates
Mr. Brian of Orlando Park Pass
Online Trends Correspondent-Jake of Orlando Park Pass
Hotel Correspondent-Kyle
Show Researcher – Jay
Show Historian – Kevin Yee
Touring Shows and Media Correspondent- Richie

Date of Recording: Nov 19, 2015

Music

Song 1

Song 2

Interviews Today

VR Coasters

Dynamic Attractions

Bill Kitchen of US Thrill Rides

October 27, 2015

Ep 51- Ripley’s, Ringling and Skyplex with Jason of Orlando Fun & Food

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FM Radio content is 00:06:55 through 01:09:30. In our very first FM episode Jason of Orlando Fun & Food stops by to talk Skyplex, Ringling, plastic annual passes at Universal, and more. During the trends report Jake talks about Back To The Future Day, a baby rhino and the dismantling of The Hulk coaster. In the after show Jay, Ken and Robert get into an in-depth debate about steel coasters in Orlando, self driving cars and what causes empty shopping malls.

Show Notes

Hosts

Ken

Brian

Robert of Mickey Updates

Jay

Events and Disney Correspondents-Lissa and Nicki

Online Trends Correspondent-Jake of Orlando Park Pass

Hotel Correspondent-Kyle

Touring Shows and Media Correspondent- Richie

Special Guest- Jason of Orlando Fun & Food

Recording Date: 10-19-15

Song 1

Song 2

Song 3

News of The Week

iSquare helipad, updated design gets City of Orlando MPB approval

The Coop gets MasterChef Season 1 winner Whitney Miller at Chef de Cuisine

Water Buffalo go to DAK

OCSC announces new pro Women’s team (Orlando Pride)

Alex Morgan to be a star player of the Pride

USH adds more dates for HHN, will Orlando follow?

Disney Channel orders more Descendents– will we see any Descendents in the parks?

Skyplex- Will BoC approve it?

Artegon sells Cinemark land, other nearby land– Will it survive?

Ringling adds no new show in 2016, Gold tour closes (Red, Blue shows remain)

Pensacola says goodbye to Ringling

Ripley’s BION This Week

Trends of the Week

BTTF Day at Universal – Doc in a car | Marriage proposal
The UOAP Facebook group distracted itself from their ongoing plastic pass debates to share BTTF memes for the day. (All hell breaks loose on the UOAP FB group when members just won’t shut up about plastic passes.)
Hulk track is slowly disappearing piece by piece
Pics of insane crowds at HHN fill social media
Shaq joins the Tanked reality show to film the season finale at SeaLife Orlando (Premiering Nov 20 on Animal Planet)
WestJet unveils Frozen themed plane
New celebrity filled golf tournament announced, will benefit the Florida Hospital for Children.
Sentosa to test self-driving vehicles within months
OCSC’s Adian Winter swims with dolphins at Discovery Cove
Southern White Rhino born at BGT

Other things we referenced this week

Ripley’s attractions in Gatlinburg

Red Trolleys of St Augustine

Miracle City Mall in Titusville

Warehouse Row in Chattanooga

Baron 1898

Heathrow 5 PRT

Lymmo BRT in Downtown Orlando

September 29, 2015

Ep 47 – Look Who’s Talking

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On today’s show we go way off topic when Robert from Mickey Updates joins us. It’s a packed show with hot takes, new insights and plenty of news regarding local tourism. During The Punch List Jay, Jake, Brian and Ken talk about the huge news coming out of Port Canaveral, what the tragedy in Seattle means for the future of duck tours, the odd move for Night of Joy, plus what a petition might’ve just helped bring back to WDW. It’s a big show but stick around for a big announcement at the end.

Show Notes

Hosts

Ken
Brian
Jay
Events and Disney Correspondents-Lissaand Nicki
Online Trends Correspondent-Jake of Orlando Park Pass
Hotel Correspondent-Kyle
Touring Shows and Media Correspondent- Richie
Guest – Robert of Mickey Updates

Recording Dates: Main Event- 9-27-15 | Punch List- 9-28-15

Music

The Punch List

Port Canaveral- CEO resigns, entertainment district moves ahead
- Side Reference to Boehner’s resignation- Dan Webster seems interested in the job
Ride The Ducks accident in Seattle. Is enough being done to ensure tourists are safe? How long did it take to get parasailing regulations here?
Disney Dining Buddy shuts down, DIS Dining Agent shifts website to ‘coming soon.’ John Kivus on Ropedrop.net asks- Is this the end of third party dining reservation sites?
Night of Joy moves to Wide World of Sports
Downtown Disney is now Disney Springs. Neverland Tunnels.
Epcot’s Food & Wine gets gift card bracelets. Why not Magicbands? Why two options?
Flik returns to DAK (but only during a character meal)
Peco Bill’s goes Mexican.
Season of the Force dates go out on the AP site (honest accident or on purpose leak?)
Dania Beach’s Hurricane gets a demo date (Spring 2016)
TopGolf plans new attraction on Universal Blvd (property owned by Orlando Equity Partners)
OCCC unveils 20 year growth plan
Expedia announces retail centers in Kissimmee, Orlando
Hilton investigating possible credit card breach at numerous US properties
TWDC announces new independent director on the board

-News We Skipped-

Georgia Aquarium loses bid to import belugas
SunRail Southern leg gets full funding, now the focus is on the OIA connector
Comcast buys 51% of USJ, Richard Bilbao thinks it could mean more/better investment in Orlando

Recommendations

UCF’s Knight Library was rated the #1 college bar in the nation
Fort Lauderdale’s Mai-Kai Tiki Bar named #1 tiki bar in the world
The Paris Review’s exposé on Mick Jagger’s 1965 summer at a hotel in Clearwater where he wrote Satisfaction. Via Orlando Weekly.
Passport to Dream’s Contemporary Resort posts following the resort from 1971-today.

The Main Event

Nile Ethiopian Restaurant
Great Escape Room
Pixels at the Parks tours Mangos
Perkins at Skyscraper at Skyplex
George and the Dragon attack
Bill Kitchen thrill rides (US Thrill Rides)
Proposed Silver Screen Resort at UOR
Ramada Michotel on Sandy Lake
Ken thinks the Wet ‘N Wild resort being like the Lowes Hollywood
Orl Park Pass- Shanghai Disneyland article

September 8, 2015

Ep 44 – Tim Grassey’s Great Big Beautiful WDW Rumor Round-Up

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Today we skip the news and instead bring the longest interview we’ve ever done with over an hour and half of uninterrupted Tim Grassey goodness. The show covers almost every single rumor currently circling Walt Disney World with a few new ones as well. Tim gives details on why Joe Rohde says he doubts Giant Pandas will ever come to DAK, why Tim thinks Osborne Lights might be moving to DTD and how accurate these Frontierland rumors are. Some Universal comparisons are brought into the conversation and at the end of the interview Ken asks ‘What? No love for Ferris Wheels or alligators?’ Not today Ken, not today.

Show Notes

Hosts

Ken
Brian
Jay
Events and Disney Correspondent- Lissa
Online Trends Correspondent- Jake of Orlando Park Pass
Hotel Correspondent- Kyle
Touring Shows and Media Correspondent- Richie
Special Guest- Tim Grassey of WDW Theme Parks

Recording Date: 9-1-2015

Music- Main Event Intro

The Punch List

While we skip The Punch List on today’s episode here a few of the bigger tourism stories from the past week.

Wet n Wild sues to stop drainage into the man-made lake

Artegon Cinemark getting $3 Million upgrade

Smart City fined $750,000 for blocking Wi-Fi signals (Smart City is the telecom provider of OCCC)

World’s largest arcade game being built-in OSC during Maker Faire Orlando

Pearl Seas Cruise Line announces cruise from Port of Palm Beach to Cuba

Florida Ports Council Elects New Chairman

Space Coast Office of Tourism to step up promotions next year

Former Miami Detective says now is the time to legalize prostitution

Pitbull partners with Visit Florida as our state’s newest brand ambassador

St. Augustine celebrates 450^th Anniversary with new distillery

Jungle Cruise Sunrise Safari Breakfast at DL

Now along with Magicbands Disney will ship you luggage tags when you book a hotel room at WDW

Robot butlers hired at Aloft hotels

DreamWorks leaves Disney distribution deal, is DW headed to UOR?

Events

Magical Dining Month– Now through Sept 30

M.C. Escher at Dali Museum now through Jan 3

O-Town Mac Down for GKTW – Sept 12

The Pineapple Ball – Oct 17

Cast of Willy Wonka coming to Spooky Empire – Oct 30- Nov 1

The Main Event

WDW Theme Parks

E-Ticket Report

Tim Grassey Recommends- Keys to the Kingdom Tour

Gregory of UUOP’s question

Joe Rohde’s Instagram post regarding Dinorama

WDW Theme Parks Giant Panda info

Bungalower’s question

Winter Park’s former Pig Sculpture

August 11, 2015

Ep 40 – No Flakka’n Around With BriMan of Orlando United

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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.

Show Info

Hosts

Ken
Lissa
Jay
Jake of Orlando Park Pass
Nikki of Lasting Impressions
Special Guests- BriMan of Orlando United

Song 1 (Punch List)

Song 2 (Main Event and Show Closing)

Song 3 (Main Event Closing)

Recording Dates- Punch List- Aug 9, 2015 | The Main Event- Aug 5, 2015

The Punch List

Taste of the Nation- SeaWorld | Universal

SEAS Q2 numbers (84.5% drop in profit) Joel Manby announces news on Nov 6 (International expansion details are expected then)

Disney Q3 Numbers

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.

BTMR getting updates

Duffy Meet and Greet closing at Epcot

New homes announced for Golden Oak. Prices start at $5 Million.

Zagat releases Best of Orlando restaurant list. Cress beats V&A, Capa at 4 Seasons ‘noteworthy’ but not on ranked list.

New restaurant announced for downtown by what Scott Joseph calls a ‘Dream Team’

Casey Anthony celebrated there after her ‘victory’

New friendly match announced for Citrus Bowl. Richard at OBJ asked ‘Can Orlando be Mexico’s favorite soccer city?’

OIA area Holiday Inn sells for $14 Million. JHM Hotels bought it.

Leogland Florida’s Legoland Dollars now listed on Travelex Currency Exchange Boards. The first time any theme park has had its internal currency listed on an outside exchange

Dixon opens new pencil museum in Lake Mary (free but reservations required)