SeaWorld Archives - Page 60 of 72 - Orlando Tourism Report

June 15, 2018

Ep 142 – DJ Elliot talks Star Wars mixes and movie star cars

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First hour is filled with DJ Elliot, known for his Star Wars mixes that can be heard throughout WDW and at area conventions, talking about his career as a geeky culture DJ, his wild car collection (that even Universal uses!), and the changes he’s seen over the years in Orlando’s tourism industry.

Then in the second hour Ken and Ed discuss all the week’s news, including big changes heading to Busch Gardens, Bernie Sanders taking on Disney, and the wild Indiana Jones adventure that might be in the works.

Recording Date- June 8, 2018 at WPRK Studios in Winter Park, FL

News and Links

DJ Elliot

River Country DVC rumor

Tishman buys 3 more area hotels

Coronado Springs removes statues

Richard Gerth at Grand Flo passes away, had been a GF staple since 1991, John Stamos tweeted it https://twitter.com/JohnStamos/status/1004889799977623552?s=19

Walt Disney World Switching to Digital Rider Switch Pass (or Baby Swap) at Attractions to Combat Fraud

Disney gives apology letters to guest at DHS

Disney drops OpenTable

Bernie Sanders vs Disney bonuses

Nighttime show at UOR leaked

HHN details (10 even with F&F), HOS details (no zombie laser tag)

ZooTampa flume ride opens

Paid parking at Outlet malls

Pirates reopening

June 15, 2018

Ep 141 – Eric Oh’s Big Orlando Trip

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Eric Oh drops by the studio during his vacation in Orlando. We chat with him about his vacation, some of the unique things in Central Florida he’s experiencing for the first time, and get his hot takes on all the big news stories of the week.

Recording Date- June 1, 2018 at WPRK Studios in Winter Park, FL

News and Links

Eric Oh’s Twitter

Disney agrees to pay some Disneyland cast members $15 an hour by 2020 ahead of California’s change to the rate in 2022
Labor Unions in Vegas prepare to strike
Animal Kingdom testing out new color-coordinated stroller parking system
Hard Rock Tampa, already one of the largest casino floors in the world, announces $750 million expansion that includes an events center, retail corridor, and a new 15-story tower
Eustis looking to bring watercraft rentals to lakefront
Planet Hollywood resort to be built in St. Maarten
Pirates Dinner Adventure to debut revamped show after hurricane, fire damage fixed
Live Shooter Hoax at Walt Disney World Resort Lands Arizona YouTuber in Jail
Busch Gardens Williamsburg retains “World’s Most Beautiful Park” status
Shanghai Disney Resort to launch their first marathon event this fall
Disney looks to be moving forward with the long-rumored River Country DVC hotel
Oscar’s Wacky Taxi family friendly wooden coaster opens at Sesame Place
Home-sharing platform for gay men misterb&b to start paying Orange County taxes
Dynamic Attractions announces new 5-year partnership with an Asian theme park developer, multiple groundbreaking rides to be designed at their Orlando design center

April 26, 2018

Ep 137 – Holly V Kapherr talks the future of travel agents, Marineland, and Florida tourism

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Tourism writer Holly V. Kapherr talks about her recent Marineland article in Travel Weekly, her work with boutique hotels, and the future of casinos in Florida.

Recording Date- April 20, 2018 in Studio B at WPRK Studios in Winter Park, FL

Show Notes

Holly V Hapherr’s Travel Weekly | Orlando Weekly | Twitter

Marineland

Travel Weekly’s Marineland coverage

St Augustine Aquarium

Jeff Vahle has officially been named as president of Disney Signature Experiences.

Casino pact gets an extension

2010 pact, the Tribe is bound to make monthly payments for the exclusive right to offer certain games, including blackjack

Air travel safety

The last time there was an uncontained engine failure in a U.S. plane was in Sioux City, Iowa in 1989. That accident killed 111 of the plane’s 296 passengers
almost 29,000 commercial flights a day in US
Asiana in 2013 in San Fran last major incident
40 deaths worldwide in 2017

April 19, 2018

Ep 136 – The disturbing trend of chaos at The Florida Mall + poetic justice on Kirkman

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Ken points out a disturbing pattern of safety concerns at The Florida Mall. Then Ed and Ken discuss the latest news from both the Pirates Dinner Theater and the Main Street Theater.

SeaWorld’s latest issues with the SEC might actually have a silver lining. Ken gives the history behind Universal’s latest land grab and why Pointe Orlando needs to be even more worried.

Recording Date: April 13, 2018

Show Notes

Florida Mall panic

11 ppl injured
2016 incident in August 9 people injured (Shooting in parking lot in February)
2012 Nike incident
Disney Springs Christmas panic event, only injury was a person who cut their foot

Pirates Dinner Theater fire

Magic Kingdom Theater removed from Coming Soon site

Rumors have been there for some time | Feb 2 article

SeaWorld SEC sanctions

June 2017 SEAS stated in a regulatory filing “concerning disclosures and public statements made by the company and certain executives and/or individuals on or before August 2014, including those regarding the impact of the ‘Blackfish’ documentary, and trading in the company’s securities”

Shamu Express closes at SWO

Ocean Odyssey opening 10 locations in the Middle East

National Travel and Tourism Office pulls their numbers after “probable undercount for 2017”

Universal land buy

Endless Summer Resort
ThrillGeek Podcast locations
Disney Decade Op/Ed

Pointe Orlando Funky Monkey closes, Tommy Bahama closing

Magicbands being outdated?

Space hotel opening in 2022

Contemporary Disney Art display April 19

April 5, 2018

Ep 135 – Disney security, Disney labor shortages, and Disney housing

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Breaking news of the Pulse shooter’s wife has use discussing safety at WDW. We look back to a 2015 episode where we discussed it in detail. We also talk about the questionable future of Vista Way. And the latest on a big increase in CMs headed to WDW and what a recent hiring event may mean about it.

Recording Date: March 29, 2018 at WPRK’s Studio B.