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Tag: SeaWorld

April 24, 2015

Ep 29 – Mid-Atlantic Fender Bender with a Big Pile of Dirt

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On today’s show we have an incredible interview with a Dawn Sabato of 7220 I-Drive (Home of CSI: The Exhibit, Consumed by Art and the new Leonardo da Vinci exhibit). She shares the latest details on the new da Vinci exhibit plus what it took to get the exhibit here all the way from Austria. She also shares her experiences with being one of the local attractions in the shadow of the Big 3.

On the Punch List today Ken and Kyle talk about the latest SWO rumors, give new details on the Sand Lake Road McDonalds that just announced a major update and give insights what they think of the latest Disney rumors. The cruise industry, scuba diving and the I-4 Ultimate Project are all included as well.

Show Info

Music

Song 1

Song  2

Song 3

Hosts

Ken

Kyle

Special Guest- Dawn Sabato

Recording Dates
  • Punch List – 4-23-2015
  • Interview – 4-21-2015

Show Notes

Punch List

DoubleTree by UOR is for sale

I-4 Ultimate Makeover

Florida is #1 in Cruise Industry

Norwegian Cruise Lines to offer free drinks on select cruises

Disney Cruise Line’s announce major new additions (Star Wars, Wreck-It Ralph, etc.)

Orlando United’s SWO restaurant rumor

OU’s SWO giga-coaster rumor

Deerfield Beach’s very odd artificial reef

Man pees in Hard Rock Hotel ice machine

Kobe Scorpion Bowl

Main Event

Interview with Dawn Sabato of EMS Exhibits (CSI: The Experience, Consumed By Art, Our Body, etc.)

5 Takeaways from the Interview
  1. All the exhibits at 7220 will be evolving and changing over the next few years
  2. EMS plans to stay in the Orlando market and is willing to change to do it
  3. Special events will play a role in 7220’s future
  4. Options for multiple ages and demographics are important in the Orlando market

Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to retail on I-Drive

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April 7, 2015

Ep 28 – Floating Cars Get Across The Pond

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First up today is a Punch List with Jay and Lissa plus we’re joined by Jake who is taking the Caption E.O. news pretty hard. After a touchy exchange between Ken and Lissa regarding Disney Jay brings up some UOR news.

Then for the Main Event today we have Part 2 of the interview with Simon and Susan of Veness Travel Media (Part 1 was posted March 16). They give their unique insights into the local British tourism trends and weigh in on all the news including Star Trek attractions, Star Wars and where SeaWorld goes from here.

Show Info

Music

Song 1

Song 2

Hosts

Special Guests

Recording Dates

  • Punch List- March 28, 2015
  • Interview with Simon and Susan- March 5, 2015

 

Show Notes

Punch List

WDW

UOR

Legoland Florida

  • Lego Friends announced as final room theme of LLF Hotel. Is it smart to focus so heavy on a gender specific brand

MAIN EVENT

Part 2 of the interview with Veness Travel Media (Part 1 is here)

5 Takeaways from the Interview

  1. Paramount is bringing an ‘American style’ park to U.K. and it will be interesting to watch how its received.
  2. Simon and Susan think gaming will be a bad mix for Orlando
  3. Tampa, Daytona and Miami have the adults covered, Simon and Susan think Orlando should be family focused
  4. SeaWorld does a great job of conservation but they could do more to focus on it
  5. 192 may have to give up on tourism as the main draw for certain segments of the road, but not the entire road.
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March 30, 2015

OTR Ep 27 – Skeletons and Presidents

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On today’s extra long episode Ken and Kyle start off with huge news coming out of SeaWorld. Then Lissa joins in for rest of the Punch List. The wave of recent hotel announcements is covered along, yet more announced for Skyplex, the new bus-only lanes coming to I-Drive, and the latest on Miami’s megamall.

Then Mark Brisson, Executive Director of Skeletons: Animals Unveiled, calls in for a discussion on I-Drive 360, the future of the region and much more. The conversation focuses on safety, the future of the SLR-I-Drive intersection and what it takes to be successful in the most intense tourist district in the nation.

Show Info
Recording Info
  • SEAS President Reactions Recorded – Mar 21
  • The Punch List Recording – Mar 17
  • Mark Brisson Interview – Mar 13

Song One | Song Two

 

Show Notes
::Punch List::

SEAS

 

Tourist District and Related News

 

Outside of the region

 

::Main Event::

Interview with Mark Brisson of Skeletons: Animals Unveiled  

5 Take-Aways from the Interview

  1. Skeletons: Animals Unveiled is working with Boy and Girl Scouts to have badge programs at the museum
  2. They’re aiming for attendance in the 100K-400K range
  3. Special Events will be a central funding source for Skeletons: Animals Unveiled
  4. Mark predicts a day when parts of I-Drive will be pedestrian plazas
  5. He doesn’t seem to expect the Tourist Development Tax distribution plan to change anytime soon
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March 16, 2015

OTR Ep 26 – Ringling and the Brits

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On today’s show Jason of Orlando Fun & Food weighs in on the shocking news coming out of Ringling Brothers. Then Jay and Ken talk about some recent news before Kyle joins. Kyle and Ken interview Simon and Susan of Veness Travel Media. Simon is the author of ‘The Brits Guide to Orlando,’ the best selling guide of its kind in the U.K.  Simon and Susan discuss their observations in the changing demographics of Orlando tourism and how the larger trends in Florida are affecting it.

Show Info

Hosts

Special Guests

Recording Dates

  • Interview with Jason- March 8, 2015
  • Interview with Simon and Susan- March 5, 2015

Music

 

Show Notes

Ringling Brothers/Feld Entertainment

SeaWorld

Disney

I-Drive

Other Tourism in Central Florida

Main Event

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March 5, 2015

OTR – Ep 25 – Unofficial Tours and Thoughts With Bob Sehlinger

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Today we have Bob Sehlinger, Founder of The Unofficial Guides. He discusses the history of Unofficial Guides and Touring Plans, his thoughts on current events in Central Florida’s tourism industry and the future of Unofficial Guides. Along the way interesting tidbits related to Disney World, South Florida, Busch Gardens and Len Testa are all brought up.

Show Info

Interview with Bob Sehlinger

Recorded Feb 19, 2014

Show Notes

The Unofficial Guides

Time Dependent Traveling Salesman Problem

Len Testa’s Twitter

Bob- “We basically write for Type A personalities.”

Touring Plans

Ken Recommends – The Touring Plans Lines App

WDW Today Touring Plans restaurant review episode

Ken Recommends – Couchsurfing

History of Disney Price Increases

Michael Moore vs Charlton Heston

Derek Burgan’s DAK Full Day Park post

New Avatar at DAK info

British vacation time entitlements

Rasulo stated hotel future plans, not Iger like Ken stated.

Chalet Suzanne closed

Clearwater Aquarium expansion plans

Unofficial Guides on Twitter | Facebook

 

::The Unofficial Guide Author Events::

Both events are free of charge

Celebration Writers Group: Special Author Visit

  • Monday, March 9 at 7 p.m.
  • Bob Sehlinger, Laurel Stewart, Len Testa, Seth Kubersky and Lilane Opsomer.
  • Hosted by Celebration Writers Group
  • Enjoy details on the business of publishing.

Wonderful World of Disney Authors

  • Wednesday, March 11 at 7 PM
  • Bob Sehlinger, Laurel Stewart, Seth Kubersky and Liliane Opsomer
  • The focus of this event will be Disney stories and their inside scoops on writing the successful series.
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