Orlando Attractions Area News & Developments

[bulldogger]

their logic is inconsistent. BTF came out b/c of the hype of the movie at the time. But King Kong, Jaws, Earthquake, ET, etc, were all blockbuster movies (Earthquake being a themed ride based on Hollywood special effects seen in lots of movies of the day). Each has it's own flair for the time period it represents. THey are classic. Just keep adding new rides. Men in Black was another one. I don't know. Maybe it's like WDW; they say that each ride/concession has to be profitable and/or hold its own, otherwise, it gets cut.

Since they don't charge for individual rides, how can you know what's profitable?

[JRS1]

they must do a head count or guage how long the lines are during the day, otherwise, why demolish popular rides? they have to be doing something along those lines. the profitability comment was directed at concessions only.

[EngineerNole]

I'll take the older rides over the likes of the new crap like jimmy neutron. Out of all things, who the heck watches jimmy neutron?

[JRS1]

Blue Rose--

drove by there yesterday. it looks like they're cutting paths thru the pine trees; there are some stakes with pink tape as well. it's not full-out site clearing, though, at least not yet.

Palazzo del Lago--

the sales center is a really nice clubhouse looking bldg.

Blue Heron--

much nicer project (up close) than it is from a distance; #2 is completely topped off; crane removed;

LBV Res. & Spa.--

the second 15 story tower is topped off (tower #4). there's a construction photo on their website-- the most recent set of photos-- that shows a roadway U/C that literally goes under 417 to the north where a bridge was initially constructed back when they did that segment. I think that's one of those roads that will ultimately connect to I-Drive or 536 where they join up. can someone post that photo?

http://www.lbvresortvillage.com/Florida_Co...onstruction.cfm

http://www.lbvorlandoresort.com/Future.cfm

Edited March 22, 2007 by JRS1

[Pieson]

No Future for Back to The Future

posted by ScottPowers on Mar 21, 2007 11:28:00 AM

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_...ture_for_b.html

I'll take the older rides over the likes of the new crap like jimmy neutron. Out of all things, who the heck watches jimmy neutron?

from what I understand, The simpsons should be replacing BTTF

one theatre has already been gutted, and the rest will be gutted after march 30th

since they have announced the news about the ride closing, it has been the most visited ride in the park

I remember being there last week and the wait as 90 minutes

however, before this, the ride has been a walk-on ride, attracted very little people

Universal is currently in a duke em out fight with the other attractions in the area and country, and need to offer new rides to attract new people, BTTF just wasnt doing it anymore.....also from what I was told, the whole area, including the area behind the building will be converted for the new ride

and a potential of a new ride going in the lot next to men in black

other word is that construction will begin on a new ride in IOA, by the flying unicorn right outside the JP exit, rumour has it that Universal and disney were fighting for the rights for harry potter, and evidently thats what might be going in there, of course everything on that subject is still hush hush. however, it is true, site work has begun on that open plot next to the unicorn, which gives a good sign something is happening

and of course, as sad as the fact that nick is no longer at universal, i am excited for the blue man group, and will hopefully be apart of the first crowds to watch the show before the official opening

and just for kicks, here is a picture of me in the delorean, they opened it up just for me and let me play around in it for a bit.......yea, I was like a drooling kid

exciting things happening!

heh yea, and I know I look young, but dont let my boyish good looks fool you

Edited March 22, 2007 by Pieson

[MAntoniazzi]

Love the shirt

[bulldogger]

Hey Pieson, you got cool looking white hair and I dig the labcoat.

[Pieson]

Hey Pieson, you got cool looking white hair and I dig the labcoat.

hahah thanks

[MaXxlife]

Haunt makes way for homes

Skull Kingdom will be demolished and apartments will take its place.

Jack Snyder {sodEmoji.|} Sentinel Staff Writer

Posted March 23, 2007

Skull Kingdom is headed for the boneyard, to be replaced by a $60 million apartment block on International Drive that will target the tens of thousands of tourist-zone workers employed nearby.

The 9-year-old attraction with the walk-through cranium at the front door will be demolished soon to make way for a four-story, wood-frame apartment building, said Damien Madsen, a partner in Broad Street Partners, the project's developer. Construction should start by August, he said.

The 333-unit complex, wrapped around a parking garage at 5933 American Way, will be within walking distance of many I-Drive employers, Madsen noted. He said more than 40,000 people work within two miles of the site, which is opposite Universal Orlando on Interstate 4, by the corner of I-Drive and Universal Boulevard.

"It will be very pedestrian friendly," he said, though the developer is also considering shuttle-bus service for tenants to Universal Studios and the Orange County Convention Center.

Rest of Article

[That Crazy Guy]

Haunt makes way for homes

Skull Kingdom will be demolished and apartments will take its place.

Jack Snyder {sodEmoji.|} Sentinel Staff Writer

Posted March 23, 2007

Skull Kingdom is headed for the boneyard, to be replaced by a $60 million apartment block on International Drive that will target the tens of thousands of tourist-zone workers employed nearby.

The 9-year-old attraction with the walk-through cranium at the front door will be demolished soon to make way for a four-story, wood-frame apartment building, said Damien Madsen, a partner in Broad Street Partners, the project's developer. Construction should start by August, he said.

The 333-unit complex, wrapped around a parking garage at 5933 American Way, will be within walking distance of many I-Drive employers, Madsen noted. He said more than 40,000 people work within two miles of the site, which is opposite Universal Orlando on Interstate 4, by the corner of I-Drive and Universal Boulevard.

"It will be very pedestrian friendly," he said, though the developer is also considering shuttle-bus service for tenants to Universal Studios and the Orange County Convention Center.

Rest of Article

Only 4 stories? This sucks. For $60 million they could have built a decent mid-rise or something.

Can't say I'm sorry that Skull Kingdom is being demolished. It looked intersting from the outside when driving bye, but I never actually made time to check it out.

[downtowninvestor]

but who would want to live on i-drive? there is lots of traffic. tourists all around. everything is double price. and not a regular supermarket close by.

[Pieson]

noooooo! not skull kingdom!

a truly sad day in orlando today

but yea, im curious as to what this project will look like, for 60 mil, it should be something cool

and I second that, it would suck to live on I-drive

but thats just me

[EngineerNole]

Ok, these condos have officially crossed the line! I-Drive IS NOT A PLACE TO LIVE!!! This is one of the hearts of our tourist areas. I see no benefit in DESTROYING tourist attractions in favor of another condo development. If they continue this kind of crap, you'll see Wet'n'Wild turned into a condo complex too. A truly sad day. Orlando needs to start building other kinds of buildings besides condos.

[Pieson]

Ok, these condos have officially crossed the line! I-Drive IS NOT A PLACE TO LIVE!!! This is one of the hearts of our tourist areas. I see no benefit in DESTROYING tourist attractions in favor of another condo development. If they continue this kind of crap, you'll see Wet'n'Wild turned into a condo complex too. A truly sad day. Orlando needs to start building other kinds of buildings besides condos.

*cough* casinos *cough*

[situate]

The Skull Kingdom thing is *not* a condo development -- it will be rental apartments targeted at employees of tourist-oriented businesses in the I-Drive area. Not a luxury project or a resort with 'second home'-type condos.

[mrh3]

Ok, these condos have officially crossed the line! I-Drive IS NOT A PLACE TO LIVE!!! This is one of the hearts of our tourist areas. I see no benefit in DESTROYING tourist attractions in favor of another condo development. If they continue this kind of crap, you'll see Wet'n'Wild turned into a condo complex too. A truly sad day. Orlando needs to start building other kinds of buildings besides condos.

Why can't people live where they work? The point of the article/development is to provide housing to the local employment base. Sounds pretty smart to me. In fact, that's one of the motivating factors for the urban renaissance currently going on right now. People want to live closer to work to avoid driving. Who wouldn't want to walk to work if given a reasonable alternative. I've long felt that I-Drive would be a hot residential location. It's the closest Orlando comes to equaling it's rival: Las Vegas Boulevard.

Ok, these condos have officially crossed the line! I-Drive IS NOT A PLACE TO LIVE!!! This is one of the hearts of our tourist areas. I see no benefit in DESTROYING tourist attractions in favor of another condo development. If they continue this kind of crap, you'll see Wet'n'Wild turned into a condo complex too. A truly sad day. Orlando needs to start building other kinds of buildings besides condos.

Why can't people live where they work? The point of the article/development is to provide housing to the local employment base. Sounds pretty smart to me. In fact, that's one of the motivating factors for the urban renaissance currently going on right now. People want to live closer to work to avoid driving. Who wouldn't want to walk to work if given a reasonable alternative. I've long felt that I-Drive would be a hot residential location. It's the closest Orlando comes to equaling it's rival: Las Vegas Boulevard.

[JRS1]

Mrh3 is right.

like Times Square before us, people live all over Manhattan and Times Square, Park Ave, etc... I'Drive needs a healthy mix of residential. THink of it. Blue Rose will feature a PAC Hall and shows; not just for the tourists, but for the locals as well. Not to mention all of the shopping amenities nearby. THey should put a Target in that huge lot on the eastern edge of Kirkman/ north of Carrier. just kidding.

[Altimike]

Mrh3 is right.

like Times Square before us, people live all over Manhattan and Times Square, Park Ave, etc... I'Drive needs a healthy mix of residential. THink of it. Blue Rose will feature a PAC Hall and shows; not just for the tourists, but for the locals as well. Not to mention all of the shopping amenities nearby. THey should put a Target in that huge lot on the eastern edge of Kirkman/ north of Carrier. just kidding.

Actually that would be a perfect location for a Publix. Like it was stated earlier this area needs a grocery store, not just the little mini marts that sell stale food for double price. I know you were kidding about Target, but they do have a K-Mart just up the road and around the corner(Turkey Lake).

[mrh3]

Actually that would be a perfect location for a Publix. Like it was stated earlier this area needs a grocery store, not just the little mini marts that sell stale food for double price. I know you were kidding about Target, but they do have a K-Mart just up the road and around the corner(Turkey Lake).

What happened to Goodings? I used to love their knish.

[JRS1]

What happened to Goodings? I used to love their knish.

it's still there by Mercado.

[sunshine]

Turner wins $155M contract for Hilton resort

Orlando Business Journal - March 30, 2007

http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/sto...tml?jst=b_ln_hl

[JRS1]

Turner wins $155M contract for Hilton resort

Orlando Business Journal - March 30, 2007

http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/sto...tml?jst=b_ln_hl

this is the project on Palm Parkway/Turkey Lake Road extension near WDW; it's the northern-most development in that hotel cluster. I drove by the site last week. There was one of those auger things towards the back of the site drilling or something.

[shardoon]

this is really cool. turner construction constructed a virtual city with all their projects that they completed in 2005. notice the sanctuary snugged close to the beach.

http://www.turnerconstruction.com/tc2005/

Edited April 2, 2007 by shardoon

[JRS1]

that is really cool. Aren't they also doing Vue? I guess they can't add it until it's completed.

[JRS1]

Images from late February 2007

Fairfield Bonnet Creek:

LBV Resort & Spa:

Westin Imagine:

Edited April 5, 2007 by JRS1