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jrs2
jrs2

^^ Spenser1058, you really need to do a podcast or something like that; YouTube perhaps where you're getting paid to blog.  your analysis and commentary is truly a great thing.  No BS, I mean it.

KJHburg
KJHburg

Yes I am tourist but I usually avoid the theme parks but did go to Disney Springs.  I knew they were restricting crowd size but did not know they had temperature checks in order to get in and masks we

shardoon
shardoon

We have to embrace the tourism. It allows a city our size punch up  way higher than it should. We have a huge airport, tons of nice restaurants, world class hotels......heck we just got 4 Michelin sta

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jrs2 Metropolis

jrs2

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13 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

Update and photos of walkway between MK and Grand Floridian Resort:

https://wdwnt.com/2020/10/photos-lampposts-installed-ramp-removed-at-walkway-connecting-disneys-grand-floridian-resort-spa-to-magic-kingdom/

From WDW News Today

they created a "swing" bridge at that canal going to the north.  was there one like that there before?  I think it's for the fireworks boats to travel under.

 

Oh wow.  I just checked Google satellite view; probably a year old.  there doesn't appear to have ever been a  bridge there before.  I had no idea.  I thought for sure there was.  

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spenser1058 Gigalopolis

spenser1058

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7 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

they created a "swing" bridge at that canal going to the north.  was there one like that there before?  I think it's for the fireworks boats to travel under.

 

Oh wow.  I just checked Google satellite view; probably a year old.  there doesn't appear to have ever been a  bridge there before.  I had no idea.  I thought for sure there was.  

No, there wasn’t a bridge there, just the monorail crossing. Of course, when MK opened in ‘71 there was no hotel to get to and even after GF came along in ‘88 they probably figured it was too long of a walk.

As time went on, they heard from the die hard runners and walkers who thought it would be great and, as MK got overcrowded the last couple of years (and given monorail issues and watercraft budget stuff) it probably seemed more worthwhile.

Of course, there was a swing bridge at the north end of the canal from the beginning for the steam train.Once upon a time, the story goes they were going to have the Admiral Joe Fowler leave the Rivers of America at night and head down the canal to the lagoon for private parties (it also gave them a way to get river craft to drydock over in Bay Lake). As it happened, they got new sternwheelers in the lagoon and the Fowler stayed put on the river.

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spenser1058 Gigalopolis

spenser1058

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An in-depth update on what’s happening with the redo at Epcot and see what is still a go (and what’s not) once we move past COVID from our own @klstorey:


https://m.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2020/11/28/disney-gives-major-update-on-what-to-expect-from-its-epcot-overhaul-but-some-projects-remain-in-limbo

From Orlando Weekly
Edited by spenser1058
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spenser1058 Gigalopolis

spenser1058

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In this article about more Disney layoffs, it’s also mentioned in the comments that recent theme park cuts include most of the folks at Universal Creative working on the Epic project:


https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202011/7886/

From Theme Park Insider
 
While these cuts are tragic for the cast and team members who are living through them and we should do everything we can as a community to assist each one, this will hopefully be the push our leaders need to diversify our economy in the future and move the region toward more sustainable industries.
 
Or, as Buzz Lightyear would say, “To infinity... and beyond!”
 
 
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smileguy Burg

smileguy

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On 11/29/2020 at 11:30 AM, spenser1058 said:

In this article about more Disney layoffs, it’s also mentioned in the comments that recent theme park cuts include most of the folks at Universal Creative working on the Epic project:

https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202011/7886/

From Theme Park Insider
 
While these cuts are tragic for the cast and team members who are living through them and we should do everything we can as a community to assist each one, this will hopefully be the push our leaders need to diversify our economy in the future and move the region toward more sustainable industries.
 
Or, as Buzz Lightyear would say, “To infinity... and beyond!

Many of these Epic designers find themselves unemployed with no recent portfolio work, since it's all Universal's property and can't be released.  So a few are coming together for some holiday tableau photo opportunities in Curry Ford West that give the community something to do outdoors for the holidays, and add to their portfolios as they set out looking for work.

https://attractionsmagazine.com/furloughed-orlando-theme-park-designers-create-picture-perfect-holidays/

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elefants Whistle-Stop

elefants

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Wrestling legend Ric Flair claims WWE is going to build a 'hall of fame' in Orlando

I'm putting this here because I'm assuming it will end up in the tourist district.  If Buddy can pull it into downtown,  perhaps in the Magic Entertainment Complex, that would be pretty massive imo.  I think this might actually be a pretty big deal.

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Uncommon Hamlet

Uncommon

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2 hours ago, elefants said:

Wrestling legend Ric Flair claims WWE is going to build a 'hall of fame' in Orlando

I'm putting this here because I'm assuming it will end up in the tourist district.  If Buddy can pull it into downtown,  perhaps in the Magic Entertainment Complex, that would be pretty massive imo.  I think this might actually be a pretty big deal.

I think they’ve been saying this since 2016. I googled the article after I heard the news and saw similar articles dating back to at least 2016. So it might just be Ric Flair talking noise.

If it does happen, I can’t see it going downtown. The WWE Performance Center is near Forsyth and 50. Maybe they’d wanna have it close by or on the property. Who knows? But I’d guess I-Drive before I’d guess downtown. Hell, I’d guess anywhere but downtown.

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elefants Whistle-Stop

elefants

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42 minutes ago, Uncommon said:

I think they’ve been saying this since 2016. I googled the article after I heard the news and saw similar articles dating back to at least 2016. So it might just be Ric Flair talking noise.

If it does happen, I can’t see it going downtown. The WWE Performance Center is near Forsyth and 50. Maybe they’d wanna have it close by or on the property. Who knows? But I’d guess I-Drive before I’d guess downtown. Hell, I’d guess anywhere but downtown.

I hear you and I totally agree that it'd most likely go to I-Drive, but I don't think downtown is as unlikely as you think.   WWE has used the Amway Center and the Citrus Bowl, so they are familiar with the area.  They could even tie in a few induction ceremonies with matches at one of those venues.  I think it's absolutely worth a shot to bring a tourist attraction downtown.  All of those millennials that grew up in the Golden Age of wrestling are now taking their kids to Disney, and it'd be nice to bring some of that money to Church Street.

Edited by elefants
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spenser1058 Gigalopolis

spenser1058

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19 minutes ago, elefants said:

I hear you and I totally agree that it'd most likely go to I-Drive, but I don't think downtown is as unlikely as you think.   WWE has used the Amway Center and the Citrus Bowl, so they are familiar with the area.  They could even tie in a few induction ceremonies with matches at one of those venues.  I think it's absolutely worth a shot to bring a tourist attraction downtown.  All of those millennials that grew up in the Golden Age of wrestling are now taking their kids to Disney, and it'd be nice to bring some of that money to Church Street.

Can we have Terror On Church Street back, too?

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klstorey Whistle-Stop

klstorey

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WWE supposedly looked at CityWalk back in the day but according to the going narrative Universal  went another way and instead added Toothsome's.  They also looked at a site near Sand Lake Road on I-Drive, went so far as doing architectural plans but cancelled the plans. 

I personally think they'd do better in downtown. The Amway can now claim it has hosted the most WWE events of any public site. The training center is in a warehouse park and isn't really in a spot that's conducive to tourism. I think being slightly away from the tourist area will help legitimize it. 

I believe Rick Scott had tried to convince them to move their HQ to Florida, to no avail. But a lot has changed since then. 

I think the ideal spot would be in the Magic's entertainment complex. Good I-4 visibility, close to Amway and Citrus Bowl, easy access for tourists. 

All that said, this is one of those 'I'll believe it when I see it' type of projects as these rumors have been around for years. 

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klstorey Whistle-Stop

klstorey

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On 12/14/2020 at 3:56 PM, spenser1058 said:

The first phase of Dezerland Park opened today. I know you’ve been breathlessly waiting for it!


https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/os-et-dezerland-park-orlando-international-drive-cars-20201214-ciarszl3ardhzkrr5hyvtxv4xu-story.html

From The Sentinel 

I took a tour last week. It's interesting. Great car museum, ok arcade, decent go-kart track. The biggest issue is so much of it is still not finished. I'd give it a good six months before visiting, just to ensure everything is open. I think this will actually work thanks to the location. Pardon the generalization, but this will be where guys go when their wives are shopping at the outlets. Bass Pro, go-karts, pinball, James Bond museum, car museum, and a movie theater. A lot of guys would love to spend a few hours at a place like that. 

Here are some pics and thoughts of my tour of the place. A lot of cool cars, a must visit if you're a car person. For everyone else, I think this is a one and done type of attraction. 

The thing is, the owner doesn't need to make a lot of money with this. It's essentially a warehouse to store his collection and if he can charge admission then why not. Most of the cars he owned already. He's redeveloping the rest of the site, that's where the $ is, not in an FEC.

I see this sticking around until the rest of the property is developed and then it mostly leaving as he redevelops this pad, though I've been told he envisions this as his lasting legacy and hopes it stays open well after he's gone. 

 

20201209_165130.jpg

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spenser1058 Gigalopolis

spenser1058

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And so OC’s infamous white elephant becomes an even worse deal for the citizens. $835K comped and even lower attendance. This is what we’re running our economy on, folks:


Orange County slashes convention center rent to draw shows 
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-ne-orange-county-convention-center-rent-20201218-xac4oepwbnajdphyai2hru745y-story.html

From The Sentinel 
Edited by spenser1058
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