Orlando Attractions Area News & Developments

[JFW657]

I don't think the county/city are against the height per se, but the area is zoned for certain heights so projects like these require variances in order to build.  Those variances are frequently granted (The wheel, the Peabody expansion, etc), but they can be contested by other property owners in the area who can claim it gives the new property an unfair advantage.  That is what's happenning to the Mango's garage+rooftop restaurant.  Since the Polercoaster would affect the same neighbors, I can't imagine they wouldn't fight that too.  This doesn' t mean it won't get built, but it does mean there's still a lot of issues to sort out.

 

Hard to believe they'd block something as high profile as the PolerCoaster.

 

That thing would be a major tax revenue generator.

[spenser1058]

Story behind Orlando's only 5-star hotel rating from AAA

We finally got our first 5-star resort (now we just have to wait for the 7-star over on I-Drive! hmmmm) - definitely a milestone for our lodging industry.

 

From the Sentinel:

http://touch.orlandosentinel.com/#section/1505/article/p2p-81975943/

[Ocityst]

This looks frightening...

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/video/Q3cjRycTp-q75NNiS2Z0pPH1JDAQv9J3?autoplay=1#ooid=Q3cjRycTp-q75NNiS2Z0pPH1JDAQv9J3

[HankStrong]

This looks frightening...

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/video/Q3cjRycTp-q75NNiS2Z0pPH1JDAQv9J3?autoplay=1#ooid=Q3cjRycTp-q75NNiS2Z0pPH1JDAQv9J3

 

You spelled AWESOME wrong.  This definitely looks awesome.

[tc01]

Well Orlando Will be on Travel Channel for roller coaster attractions. Can't wait for this, I will be first in line.

[Pete C]

Wow, and I mean WOW. The elements on this thing...it has everything! This will put Orlando squarely in the sights of rollercoaster enthusiasts when it opens. Central Florida has a collection of some really good coasters, but nothing that makes a true thrill seeker salivate like this.

[John Hargrove]

Bananas.

[Jernigan]

Could you imagine if someone built a coaster that was actually a viable transit option to get from maybe one end of I drive to the other? Get cars off the road and have people pay a premium to do it!

[Ocityst]

New Water Park coming to Universal Orlando

 

First Permits Filed For Universal's New Water Park

 

Edited November 18, 2014 by Ocityst

[prahaboheme]

What does Universal's new waterpark mean for the long rumored closure of Wet n Wild? 

 

One has to assume that Universal has a long-range plan that includes a complete makeover to the intersection of International Drive / Universal Blvd.

[tennis32801]

And the 420ft Startflyer was also announced today. Exciting times for IDrive.

[bic]

StarFlyer, Vue at 360 set for Orlando

 

[tc01]

I guess we going to have 2 swings right by each other. The other is by Wet and Wild,

[Pete C]

Yeah this is anticlimactic. They should have done a drop tower since we don't have that. Now we have two duplicate attractions in our attractions area skyline: 2 starflyers and at least 2 skycoasters. Why didn't the city tell the developer no since we already have one of those right down the street?

Edited November 18, 2014 by Pete C

[jgardnerucf]

Nik Wallenda is gonna walk between them dodging sniper fire from Tangelo Park.

[HankStrong]

One has to wonder if the clock is ticking on W&W.  I think it is.

[shardoon]

One has to wonder if the clock is ticking on W&W.  I think it is.

 

i think once the new water park is up and running and universals current setup it built out, which it will be within the next few years, wet n wild will be razed and universal make use the land for their future plans of massive hotel expansion. 

[Ocityst]

New "Green Bridge" (ubermini High Line) @ Universal

 

Edited November 19, 2014 by Ocityst

[jrs2]

^^

I can't wait to walk that trail walk at Cabaña Bay.  Is it gated at Cabaña Bay?

 

^^

Starflyer:  I'm indifferent except that I want to see that surface parking razed.  This thing is tall and will definitely take up a lot of lateral space at its base. 

[bic]

I snapped this photo of the Orlando Eye this afternoon as I was driving by:

 

[jrs2]

^^

that's cool.  haven't been by there in a couple of weeks.

[shardoon]

Any idea what is going on next to the turkey lake road post office? Quite a bit of construction on a piece of prime lakefront land.

 

well, looks like this is the answer

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-westgate-lakes-shopping-20141215-story.html

 

questionable location though. its all the ways on the south side of the resort. dont know how much use a parking garage would be. what kind of a connection to the rest of the resort considering the large retention pond in between properties. 

[Ocityst]

I-Drive megamall/hotel iSquare targets construction start

Edited December 16, 2014 by Ocityst

[shardoon]

well, looks like i-shops is ramping up. i wonder how tall the hotel towers will be? they will be eliminating the independent low rise buildings of the existing hotel. they also got approval for 1600 hotel rooms within the towers. a project that size puts it on par with the hilton and hyatt down by the convention center. 

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-wyndham-shops-development-20150106-story.html

[jrs2]

^^

Yeah.

 

I was hoping they would build a single tall tower or maybe something akin to the Peabody/Hyatt complex.  Combined that complex has 1,600 or so rooms between the two towers.