Orlando Attractions Area News & Developments

[spenser1058]

More on just how much theme parks (and especially Walt Disney World locally) are driving Disney’s success as the company transitions to streaming:

https://www.fool.com/amp/investing/2019/05/09/theme-parks-cant-bail-disney-out-forever.aspx

It also notes that, for the last quarter at least, the Mouse was stronger than cross-town rival Comcast.

Given that theme parks often experience a lull before major new attractions open as guests delay their trips, this bodes well for Orlando later this year.

From The Motley Fool 

Edited May 9, 2019 by spenser1058

[dcluley98]

I have a feeling that when Star Wars opens at DHS, the problem won't be attendance, it will be too much attendance. 

[spenser1058]

2 minutes ago, dcluley98 said:

I have a feeling that when Star Wars opens at DHS, the problem won't be attendance, it will be too much attendance. 

Good point.

[spenser1058]

One of the few remaining fine dining locations in the area, Norman’s at the Ritz-Carlton is closing.

Victoria and Albert’s lives on!

https://www.scottjosephorlando.com/news/4761-norman-s-at-the-ritz-carlton-closing

From Scott J

[aent]

6 hours ago, dcluley98 said:

Icon Park will be adding a 300-foot slingshot ride and a 400-foot drop tower to its lineup next year. It’s already the location of the 400-foot Wheel and the 450-foot Orlando StarFlyer. Both new rides will be the tallest of their types in the world, Icon Park says. Both are scheduled to open to the public next year.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/os-et-icon-park-slingshot-drop-tower-i-drive-20190509-fwbsmygbrbdsxe6zkcxqlfqmga-story.html

https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2019/05/06/icon-park-wants-to-dominate-i-drive-with-the-worlds-tallest-drop-tower-and-largest-slingshot

https://www.wesh.com/article/worlds-largest-slingshot-coming-to-icon-park/27399086

Thanks for your research! I guess my fear was wrong, although I'm confused on O-Town West, as now both places are claiming they are going to have the world's largest drop tower. Would they really build 2 identical height in separate Unicorp complexes?

Also, has anyone heard what will happen to Magical Midway, which my understanding is the same company that is operating these new rides, and has identical, smaller versions of these rides a few blocks away? 

[spenser1058]

The gondolas are unwrapped... coming soon!?!

https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201905/6769/

From Theme Park Insider 

[spenser1058]

Orlando welcomed 75 million visitors in 2018, a 4.2% jump over 2017 (which was also a good year)

The increase was driven in part by strong turnout from Brasil, Mexico and other Latin American countries.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-visit-orlando-attendance-numbers-20190509-7h4lodd7cffhnh6r6xmw7hbnw4-story.html?outputType=amp

From the Sentinel 

Meanwhile, Andy says to heck with the Good Humor man - Epcot has cocktail popsicles!

https://www.delish.com/food-news/amp27422673/disney-epcot-pop-fusions-cocktail-popsicles/

From Delish

[jrs2]

On 5/8/2019 at 11:55 PM, aent said:

yup my bad

Do you have access to a siteplan showing how they will redo the drive around The Element hotel?

[spenser1058]

Track installation begins at TRON:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/amp/attractions/tron/news/10may2019-photos---track-installation-begins-at-the-magic-kingdoms-tron-coaster.htm

From WDW Magic 

[prahaboheme]

On 4/22/2019 at 6:10 AM, spenser1058 said:

Dolly could always go whole hog and invest with her partners in Sea World, given their success and favorable reviews for Dollywood.

Then, as in Steel Magnolias, she’d be a chain!

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/12ca5ea2-7256-47ce-8c84-737be04c067b

Dollywood debuted its latest addition to its park, Wildwood Grove, on Friday - a 20% increase in the park footprint.

So far it seems to have favorable reviews and continues the immersive overall theme of Dollywood:

https://www.knoxnews.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/2019/05/10/dollywoods-new-wildwood-grove-expansion-opens/1168705001/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=amp&utm_campaign=gallery

Their $300 million multi-year investment in the resort is translating to increased park attendance.

[IAmFloridaBorn]

[spenser1058]

8 minutes ago, prahaboheme said:

Dollywood debuted its latest addition to its park, Wildwood Grove, on Friday - a 20% increase in the park footprint.

So far it seems to have favorable reviews and continues the immersive overall theme of Dollywood:

https://www.knoxnews.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/2019/05/10/dollywoods-new-wildwood-grove-expansion-opens/1168705001/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=amp&utm_campaign=gallery

Their $300 million multi-year investment in the resort is translating to increased park attendance.

I posted Abbott this last week in the Other Cities thread and noted that Dolly and Herschend would be a quality outfit to purchase SW/BG. We can only hope - great pics!

[jrs2]

On 5/9/2019 at 6:44 PM, spenser1058 said:

The gondolas are unwrapped... coming soon!?!

https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201905/6769/

From Theme Park Insider 

I don't want to be a negative Nancy...but... every gondola is a different color...red ...green,.. blue...yellow...etc...  It just looks so tacky like those old style gondolas where your feet would dangle.  Why couldn't them just make them all one color?  Why make it look like a '50's era theme park?  They could've color coded the different lines.  I mean when you go to CO and take a gondola in Keystone, for example, it's just a single color (black, grey or silver), not this cheesy stuff.  Anyway...

[spenser1058]

5 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

I don't want to be a negative Nancy...but... every gondola is a different color...red ...green,.. blue...yellow...etc...  It just looks so tacky like those old style gondolas where your feet would dangle.  Why couldn't them just make them all one color?  Why make it look like a '50's era theme park?  They could've color coded the different lines.  I mean when you go to CO and take a gondola in Keystone, for example, it's just a single color (black, grey or silver), not this cheesy stuff.  Anyway...

I suspect it’s because Disney’s target market is little kids that like cartoons? It’s like redoing all the attractions with Disney characters these days. The purists hate it but that’s what the guests scream for in the focus groups.

[jrs2]

50 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

I suspect it’s because Disney’s target market is little kids that like cartoons? It’s like redoing all the attractions with Disney characters these days. The purists hate it but that’s what the guests scream for in the focus groups.

I know.  I hate that.  It's like when they put the Mickey hand and wand on Spaceship Earth for Y2K, left it there, and changed the "2000" to "Epcot" and still left it there for a few years.  It looked horrible.  Then they had the good sense to take it down.  They had also built that Mickey Sorcerer's hat in front of Mann's Chinese Theatre which completely blocked it from view.  Then the Pop Century Resort took it to a new level (along with the All-Star resorts before it).

I just don't like all that cheese- and Disney was good at avoiding cheese...  you can do it and still be classy.  when it's cheesy, it cheapens everything- even the brand.  IMO

[spenser1058]

13 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

I know.  I hate that.  It's like when they put the Mickey hand and wand on Spaceship Earth for Y2K, left it there, and changed the "2000" to "Epcot" and still left it there for a few years.  It looked horrible.  Then they had the good sense to take it down.  They had also built that Mickey Sorcerer's hat in front of Mann's Chinese Theatre which completely blocked it from view.  Then the Pop Century Resort took it to a new level (along with the All-Star resorts before it).

I just don't like all that cheese- and Disney was good at avoiding cheese...  you can do it and still be classy.  when it's cheesy, it cheapens everything- even the brand.  IMO

Oh, I know - I’m a purist too. This isn’t a new thing- EPCOT was forced to bring in characters for the first time 30 years ago by popular demand.

As to whether it works, Disney parks are more popular than ever.

Edited May 13, 2019 by spenser1058

[aent]

20 hours ago, jrs2 said:

I don't want to be a negative Nancy...but... every gondola is a different color...red ...green,.. blue...yellow...etc...  It just looks so tacky like those old style gondolas where your feet would dangle.  Why couldn't them just make them all one color?  Why make it look like a '50's era theme park?  They could've color coded the different lines.  I mean when you go to CO and take a gondola in Keystone, for example, it's just a single color (black, grey or silver), not this cheesy stuff.  Anyway...

I personally like the colorfulness. Monorail has its striped color on each one as well, and Brightline tastefully does a color on each one as well. Makes things more interesting.

Edited May 14, 2019 by aent

[jrs2]

my avatar color on UP changed from brown to teal since yesterday.  

[spenser1058]

4 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

my avatar color on UP changed from brown to teal since yesterday.  

Eeeeek! Teal. Throw in some coral and you’ll look just like a 1980’s Publix!

Now’a a good time to add your favorite local photo...

Edited May 14, 2019 by spenser1058

[dcluley98]

So sorry in advance for this guy's voice, but: 
 

 

[spenser1058]

Disney CEO Bob Iger says the future of his company’s parks are real, immersive lands, not VR:

https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201905/6777/

From Theme Park Insider 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

[jrs2]

Tron u/c

[jrs2]

Here is the...I can't remember the name...the Prisa Group hotel at...IDrive 360 or whatever it's called now.  Taken from the parking deck.

[spenser1058]

Disney is officially taking over its Gay Day events at Disneyland Paris for the first time - will WDW be far behind? (After all, the local president of the complex is out and proud Polk County native George Kalogridis.)

What changes would that meander Orlando’s Gay Days?

https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-disney-theme-park-gay-pride-20190528-story.html?outputType=amp

From the LA Times

Edited May 28, 2019 by spenser1058