Orlando Attractions Area News & Developments

[HankStrong]

My siblings and I would sing this part of the show over and over as random interjections on the car rides home from Florida.  I'm fairly sure my parents achieved sainthood for not throwing us from the moving vehicle on the interstate.

[spenser1058]

“Once you pass Sand Lake Road (heading north on I-Drive), it’s a mess...”

Will Universal’s new value resorts finally lead to a refurbishment of the dowdiest segment of our main tourist artery?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-cfb-universal-hotel-impact-20190621-e5mkkhyjefbphmyhuboegzl3sy-story.html

From the Sentinel 

[jrs2]

6 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

“Once you pass Sand Lake Road (heading north on I-Drive), it’s a mess...”

Will Universal’s new value resorts finally lead to a refurbishment of the dowdiest segment of our main tourist artery?

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-cfb-universal-hotel-impact-20190621-e5mkkhyjefbphmyhuboegzl3sy-story.html

From the Sentinel 

I'm curious to see how it's shuttle system pans out...

[IAmFloridaBorn]

Universal's new resorts on International Drive. 

 

Some new Wyndham next to Sunsol

Something new next to the Cyndrical shaped Sheraton

Edited June 23, 2019 by IAmFloridaBorn

[smileguy]

I think these new Universal resorts are going to put a lot of North I-Drive out of business. 2800 new rooms for around $100/night.  It will be interesting to see how this progresses over the next decade. 

[spenser1058]

We may have finally found the (elasticity) line in the sand between market leader Disney and the other two members of Central Florida’s Big 3 (Universal and Sea World).

The House of Mouse is heading into a period of new attractions that the other two competitors won’t be matching, at least for a couple of years. Given UO’s latest struggles with Hagrid isn’t helping.

For the moment, Uni and Shamu probably won’t match the Dis’ latest annual pass increases. It could set up a “Tier 1” and “Tier 2” situation the smaller players will want to address but they may wish to hold their powder until at least 2022 after the 50th anniversary celebrations for the Magic Kingdom.

Stay tuned - more than ever, it’s game on! along I4.

https://finance.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/3-reasons-rivals-won-apos-200000243.html

From the Motley Fool 

[spenser1058]

We’re used to Martin selling off property to the tourism industry. However, in a man bites dog story, it seems Martin is purchasing a facility from Sea World for development of an Air Force missile.

Apparently, Dick Cheney is involved because it’s a secure, undisclosed location (I’m kidding, I think).

Anyway, all of our folks convinced the apocalypse is nigh because of Orlando’s ever-expanding hospitality model may breath an ever so brief sigh of relief today because  it seems the local economy is safe for yet another day.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-new-lockheed-facility-secret-project-20190624-htuxjbbshbh45na2egthb2wu44-story.html

From the Sentinel 

 

Edited June 24, 2019 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Shula’s gets a redo and Scott J says it’s still a winner (would we expect anything less?)

https://www.scottjosephorlando.com/reviews/70-steak/4797-shula-s-steak-house

[spenser1058]

The latest on Hagrid’s challenges:

https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201906/6853/

From Theme Park Insider

[Uncommon]

I read something that called the attractions area the “I-Drive District.” The more I researched, the more the county referred to that area as I-Drive District. I didn’t really look at the boundaries thought I also don’t know if that moniker is used frequently or if that’s just an instance of someone trying to “make fetch happen.” Anybody hear anything about this?

[spenser1058]

22 minutes ago, Uncommon said:

I read something that called the attractions area the “I-Drive District.” The more I researched, the more the county referred to that area as I-Drive District. I didn’t really look at the boundaries thought I also don’t know if that moniker is used frequently or if that’s just an instance of someone trying to “make fetch happen.” Anybody hear anything about this?

I haven’t heard anything yet. Ever since Rich Crotty, it was supposed to be “Downtown Orange County”, which Teresa still paid lip service to, although it never really got traction outside the Brick Bunker and some pockets in the tourist areas.

Now that power has shifted with the new mayor, someone may just be moving on with the nomenclature.

[Uncommon]

Hmm maybe I’m just mistaken then.

[WAJAS]

4 hours ago, Uncommon said:

I read something that called the attractions area the “I-Drive District.” The more I researched, the more the county referred to that area as I-Drive District. I didn’t really look at the boundaries thought I also don’t know if that moniker is used frequently or if that’s just an instance of someone trying to “make fetch happen.” Anybody hear anything about this?

I’ll say the I-Drive area, but I-Drive District sounds better.

[spenser1058]

TRON is coming right along at MK:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/amp/attractions/tron/news/26jun2019-photos---tron-rollercoaster-construction-at-the-magic-kingdom.htm

From WDW Magic

[Uncommon]

22 hours ago, WAJAS98 said:

I’ll say the I-Drive area, but I-Drive District sounds better.

Maybe that’s what they WANT to be called? But I agree, it sounds better.

https://www.idrivedistrict.com/

Edited June 27, 2019 by Uncommon

[spenser1058]

5 hours ago, Uncommon said:

Maybe that’s what they WANT to be called? But I agree, it sounds better.

https://www.idrivedistrict.com/

It appears to be the taxing district, so that’s just a legal entity. Florida has lots of those.

The big kahuna on steroids, of course, is the Reedy Creek Improvement District that controls Disney.

So far as I know they’ve never used the name for marketing purposes but they probably could if they wanted to.

Great find, Uncommon.

Edited June 27, 2019 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

The Motley Fool looks at how the opening of Universal’s new value resort today on I-Drive will set it up to compete in the future with the House of Mouse.

It also notes that, while theme parks are currently only 6% of parent company Comcast’s revenue, they will play an increasingly important part as the company’s cable business dwindles.

In short, the city of Orlando should have more leverage with Comcast going forward. Remember, UOR is the only theme park resort actually within the city limits.

https://www.fool.com/amp/investing/2019/06/27/disney-worlds-top-rival-fires-back-with-a-new-hote.aspx

 

[spenser1058]

Lots of changes in the works for WDW in the buildup to its 50th anniversary in 2021, including the possible demise of stalwarts like Bear Band and a redo of the Tiki Room (the last time they did that the results were truly awful and the Twitter sphere is going crazy about doing it again).

The latest is that the Liberty Inn, an unremarkable quick service eatery next door to Epcot’s American Adventure pretty much since the beginning, will be replaced by the Regal Eagle, featuring craft beers and BBQ.

If true, it can safely be regarded as an upgrade. It’s not real, though, until The Mouse says so. Stay tuned.

From WDW News Today 

https://wdwnt.com/2019/06/regal-eagle-smokehouse-craft-drafts-barbecue-replacing-liberty-inn-at-the-american-adventure-in-epcot-this-year/

Edited June 27, 2019 by spenser1058

[WAJAS]

5 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

The Motley Fool looks at how the opening of Universal’s new value resort today on I-Drive will set it up to compete in the future with the House of Mouse.

It also notes that, while theme parks are currently only 6% of parent company Comcast’s revenue, they will play an increasingly important part as the company’s cable business dwindles.

In short, the city of Orlando should have more leverage with Comcast going forward. Remember, UOR is the only theme park resort actually within the city limits.

https://www.fool.com/amp/investing/2019/06/27/disney-worlds-top-rival-fires-back-with-a-new-hote.aspx

 

But keep in mind the new property is not.

[spenser1058]

1 minute ago, WAJAS98 said:

But keep in mind the new property is not.

True enough if they choose not to annex. I wonder if they’ll want to have to go back and forth between the City and OC?

[spenser1058]

Merlin Entertainment Group, which owns Legoland and Madame Tussaud’s locally among many other parks, is being sold back to a group including Lego’s founding family, private equity group Blackstone and others.

No word on the effect on the local attractions, especially Winter Haven’s Legoland which has additional expansions in the works.

Blackstone has had its finger in the pies of other Orlando parks before and, as usual with private equity funds, during those times the local facilities often faced challenges. 

One reason for the consistent strength of the Walt Disney Company over the years relative to its competitors has been its ownership mostly free of such Wall Street madness.

The exception to that came in 1984 during an internecine battle between the two sides of the family but the company managed to survive intact.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-legoland-merlin-entertainment-buyout-20190628-6u2z6yc2wfg7zcogvp6p2vxr7y-story.html

From the Sentinel 

[spenser1058]

I’m pleased to report that Disney has announced that, for now, the Bears are safe.

So, thanks for BEARing with us to the BEAR end and we hope you’ll BEAR-el around and see us again. ‘Cuz you’ve got so much to live and Pepsi’s got so much to give (yep, BEAR Band was once sponsored by Pepsi-Cola).

https://wdwnt.com/2019/06/breaking-disney-states-country-bear-jamboree-will-not-close-at-walt-disney-world/

From WDW News Today

[aent]

Some real bad news for Legoland and the rest of the Merlin Entertainment attractions, but likely good news for Sea World:

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2019/06/28/legoland-florida-gets-new-owner-lego-family.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search

For those unfamiliar, Blackstone Group owned Universal during its really poor performing years at the beginning of the milenium, then sold it finally allowing it to recover, and bought Sea World, leading it to its collapse, and finally sold it allowing for it to recover, and now bought Merlin, which owns Legoland and most of the attractions at I-Drive 360. Expect no further investments into the park and driving it into the ground, until its inevitably sold off.

[spenser1058]

Improvements to Ferryboat landing at TTC including expanded queue and covers:

https://wdwnt.com/2019/06/photos-additional-ferry-boat-queue-opens-at-magic-kingdoms-transportation-and-ticket-center/

From WDW News Today 

[spenser1058]

TRON update and one of the best pics I’ve seen on the widening of the path between Liberty Square and Fantasyland:

https://wdwnt.com/2019/06/photo-report-magic-kingdom-6-27-19-tron-construction-new-magnets-castle-couture-updates-etc/

From WDW News Today