Orlando Attractions Area News & Developments

[shardoon]

I believe this thing will be tall and narrow. Should actually look really good. 

[AmIReal]

3 hours ago, shardoon said:

I believe this thing will be tall and narrow. Should actually look really good. 

"Chuck Whittall, Unicorp’s President, told GrowthSpotter that the Tao Hotel would be a five-star luxury resort rising 15 stories."

https://www.growthspotter.com/news/hotels/gs-news-unicorp-tao-hotel-development-o-town-west-orlando-20221109-lsiwai6thvdgnbnrfedyhgiig4-story.html

[prahaboheme]

Absolutely love Tao in LA — definitely an experience. 

[shardoon]

2 hours ago, AmIReal said:

"Chuck Whittall, Unicorp’s President, told GrowthSpotter that the Tao Hotel would be a five-star luxury resort rising 15 stories."

https://www.growthspotter.com/news/hotels/gs-news-unicorp-tao-hotel-development-o-town-west-orlando-20221109-lsiwai6thvdgnbnrfedyhgiig4-story.html

With the small footprint, this thing will punch above its weight. 

[orlandocity87]

2 hours ago, AmIReal said:

"Chuck Whittall, Unicorp’s President, told GrowthSpotter that the Tao Hotel would be a five-star luxury resort rising 15 stories."

https://www.growthspotter.com/news/hotels/gs-news-unicorp-tao-hotel-development-o-town-west-orlando-20221109-lsiwai6thvdgnbnrfedyhgiig4-story.html

This might be some of the worst urban planning I've seen lol

[codypet]

That interesting that it shows connecting to the back of the Buena Vista Woods neighborhood.  I bet they'd be thrilled.

[jrs2]

22 hours ago, AmIReal said:

"Chuck Whittall, Unicorp’s President, told GrowthSpotter that the Tao Hotel would be a five-star luxury resort rising 15 stories."

https://www.growthspotter.com/news/hotels/gs-news-unicorp-tao-hotel-development-o-town-west-orlando-20221109-lsiwai6thvdgnbnrfedyhgiig4-story.html

Unicorp always seems to have really good business relationships with these different and unique "brands."

[codypet]

I didn't have a spare 2 hours to watch this but Holy crap I'm glad I did.  It also speaks to the increase of travelers to the Orlando area.  Also there's a good twist about 3/4 of the way through the video.

https://youtu.be/9yjZpBq1XBE

[spenser1058]

Bob Chapek fired as Disney CEO - Bob Iger returns:

https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202211/9253/

From Theme Park Insider 
 

[spenser1058]

State seeks fine, criminal charges in Tyre Sampson’s Orlando Free Fall death
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-ne-fried-trye-sampson-death-complaint-20221122-ystcrxti7bfwbotl4pbt4alg7e-story.html

From The Sentinel 

“The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has determined the operator of the Orlando Free Fall, the ride from which 14-year-old tourist Tyre Sampson fell to his death in March, broke numerous laws in operating the ride and is seeking to fine the company over $250,000.

“During a Tuesday press conference, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said her department is forwarding its investigative findings to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, which will determine any applicable criminal charges.”

Edited November 22, 2022 by spenser1058

[jrs2]

16 hours ago, spenser1058 said:

State seeks fine, criminal charges in Tyre Sampson’s Orlando Free Fall death
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-ne-fried-trye-sampson-death-complaint-20221122-ystcrxti7bfwbotl4pbt4alg7e-story.html

From The Sentinel 

“The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has determined the operator of the Orlando Free Fall, the ride from which 14-year-old tourist Tyre Sampson fell to his death in March, broke numerous laws in operating the ride and is seeking to fine the company over $250,000.

“During a Tuesday press conference, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said her department is forwarding its investigative findings to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, which will determine any applicable criminal charges.”

paywall.  did they release any specific findings in the article?

[spenser1058]

31 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

paywall.  did they release any specific findings in the article?

“The department’s investigation has concluded that Tyre fell from the drop tower due to changes made by the ride operators,” Fried said. “He was sitting in one of two seats where the proximity sensor was manually repositioned to allow a larger restraint opening than the ride’s other seats. Because his seat’s harness proximity sensor had been improperly adjusted, the ride was allowed to commence even though the ride was unsafe and led directly to his fall.”

[jrs2]

49 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

“The department’s investigation has concluded that Tyre fell from the drop tower due to changes made by the ride operators,” Fried said. “He was sitting in one of two seats where the proximity sensor was manually repositioned to allow a larger restraint opening than the ride’s other seats. Because his seat’s harness proximity sensor had been improperly adjusted, the ride was allowed to commence even though the ride was unsafe and led directly to his fall.”

ah.  yeah, that's the stuff they already said weeks back.  thx.

[spenser1058]

Food service workers could soon strike at Orange County Convention Center
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-convention-center-sodexo-workers-vote-strike-20221123-cb2a3sj4a5a2djnlfpktpcfusi-story.html

From The Sentinel 

[spenser1058]

Kennedy Space Center introducing new projection show for holidays
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/os-et-kennedy-space-center-holidays-in-space-2022-20221125-ay63y5iprrebbbpjqmdq4og3fu-story.html

The NASA “meatball” logo done as a Christmas ornament is really sick - I’m gonna have to temporarily end my quarantine of visiting Brevard to go see that…

[jrs2]

On 11/26/2022 at 2:11 PM, spenser1058 said:

Kennedy Space Center introducing new projection show for holidays
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/os-et-kennedy-space-center-holidays-in-space-2022-20221125-ay63y5iprrebbbpjqmdq4og3fu-story.html

The NASA “meatball” logo done as a Christmas ornament is really sick - I’m gonna have to temporarily end my quarantine of visiting Brevard to go see that…

LOL,  if you're quarantining Brevard b/c they're red, then you might as well quarantine the state of Florida.

[spenser1058]

4 minutes ago, jrs2 said:

LOL,  if you're quarantining Brevard b/c they're red, then you might as well quarantine the state of Florida.

Nope, there’s red and there’s obnoxious. Brevard keeps electing Randy Fine, who wanted to shut UCF down, even though UCF is also Brevard’s state university. That’s voter malpractice. Same with Anthony Sabatini in Lake (although, thank God he’s gone). Take some responsibility for who you’re electing.

Plus, there are pockets of sanity still. SoBe is still deepest blue despite what goes on along Calle Ocho.

Volusia still has the cooling blue of Daytona Beach and (DeLightful!) DeLand.

Brevard is just wackadoodle red from bow to stern.

[jrs2]

1 hour ago, spenser1058 said:

Nope, there’s red and there’s obnoxious. Brevard keeps electing Randy Fine, who wanted to shut UCF down, even though UCF is also Brevard’s state university. That’s voter malpractice. Same with Anthony Sabatini in Lake (although, thank God he’s gone). Take some responsibility for who you’re electing.

Plus, there are pockets of sanity still. SoBe is still deepest blue despite what goes on along Calle Ocho.

Volusia still has the cooling blue of Daytona Beach and (DeLightful!) DeLand.

Brevard is just wackadoodle red from bow to stern.

how would the "wackadoodles" view you, do ya think?

and what goes on in Calle Ocho that is not a pocket of sanity, as you say, compared to South Beach?

[spenser1058]

The Clydesdales are coming! Don’t look for them at Sea World, though, they’re making an appearance at Icon Park:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/os-et-icon-park-budweiser-clydesdales-20221202-aatff4himff43hrlluqzffuwv4-story.html

From The Sentinel 
 

[spenser1058]

WDW’s Splash Mountain will take a nearly 2-year hiatus starting in January as the Imagineers convert the popular flume attraction to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-et-disney-splash-mountain-closing-tianas-bayou-adventure-imagineers-20221202-hs7giuyc35cl3gtweg7kwt3xaq-story.html

From The Sentinel 

[jrs2]

https://orlandoparkstop.com/news/theme-park-news/epic-universe-update-mack-dueling-coaster-track-installed-monsters-facades-take-shape-and-nintendo-progress/

Epic U updates...

[spenser1058]

Orlando Epic Universe work is ‘right on track,’ executive says
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-epic-universe-right-on-track-executive-says-20221205-dzee5xd27zbove56bhr4emw3we-story.html

From The Sentinel 

They’re still looking at a 2025 opening.

Meanwhile, TRON is still scheduled for 2023 and the redone Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (fka Splash Mountain) is predicting 2024 at MK.

Historically, Orlando has most successfully avoided impacts from national recessions by having new attractions coming on line. Let’s hope the new park construction will be timely enough to keep things moving if the Fed is a little slow easing up on the brakes.
 

Edited December 5, 2022 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

I had no idea a one-day ticket to BGTB is pricier than WDW:

https://apple.news/AZvq3h9bsQ7Gyf2bEOjA6hQ

From Insider
 

[codypet]

Interesting considering I spent like $260 for a Busch Gardens/Adventure Island/Sea World/Aquatica Annual Pass.  Really shows the value of those passes.

Also a couple of things:  The photo of the no line is the back of the ticketing area before you reach security.  I assure you if she panned the camera 90 degrees to the left, you would have seen a crowd of people getting in.

The Story Time Sesame St show is a similar show to the Sea World on that's only offered once a day.  If she had stuck around for the "Let's Play" show it would have been far more entertaining.  Similarly, Sea World has an "Elmo Rocks" show that's pretty good and a very good parade.  My ex LOVED the ice skating show.  I've never been one for shows.  If this reviewer got there in late August I'm certain she got there right as a bunch of shows were being closed and rethemed for Howl-O-Scream.

Zambia Smokehouse is some of the best food in the park.  No additional notes.  This lady is wrong.

Also I don't get the sense that this person went on the train that takes you through the safari.  And I know she didn't go on the Skyride because that's been closed all year to make way for the new swing ride.  

I mean there is a lot of things that need improving at Busch Gardens (primarily from the service standpoint), but you kind of get what you pay for and I'm a cheapskate and I don't see a better value than the BG annual pass.  After watching that Defunctland video about lines, I really have no interest in going to Disney.  

Edited December 12, 2022 by codypet

[aent]

Also I've pretty much never seen a time period where Busch Gardens tickets were not on sale. The original price being higher then Disney is because Busch Gardens also includes "pay for a day, come back for the rest of the year" at the standard price (but sales often exclude you from that promotion). If you pay for a "one day ticket" at full price today, you can go back through 12/31/2023, more then a year (minus some blackout dates).

Hell, the article says she got the tickets BOGO so she was able to with a friend and free parking for that $130 price. Disney doesn't do BOGOs on tickets.

Edited December 12, 2022 by aent