Orlando Attractions Area News & Developments

[spenser1058]

Disney bought Marvel, what does it means to Universal Studio spiderman 3D and the Hulk?

Apparently nothing as it relates to the FL parks, as the Sentinel reports Uni has long-term contracts with Marvel east of the Mississippi for Spidey and Hulk. It could get interesting since nothing of that sort exists in California (and perhaps the foreign parks) where Disney could do something out there. Guests who have never fully understood who owns what will probably get even more confused. One fun sidenote for the Mouse is that IOA should have a boost in attendance with HP opening at IOA next year, and depending on whether their Marvel contracts are based on attendance levels, Disney could actually benefit from Universal's new attractions.

Outside of Florida, this also helps Disney get stronger with the boy market in the way they have captured the girls with princesses/Hannah Montana, etc.

Kudos to Iger on this one.

[JRS1]

The new coaster at Universal is cool. great piece of engineering; Rip Rocket? Hollywood Rocket? Don't know the name, but its cool;

HP will be awesome I'm sure.

[prahaboheme]

Disney's answer to Harry Potter at Universal: Orlando Sentinel: New Fantasyland

Edited September 12, 2009 by prahaboheme

[prahaboheme]

Hilton OCCC: Orlando Sentinel

[JRS1]

Hilton OCCC: Orlando Sentinel

yeah, now, it's a three horse race: Rosen, Peabody & Hilton. Now, three entities are marketing heavily the immediate area... Actually, it's a four horse race- CVB is the other entity marketing trade shows. But with Hilton in the picture, their independent marketing machine will positively affect the OCCC and even market the area for other future developers. Even if a new hotel doesn't come for a while, at least there is a larger existing base of hotels to build from. Peabody's presence is also growing and that in and of itself is contributing to this as well.

Too bad the Marriott World Center wasn't built near the OCCC.

Disney's answer to Harry Potter at Universal: Orlando Sentinel: New Fantasyland

do the new improvements expand the original boundaries of the property, or are they merely gutting fantasyland?

[prahaboheme]

I agree -- I always thought that Fantasy Land could use, shall we say, a bit more fantasy? It always seemed like the one land that had trouble with theming. These plans sound great. This is good news for Orlando tourism. Harry Potter and Fantasy Land should pack in a double punch, especially considering that grand scale expansion projects seem indefinitely over.

[prahaboheme]

Waldorf hotel opens (i have to say the exterior shots don't look impressive but it may just be the camera angles):

Orlando Sentinel Article

[JRS1]

^^

that is exciting. I heard they were booking for 2009 back in 2007.

another upscale hotel gem. missed the opening of Hilton's other hotel by a few short weeks.

[spenser1058]

The Sentinel had an interesting piece today about Hilton's renewed presence in town. Paul Brown, president of global brands and commercial services for Hilton Worldwide, had some good points for us, I think, such as:

"There are very, very few markets in the United States that have such a destination for leisure travel and have a very, very strong convention market," Brown said. "Orlando is at the top of the list."

These are niches that create important synergy for the region. It's a continuing maturation of our tourism industry, which is a good thing.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/or...0,6530530.story

[JRS1]

I wonder if the trend will be or is already that Orlando as a destination is a good place to host a convention, whether it be at the OCCC or in any number of convention-class hotels.

If so, then other hoteliers will follow suit. I hear that the Four Seasons Disney is slated for 2012, that is, if we're all still here in 2012.

I wish Intercontinental would revisit its proposal and come up with something new and still open here as well.

Here are the biggies in no specific order:

1. Ritz Carlton

2. JW Marriott (should be lumped in with Ritz)

3. Waldorf

4. Hilton

5. Gaylord Palms

6. Peabody

7. Marriott

8. Omni

9. Hyatt

10. Rosen

11. Westin

12. Wyndham

13. Lowes Hotels

14. Disney hotels

Every big name hotelier that opens up shop here... their marketing hits somebody that the other names might have missed. It's a big deal. It really is.

[mrh3]

I wonder if the trend will be or is already that Orlando as a destination is a good place to host a convention, whether it be at the OCCC or in any number of convention-class hotels.

If so, then other hoteliers will follow suit. I hear that the Four Seasons Disney is slated for 2012, that is, if we're all still here in 2012.

I wish Intercontinental would revisit its proposal and come up with something new and still open here as well.

Here are the biggies in no specific order:

1. Ritz Carlton

2. JW Marriott (should be lumped in with Ritz)

3. Waldorf

4. Hilton

5. Gaylord Palms

6. Peabody

7. Marriott

8. Omni

9. Hyatt

10. Rosen

11. Westin

12. Wyndham

13. Lowes Hotels

14. Disney hotels

Every big name hotelier that opens up shop here... their marketing hits somebody that the other names might have missed. It's a big deal. It really is.

Anyone know why Rosen hasn't expanded outside of Orlando?

[spenser1058]

Anyone know why Rosen hasn't expanded outside of Orlando?

My guess:

(1) Harris has always been content to be a big fish in a small pond;

(2) He's not getting any younger (late 60's?), and he married late - if I remember correctly, he and his wife have children, but still young so not time to pass the family business on to the next generation yet (correct me on this if I'm wrong, I'm going by memory here);

(3) Harris has always been religious about avoiding debt; I would assume that to expand much beyond what he has done would require the leverage of capital from other sources;

(4) I've never gotten the impression Harris trusted many people other than himself. He was let go from Disney because he didn't play well with others (obviously that was not a bad thing for him).

[spenser1058]

I wonder if the trend will be or is already that Orlando as a destination is a good place to host a convention, whether it be at the OCCC or in any number of convention-class hotels.

If so, then other hoteliers will follow suit. I hear that the Four Seasons Disney is slated for 2012, that is, if we're all still here in 2012.

I wish Intercontinental would revisit its proposal and come up with something new and still open here as well.

Here are the biggies in no specific order:

1. Ritz Carlton

2. JW Marriott (should be lumped in with Ritz)

3. Waldorf

4. Hilton

5. Gaylord Palms

6. Peabody

7. Marriott

8. Omni

9. Hyatt

10. Rosen

11. Westin

12. Wyndham

13. Lowes Hotels

14. Disney hotels

Every big name hotelier that opens up shop here... their marketing hits somebody that the other names might have missed. It's a big deal. It really is.

As far as the OCCC goes, my understanding is that there is a limited universe of cities that can handle large conventions. Because of the expense of expanding convention centers and keeping them full (a problem even we are having at the moment), the competition is likely to remain a small group of facilities. Meanwhile, more and more meetings, I've heard, are taking place in hotel meeting rooms. Fortunately, due to our unique situation, most of the the new hotels here are large enough to have great facilities of their own. I think it's a win/win for us and I agree that we should be in great shape going forward (unless the transit issue for conventioneers brings everything to a standstill).0

[prahaboheme]

What Orlando has suffered from and continues to (though it's improved but only slightly) is entertainment for convention goers and business travelers. Restaurants that cater to the client

Edited October 13, 2009 by prahaboheme

[spenser1058]

What Orlando has suffered from and continues to (though it's improved but only slightly) is entertainment for convention goers and business travelers. Restaurants that cater to the client

[depechecureguyorl]

^ Lord, I can't WAIT for the Post-Crotty era!

[JRS1]

I don't know. McCormick Place is near the Field Museum, Shedd, and Adler facilities. But everything else requires a cab ride or very long walk. No huge amount of hotel rooms to choose from nearby. Orlando has the edge here especially when Peabody opens. Pointe Orlando offers good entertainment, but it needs to fill in more with more venues.

If I was in Chicago, I wouldn't go to a Broadway series. I would go to the Pier, JHC, and Sears Tower, and Michigan Ave., and see my cousins (but that's just me... I'm from there). If I was in NYC, I would try to go to a play on and off Broadway.

Vegas has its casino hotels; you need to take a cab there to get to these places or take the train;

Orlando has its close-in points of interest too; Pointe Orlando; Citywalk; Prime Outlets; Premium Outlets; Downtown Disney; Boardwalk; Restaurant Row; and the I-Drive Restaurant Row up to Sand Lake Road from the Peabody. The I-Ride Trolley kind of sucks IMO. They need soemthing like Lymmo that's bigger and newer and more sophisticated looking. If they had an AGT system on I'Drive from Sea World to Prime, now that would be something. THat would probably go far in spurning new development as well.

I-Drive needs The Square to come to fruition; Mercado left and there's just a hole left on that parcel now; we need The Square to get developed.

[JRS1]

^^

well, then if its space they need, its space we got.

the most interesting thing I read was how excited Crotty or whomever it was at the County of the marketing machine Hilton has and how much it will ultimately benefit the OCCC and I-Drive as they market them to book their own rooms; I guess, its something I-Drive has not had before on such a large scale. this could be the next step in its transformation.

I think originally, an AGT was supposed to connect the West Bldg to the N/S Bldg but they cut the budget and settled for the skywalk. Now, the Skywalk will directly link to Hilton and Peabody for N/S and the West Bldg.

[JRS1]

I went to the Hilton Orlando. very nice inside. skywalk works great. self park costs $12 after 30 min. ouch.

the only thing I don't like about it is that you can see the road from the pool deck. you shouldn't be able to IMO; it should be isolated from street traffic;

I also went to the Waldorf-Hilton. nice. Waldorf has all marble floors; marble arches around the lobby; decent bar area; nice convention area overlooking the golf course;

Edited October 20, 2009 by JRS1

[prahaboheme]

So what you are saying is that it doesn't stack up to the classic Waldorf. No suprise.

[JRS1]

sorry, guys, I thought I deleted from cheesy metal awning down... instead, I duplicated everything I posted. sigh... I hate writing anything negative on local projects.

anyway, not like the one in NYC, of course. But, I would say that aside from the themed luxury hotels at Disney, I would definitely include Waldorf up there with Ritz, JW, and Peabody. Not grand, but it is very toned down instead with nice finishings on the interior; brass etched elevator doors; marble floors; marble arched hallways; nice dropped chandelier ceilings fronting the first meeting room you get to from the Hilton's convention hall corridor; nice bar area; good looking restaurants; also fronts/overlooks golf course and pool deck, which is also conservative-looking.

[prahaboheme]

I'm really surprised they didn't extend the art deco theme to their new hotels. I do have to say that the proposed Waldorf for Berlin is unsurprisingly, more urban and chic than Orlando's.

Good project nonetheless and great press for Orlando.

[JRS1]

I'm really surprised they didn't extend the art deco theme to their new hotels. I do have to say that the proposed Waldorf for Berlin is unsurprisingly, more urban and chic than Orlando's.

Good project nonetheless and great press for Orlando.

imagine that... something German being more chic...

but yeah, I agree... I'll take it... Hilton's marketing machine is going to be focusing on Disney for the Waldorf project, and the OCCC and I-Drive for the Hilton Orlando project... something that neighborhood has not had before. up until now, it's merely been Rosen, Peabody, and Orlando CVB. And, Hilton will be focusing on the Hilton Grande Vacations project at Midtown, which will also market Disney--- these being the newest Hilton projects in town.

Hilton's no slouch... they also took over the 800 room Adam's Mark in Daytona which fronts the Ocean Center which just finished a huge first class expansion directly across the street from it. They are positioning their properties rather well for success.

[prahaboheme]

imagine that... something German being more chic...

It is not something German.

[sunshine]