The Other Orlando Blog

Deadly Monorail Crash at WDW

2009-07-05T11:55:00.002-04:00

A 21-year-old Disney castmember was killed in a ahead-on collision between two monorails.

ClickOrlando.com has video.

The Sentinel also has coverage.

Harry Potter materializes, slowly but magically

2009-07-05T11:47:00.002-04:00

The Sentinel's ace reporter Jason Garcia is on the trail of the Boy Wizard's magic dust.

Plans for the 20-acre Wizarding World show more than a dozen buildings, including at least three shops, a restaurant and multiple forced-perspective decorative buildings. The centerpiece will be the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the iconic castle and keep from the Potter books and movies.

Universal's Hogwarts, records show, will be 150 feet, or 15 stories, high.

One Minute, 39 Seconds

2009-07-01T10:46:00.001-04:00

Technical details on Rip, Ride, Rockit have been revealed.

More Media Hysteria Strikes Universal (cont'd)

2009-07-01T10:36:00.002-04:00

One of my pet peeves is the way "the media" sensationalizes every accident at a theme park.

It seems that every time someone gets injured, it's a newsworthy event and the injured person becomes a "victim."

This time round, it's an employee at Universal Orlando's Dueling Dragons attraction in Islands of Adventure.

No word on the extent of the injuries. Did he/she slip and fall, break a leg, or get impaled? Who knows. But WESH solemnly reports that, "The victim was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center for treatment."

Obviously, I hope the injured worker is okay, but give me a break.

How many people get injured on the job in Orlando every day? Lots, I'd guess. But only at a theme park does it become "news."

Manta at SeaWorld

2009-05-13T10:49:00.001-04:00

What can I add to that?

Is Shamu Safe From Being Gobbled Up By Bigger Fish?

2009-05-13T10:43:00.001-04:00

I think this is good news.

Chatter surrounding the potential auction of Orlando-based Busch Entertainment has cooled off in recent weeks. For example, when Jeff Immelt, the chairman and chief executive officer of General Electric Co., the ultimate parent of Universal Orlando, was asked whether his company has considered purchasing Busch Entertainment, part of his response was, "My understanding is that's been slowed down a little bit."

"SeaWorld, Discovery Cove & Aquatica" On Kindle

2009-04-29T10:47:00.003-04:00

My book, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove & Aquatica: Orlando's Salute to the Seas is now available in a Kindle version for the bargain price of $7.99.

It's sales rank is around 46,000 (out of 270,000+) so I guess it's getting some takers. Next time you're at SeaWorld, look for people reading their Kindle while they waiting for Shamu.

You can find it at the Kindle Store.

Oh, and the paperback version got some nice 5-star reviews. Thanks!

Rip, Ride, Rockit Preview

2009-04-24T18:01:00.003-04:00

Universal has set up a special site, mostly for the media, to preview their upcoming Rip, Ride, Rockit rollercoaster.

There are some nifty graphics and animations showing off some of the ride's "first-ever moves."

Cypress Gardens Returns To Its Roots

2009-04-22T18:24:00.002-04:00

Well, I didn't think it was in the cards, but I glad to have been proved wrong.

Not only is Cypress Gardens open again, but the pyramid is back!

The new management has wisely return to Cypress Garden's roots, focusing on the water ski show and the gardens. They also plan to expand the water park. I wish them well.

2008 Theme Park Attendance

2009-04-22T13:14:00.003-04:00

Some interesting stuff in the 2008 TEAERA (pdf) report.

The new kid on the block, Aquatica, had 950,000 visitors or an average of 95K a month. But it opened in March, so if it had been open in January and February and had "average" attendance those months, that suggests an annual total of 1,140,000, putting it ahead of Wet 'n Wild but behind the two Disney waterparks. It'll be interesting to see what happens next year, as the word get out about what a spectacular park it is.

SeaWorld's attendance was down 2.9% at 5.9 million, but SeaWorld execs are squawking that the actual figure is higher, without providing specifics. Apparently, they're not angry enough to open their books to prove the assertion.

Universal Studios was up only slightly and Islands of Adventure was down 2.4%, leading some to speculate that people are putting off visiting until Harry Potter arrives.

But the 2008 numbers are only part of the story. Universal's 1st quarter 2009 attendance was down a whopping 20% over last year.

Makes you wonder why Universal thinks this is a good time to alienate some of their biggest fans.

Halloween Horror Comes Early To Universal

2009-04-08T18:48:00.003-04:00

Move over, Crypt Keeper! The Recession Debt Monster is here.

The Orlando Sentinel has the grim news.

Orlando's No. 2 theme-park resort is warning that it could face a cash crunch by next spring, as turmoil in the credit markets -- and an obscure clause in its long-standing contract with famed filmmaker Steven Spielberg -- complicate its efforts to restructure nearly $1 billion of debt.

If Universal Orlando is unable to rework the loans in coming months, it could be forced to slash spending on new attractions, seek more money from its owners or even put a piece of the resort up for sale.

Actually, it's not as bad as the article, in the finest journalistic tradition, makes it sound.

Later, the reporter, Jason Garcia, notes:

Moody's and other analysts say a bankruptcy filing is unlikely. They say the Orlando resort's business, which produced $180 million in operating profit last year, is fundamentally strong and stands to benefit from the opening of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster later this year and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2010. They also say the resort's co-owners have incentive to preserve their investments in the resort -- particularly NBC Universal, because of the theme parks' strategic ties to that company's movie and television studios.

And the "Spielberg clause"?

Apparently, director Steven Spielberg has a long-running consulting deal. He got $20 million last year alone. In 2010, he has the right to demand a buyout of "several hundred millions."

Would Spielberg do something that horrible? It'd be like letting Jeff Goldblum get eaten at the end of the movie.

Oh.

Orlando Tolls Go Up

2009-04-06T12:30:00.002-04:00

It's a little more costly to get from the airport the the throbbing heart of Orlando's tourism centers.

Tolls on the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority system went up 25 cents at almost all main plazas and most exit ramps on Sunday.

(Watch the video when you visit the link above.)

Busch Gardens Africa Updates

2009-03-31T12:15:00.002-04:00

Courtesy of Screamscape;

Hospitality House [is] now called the Garden Gate Café. For whatever reason the Myombe Reverve (Gorillas) is now part of Morocco instead of Nairobi in the list of attractions. The bigger change is that the Budweiser themed Crown Colony area been removed from the map like it never existed and the Skyride, Clydesdale Hamlet and Edge of Africa and Crown Colony Restaurant are now part of Egypt. Oh, and the Budwesier merchandise shops (Label Stable / A-B Trading Company) are now also removed from the map.

You can see the new map here (PDF).

Also, in keeping with the apparent policy to gradually remove all beer references from the park, the Brewmasters Club has closed and the Sundowner Safari (with the beer tasting) has been discontinued.

"No buyers" for SeaWorld

2009-03-28T18:16:00.004-04:00

"The Media" has been yammering for months about the sale of SeaWorld based on . . . well, based on nothing much.

Yeah, in mergers of the sort that recently happened between Anheuser-Busch and InBev various components of the new company tend to get sold off to pay for the debt taken on to finance the merger. And the sale of the theme parks seems a logical thing to happen, especially since InBev has hinted at -- repeat, hinted at -- doing just that.

But there's no solid evidence as yet. That why all the "SeaWorld to be sold!!!" stories you read are hedged with conditional words like "might" and "could."

Now comes something that might actually have some fact behind it.

"Are you worried the company might sell the park?" WFTV reporter Eric Rasmussen asked a SeaWorld employee.

"No, it's a good company," the employee said.

Other sources told Eyewitness News that SeaWorld managers met with employees on Wednesday, reassuring them the park would not be sold this year, in part because there were no buyers.

The emphasis is mine.

The same article notes that "profits for Anheuser-Busch InBev are flatter than day-old beer." But the theme parks, from what I've read are consistently profitable. Why unload one of the few profitable parts of your company in a down market?

Of course, for all I know, SeaWorld could be sold tomorrow, but I'm not betting on it.

Top of the Walk Debuts at CityWalk

2009-03-23T12:20:00.003-04:00

CityWalk has added to its fast food options with the "Top of the Walk" food court. It's located in the long unused space opposite Cigarz, at the top of the Promenade near the upstairs exit to the Cineplex. If memory serves, that space was intended to be the home for the E! Entertainment Network's studios!

Pride of place goes to the Whopper Bar, the first of its kind.

Orlando is home of the Whopper Bar. Burger King Corp. introduced its new concept Tuesday at Universal CityWalk. The eatery, the first of its kind, spotlights the chain's trademark sandwich in premium variations with jalapenos, Parmesan peppercorn sauce, sauteed mushrooms and "extra thick" meat patties.

Joining the Whopper at the new venue are Moe's Southwest Grill and Panda Express.

Will this mean that Orlando's "yoots" will find CityWalk a more inviting spot to hangout? Or will the new parking fees keep them away?

Update: DeWayne Bevil has more.

Adventure Island Is Open

2009-03-23T09:19:00.001-04:00

The official season opening was March 21.

More info here.

Awwww

2009-03-22T20:07:00.001-04:00

Wekiva Marina Gets A New Lease On Life

2009-03-20T16:55:00.004-04:00

Here's some good news from one of my favorite spots in the Orlando area.

The Weinaugs are the new owners of the property known for more than 40 years as the Wekiva Marina, a well-known river spot that had fallen on hard times during the past decade. In 1999, the restaurant on the site burned to the ground; palms along the river are still black with fire damage. A bait shop had degenerated into a dive, and aging rental canoes were mottled with patches...

Friends of the Wekiva River Inc., a nonprofit river-preservation group, had part of its annual Wekiva Riverfest at Wekiva Island in early March.

Previous owners had refused to work with the organization, but the Weinaugs are "tree huggers like us," Friends Secretary Leslie Long said.

Long, who said she remembers the "seedy bar" feel of the old marina, looks forward to the eco-friendly atmosphere of the new business.

Wekiva Island offers canoe and kayak rentals, sand volleyball and riverside cabanas. The Weinaugs also want to host small art festivals and open a small smoothie and ice-cream shop, though current zoning restrictions prohibit new construction in the area.

If you've never canoed the Wekiva, do yourself a favor and just do it!

More Media Hysteria Strikes Universal

2009-03-20T16:41:00.001-04:00

People fall all the time. All over the country. All over Orlando.

But if it happens at a theme park, it's news?

Gimme a break.

Sweet Deal at Universal

2009-03-01T20:00:00.005-05:00

Universal Orlando is offering the kind of irresistible deal that might be able to lure the true believers from that mouse-ridden theme park down the Interstate.

$99.99 for both adults and children for a seven-day ticket to both parks! Put that in your Park-Hopper and smoke it.

Order online (only) from my friends at Dreams Unlimited.

BTW, I have no financial interest in this deal.

Poseidon's Not Too Furious

2009-02-23T15:06:00.004-05:00

Someone asked me about what's going on at Poseidon's Fury in Universal Studios Florida. Seems they write a blog dedicated to Jeffrey Combs, the actor who plays Lord Darkenon in the attraction.

So here's the skinny: Poseidon's Fury is a shodaw of its former self. The roaring vortex effect -- arguably the main reason for standing in line for the attraction -- has been turned off.

I'm also told that in another attempt to save a few pennies, many of the pyrotechnic effects in the last scene have been eliminated.

All in all, the only reason to pop into Poseidon's Fury now is to escape the rain. Let's hope that, as the economy improves, so will the effects in this attraction.

Theme Parks Lobby, Too

2009-02-20T10:02:00.003-05:00

So Universal shuts down two attractions until Spring, SeaWorld cuts out free beer, and then we learn this.

New state records show that Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and the parent company of SeaWorld Orlando spent at least $390,000 — and as much as $750,000 — lobbying the Florida Legislature last year.

That was up from a range of $290,000 to $630,000 that the three businesses spent in 2007.

All I can say is that would pay for a lot of beer.

BTW, Jason Garcia has replaced the estimable Scott Powers on the tourism beat for the Orlando Sentinel.

Hollywood Bowl Opens

2009-02-16T11:17:00.002-05:00

The spiffy new Hollywood Bowl performance venue at Universal Studios Florida debuted with a performance by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It replaces the empty space that used to be The Boneyard.

DeWayne Bevil has the scoop (with pics).

MouseFest 2009 Cancelled

2009-02-15T18:01:00.002-05:00

Walt Disney World is not the focus of this blog, but you might be interested to know that MouseFest, the biggest gathering of Disney nuts in the world, has thrown in the towel for 2009, seemingly a victim of it's own success.

Details here.

Peabody Expansion Progresses

2009-02-15T11:43:00.003-05:00

The Peabody Hotel, which I covered in depth in SeaWorld, Discovery Cove & Aquatica, is making progress on its new tower addition.

Now the project is finally under construction and well under way, and this time — in the middle of the worst recession in decades — hotel officials say the timing is actually right.

"It's always good to renovate and expand your hotel when the economy's down," said Alan Villaverde, the hotel's executive vice president and general manager. Vendors eager for work are offering better deals than they did just two years ago, he said. The construction will occupy more than 900 people at its peak, he said, and the expanded hotel's work force is expected to double, from 650 to 1,200 or more employees.

The Orlando Sentinel has more.