joshedwards.com » Florida

Disney’s Impact on Florida

Josh — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:23:49 +0000

Fascinating article in today’s Orlando Sentinel: “Disney says it generates $18.2 billion a year in Florida.”

Starts with a bang:

Walt Disney World and its related businesses in Florida generate an estimated $18.2 billion a year in economic activity and more than 1 out of every 50 jobs in the state, according to an impact study paid for by the giant resort and released Wednesday morning.

It ends strongly, too:

It amounted to a cumulative direct economic-impact of $6.3 billion. When researchers modeled in “indirect and induced” impacts from Disney’s operations, they said the impact swelled to $18.2 billion and approximately 161,000 jobs.

Moxie in Florida

Josh — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:45:35 +0000

Oh snowbirds! Did you see that “Florida is getting some Moxie“?

Fresh From Florida

Josh — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:00:19 +0000

I haven’t talked much about BP’s Oil Spill here, although I’ve had something like 53 days to do so.

It wasn’t until I saw this logo from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that prompted me:

Anyone else think it looks like SeaWorld’s logo?

I’m creeped out.

Growing Citrus in Florida? Novel Idea!

Josh — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:13:53 +0000

Apparently land prices in Florida are getting so low that citrus growers are buying land from developers instead of selling land to developers.

Check out the Orlando Sentinel on the topic: “Sign of the times? Fruit more profitable than grove land.”

Planet Hollywood Resort

Josh — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:30:47 +0000

This has very little to do with anything, but I just read an interesting article in the Miami Herald (what, you don’t read the Herald every day?) Planet Hollywood, the once ubiquitous themed restaurant chain, is fighting with Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, the up-and-coming themed restaurant chain, over a sliver of Hollywood, Florida: “Stars’ proposals for Hollywood beach to be aired.”

I don’t care a lick about Miami-Fort Lauderdale, but this “Margaritaville Hollywood Beach” versus “Planet Hollywood whatever” is somthing. I love it when chains fight, especially themed chains.

Plus PH wants to build a water park.

I love water parks.

The Planet Hollywood proposal includes a 250-foot tower to rise next to the hotel, marking the top of a winding water slide that will shoot guests into a water park that includes a lazy river and a simulated surfing pool.

At the end of the day I think PH will win, as they also want to build a casino, were casinos to be made legal in outside Indian reservations and racetracks. And county boards and commissioners … especially of cheesy boardwalk towns … love casinos.