Posts Tagged ‘Orlando Sentinel’

Disney’s Impact on Florida

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

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.

Florida High Speed Rail

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

Awww. AWWW!

Study: High-speed train would have made money“.

Key quote:

The Orlando-to-Tampa high-speed train scuttled by Gov. Rick Scott as a multibillion-dollar boondoggle would have made money from Day One, according to a ridership study released Wednesday by the state.

More than 3.3 million people would have used the 84-mile line, generating almost $63 million in ticket sales during its first year of operation in 2015-16, the report said, leading to a $10 million operating surplus.

Death in Celebration

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Uh oh! Celebration, the town developed by The Walt Disney Company back in the 1990s, has hit a snag. Check out this Orlando Sentinel story: “Death in Celebration is town’s first homicide.”

Disney Dollars

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Interesting article over at the Orlando Sentinel, “Disney becoming more generous with political contributions.”

Disney, employing close to 60,000 people in Central Florida, has lots of clout, but apparently they’re not above buying a little more.

While I’m not naive to this sort of thing, it’s a little sad to me that they’re greasing the palms of so many Republicans.

Here’s a post about that: “[Walt] Disney World’s favorite Florida politicians.”

2011 Jetta

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Ooh, the Orlando Sentinel has a glowing review of the new Volkswagen Jetta: “All-new VW Jetta bigger, prettier, cheaper.”

While I really don’t care if it’s any bigger, I am a fan of cheaper. I also like the front grill is back to normal.

The color ain’t bad, either …

The Italians Are Coming, the Italians Are Coming!

Monday, August 9th, 2010

Just saw this from last week: “Fiat returning to U.S., looking to open Florida dealerships.”

Their Fiat 500 is pretty cute:

New Disney Book

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

How have I not heard of this book?!

If this were any more up my alley I would have written it! Check out this Orlando Sentinel article: “Talking With Chad Emerson: A ‘spy-like’ start for Disney.”

It’s out now, and affordable for someone’s birthday two weeks from today … (cough amazon.com link cough).

“Catch of the Day”?

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

So let me guess, all of the restaurants at the park are now planning a seafood special: “SeaWorld Orlando reconsiders using Tilikum killer whale in shows?”

Growing Citrus in Florida? Novel Idea!

Friday, March 5th, 2010

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.”

New Fantastyland at WDW

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

You might have heard Walt Disney World announced a new Fantasyland back in September.

Back then they released this painting:

Fantasyland visual development

The Fantasyland Forest expansion will be complete in 2013 and feature mostly new Princess themed attractions, restaurants and character meet-and-greet areas.

Lost will be most of Mickey’s Toontown Fair (including Mickey’s house … odd) and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage attraction that’s been closed for over 15 years, anyway.

The most anticipated new attraction is Under the Sea: Journey of The Little Mermaid that will take you literally under the sea in an Omnimover system (like the Haunted Mansion) and be identical to the one being built right now out at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim.

Recently I came across this model which is easier to decipher than the painting. Someone else (sadly, I don’t remember who) has labelled the attractions and buildings:

New Fantasyland model

New Fantasyland model with labels

To give you a better idea of the current layout, here’s a map of the land as it stand now:

Fantastyland map

And here’s a Google map photo:

Fantastyland photo

Overall I’m not terribly excited, but it can’t be any worse than closing Mr Toad for the Winnie the Pooh ride.

UPDATE: Oddly Jim Hill has a story about this expansion today! For more artwork and tidbits, check out: “The WDW Resort is looking for a few dozen new Disney Princesses.”

Coconut Curried Chicken Stew

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

The Orlando Sentinel’s Disney blog just posted one of my favorite recipes from Boma, a restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: Coconut Curried Chicken Stew.

You might recognize it from Newlywed in Dubai