|
ORLANDO ATTRACTIONS
A News page for the Orlando’s areas other Minor Attractions and Resort properties
---- THE LATEST BUZZ ----
(1/13/2025) Former Site Intended For Area 15 Preparing For New Development Plan
(1/11/2025) Blue Man Group Theater At Icon Park Still Not Built
(1/4/2025) The Return of the Blue Man Group Update
(1/2/2025) Kennedy Space Center To Open New Attraction in Early 2025
(12/6/2024) Orlando FreeFall Jury Awards Victim's Family $310 Million
(12/4/2024) Tyre Sampson Freefall Death Trial To Begin
(10/18/2024) Former Skyplex Site Is For Sale, If Your Idea Is Good Enough
Kennedy Space Center Review (2022)
You can find our review of the I-Drive 360 attractions (Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds and SeaLife Aquarium here.
 Central Florida News - (12/6/2024) The trial over the death involving the Orlando Freefall ride at ICON Park didn’t last long. According to Blooloop, the jury voted to award the family of Tyre Sampson $310 million in the lawsuit against ride’s creator, Funtime. Previous legal action and the accident investigation had already determined that it was the ride owner/operator at fault for modifying the safety sensors on at least two of the ride’s seats to be far beyond the manufacturer’s safety specifications to allow larger riders to fit in those seats.
So with that in mind, I’m not sure why a lawsuit was allowed to take place against the manufacturer, who had nothing to do with the seat safety system modifications. Or at least, based on what facts were previously presented to the general public over the media coverage following the accident. So perhaps there was some new evidence presented to the jury that has not been made public yet.
According to the article, it appeared that even Funtime may not have been taking this case seriously, as it was reported that Funtime did not even send a representative to the court. Other than that however, this does sort of set a dangerous president for the industry that an operator can modify and compromise the safety systems of an attraction to the point to the point that they will no longer work as designed, and yet the manufacturer of the attraction who delivered it in proper working order, was just held financially liable for the actions of the operator.
Unless new evidence was presented to the jury claiming otherwise… I just don’t get it. Meanwhile the family of Tyre Sampson had already settled privately out of court as a result of two other wrongful death lawsuits, filed against Icon Park and the ride’s owner, Eagle Drop Slingshot. The terms of those private settlements were not made public knowledge and the records likely sealed.
(12/4/2024) A trial about the death of Tyre Sampson who passed away when he fell to his death while riding a drop tower set up at Icon Park in March 2022, is set to begin this week. The owner of the ride was fined and the tower ride quickly removed but now Tyre’s mother and legal team are going to court against Funtime, the maker of the ride, with a claim of negligence.
(10/18/2024) For those wondering, the Orlando Skyplex project is dead. Actually, it and the dream of the Polercoaster tower on the site at I-Drive and Sand Lake Rd. have been dead for quite some time, with the company created to build the project having went under during the pandemic.
What’s changed now is that site of the once proposed mega-project has now officially been put up for sale by Skyplex Ownership LLC in an odd manor. Instead of just posting an asking price and being done with it, Skyplex is now accepting bids for the property along with an accompanying proposal for what the bidders hope to build on the site. In an article posted by the OBJ, Josh Wallack mentions that potential bidders are to be pre-qualified to ensure they have the financial means to close the deal and follow through with funding to build their project on the 13 acre site.
While we won’t know what will happen to the site for quite some time, Wallack did mention envisioning the site being transformed into a possible high end luxury hotel with a ‘crystal lagoon” and plenty of convention/meeting space areas. When they assembled the various properties at the time for the Skyplex project, it was approved to be zoned for a very tall structure, like the 500 foot tall Skyplex, so that zoning could be put to use for some very tall hotel towers instead, bigger than anything along the I-Drive corridor at this time. Of course, the location of the property not far from the northern edge of Universal’s new Epic Universe complex is also not lost of them, which can only add value to the location for whoever wants to build there.
2025 - LC-39 Gantry Exhibit at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex - (1/2/2025) The wonderful Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida is slated to open a new attraction in early 2025. The newest addition will be the Launch Complex 39 Gantry attraction, which will be home to a number of new interactive experienced that will explore the relationship between technology and nature.
The attraction will feature the Earth Information Center (home to an immersive theater show), Rocket Build Interactive, various interactive exhibits, a Test Fire Simulation where guests can stand under a simulated rocket test fire, an outdoor dining area, and the site will be used as available as an actual new Launch Viewing Area. Access to the LC-39 Gantry Exhibit will only be accessible via the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour.
The opening date for this has not been set, but in the meantime, please do check out Screamscape’s review of our visit to KSC in 2022 when we were able to get a preview visit to see the new Gateway attraction, along with the rest of the stunning exhibits, including the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit which was just breathtaking to see in person.
2025 - Blue Man Group at ICON Park - (1/11/2025) A reader stopped by Icon Park this week to try and capture a few photos of the Blue Man Group theater… only to find that not really much of anything has been completed at this time. Keep in mind that this is despite the fact that the show is supposed to be ready to open in late March 2025.
If the cleared site shown in the photos is indeed the correct location of the future Blue Man Group theater, then “clearing” is about all they’ve done so far on the site, located between two of the massive supports for The Orlando Eye observation wheel.
(1/4/2025) According to the official Blue Man Group website, the new Orlando show is set to open on April 3, 2025. So I guess the real question is, how are things progressing on the construction of the new 500+ seat custom made theater space in Orlando’s ICON Park? As I recall from the press release, the new theater was supposed to be built in the back of ICON park, just off their rear entrance on Universal Blvd, so I’m just curious to see how things are progressing if anyone has pictures to share.
(6/30/2024) Various news reports claim that the Blue Man Group are making plans to return to Orlando. Previously the entertaining musical production performed in a theater at Universal Orlando from 2007 to 2020, and when the theme park resort shut down for the pandemic, the Blue Man Group show never returned.
According to the reports, the Blue Man Group are planning to return, but they will be setting up in a new venue at Orlando’s ICON Park on International Drive, with performances expected to start by the end of this year. I’m not exactly sure where in ICON Park the BMG will return, only that the announcement says a new 500-seat theater for them is coming to ICON Park. The theater is still said to be in the planning stage at this point, so I’m a bit unsure as to how they will get it open by the end of the year. So keep your eyes open when visiting ICON Park for this newest addition.
2030 - Brightline Expansion to Convention Center and Beyond -
(9/22/2023) Good news, the Brightline high speed rail serve from Orlando’s MCO airport to Miami finally went into service today! Follow this link to see a video story from MCO shows off the launch of the first train and the journey from Orlando to Miami on the new trains. The trains look great and with Orlando now connected by high speed rail to all of southern Florida, with stops close to all the other major airports along the way (PBI, FLL, and of course MIA) I can’t help but think that this will be a gamechanger for easy travel throughout the region.
(5/25/2023) For those wondering, Brightline is now selling tickets to ride the new high speed train service from Miami to the Orlando airport station starting on Sept. 1, 2023. Smart tickets are priced at $79 per passenger, and Premium seats for $149 each way. As I said, tickets are being sold for dates starting in September, but there is always a chance some earlier dates may become available as they get closer to starting-up their service schedule if the process between now and then goes smoothly. The full trip between the two end stations will only take about 3.5 hours.
(1/8/2023) In a follow up to Universal’s plans to join the rail expansion plans that will lead from the Brightline connection to the Orlando Airport to a new station at the Orange County Convention Center (that will also be able to service Universal’s Epic Universe expansion), we’ve got a couple of new images to share, as provided by Universal Orlando.
This includes a piece of artwork showing off what the proposed Convention Center station area could look like, which is expected to be ready by 2030. Of more interest is a map showing the route the rail would take, connecting to the new Brightline station that will soon open at the new Terminal C at MCO. I had been sort of thinking that it would simply go back up and follow along 528 to the West down to the convention center (as the Brightline heads to the East along 528) but instead the route shows the expansion moving south of MCO’s runways and then connecting up with an existing railroad right-of-way that exists down there, connecting around where the existing line crosses over Boggy Creek. It will follow the existing rail-path as it turns north just west of S. Orange Ave until it meets a new Sunrail Transfer Station. From there riders will move west along a new path that runs along W. Taft Vineland Rd until it intersects with 528 at the John Young exit area for a brief run before turning off at the Universal Blvd exit for the final run into the Convention Center Station.
Future expansion plans show that the line’s long term future plans will then move to I-4 and follow along the freeway down to a future South I-Drive station that sure looks like it could be placed somewhere very close to where the former Crossroads retail area was, right on Disney’s doorstep.
(1/7/2023) Universal Orlando is now involved with the plan to build a SunRail route from the Orlando Airport to the Orange County Convention Center. Universal has pledged to contribute 13 acres of land to be used to connect the route and build the Convention Center Station, as well as said they would support the operation and maintenance of this station. Of course this only makes sense, as the same station will also be able to service Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park now under construction right across the way from the convention center.
The plan will make it very easy for both residents and tourists alike to travel between the two areas, as well as being able to remove some unnecessary vehicle traffic from the congested highway between the airport and tourist corridor. For now they have named this new expansion as the “Sunshine Corridor”.
(9/24/22) Good news for the future of transit from the Orlando Airport to the main tourist corridor via rail. The OBJ has confirmed that SunRail has signed off on a plan to share the train corridor with Brightline that will take riders from the airport down to a stop near Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park (opening in 2025) and the Convention Center. In a huge win for this new rail transportation plans, the SunRail commission voted unanimously in favor to support the “Sunshine Corridor” project that will continue past the I-Drive area stops mentioned above and then on to another stop just outside the Walt Disney World resort. From here, long term plans are also in place from Brightline to eventually extend the line all the way to Tampa eventually that would complete the rail line’s run all the way from Miami. It was also mentioned that the united effort of support for the Sunshine Corridor, not just from the rail groups, but also all the local tourist attractions would only benefit the program’s efforts to secure Federal Funding for the expansion. So far the only group to turn their nose up at the plan was the Walt Disney Company who refused to allow a station to be built on their property if the line made stops anywhere other than the airports. On the other side of the coin, Universal Orlando has agreed to donate land for the proposed station that will be located near their Epic Universe theme park project.
(7/3/22) Walt Disney World repeats history playing the “train game” with Florida once again. How so? Earlier this week a Disney spokesperson came out to say that Walt Disney World is no longer supporting the proposed Brightline train project, and the once proposed station for the line at Disney Springs has been canceled. At the time that Disney agreed to work with Brightline on the project, the layout of the expansion line that would run from the Orlando Airport to Tampa was looking to run down the SR-417 tollway from the airport directly to Disney property before heading off towards Tampa.
So what changed? Well Brightline was always looking into various property options to move the line through Orlando to Tampa, and of course as Brightline will travel from the coast down SR-528 to get to the airport, it only makes sense to continue that alignment to try and continue the run down SR-528 to Orlando, which would also allow for an additional stop by the Orange County Convention Center in the heart of the tourist district.
On June 1st it was reported that a new Federal Grant was being given to Brightlight for exactly this purpose to help secure the funding needed to proceed with this alternate route the line would take before turning towards Disney. Not only would the new alignment allow for easier flow to and from the airport for more visitors to Orlando, but provide easy access from the Convention Center area, which is also just down the street from SeaWorld Orlando and virtually right next door to where Universal is building their newest theme park, Universal’s Epic Universe. And there-in lies the problem… because Disney is once again taking their ball and going home because they can’t play nice.
This new alignment not only better serves the needs of the area, but serves the community because the plan was also to have Sun Rail expand their service to make runs down this same track from the Convention Center to the Airport every 15 minutes, removing the need for thousands of vehicles per day to travel down SR-518 to the airport. With stops at the Convention Center and Disney Springs and then moving on to Tampa (which would remove more cars from I-4 coming from the Tampa area) the project seems like it should be a win-win for everyone.
As I’ve alluded to, Disney has done all this before. Lets jump back about 20 years and local residents will recall a little something called the Florida High Speed Rail project. In November of 2000 the resident of Florida voted to approve an amendment to the states constitution that asked for the government to proceed with the design and installation of a High Speed Rail system, with the initial leg designed to connect the Tampa and Orlando airports, running mostly down the I-4 corridor. To help ensure there were enough passengers along the line, the state asked Disney to get involved and allow a station to be built on Disney Property which would deliver countless tourists right from the airports onto Disney’s doorstep. Around 2002 everything fell apart because Disney refused to allow a station at Walt Disney World if the line stopped anywhere else between Disney and the Orlando Airport. Even then the government knew they needed to have an additional stop at the Convention Center, and Disney refused to play ball if that requirement stayed. As this essentially meant that the taxpayers of Florida (especially in the Orlando area) would be building a transportation system that would only benefit Disney and not the people, that was never going to stick, so in 2004 the Florida voters then removed the High Speed Rail amendment from the state constitution. The project was essentially dead.
There is still a “Brightline” to this story… because the new alignment now being established as the “Sunshine Corridor” still plans to move ahead. The plan will expand the run from the Orlando Airport to the Convention Center and then on to a second station “near Disney Springs, although not on Disney property.” for the next phase before proceeds on towards Tampa. The location of this new station near Disney has not been revealed, but I’ve got a hunch it may involve a new large piece of property that the state took control of right next to Disney that is currently being cleared out. I’m talking about the Crossroads retail property right at the end of Disney’s Hotel Plaza Blvd entrance. The site is being cleared out to allow for better off-ramp access from the I-4 freeway directly into this very road, and will leave a lot of empty undeveloped property in the aftermath that could easily accommodate a new rail station right just outside Disney’s doorstep. (Again, just speculation on my part, as I have no insight as to the actual alignment of how they plan to provide rail service down I-4 from the Convention Center to Tampa, but the purchase of this property by the State was not something that had been done the last time rail service through here was being considered.
AREA 15 - CANCELED - (1/13/2025) The former site that was intended to be home to an Orlando version of Area 15 may now have a new purpose. According to the local news a “pre-application request” has been filed with Orange County for a new project on the 17-acre site, listed only as “Kingsland Grande PD / Vineland Galleria”. Previously they say the land was approved for some other possible uses, including building a new resort hotel with up to 1,100 rooms, or for another large-scale retail complex.
Stay tuned as I don’t think this valuable site right alongside the busy I-4 corridor is going to stay empty for very long.
(9/19/2024) Just under three weeks ago I posted the question, “Whatever Happened to AREA 15?”. We now have an answer, but it isn’t one you’re going to like.
According to an update posted by the Orlando Business Journal the company behind AREA 15 has decided to cancel their plans to build a second location in Orlando and has now put the land it purchased up for sale. As I wondered in the last post, the 16-foot tall robot statue that was placed there when the project was announced in 2022, has now been removed from the property.
Given that the AREA 15 company will soon be very busy with their Las Vegas location that will soon expand with a John Wick themed experience as well as a year-round Halloween horror Nights attraction from Universal Studios the decision to walk away from Orlando for now isn’t an unsound one. Add in the fact that the announcement for the Orlando site did not indicate that it would include a Meow Wolf attraction, which has clearly served as the anchor attraction for the Las Vegas site, putting the Orlando site on the shelf does make a lot of sense.
While AREA 15 won’t be coming to Orlando now… they did say that they have not given up on building in Orlando entirely, and they may consider it again in the future.
--
Kennedy Space Center Review (2022) -
(10/23/22) Back in June I was able to take a special visit to the Kennedy Space Center to take a preview peek inside their newest addition: Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex. I meant to post some information on this a little sooner, but then tried to time it out with the launch of the new Artemis rocket. If you’ve followed the progress of Artemis, you know it has suffered more than a few delays, but with a new launch window on the horizon, the timing is more than right to take a serious look inside the Kennedy Space Center once again in my latest article posted over at Blooloop, so please follow the link for that.
In additional to all the official media and release information the the Gateway attraction posted in the Blooloop piece, I’ve added a big assortment of personal photos I’ve taken myself showing off what I saw inside Gateway as well as a good look at other major attractions at the Kennedy Space Center. In all honestly, visiting the KSC was a fantastic experience, as I think my last visit there was about 30 years ago in the early ‘90s, and things have changed so much since then.
The old experience was highlighted by a bus tour out past the massive VAB building and if you were lucky, you might be allowed to get close to one of the launch pads and crawlers if they were not in use at the time. There wasn’t much to the main complex back in the day other than an assorted display of old rockets, but the experience now is more akin to the feeling you might have enjoyed when visiting Epcoit’s Future World back in the 90s. You know, back when the message was about a bright future ahead through technology advancements, and when everyone’s favorite ride there was Horizons.
The Kennedy Space Center of today now has that look at feel, with an assortment of large attraction buildings that combine displays of the actual hardware that went into space with interactive areas, theatrical re-creations of historical moments, an IMAX theater and even a couple of motion simulator rides. Plus you can see the acutal Space Shuttle Atlantis now on display… and I have to admit, it made me tear up a bit when I saw it.
Coming off a cruise, my family and I stopped in and really enjoyed the our experience there, from the larger than life attractions to the lunch we ate in the afternoon where even the food was quite tasty. (We also noted that it wasn’t as crazy overpriced as the food is at the nearby Orlando theme parks as well, which was nice.)
My family has a small bit of a connection here as well, as my wife’s grandfather was in the Air Force and was assigned the duty of flying the Apollo 13 astronauts to various locations around the world on a press tour upon their return to Earth. Meanwhile my oldest son is in college studying aerospace engineering and my other son just started college to become a professional pilot. So we left the Kennedy Space Center more than a little inspired, and definitely will make plan to return again on a future trip to try out the four different flight rides inside the new Gateway attraction.
|
