After months of rumors and behind the scenes negotiations the Blackstone Private Equity group has completed a deal to purchase Busch Entertainment Corporation from AB-InBev. This move places the second largest Orlando attraction, Universal Orlando, which is 50% owned by Blackstone, under the same ownership… Read More »SeaWorld, Busch Gardens officially sold to Blackstone
When the Obama administration announced there was $8 billion in the stimulus package for funding High Speed Rail projects, there was good reason to hope that Central Florida would be receive part of that funding. Now that hope has been given a shot in the… Read More »Disney World signs on to High Speed Rail
Two breaking news items from Walt Disney World in the news this morning. Early this morning there was a report of smoke on a monorail. Operation was stopped and the fire department called in. No fire or damage could be found. It looks like that… Read More »Busy morning for breaking news at Disney World
This morning in the Orlando Sentinel Jason Garcia compiled an informative look at the most recent trend to hit the Orlando area theme parks – interactivity. Let’s leave the debate as to whether guests actually desire this over passive entertainment while on their vacation aside… Read More »New Trend Same as the Old Trend
This week my position at Give Kids The World (GKTW) was eliminated after a series of tough budget decisions. This move was indicative of the difficult situation nonprofits find themselves in these days. GKTW is singularly focused on making dreams come true for children battling… Read More »Some personal news and a request for your help
Reports are growing that The Blackstone Group has put the final touches on its acquisition of Busch Entertainment Company (BEC), the division of AB-Bev that owns SeaWorld and Busch Gardens theme parks. The Blackstone Group already owns about half of the Universal Orlando resort and… Read More »SeaWorld and Universal Studios to be owned by Same Company?
So totally unrelated to the previous post we hear that Walt Disney World is restructuring their Transportation management. This actually harkens back to the corporate restructuring Disney implemented early in the year, the one that resulted in all the management layoffs. Since then, Disney has… Read More »Meanwhile, Disney World restructures Transportation Division
Ah-ha! We know what it is. The Orlando Sentinel was first to break the news that the mysterious device that shut down the entire Disney World Transportation Bus System was a harmless tire pressure monitor with remote monitoring capabilities. This device was installed by Disney… Read More »Disney Bus Bomb Scare – The Wrap Up