Crossroads Plaza Faces Possible Demolition

The Crossroads shopping plaza just outside of WDW (corner of Hotel Plaza Blvd and SR535) faces the possibility of demolition as part of the expansion of the interchange between SR535 and I4.

The Florida Department of Transportation plans to eventually reconfigure an Interstate 4 interchange at State Road 535 with a design that would require demolition of the shopping center.

Right of way acquisition for the project is scheduled from 2018 to 2022. So far, no construction date is scheduled.

We used to shop at Goodings regularly when we were there many years ago before we found a Winn-Dixie further down the street. Now, the only time we go there for is to dine at this wonderful South Indian restaurant called Dakshin. Not only is that restaurant conveniently located, but the food is good as well.

I hope they manage to do something to at least save part of the plaza and get this restaurant to stay. Otherwise, we will miss it and will have to hunt for a good Indian restaurant near WDW, which isn't an easy thing to do.

Zz.

Looking back on Walt's selection of Orlando 50 years ago

The Orlando Sentinel has this article about how Walt selected Orlando to build Walt Disney World.

Flying over Central Florida on that fine fall day, Walter Elias Disney looked down at the green land punctuated by the blue water of a hundred inland lakes, and he saw the future.
It was the future of his company and its economic success, of course. But it also was the future of his lifelong plans for creating something just as meaningful to him personally as his California theme park had been when it had opened eight years earlier. This time, though, Disney's dream was bigger and his overarching idea was to prevent it from suffering from the same problems then plaguing his first themed attraction as the tacky tourism ugliness of Anaheim closed in around the splendor of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

  Other sites considered were St. Louis, New Orleans and Niagara Falls.  The first two tried to push things that Walt did not want for his project.  The Falls had many favorable attributes except for one big thing - the winters. 

Universal Challenging Disney?

The NY Times published this article about how Universal is trying to add new attractions to challenge Disney Parks.

Extracted from the article...

Universal’s parks have always languished in the shadow of mouse ears, and that will not change anytime soon. Disney has eight parks in California and Florida that attract over 73 million visitors each year, with summer the busiest season. Universal operates three parks, with annual attendance totaling about 18 million...But Universal is starting to look a lot less puny. A $265 million Harry Potter-themed addition to its resort here sent 2010 attendance soaring 30 percent over the year before, draining attention from Walt Disney World in the process.

Mickey Mouse and More

This news article from Ottawa Citizen provides a lot of information on visiting Orlando, which includes, of course, doing the Disney theme parks and more.

What? There's more in Orlando than just the Disney theme parks? I would never have guessed!!!

:)

Zz.

Orlando Airport Tests Hydrogen Engines

Not exactly Disney related, but since many of us fly into Orlando International, this might be of interest. It appears that Orlando airport will be testing shuttle vans that make use of internal combustion engines that will run on hydrogen.

The modified engines aboard the Ford E-450 shuttle buses are 6.8 liter V-10s. The airport's fleet also includes three gas-electric hybrid vehicles and 24 biodiesel buses. The facility also powers its maintenance equipment -- such as lawnmowers and tractors -- with biodiesel.

Not bad, but where do you get the hydrogen from? In most cases, it takes MORE energy to get hydrogen gas via, say, electrolysis, then what you get when you use it. So if we use the wrong source, then it isn't more Earth friendly overall. This doesn't count yet the energy required to cool the gas (do these vehicles get it in liquid form?) and maintain it in that form at the "pumping" station.

Zz.

Disney Children's Hospital in Orlando

This would be a marriage made in heaven, I would think.

Disney has donated $10 million towards the construction of a children's hospital at Florida Hospital. So now there's plan to have it themed appropriately.

I just hope it doesn't become too popular and become a tourist destination. You never know what Disney fanatics like me would do. :)

Still, I'd say the Imagineers can do a lot of things. Let's start with every child that gets admitted gets to walk out with a special Mickey ears hat. There should be a character meet and greet everyday. And certainly the Disney channel on TV.

Zz.