Lionsgate World Resort

[OrlandoGuy]

Is this for the tower or for both tower and coaster? I know the coaster would use S&S track and trains, has this changed also then?

Both. The roller coaster isn't going to use anything from S&S. The ride is being designed by a firm that also has happened to design a few S&S creations, but other than that there is no relationship between that company and this project.

 

[princeinc]

http://www.mynews13.com/content/new.../articles/cfn/2015/3/4/skyplex_expansion.html

This things just keeps getting bigger and better. We might need to rename this thread to "Sky Plex" lol

 

[GAcoaster]

The PLAN keeps getting bigger and bigger, but so far I haven't heard anything about the financing required to build it. Until it actually gets built it's just a pie in the sky pipe dream.

 

[highkite]

Last night on Fox 13 Tampa they had a good story on this. I had no clue they had to buy 8 other Perkins, just to buy the one they wanted.
The story (couldn't find online) said it would open in 2017. No way in hell..

 

[OrlandoGuy]

Yeah, I'm skeptical about this. For one thing, is the Orlando Eye doing good business? The majority reaction seems to be "meh", and that it's overpriced. Real info may suggest otherwise, and it's too early on to determine the thing's success anyway. BUT, if it isn't a smash hit, I can see development on the other I-Drive attractions coming to a halt.

The other thing is that our tour guide on the Eye said the tallest building in Orlando was the SunTrust building downtown…I think it was 463 feet? And the 400' that the Eye is is the current max heigh limit for structures in the area. So how are they gonna go about beating the restriction by close to 200 feet? File a permit and go through all that hassle? I'd be surprised if a company/investors that are new to this business would go through all that for one ride.

 

[Sledge]

Is there some kind of high demand for Perkins that I don't know about that warrants having the 'World's Largest'? I always associated Perkins with being a restaurant for senior citizens, which is hardly the demographic as those interested in the coaster. I don't think I could think of a more lame restaurant if I tried. Was Waffle House already invested in another project?

 

[Jon84]

For one thing, is the Orlando Eye doing good business? The majority reaction seems to be "meh", and that it's overpriced. Real info may suggest otherwise, and it's too early on to determine the thing's success anyway. BUT, if it isn't a smash hit, I can see development on the other I-Drive attractions coming to a halt.

I think the Eye and the pollercoaster will work for tourists in the main. Staying on I-Drive the other week those bloody slingshot things didn't seem to stop!

 

[CatCatCat]

The other thing is that our tour guide on the Eye said the tallest building in Orlando was the SunTrust building downtown…I think it was 463 feet? And the 400' that the Eye is is the current max heigh limit for structures in the area. So how are they gonna go about beating the restriction by close to 200 feet? File a permit and go through all that hassle? I'd be surprised if a company/investors that are new to this business would go through all that for one ride.

The process isn't all that difficult, and is required for all structures above a certain height. WF Coaster Entertainment (the company behind the Skyplex/Skyscraper project) filed their aeronautical study with the FAA last August, seeking approval for the massive 700' structure. The study was under review for several months, until January 16th, when it was given the status of "Notice of Presumed Hazard". From there, the company had two options:

1.) Open the case up for circularization, which would allow for relevant 3rd party comments to be taken into consideration and allow them to make a case for why the structure wouldn't be a hazard.
2.) Re-design the tower to meet FAA guidelines (which, in this case, was reducing the total height of the tower to be below 500').

They obviously chose to open the case up for circularization, and that ran from January 28th - March 6th. After the circularization period, it typically takes a few weeks for the FAA to make a final determination. It's been over two months now, and there's still been no final determination (at least publicly) about the fate of the project.

What I find a bit suspicious is the official social media channels for the Skyplex/Skyscraper project have gone totally dark since March. The Skyscraper Orlando Facebook page hasn't posted since March 4th, and the SkyplexOrlando Twitter hasn't tweeted anything since March 26th, which is oddly coincidental timing if you ask me. If I had to guess, and this is pure speculation, I'd say they initially got denied by the FAA and are currently trying to get that overturned.

You can view their FAA filing here:
https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=226819221

You can view the Notice of Presumed Hazard letter here:
https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/letterViewer.jsp?letterID=240367508

And you can view the Circularization letter here:
https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/letterViewer.jsp?letterID=241577564

 

[Donald Razorduck]

Last night on Fox 13 Tampa they had a good story on this. I had no clue they had to buy 8 other Perkins, just to buy the one they wanted.
The story (couldn't find online) said it would open in 2017. No way in hell..

I could see it, there's nothing but structure from the bottom to the top, not the typical skyscraper more erector set.

- - - Updated - - -

Last night on Fox 13 Tampa they had a good story on this. I had no clue they had to buy 8 other Perkins, just to buy the one they wanted.
The story (couldn't find online) said it would open in 2017. No way in hell..

I could see it, there's nothing but structure from the bottom to the top, not the typical skyscraper more erector set.

And... I've seen posts about combo tickets for all three main attractions at the Eye for around 30 bucks with discounts through AAA and folks are bitching about it being high? Goof grief.

 

[anihilnation]

If this coaster really gets build I can see it being successful, also, you cannot compare a ferris wheel to a coaster if the Orlando Eye does not do well, it would not mean that the coaster is doomed as well.
With all of this, I am wondering how is the Midway Arcade on Idrive doing?

 

[Macfr3ak]

I think the wheel will do fine.. once everything is fully built and marketed to tourist staying in the area they will come down and check this out. i believe it has a lot to offer.. if anyone has been to the margaritaville/pigeon forge "eye" (whatever its called) you would see the potential. Will it always have people? most likely not but during high peak seasons i see this whole area being "THE spot" even more-so at night when people just want to hang out and drink close to their hotel.

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

If this coaster really gets build I can see it being successful, also, you cannot compare a ferris wheel to a coaster if the Orlando Eye does not do well, it would not mean that the coaster is doomed as well.
With all of this, I am wondering how is the Midway Arcade on Idrive doing?

It's literally surviving by a thread of hair. But Money talks. :wave:

 

[MrRoamer]

I think the conventions are going to be the thing that gives this area life. For whatever reason most the conventions I've worked at, the parties/meetups/"business meetings" are either in the resort area (Rosen Shingle/Gaylord/etc) or somewhere on I-Drive. Every once in awhile they go into Downtown Disney, and not once have I seen an activity in City Walk.

 

[Nick]

I think the conventions are going to be the thing that gives this area life. For whatever reason most the conventions I've worked at, the parties/meetups/"business meetings" are either in the resort area (Rosen Shingle/Gaylord/etc) or somewhere on I-Drive. Every once in awhile they go into Downtown Disney, and not once have I seen an activity in City Walk.

Not me personally, but when I worked as an Events TM, people would rent our the back/upper half of CityWalk by Margarittaville all the time. Since i've not been working there, my mom has gone there twice during conventions.

 

[SeventyOne]

Is there some kind of high demand for Perkins that I don't know about that warrants having the 'World's Largest'? I always associated Perkins with being a restaurant for senior citizens, which is hardly the demographic as those interested in the coaster. I don't think I could think of a more lame restaurant if I tried. Was Waffle House already invested in another project?

Definitely senior citizens at dinner (starting at 3 pm). But because they are open 24 hours, also well-known as a post-party hang-out. The one in Crossroads, for instance, used to get slammed when PI was open. With that stretch of I-Drive becoming the new nightlife district, I think Perkins will do alright.

Also, for whatever reason, tourists love breakfast. I guess having the time for it. I could see this place doing a huge breakfast business with British tourists and conventioneers in the area.

 

[Nick]

Definitely senior citizens at dinner (starting at 3 pm). But because they are open 24 hours, also well-known as a post-party hang-out. The one in Crossroads, for instance, used to get slammed when PI was open. With that stretch of I-Drive becoming the new nightlife district, I think Perkins will do alright.

Also, for whatever reason, tourists love breakfast. I guess having the time for it. I could see this place doing a huge breakfast business with British tourists and conventioneers in the area.

Also, think of if families come down and the teenager in the family wants to go on the coaster, but they are also there with grandma and grandpa. Whoever wants to can go on the ride, and then hop over to Perkins. Win-win.

 

[SeventyOne]

I think the conventions are going to be the thing that gives this area life. For whatever reason most the conventions I've worked at, the parties/meetups/"business meetings" are either in the resort area (Rosen Shingle/Gaylord/etc) or somewhere on I-Drive. Every once in awhile they go into Downtown Disney, and not once have I seen an activity in City Walk.

Conventions will be huge. Also, for reasons I can speculate about but not yet confirm, the areas around Rosen and Sea World are attracting more and more young professionals (they can't seem to build $1,200+/month apartments fast enough). If I-Drive is closer than downtown and has fewer college kids, I can see them supporting it.

 

[ChrisFL]

I wish they had some kind of monorail or other personal transport going through the area, but not sure how popular that would be either.

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

I wish they had some kind of monorail or other personal transport going through the area, but not sure how popular that would be either.

Well there are plans to build a maglev connector along i-drive by 2017 (2018 or 2019 realistically). The maglev is suppose to go from Orlando International to the Convention Center. But that is hard for American Maglev company to do with FDOT and OCEA land issues. Soooooo the county (Orange County) is trying to get the company to do an I Drive Circulator from Convention Center to Sand lake for initial starts.

 

[Cheezbat]

Also, think of if families come down and the teenager in the family wants to go on the coaster, but they are also there with grandma and grandpa. Whoever wants to can go on the ride, and then hop over to Perkins. Win-win.

What you're not understanding is the Perkins on I-drive is in the way of where they want to build this thing. That one is a big moneymaker in the chain so it doesn't surprise me that they want good money for it. The location will not stay if the Skyplex gets built...they'll tear Perkins down.

With Orlando having a 400 foot height limit, and other tenants(including Universal) complaining about this thing, I would be really surprised if this actually got built as big as initially planned.