DS Update: Vacancies

There aren't a lot of vacancies in Disney Springs but this spot along Hill Street on Pleasure Island remains a mystery. It's been vacant since early 2024 and it's just odd that as we approach two years vacant, that no one has leased it. The spot is roughly where the Curl by Sammy Duval shop was once located and before that, Superstar Studios.

 

The corporation that owned the Volcom brand filed for bankruptcy earlier in 2025 and no one has apparently leased their former space either. But it is temporarily occupied by the Disney Enchanted Holiday Art Gallery. This is in the Disney Springs Town Center section.

Club Reports: Sail-Away Party & Piazza Debut Party (Star Princess)

This is the brand, spanking new Star Princess cruise ship doing a 7-nt cruise to the western Caribbean from here in Port Everglades. Having just arrived from the manufacturer in Italy, we're here to check it out and compare it to other cruise ships from a "party" perspective. 

Of course, the fun on cruises always begins with the Sail-Away Party on the pool deck and no one has done more Sail-Away parties than us. So here we were on Deck 17 midship for yet another one. Someone has to do these.

The music was delivered by DJ Gilla (BH). We heard typical cruise party songs such as "Everybody Dance Now", "Push It" and "Baby Got Back". But we also heard a great Deep House version of classic Dance tune "Rhythm of the Night".

One thing we thought was kind of weak was the Cruise Director spent about 10 minutes wandering the crowd to select someone to flip the lever on that Princess Cruises logo. That results in the ship's horn playing the song from the old "Love Boat" television program. The horn-part itself was great but all that time wasted looking for someone kept the party from ever really getting started.

DJ also played "September" and "Fireball", both cruise ship staples.

Good-sized crowd on hand as we headed out into the Atlantic.

About a half hour or so into the party the DJ set ended and live band Asian Soul (RP) came on. First time we've seen a band play at a Sail-Away party. 

Bellini's Cocktail Bar is a feature on most Princess ships. We stopped by the Deck 7 midship venue because it had a great view overlooking the ship's atrium where the next party would happen a few hours later.

Atrium view.

It was an opportunity to meet the ship's Activity Team as they performed a dance number down on the atrium floor.

Unexpectedly, the center section of the floor raised-up during one of their songs!

DJ Gilla was back, providing the tunes.

Atrium ceiling was impressive.

Another good crowd and a good time was had by all.

Will EDC-Orlando Ever Be Back?

Will EDC-Orlando ever be back? Normally after EDC concludes, Insomniac posts a message thanking everyone for coming and announcing the dates of the next EDC. They didn't do that this year. This year they posted their "Thank You Headliners" and a "See You Next Year". But they never said "See You Next Year in Orlando" either.

Here's what we know and speculate. The Jacksonville Jaguars will be playing their 2027 season and pre-season games at Camping World Stadium (or whatever name it will have by then.) Everbank Field, the Jaguars regular stadium in Jacksonville, will be undergoing a huge renovation which necessitates the Jags playing elsewhere in 2027 and that elsewhere is here in Orlando. But to make our stadium NFL quality, it too must undergo a heavy renovation and that project has already been approved by the City. Construction is supposed to begin very early next year (after the bowl games) in order to be completed by approximately August, 2027. So it appears unlikely Tinker Field will be usable by next November for EDC unless they can somehow pause construction for one weekend for EDC. Not sure how that can be done when this project includes demolition of both existing upper decks and building new ones and constructing new NFL quality skyboxes. But perhaps the lack of posting next year's EDC-Orlando dates is because they don't yet know when that pause could be. 

But then indeed, once the Camping World Stadium project is completed, will there even be a large enough footprint remaining outside the stadium at Tinker Field to host an event the size of EDC? You may recall the last construction project at CWS took up so much land adjacent the stadium that the massive kineticFIELD main stage had to be moved from where it was (where the smaller circuitGROUNDSstage is now) to a new field. The Tinker Field baseball stadium that was there was also demolished because the grounds were no longer large enough to play professional baseball. How much land remains after this project?

 

Some people have suggested the Central Florida Fairgrounds but those grounds are small and there's only one road in and out. Insomniac has hosted other music festivals at our Fairgrounds (i.e. Forbidden Kingdom) but they were much-smaller than EDC. The main rumor currently is that EDC (at least next year) will take place at the Speedway in Daytona Beach. It's huge and they know how to handle crowds over there including parking and even camping within the oval. Lots of hotel rooms in Daytona too. EDC there could be on the scale of what they do at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway at EDC-Vegas. Airlift into Daytona's airport is relatively poor but both Orlando International and Sanford International are still there too and not that far. Another rumor is Tampa. The Florida State Fairgrounds is a large space and that city has plenty of hotel rooms along with two international airports. Either could be used as an alternate for Orlando before returning here if space permits. Although, when they see how much extra revenue could be made with the addition of camping and glamping and all the extra space for even more stages, will they want to return? Nonetheless, columnist Patrick Connolly of the Orlando Sentinel quotes Insomniac's founder and CEO Pasquale Rotella as saying, "Insomniac will actively work to improve crowd movement for next year’s (emphasis added) event while working with the City of Orlando to factor in the approved $400 million renovation of Camping World Stadium." So there does appear to be an intent to return next year, even if we can't figure out how.

So this is nothing official; just rumors. We reached out to the press office at CWS but never got a response. So we still have to wonder, have we seen the last of EDC-Orlando?

PHOTO CREDITS: TOP PHOTO: Insomniac   BOTTOM PHOTO: City of Orlando

Friday Funny

 

What Became of Whataburger?

In August of last year it was announced that Whataburger was returning to the Orlando market but in the year+ since then, crickets. During our last month visit to Jacksonville we came across a Whataburger location and decided to stop.

Their actual "Whataburger" is their large burger akin to The Whopper and Big Mac. I just wanted a regular burger called a "Justaburger" but to get it they made me order a kids meal. And that was fine by me since it came with free drink refills and a chocolate chip cookie! In Florida you can currently only find Whataburger along the I-10 corridor, basically anywhere from Pensacola to Jacksonville. We hope they return to Orlando soon.

This Weekend In Techno Town

You would think that one weekend after EDC there would be fewer events. 

And you would be right.

THU   13NOV     GOOD TIMES     "Jive Talkin" Bee Gees (GB) Tribute

FRI     14NOV     ALFIE'S HIFI     DJ Juan Sanchez (USA)

SAT    15NOV     CAMPING WORLD STADIUM   Van's Wharped Tour

SAT    15NOV     CAPITAL ROOM     Blue Room Reunion: DJ Gerry Labarge (USA)

SAT    15NOV     IRON COW     DJ Atmospherix (B) 

SAT    15NOV     ELIXIR BAR     DJ 19:26 (I)

SUN   16NOV     ELIXIR BAR     DJ Torren Foot (AUS)

 

 

DS Update: New Pin Store In Winter Garden

We discovered a new Disney pin store in Winter Garden and stopped by recently to check it out.

Arriving shortly after they opened for the day, we expected to be the only customers in the building but the place was absolutely jammed. There are numerous pins for sale, most of them sorted by price rather than by theme. We think they would sell more pins if they were sorted by theme (parks, resorts, rides, teachers day, characters, etc) rather than by price. We were looking for Pleasure Island pins but never spotted a single one via their current method which is needlessly hit or miss.

Most of the pins are in locked displays, a necessity nowadays. They also purchase pins so if you're interested in selling, bring them along for a quote. Pin HQ is located at 12788 W. Colonial Drive (SR 50) in Winter Garden. Very cool place.

Club Reports: EPYKLANDIA @ Opal Hotel and Suites

With at-times heavy rain passing through Orlando on Sunday afternoon, we decided to skip Day 3 of Electric Daisy Carnival and instead return to Day 3 of the EPYKLANDIA hotel takeover at Opal Hotel & Suites in Altamonte Springs.

With four areas of music, the party begins as soon as you enter the lobby. At the "Beats Boutique" stage we found DJ Gr3ywolf (USA).

We headed next to "Mr. Daddy's Cabaret" which is located in the hotel's Rayn Nightclub.

Here we found DJ Slique (USA) in this main room booth.

Breaks, of course.

Although it was after 8PM, not that many people here yet and as we would find out, nowhere near the crowds that were here on Friday and Saturday nights.

The outside EPYK Pool deck was also mostly deserted.

We were informed that whoever was in charge of all the DJ equipment out here failed to cover it during the afternoon thunderstorms and everything got drenched!

Instead, we spotted this DJ playing from the 3rd floor balcony.

DJ U4iK (USA)

The hooded DJ played Breaks initially but then ended his set with several Dubstep tunes.

DJ Keecode (USA) also played a set from up here.

Breaks and some DnB.

But while it was rather quiet out here now, that would change.

Inside in what was once the famous Why Not Lounge, activity was picking up.

DJ Davie D (USA) had taken over.

Lots of Old Skool Breaks from this Tampa-based DJ.

Celebrating his 1-Year anniversary with Julie.

Lots of nostalgia from his music selections.

Across the hallway in a side conference room was the "Dirty Dysko" stage.

All Drum & Bass on Friday and Saturday nights, this room went Breaks last night.

DJ JROK (USA) on the decks.

We had seen him perform as part of The Flintstonerz (USA) duo on Saturday night.

Time to visit the lobby again.

Here we found DJ Shai Town (USA) playing.

Her DJ name a play on her home state of Illinios.

Back outside on the hotel balcony, DJ Recipe (USA) had taken over.

Lots of unexpected Wubbz as he opened with Dubstep/Heavy Bass.

His crowd came up here!

Recipe played some booty-shaking music; literally and figuratively.

We returned to the main room.

DJ Gucci Bass (USA)

Miami Bass from this Miami-based DJ.

Only a handful on the dance floor back across the hall.

Yes, the sign said DJ Losman (USA) but who was that mysterious man?

Wearing a robe, we couldn't be sure.

He finally turned his head and we could confirm. Yes, DJ Losman.

In the hotel lobby, DJ Cru-Dawg (USA) was back for the second day in-a-row.

Going hard at it for the small crowd gathered.

The music was good.

We ran into lots of peeps from the local music scene. Some were new but most we knew.

Party in the Why Not Lounge!

At 11PM, a combined set from DJ G$ Montana (USA) and DJ Tooltime (USA).

Each would deliver unique but different aspects to their tag team set. 

They kept the floor bouncing.

When they concluded, DJ @Hooker (USA) took over.

D.J. Hooker should not be confused T.J. Hooker, the 80's TV show.

Stopped in our tracks as we crossed through the "Beats Boutique".

DJ Gruv Girl (USA).

We keep missing her sets by an hour here, an hour there so it was great to finally hear her play again.

Small crowd gathered.

At the "Dirty Disco", another small crowd.

Not a DJ set, Todd Walker as Hyde (USA) was playing from his own instrument cluster located to the rear of the DJ decks.

Hyde was part of famed Electro Breaks duo Jackal & Hyde, as seen in this Blog archives photo from Gilt Nightclub in 2016.

We also saw him as recently as 2023 at Ace Cafe when he played with David Noller (USA) as duo Dynamix II.

Always a great night when this music legend is on the playbill. 

Might have been the largest crowd of the night at any of the stages.

And when Hyde ended, the next big name took immediately over.

DJ Santana (USA) in the midnight time slot.

Santana is based in Tampa.

Through the fog we spotted Mrs. Santana.

But the dance floor had oddly gotten kind of quiet. 

So we checked the main room across the hall where DJ duo legends Mike & Sweet Charlie (USA) had come on at 1AM.

Sweet Charlie tells us he is based in NOVA near Washington DC while Mike Nice is based in Sarasota.

We overheard World Famous Shawn Fenn exclaim: "Gonna start dancing real soon. But first, let me take a selfie."

Yet the dance floor was oddly quiet over here too. Something was up. As a journalist, we needed to investigate the matter stat.

So we peeked outside onto the Epyk pool deck and this is where everyone was!

No wonder! The DJ booth adjacent the pool was somehow working again and in it, DJ duo Daft Punk (F).

Their set a mix of Daft Punk classic hits and Breaks.

Dance floor was jammed!

It was so empty inside because everyone had come outside.

A passerby asked me if that was the real Daft Punk? "Well", I responded, "Is says so on their jackets and this is EDC weekend." 

Mystery solved. Everyone was out here!

Fire!

More peeps!

Caught taking another selfie.

Back inside, people were slowly migrating back from the pool area.

And over in the Disco.....

Another legend, DJ Dave London (GB/USA)

The party would continue on until around 6AM but we called it quits about now.

Even though this was a smaller crowd at EPYKLANDIA last night than Friday and Saturday nights, a good time had been had by all.