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Interview With Renee Ambos From FunSpot

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Our interview series got off to a great start last week with Larry from Eat & Play Card today its the turn of the lovely Renee from FunSpot.

Renee is a bit of a favourite at OAT towers not just because of her highly infectious positive attitude but also how she helped out our CTO Karl Hendrie when his luggage failed to arrive on his recently visit to Orlando.

Lets get to know her a little better.

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Name: Renee Ambos
Company: Fun Spot America Theme Parks
Position: Sales Manager

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get? Fried eggs, with avocado and chorizo with a touch of hot sauce over a croissant!! I’m hungry now!
If you were an animal, what would you be and why? An ox; it is my animal in the Chinese calendar and I don’t disagree with its traits. Strong, dependable, stubborn, and patient with maybe just a little bit of room for improvement on communication skills. (I tend to move a bit too quickly.)
If someone made a movie of your life would it be a drama, a comedy, a romantic-comedy, action film, or science fiction? Action Film, no question about that!
Complete the sentence; I was once mistaken for . . . Charlize Theron or at least people say I look like her.
If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be? Ellen DeGeneres, Justin Trudeau and Jackie Chan

WORK

What was the highlight of 2016 for your company?: At the Orlando Park, we added an interactive Virtual Reality option on our Freedom Flyer roller coaster free of charge, for those guest wishing to experience it. Don’t worry if you wish not to partake in the VR, we do offer the Coaster only option as well!
What can we expect from your company in 2017?: We are currently building wooden roller coaster with a 360 degree barrel , reaching speeds 78 KPH and 25 meter drop on this unique coaster. It is the only one of its kind in the Southeast here in the states. Plus we still have quite a few acres undeveloped yet, so there will be much more to come from us in the upcoming years! The plans have already been drafted.
Make a 2017 prediction…: In park entertainment for both the Kissimmee and the Orlando parks – free!
Best Theme Park ride/attraction of 2016?: My favourite ride at our Kissimmee Park location is the Vortex; a go-kart track which is 4 stories high (12 meters) and features the world’s steepest banking curve at 32 degrees! The Daytona Speedway can’t even match that! This track has double-seat go-karts, so even younger children, while an adult drives, can enjoy the action of this multi-levelled track!
Best Theme Park/attraction food of 2016?: You can’t go wrong with ice cream! Now I’m back to being hungry again!
Best Theme Park/attraction tip?: Knowing that the UK guests want to experience everything that Orlando has to offer, Fun Spot is making it easier than ever to enjoy our parks with our new feature “Evening to Day” or E2D pass. This now offers Fun Spot guests the opportunity to for a second day free when the first day visit is after 9:00 pm. Fun Spot is always open until midnight 365 days a year.
Another major part of Fun Spot is our FREE Parking and FREE general Admission. I am sure you understand FREE Parking, but FREE general admission – what is that? I mean after all this is Orlando and nothing is Free. I am proud to say that at Fun Spot America Theme Parks it is FREE entry into the park, should you not ride any of our rides. That’s right FREE for non-riders. Parents can bring their children to the park and only buy tickets for the children, and mom and dad you are FREE if you don’t plan on riding anything. Do remember to buy your tickets in advance for best savings.
Best kept secret in Florida?: Bring your own water bottles to either of our Fun Spot locations. Both parks offer a FREE refill stations for water bottles. Or Fun Spot offers a refillable all you can drink souvenir cup for only $6.00. I know what you are thinking…who wants another souvenir cup, but for only $6.00 for all day. You can’t beat that price!

Thanks very much Renee, a great interview and some lovely insight in to Fun Spot. This year Orlando Attraction Tickets has an exclusive sampler ticket which is only £19 per person and offers great value. Check out the details here – FunSpot Sampler Ticket

Smiles included…

Jamie

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Interview With Gavin Boswell CEO Of Orlando Attraction Tickets

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Happy New Year and welcome to 2015! Do you know what this means? Regular readers will know that every year in December I contact some “faces” in the travel industry and put them through an intensive interview some might say interrogation… to find out how they did in the year and what we might expect for 2015.

As always I’ll start with one of our own, the CEO of Orlando Attraction Tickets.

Name: Gavin Boswell

Who do you work for?: Orlando Attraction Tickets

What’s been the highlight of the year (2014) for your company?: There have been quite a few highlights in 2014. We’ve managed to stand out in a very crowded marketplace using innovation, great branding and by offering excellent customer service. We smashed all previous sales and revenue records and we did it all with a smile.

What’s been the highlight of the year (2014) for you?: Well my highlight starts with a low light, I was very kindly invited to the VIP opening of Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando. As you can imagine I was really excited. A few days before I was due to fly I hurt my back picking up a towel! No it wasn’t because it was too heavy! I was at an awkward angle… My story and I’m sticking to it.

Anyway I was very disappointed to miss the trip, especially when I heard and saw how amazing it was. The Universal guys mentioned there might be a possibility to get out there later in the year but they thought it might be unlikely. Then out of the blue in September I got the call I’d secretly been hoping for, there was a planned trip and after some very sweet talking Universal had managed to get me on the trip. I wasn’t disappointed Diagon Alley, the Hogwarts Express and fire breathing Dragon! How can that not be highlight?

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Make a 2015 prediction…: I think 2015 might be tricky. All the signs seem to point towards a very strong  U.S. Dollar and this will see prices rise within the industry. For Orlando Attraction Tickets we’ll be looking at ways of diversifying our offerings and perhaps enter other markets.

Best Theme Park ride/attraction of 2014? Falcon’s Fury, a one trick pony but what a trick!

Best Theme Park/attraction food of 2014?: Butterbeer, I know its the marmite of theme park food but its an iconic beverage!

Best Theme Park/attraction tip?: When you ride Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts get a seat at the back, you’ll see much more than if riding at the front.

Best kept secret in Florida?: Not sure its a secret but the Hurricanes served in Pat O’Briens at Universal CityWalk are something all adults should try…

A great start to our series of interviews and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Gavin for taking the time to speak to me yet again. I promise if you ever need a towel picking up again I’m your man… actually that sounds very wrong.

Smiles included…

Jamie

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