Don’t Miss the Fun: Local Couple Find YouTube Success Covering Theme Parks | West Orange Times & Observer

It’s a bright, sunny Orlando afternoon as Rick Cochrane heads to Universal Orlando CityWalk with his wife of 26 years, Nikki, for his daily live vlog for his YouTube channel, Rix Flix – a clever play on Netflix.

Rick is easy to spot. He wears his favorite color (yellow) and his Hufflepuff hat.

Rick uses his channel – which has more than 93,000 subscribers – to spread the scoop on Orlando’s theme parks, as well as those just outside the area, such as Busch Gardens Tampa and Legoland. But he is best known for his coverage of Universal Studios, from which he broadcasts weekly livestreams.

Within minutes of arriving at the park, the Cochranes already have lots of people saying hello and asking for selfies. So many people come to see Rick that he can almost be considered a walking character – Universal’s own unofficial mascot.

And to think: It all started as a fun hobby a few years ago.

“(We are) very touched by all of this,” Nikki Cochrane said. “We thought it was just this little side thing, and it unexpectedly turned into this incredible situation.”

Her husband agrees.

“The channel’s success is far beyond what I had imagined for five years,” he said.

BIRTH OF THE CHANNEL

In 2017, before they made a name for themselves as a theme park YouTube couple, Rick and Nikki lived a simple life as a couple and parents in Winter Garden.

Rick and Nikki are both athletically trained. Rick was a track star specializing in hurdles and eventually competed for Florida State before graduating from the University of Central Florida. Nikki played football for 13 years. After their playing careers, Rick and Nikki began coaching youth soccer. And their two daughters, Courtney and Caitlyn, were star athletes when they attended West Orange High School.

But after the girls graduated and moved away, Rick and Nikki realized they were done with coaching. With Nikki at work, Rick needed something else to do.

It was then that Rix Flix was born.

“I started with low expectations, like a hobby,” he said. “I didn’t start thinking it would be my career. I was hoping after 10 years to have 5,000 subscribers – that was my ultimate goal. I wanted to have something in retirement to pay for a car.

Originally from Orlando and raised in West Orange, Rick has always enjoyed going to the area’s theme parks, but has developed a special fondness for Universal Studios.

And because most other creators focus their content on Disney, Rick has found his niche.

“The Disney (creators) would have special events at Universal and then they would go back to Disney,” Rick Cochrane said. “I was the one who spent most of my time at Universal and occasionally went to Disney.”

As the channel grew, Nikki started helping out with some of the editing duties. Eventually, Rick persuaded her to make an appearance.

And that’s where everything changed.

WORLD CALL

Part of Rick and Nikki’s appeal is their genuine, lovable, and goofy personalities.

“We try to be fun and informative; sometimes we’re a little clumsy — at least I am,” Rick Cochrane said. “Nikki is Dean Martin, and I’m Jerry Lewis.”

Nikki agrees.

“I’m the lady behind the camera who rolls her eyes,” Nikki Cochrane said.

As the chain grew, guests began to recognize Cochranes when they were in the park. They appreciate every interaction.

“It makes me feel like I’m doing something positive to make people happy,” Rick Cochrane said. “It’s an attribute of becoming a YouTuber that was completely unexpected. It wasn’t a thought in my head that I would be a recognizable figure in the parks – people all over the world being happy to meet me.

In addition to meeting other Americans, the Cochranes have been recognized by travelers from Switzerland, France, Poland, Ireland, Germany and Australia this year.

“It’s so humbling, and we’re grateful to meet them,” Nikki Cochrane said. “It’s such an opportunity to meet such amazing and wonderful people from all over the world. It restores your faith in humanity again, because there are sweet, kind, and beautiful people out there. It was a wonderful unexpected gift to have such awesome followers.

The Cochranes say the COVID-19 pandemic has also helped grow the channel. Because people weren’t allowed to travel, they instead took to YouTube to satisfy their theme park cravings.

“People couldn’t come to the parks, and many were really enjoying the content I put out during lockdown,” Rick Cochrane said.

In addition to videos, Rix Flix also offers a collection of merchandise, including Christmas t-shirts and decorations, on its website.

EXPANSION PROJECTS

As Universal Studios prepares to tentatively host the new Epic Universe park in 2025, the Cochranes also plan to further expand the channel as it nears the coveted 100,000 subscriber milestone.

Rick said he hoped Nikki was on the channel full time rather than being an occasional guest. He has already started involving their daughter, Courtney, in the channel by helping her with the occasional merchandise search video.

“Our main goal is 100,000 subscribers right now,” he said. “That’s all I focus on.”

Nikki said they also hope to have a property they can rent out as an Airbnb.

However, no matter how the channel grows, the Cochranes know that the secret to their success lies in the authenticity of the content – ​​just mom and dad vlogging.

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