Don't Miss the Fun: Local couple finds YouTube success covering theme parks

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 livestream vlog for his YouTube channel, Rix Flix — a clever play on Netflix. 

Rick is easy to spot. He’s wearing his favorite color (yellow) and his trademark Hufflepuff hat. 

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

Within minutes of arriving at the park, the Cochranes already have plenty of people saying hello and asking for selfies. So many people come up to Rick that he can almost be considered a walk-around character — Universal’s own unofficial mascot. 

And to think: This all started as a fun hobby just give years ago.

“(We’re) very humbled by it all,” Nikki Cochrane said. “We thought it was just this little side thing, and it unexpectedly grew into this amazing situation.” 

Her husband agrees.

“The success of the channel is far beyond what I would imagine for five years,” he said. 

BIRTH OF THE CHANNEL

In 2017, prior to making their name as a theme park YouTubing couple, Rick and Nikki were living a simple life as a couple and parents in Winter Garden. 

Both Rick and Nikki have an athletic background. Rick was a track star who specialized in the hurdles and eventually competed for Florida State before graduating from the University of Central Florida. Nikki played soccer 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 her job, Rick needed something else to do.  

That’s when Rix Flix was born.

“I started it with low expectations, as just a hobby,” he said. “I didn’t start out thinking this was going to 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 make a car payment.” 

Being an Orlando native growing up in West Orange, Rick always loved going to the theme parks in the area, but grew a special attachment to Universal Studios.

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

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

As the channel grew, Nikki began helping with some of the editing tasks. Eventually, Rick coaxed her into making an appearance.

And that’s when everything changed.

WORLDWIDE APPEAL

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

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

Nikki agrees. 

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

As the channel grew, guests began recognizing Cochranes when they were in the park. They appreciate every interaction. 

“It makes me feel I’m doing something positive to make people happy,” Rick Cochrane said. “That is one attribute of becoming a YouTuber that was completely unexpected. It was not a thought in my head that I would be a recognizable figure around the parks — people from all around the world being happy to meet me.” 

In addition to meeting fellow Americans, the Cochranes have been recognized by travelers from Switzerland, France, Poland, Ireland, Germany and Australia just 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, wonderful people from around the world. It restores your faith in humanity again, because there are sweet, kind, beautiful people out there. It was an unexpected wonderful gift to have such awesome subscribers.” 

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

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

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

EXPANSION PLANS

As Universal Studios prepares to welcome the new Epic Universe park tentatively in 2025, the Cochranes also have plans to expand the channel more as they approach the highly coveted 100,000 subscriber mark. 

Rick said he is hoping to get Nikki onto the channel full-time rather than being an occasional guest. He already has started getting their daughter, Courtney, involved with the channel by helping him out with the occasional merchandise search video. 

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

Nikki said they also hope to have a property they could lease out as an Airbnb.

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