Hanging with Earl the Squirrel and The Grinch. A Christmas TR! Updated The End*

disneyAndi14

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Hanging with Earl the Squirrel and The Grinch. A Christmas TR 12/1-12/9.

Hello Everyone!


It is Caroline, I am a RN in the real world and an avid traveler to WDW and USO!

I returned one week ago from USO and WDW!

I was solo for the first half of the trip and met up with some lovely Dis friends for the second half of the trip.

Trip details

12/1-12/5 USO, staying at Sapphire Falls Resort, I am an AP holder at Universal. My favorite ride at Universal is ET, haha 🤣 I am old school. I am a huge Harry Potter fan and love exploring the HP areas at Universal! Diagon Alley is my favorite area. I spent time exploring and really taking in all the sites and sounds this trip. I was never in a hurry these first 4 days. I had to keep telling myself slow down and take it all in.

I usually travel with my daughter Andi and we go go go nonstop! I still averaged around 22,000 steps a day solo but never rushed anywhere!

2nd part of the trip was 12/5-12/9/24 at CSR Destino Tower. I am an AP at WDW. We visited every park, did Candlelight Processional and a MVMCP.

Susan @suse66 will lead the TR for the Disney portion. I will chime in on each post!

Please join us both for our TRs. Love to have you reading along!

My travel day starts very early on 12/1/24. If you learn anything from this post it should be DON’T TRAVEL THE SUNDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING!
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Here is my 3:15am selfie and my Disney Christmas loungefly.
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My flight was scheduled to depart at 5:05am. My husband drove me to the airport and check in was very smooth. It always is at my little airport. I got upgraded to first class for the 30 minute flight. The flight loaded on time and all of a sudden I hear the Flight Attendants talking to the pilot because I am in the very first seat of the airplane. I hear them discussing a light that is on, ugh 😩 just like if your engine light comes on, you shouldn’t technically drive without getting it checked, well darn the safety minded pilot 🧑🏼‍✈️ It had something to do with the water lines?? Well we had to wait for an engineer to come and check it out. He was 45-60 minutes away. Long story short, the engineer arrived around 6:30am and reset the light and he literally left in less then 10 minutes. Roll eyes 🙄 Now we had to wait for the flight paperwork and de icing of the plane. We finally took off at 8:00am. I wasn’t worried because my next flight wasn’t until 10:10am. Here is my first class selfie,
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Many people on the flight were going to miss their flights and had to have flights rebooked. We arrived in Minneapolis at 8:30am.

The airport was packed and I found out my next flight is delayed until 11:15am. I went into the Delta sky lounge for a snack and Diet Coke.
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Our flight was ready to board around 11:10. First class (not me this time) went on and then nothing. Soon those passengers were being escorted off. Found out something was wrong with this plane and they had to get another one. Well, that wasn’t the end of it. The computer system crashed and they had to do the boarding process manually. It took forever. Our flight was finally ready to depart at 2:15pm. I had 2 long delays today. I should have been in Orlando by the time we took off.

The flight was uneventful and we arrived in Orlando at 5:45pm. MCO was the busiest I have ever seen! It was crazy. I got down to baggage claim, got my luggage and called for a Lyft. It took almost 45 minutes for my Lyft to arrive because of all the traffic. I was so done with this day!
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I finally arrived at my resort around 7:30pm. I checked in and went up to my room. I was in tower 2 room 2718 with a water view. View from room, took the next morning.
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The room was clean but really in need of repairs. Tiles were missing/broke, carpet frayed, and the desk had several pieces of the wood trim coming off of it.
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I did room service for a kids all beef hotdog and French fries. Haha 😂 Don’t judge, love me a good hotdog! It was really good and came to the room quickly and worth every penny!

I got ready for bed and was so happy this crazy travel day was over. I haven’t had a travel day like this in ages! I blame the Thanksgiving weekend 😂

Stay tuned for my first park day! ET Here I come!
 
I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip. I was sorry that I couldn't join you in WDW. :(

Your travel day sounds horrendous.

my Disney Christmas loungefly
Your loungefly is adorable.
Found out something was wrong with this plane and they had to get another one. Well, that wasn’t the end of it. The computer system crashed and they had to do the boarding process manually. It took forever.
The only time we had a connecting flight out of Minneapolis was also a glitch. The crew was waiting for FedEx to arrive with a part. But your delay was really bad. :(
I did room service for a kids all beef hotdog and French fries. Haha 😂 Don’t judge, love me a good hotdog! It was really good and came to the room quickly and worth every penny!
It's a good thing they had room service. You must have been ready to just relax.
 
What a horrible travel day!! But also - why is it I'm not surprised knowing you are flying out of Minnesota?? I don't think I have EVER left on time when I fly out of Minnesota. And why oh why do they not plan in de-icing??? I never understand why they always seem to be caught off-guard that they have to de-ice and it takes 45 minutes to an hour to do it.
 
It is Caroline
Who? Do I know you?
My favorite ride at Universal is ET, haha 🤣 I am old school.
I'm okay with that. Love that ride.

Well... love half that ride. I'm positive they had two people design it. First one was a fan of the movie and designed the first half of the ride. Second one was both a) on drugs, and; b) completely unfamiliar with the movie.
I spent time exploring and really taking in all the sites and sounds this trip. I was never in a hurry these first 4 days. I had to keep telling myself slow down and take it all in.
That sounds amazing, actually.
If you learn anything from this post it should be DON’T TRAVEL THE SUNDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING!
Uh, oh...
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Amazing how you can look that good at 3am! I look like death warmed over at that time of day.
My husband drove me to the airport
The man's a saint.
I got upgraded to first class for the 30 minute flight.
:thumbsup2
Long story short, the engineer arrived around 6:30am and reset the light and he literally left in less then 10 minutes. Roll eyes 🙄
:sad2:

Then again... better than the pilot going "Ah, I'm sure it's fine..."
Next thing you know you're plummeting earthward from high altitude and the pilot saying "Guess it wasn't."
We finally took off at 8:00am. I wasn’t worried because my next flight wasn’t until 10:10am.
Did you do that on purpose, or just the way it worked out?
Here is my first class selfie,
Classy.
I went into the Delta sky lounge for a snack and Diet Coke.
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:laughing:
First class (not me this time) went on and then nothing. Soon those passengers were being escorted off.
Oh, no... not again!
Found out something was wrong with this plane and they had to get another one.
The pilot really didn't say "I'm sure it's fine."
Well, that wasn’t the end of it. The computer system crashed and they had to do the boarding process manually. It took forever.
:headache:
If it wasn't for bad luck, you'd have had no luck at all.
I was so done with this day!
I bet. :hug:
View from room, took the next morning.
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Beautiful view! I'm sure that helped make up for the less than stellar day a bit.
The room was clean but really in need of repairs. Tiles were missing/broke, carpet frayed, and the desk had several pieces of the wood trim coming off of it.
Really? I'm surprised to hear that.
I did room service for a kids all beef hotdog and French fries. Haha 😂 Don’t judge, love me a good hotdog!
Not judging at all. Love a good hotdog.

But I am laughing at the choice of the kids meal, though. :laughing:
 
Can’t wait to read about your magical adventures !
 
That was one heck of a travel day. But hey, things can only get better from there right?! Love the view from your room!
 
My goodness, what a travel day!

I did like the first class upgrade, nice!!! And I love the view from Sapphire, we always have a lagoon view and it is beautiful. Sorry to hear there was some damage to the room in various ways, you`d think housekeeping would report any issues if guests don`t.

Look forward to reading more :wave2:
 
I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip. I was sorry that I couldn't join you in WDW. :(

Your travel day sounds horrendous.
:welcome: Happy to have you following along! I wish we could have met up! We had a nice Skyliner crawl. I really enjoyed it!
Ugh! The travel day was a bad one! I was almost ready to cry 😢 waiting on my Lyft, I could see him on the map and he literally didn’t move for 20 minutes!
Your loungefly is adorable.
Thank you! I got so many compliments on the airplane saying I looked so Christmasy! I had my Merry sweater on and very glad. I brought that since it was cooler than normal this trip.

The only time we had a connecting flight out of Minneapolis was also a glitch. The crew was waiting for FedEx to arrive with a part. But your delay was really bad.
Normally I don’t have many problems. I have started giving myself more time between Duluth and Minneapolis because the running to barely make my next flight is not fun! Very glad I didn’t book the 0730 flight out of Minneapolis I would have definitely missed that one!
It's a good thing they had room service. You must have been ready to just relax.
I was very happy to see that, a big plus for Universal since Disney doesn’t have it except for GF. The TM was wonderful and brought it in like it was fine dining, lol 😂
What a horrible travel day!! But also - why is it I'm not surprised knowing you are flying out of Minnesota?? I don't think I have EVER left on time when I fly out of Minnesota. And why oh why do they not plan in de-icing??? I never understand why they always seem to be caught off-guard that they have to de-ice and it takes 45 minutes to an hour to do it.
It was the worst I have had in many years! Since Delta had an overhaul and a new CEO they really have been excellent with very few delays except Sunday, yuck 🤮 and the massive crowds in the airports was awful! I know the whole de icing thing I hate this time of year! I have learned not to book my flights to close together when I am coming in from Duluth especially in the Winter!
Our weather next week is high 30 to low 40, you are in luck!
 
Who? Do I know you?
Haha 😂 Frequent trip reporter, with a few kind people like yourself who follow along!
Well... love half that ride. I'm positive they had two people design it. First one was a fan of the movie and designed the first half of the ride. Second one was both a) on drugs, and; b) completely unfamiliar with the movie.
Very true! I have heard people say it is Steven Spielberg’s fever Dream, lol 😂
That sounds amazing, actually.
It was really nice not to rush I always feel like I need to be in a race to see everything and not miss something
Amazing how you can look that good at 3am! I look like death warmed over at that time of day.
😂 I felt like death warmed over and as the day went on that did not improve! 💩
The man's a saint.
He is! My flights are always super early and come in super late!
Then again... better than the pilot going "Ah, I'm sure it's fine..."
Next thing you know you're plummeting earthward from high altitude and the pilot saying "Guess it wasn't."
I agree. It was just frustrating especially when I could hear the pilot and staff talking about the light and it had reset for them but they had to have the engineer still check it out!
Did you do that on purpose, or just the way it worked out?
I did it on purpose because the last few times my connections have been to tight and we are running to make it to the next flight! I hate running! I could have booked the 0730 flight but would have missed that one for sure!
If it wasn't for bad luck, you'd have had no luck at all.
Totally agree
Beautiful view! I'm sure that helped make up for the less than stellar day a bit.
It was a lovely view and I could see the boats pulling in!
Really? I'm surprised to hear that.
I was surprised as well. It was very minor things I noticed but things that should be maintained. I did let them know in the survey I received!
Not judging at all. Love a good hotdog.

But I am laughing at the choice of the kids meal, though.
I was shocked they had a kids meal on the room service! I was very happy!
Can’t wait to read about your magical adventures !
Thank you for joining in!
That was one heck of a travel day. But hey, things can only get better from there right?! Love the view from your room!
It really was and yes it gets much better! The view was lovely and I could see the transportation boats coming and going
 
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My goodness, what a travel day!

I did like the first class upgrade, nice!!! And I love the view from Sapphire, we always have a lagoon view and it is beautiful. Sorry to hear there was some damage to the room in various ways, you`d think housekeeping would report any issues if guests don`t.

Look forward to reading more :wave2:
Hi Carole 👋
It was a less than stellar day!
I really did love SFR overall just a few minor things that should be maintained. I did let them know in the survey I received after my stay.
Lovely lagoon view and the sky was such a beautiful deep blue each day!
 
Following along! We start our trip in 3 days- also starting at Sapphire Falls (hopefully our room is in better shape!) and then moving over to Disney.
 
Haha 😂 Frequent trip reporter, with a few kind people like yourself who follow along!
:wave:
Very true! I have heard people say it is Steven Spielberg’s fever Dream, lol 😂
:laughing:
It was really nice not to rush I always feel like I need to be in a race to see everything and not miss something
Thank you for describing me so accurately. :rolleyes:
I did it on purpose because the last few times my connections have been to tight and we are running to make it to the next flight! I hate running! I could have booked the 0730 flight but would have missed that one for sure!
Oh, I totally get this. I've been in severe panic mode farrrrrrr too many times in Toronto, with a short connection.
 
Following along! We start our trip in 3 days- also starting at Sapphire Falls (hopefully our room is in better shape!) and then moving over to Disney.
:welcome:I hope you have a wonderful trip. SFR was really wonderful Iwas just surprised by the need for maintenance in my room. Overall it was great!
 
Joining in, can't wait to read more!

Ooph, what a travel day! Hopefully the rest of the trip went much smoother!
 
Looking forward to your trip report! 😊
Thank you so much for joining in!
Joining in, can't wait to read more!

Ooph, what a travel day! Hopefully the rest of the trip went much smoother!
Thank you for being here!
This was a bad travel day, ugh 😩 glad it was past me and yes much smoother after that!
Sorry to hear you had such a long travel day. Love the Loungefly!
Thank you! It was rough! I did get many compliments on my loungefly bag!
Excited to follow along!!
Yay Thank you for joining in!
 
Today was Monday 12/2/24
I slept really well and it was nice and quiet. I didn’t even use my earplugs yay!


The Sky today was the most beautiful deep blue! It was a little chilly, boo 😒 My whole trip was cooler than I wanted but still way warmer than my house. I had ordered a few grocery items while I was on the airplane. The items were delivered to the resort way before I arrived and Bell Service kept my items until I arrived. I just got a case of water, granola bars, strawberries, bananas, cold brew coffee, and creamer.

I had coffee, strawberries 🍓 and a banana as I got ready.

I loved my view and realized I could see the boat transportation coming and going. I liked that!

It was in the 50s this morning and the high was going to be low 60s. Here I am getting ready to head out. I had my Happy Christmas shirt on with Harry, Ron, and Hermoine!
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I went to the lobby, here is the SFR Christmas Tree.
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I headed out to the boat transportation. I never waited more than 5 minutes for a boat this whole trip. Universal had low crowds during my stay. This was awesome!
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My plan was to start in US and check out the Wicked experience.
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Universal had a store dedicated to the new movie! Glenda and Elphaba were not meeting but I did like checking out the store. Here is one of Glenda’s dresses and one of Elphaba’s dresses. I was the only one in there. I guess most people don’t rope drop a store, haha 😂
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I slowly made my way to Diagon Alley.
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I wanted to ride the Hogwarts Express before it got too crowded. ET and Dream Works weren’t even opening until 10am and MIB was closed for refurbishment so this was a good choice for me.
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I got a cabin all to myself on the train. I loved my ride over to Hogsmeade .
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Follow me to the next post….
 
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I walked around and took in all the sites and sounds. It wasn’t very busy yet. This area gets crowded quickly and it is a small place.
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I turned around and went right back on the train. I didn’t have a cabin to myself this time. A mom and daughter joined me. They really liked my shirt, pants, and HP crossbody bag. The experience is different to and from Diagon Alley so worth doing both ways.

I spent some time in Diagon Alley taking in all the HP theming. Knockturn Alley
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I think I like Diagon Alley a little better than Hogsmeade.

I mean look at this dragon, amazing!
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It was time to see Kreacher, he was being his usual cranky little self! I love when people don’t realize he is there! They are always thrilled to see him peeking out behind the curtains.
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I made my way to ET, such a fun experience. It was almost a walk on, maybe a 5 minute wait.
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I went into the Shrek area of the Dream Works land and went to the snack stand to try the Gingerbread “Gingy” cookie. It was not good! It had a weird taste and was stale. It was a $6.00 cookie, not worth .50 cents!
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I decided to buy a refillable Christmas mug. You can fill it all day at the freestyle Coke machines in the parks. I filled it with a cherry vanilla Diet Coke.

I wanted to have lunch at The Leaky Cauldron in DA. I wanted to try places I haven’t been to in quite some time and ones Andi doesn’t care to eat at.
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I went in to find a table, at USO, you find a table and mobile order from the table. I ordered the kids fish and chips. I noticed the kids meals do not come with a drink anymore. I really wanted a hot butter beer, in the not to distant past, you could order a butter beer as your drink with a kids meal, well since they charge like $9.00 for a butter beer these days, it is no longer included. I was surprised that no drinks are part of a kids meal any longer. I had my new drink mug filled with soda so it was fine.

My meal came with grapes. The fish and chips was very good and just the right amount for me!
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I decided to get ice cream at the shop in DA. Usually this place has a huge line, today no one. I walked right in and ordered the butter beer ice cream. This was delicious and the first time I tried it!

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Here is the awful cookie with his head bit off. :lmao:
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My plan was to check out the Holiday tribute store next, stay tuned for my thoughts on the store and my evening hanging with the Grinch!


 




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