Hi it's me- you want some pretzel?- a sisters' Dec 2019 USO/WDW trip! new 1/24!

[kclark9830]

We have been throwing around the idea of adding a Universal day onto our next trip. It's been a long time since we've been! But we have lots of time so I'm in no rush to decide.

Your first day looks like it was a whirlwind of fun!

 

[CruellaNY]

At the time, there was a regular menu or a buffet and I'm happy we did the breakfast buffet as who knows when we'll be able to say that again!

We ate here last year and did the buffet; didn't love it but I think I just didn't choose right lol. The walk to the parks from Hard Rock is awesome and I just found out I'll be staying there again for work in December. Super excited! Now I just hope they have the parade

 

[lvcourtneyy]

Fail! You called the wrong Dad. I would've been able to tell you. My Dad has had the same problem a couple times.

My dad seemed confused that we didn't know this was something that could happen . Apparently to him this was common knowledge.

Works up an appetite for brekkie.

Exactly!

Universal!!! What do I win??? Okay, okay..
Hagrid's?

Good guess!

How are you feeling these days, Courtney?

Ok, tired and everything hurts lol but i've accepted it as part of life at this point!

 

[lvcourtneyy]

My car is like this too. I found out when I couldn't get my car to start to at work and I panicked. I also had a situation with the key. Normally I don't have to use the key as I have something that I turn to start the car without the key. My key fob battery died once and we couldn't start the car even use the key. We even called the dealership for help but they had no clue. It took my husband and I at least 30 minutes or more to figure it out. You have to put the back end of the key in the key fob for it to work. We explained this to the dealership so they know for when someone else calls.

Yikes! I never would've figured that out and how crazy that the dealership couldn't help either.

 

[lvcourtneyy]

What an eventful start to your morning- google to the rescue!

Seriously! What did people do before google

 

[lvcourtneyy]

Google to the rescue! I had to do this with my new car, the key fob wouldn’t work and my steering wheel was locked, ugh I found out never to put the fob in your pocket with a cell phone! It disabled the fob and locked my steering wheel.

Wow! I wouldn't have known that at all.

I have heard very good things about the Kitchen breakfast.
The French toast yum!

That french toast is so good!

 

[lvcourtneyy]

We have been throwing around the idea of adding a Universal day onto our next trip. It's been a long time since we've been! But we have lots of time so I'm in no rush to decide.

Your first day looks like it was a whirlwind of fun!

We always have a lot of fun at Universal! It's hard because they price tickets like Disney where more days are cheaper so a one day ticket is kinda a lot but still worth it!

 

[lvcourtneyy]

We ate here last year and did the buffet; didn't love it but I think I just didn't choose right lol. The walk to the parks from Hard Rock is awesome and I just found out I'll be staying there again for work in December. Super excited! Now I just hope they have the parade

Oo I hope they find a way to have the parade this year! The Hard Rock is SO close to the parks. We're thinking of doing a night there in February!

 

[pkondz]

My dad seemed confused that we didn't know this was something that could happen . Apparently to him this was common knowledge.

Ah! The opposite end of the spectrum.

Ok, tired and everything hurts lol but i've accepted it as part of life at this point!

It'll be worth it.
Well... there will be times when you question that, but... over all...

 

[lvcourtneyy]

Ah! The opposite end of the spectrum.

Yes and just as unhelpful!

 

[pkondz]

Yes and just as unhelpful!

 

[lvcourtneyy]

Last Few Hours at Islands of Adventure

I just want to share a link to my new PTR here if anyone wants to follow along!

Expect the Unexpected: A 2021 PTR

Since 2020 has been such chaos, I'm sure we're all looking forward to a more normal 2021 and I'm excited to plan trips that will all hopefully happen lol.

-----------------------------------------
When i left off, we had just finished breakfast at the Hard Rock hotel and made our way into Islands of Adventure.

We cut through Seuss Landing to get to our first destination and took the requisite photos.





Naturally, Seuss Landing led us to Hogsmeade.





As a small recap, you may remember from my fall TR that we waited an absurd amount of time for Hagrid's when it went down for weather and were rewarded with ruby passes to return since it never came back up. We also got lucky and the group in front of us gave us their ruby passes since they wouldn't make it back to use them. As a result, at the end of our time at Universal in the Fall, we had two extra ruby passes left over. I contacted guest services to ask if there was any way we'd be able to use them in December (they had an expiration date of 10/31 on them) and they said it wouldn't be a problem.

So, the night before when we weren't able to ride Hagrid's during the meetup, I knew we'd still have a chance to ride today.

When we got to the ride entrance, the TM first said she wouldn't be able to honor them as they were expired but I very politely explained the conversation I had with guest services so she radioed a supervisor. I hate to make anyone's job more difficult so I apologized but she was very sweet and when the supervisor came, she escorted us to the ride through the exit with no issues! I again apologized for the inconvenience and she explained that guest services should've told me to come to them to exchange our expired passes for ones with a new expiration date. I'm positive they didn't tell me to do that and the supervisor who came said it wasn't a big deal but I still felt bad!

We were on the ride in no time and being the nice older sister I am, I let Kim have the bike since it was her first ride.



She loved it, as I knew she would! I was sad we didn't have the photo package this time to get our ride photo and video.

After our ride, we walked through the stores.





As you can tell, social distancing wasn't even a passing thought yet.





We couldn't help but admire all the treats in Honeydukes



For some reason, we passed on buying any treats . One of these days I need to actually try something from Honeydukes! I always seem to be there at a time when it's not convenient to buy something.









Once we got near Hogwarts, we had a small photoshoot.











There was one more ride we wanted to fit in that we couldn't fit in during the meetup last night so we headed to the Jurassic Park area.

I'm not 100% sure who this lovely lady is that we ran into on our way but she reminded me of Divine in AK!



We got to the River Adventure which only had a 10 minute wait!



We enjoyed our ride and didn't get completely drenched unlike these strangers who I took a picture of for some odd reason.



We found another tree from the scavenger hunt in the gift shop.







Dinosaur tooth ornament anyone?



We were making our way out of the park the opposite way that we came in so we passed through Toon Lagoon.





And stopped in the Betty Boop store for an adorable pink Christmas tree!





Bye Islands of Adventure!



Our rental car was parked at the Hard Rock so we had to walk back towards the Universal Studios side.

On our way, we stopped in Toothsome because it was another scavenger hunt spot.





We only had 2 stamps left to get to finish the scavenger hunt and we had plans to come back to Universal before our flight home on our last day so we figured we'd get them then. (Spoiler alert: this didn't happen and we never finished it ).



​

 

[lvcourtneyy]

All- Star Movies!

We took the walking path back to the Hard Rock.





We stopped in the lobby to find out about getting our parking validated since we had breakfast at the hotel.



They directed us to a window outside and the guy working there told us to just press the intercom button as we were leaving the parking lot and tell the person that we ate breakfast there.

We were very skeptical about this working but the gate ended up being open when we were leaving the parking lot so it wasn't an issue at all.

At 1:30 pm, we were on our way to Disney!





How does everyone feel about the redesign of the entrance?? I don't like it at all- I feel like it's not nearly as magical but I really hope I'll like it better in person.

We were staying at All-Star Movies which was new to both of us but we'd snagged a really cheap rate on it as a priceline express deal right before our trip!



We got a room ready text so we were able to go straight to our room. I was sad because I requested to be in the Toy Story section and we were placed in 101 Dalmations but it was a nice room location right by the main building so it worked out.

They had started refurbing the All-Star rooms like they did at Pop Century so I was happy to see a refurbished room!









How cute is the headboard of the pull-down bed!







Our room was probably as close as could be to the main building!





We loved the fire hydrant staircase!



I'd ordered us the upgraded magicbands right before the trip so we had to go to the front desk to pick them up because it was too close to ship them.

This Christmas tree was adorably themed.











Cute Toy Story 4 backdrop (even though the movie was out for 6 months already at this point!)



The cast members of the resort had decorated wreaths for a contest and they were adorable!



I love this Tangled one!













Which one would you have voted for?

We had plans for the afternoon to do some bar hopping at the monorail resorts before going to After Hours at Animal Kingdom so we decided to look around the resort for a few minutes before heading out!​

 

[pkondz]

I'm sure we're all looking forward to a more normal 2021

I am, but... now they're saying 2022...

Naturally, Seuss Landing led us to Hogsmeade.

But of course!

As a small recap, you may remember from my fall TR that we waited an absurd amount of time for Hagrid's when it went down for weather and were rewarded with ruby passes to return since it never came back up. We also got lucky and the group in front of us gave us their ruby passes since they wouldn't make it back to use them.

I remember that.

When we got to the ride entrance, the TM first said she wouldn't be able to honor them as they were expired but I very politely explained the conversation I had with guest services so she radioed a supervisor. I hate to make anyone's job more difficult so I apologized but she was very sweet and when the supervisor came, she escorted us to the ride through the exit with no issues!

Phew! Thought you might not get to use it.

I let Kim have the bike since it was her first ride.

Nice of you.

As you can tell, social distancing wasn't even a passing thought yet.

Now... that just looks weird!

We couldn't help but admire all the treats in Honeydukes

I would prefer to admire them while helping myself to the treats.

I'm not 100% sure who this lovely lady is that we ran into on our way but she reminded me of Divine in AK!

Yes she does!

We enjoyed our ride and didn't get completely drenched

Sat in the back?

On our way, we stopped in Toothsome because it was another scavenger hunt spot.

And you didn't get anything there either??????

What is wrong with you??? First Honeydukes and now this????

We only had 2 stamps left to get to finish the scavenger hunt and we had plans to come back to Universal before our flight home on our last day so we figured we'd get them then. (Spoiler alert: this didn't happen and we never finished it ).

Well... poop!

the guy working there told us to just press the intercom button as we were leaving the parking lot and tell the person that we ate breakfast there.

Yeah, I would've been a bit skeptical too.
Heh... but now you know how to get free parking every time.

We were very skeptical about this working but the gate ended up being open when we were leaving the parking lot so it wasn't an issue at all.

Free parking for everyone!!!

How does everyone feel about the redesign of the entrance?? I don't like it at all- I feel like it's not nearly as magical but I really hope I'll like it better in person.

I don't think I'll mind it very much. It's not that big of a change (to me) and I usually only catch a glimpse of it once a trip.

it was a nice room location right by the main building so it worked out.

Nice!

How cute is the headboard of the pull-down bed!

Love it.

Our room was probably as close as could be to the main building!

Perfect. That's what I ask for all the time.

Which one would you have voted for?

I like #4.

 

[missangelalexis]

Sounds like a good time at IoA! I'm glad you could use your passes for Hagrids!

Even though you didn't get the section you wanted, it sounds like you were in a prime location!

Aww I love that they do a wreath decorating contest at the resort! So cool!

 

[CruellaNY]

Ugh thought I commented here...
Those wreaths are adorable! I had no idea they did that

I'm going to Universal in December for work and I SO hope they do most of their usual holiday stuff! Fingers crossed.............

 

[kclark9830]

I love those holiday wreaths! So cute. I'm glad to see the decorations there in December. I keep asking myself if we'd be happy at a value resort at Christmas time...I've been on the fence as I consider different options for our 2021 trip. This helps!

 

[lvcourtneyy]

I am, but... now they're saying 2022...

Phew! Thought you might not get to use it.

Me too! I'm glad we did!

Now... that just looks weird!

Agreed. It always makes me wonder if there will ever be a time when we'll feel comfortable in crowds again.

And you didn't get anything there either??????

What is wrong with you??? First Honeydukes and now this????

I know! I was thinking as I wrote this update that we were failures.

Yeah, I would've been a bit skeptical too.
Heh... but now you know how to get free parking every time.

I thought the same lol especially when the gates were open but I feel like I'd be too nervous that next time it wouldn't be the case

I don't think I'll mind it very much. It's not that big of a change (to me) and I usually only catch a glimpse of it once a trip.

Fair enough

 

[lvcourtneyy]

Sounds like a good time at IoA! I'm glad you could use your passes for Hagrids!

Me too! It woulda stunk if Kim didn't get to ride!

Even though you didn't get the section you wanted, it sounds like you were in a prime location!

It was the perfect location!

 

[lvcourtneyy]

Ugh thought I commented here...
Those wreaths are adorable! I had no idea they did that

Me neither! But I was glad we got to see them!

I'm going to Universal in December for work and I SO hope they do most of their usual holiday stuff! Fingers crossed.............

I think you went on this trip already? I saw they were doing a lot of fun holiday things- I hope you enjoyed them!