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Hello everyone! It’s me, Jen again!
I am here to tell you about my most recent trip (Feb. 2017) to Universal Orlando. Once again this is another work trip and I had several co-workers joining me this round. We really have a great bunch to work with and any trip with them is always fun.
For those that don’t know me, I am Jennifer, a wife to a dairy farmer (Skip), mother to 3 (most of you know Claire, my youngest) and a grandmother to 1…soon to be 2!
I am very lucky as my job can take me to new destinations and I am able to try new things. Since I like to travel, this is a huge perk for me. Skip is not always a fan of my traveling, so I am not able to do every opportunity available, but he puts up with it a few times a year…usually!
This trip took place Feb. 22 – March 1, 2017. The actual Universal event started on Feb. 26, with most of my co-workers arriving on the 25, which meant I had a few extra days.
A little background on my planning……
Originally when this was announced, my co-worker and good friend, Cass, quickly contacted me and asked if I would be her roommate. Sure thing! We have roomed together a few times now and we get along fabulously! I really consider her one of my best friends…even though she lives way across the country…well not even that…she lives in another Country!
After a bit Cass decided that she wasn’t going to be able to make it. A lot was going on and to make it work would just be too hard at this point. I was disappointed, but I knew I would have a good time still as I really enjoy all my co-workers.
My co-worker Lenora had asked me as well if I would be her roommate if she went and at the time I told her Cass had already asked. I let her know that Cass was no longer going and if she still planned to go and hadn’t hooked up with anyone yet, I would love to room with her….and it all worked out from there. Lenora and I understand each other in ways others can’t…because she too is a wife of a dairy farmer!
I made my plans and got some really cheap flights on points through SW. I was going to fly in Feb. 25 and then fly home March 2. Well you know me and I can’t keep well enough alone.
I found out that Carnival was offering a ship tour on the 25th and I really thought that would be a great thing to do while down there. Unfortunately it was booked up by the time I took the plunge. However, I contacted Norwegian and asked if I could do a ship inspection on the NCL Epic which also would be in port that day. I was told that my name was put in (along with Lenora’s) but they wouldn’t have a definite yes till the Wed. before, though highly likely it would be approved.
I changed my flight then because I would need to be there early Sat. (25th) for the ship inspection if that worked out. And I knew that if it didn’t I could still find something to do.
When looking at flights, Friday’s flight was just too high….after all I had gotten a steal for the Sat. flight….so I worked my way back and Wed had even a cheaper flight! OK, I will come in late Wed. then!
I then booked an offsite hotel for very cheap near Disney and a rental car for those few days. I decided I would go to Universal on my own on Thursday now. The original plan was I would take a day for myself on March 1st after our training ended…..but now that I was coming in early I might as well do a full day.
And then after thinking it over, I changed my return flight to Wed, March 1. The flight was pretty much the same price so it was easy to do.
As for Friday…I was going to leave that up to fate. I researched a few options to do in Orlando that would be different and I decided instead of planning every moment I would just decide that day. …I know…it’s so scary!!!!
Lenora also changed her arrival flight to come in on Friday night so she could do the ship tour with me…if all worked out. I told her I had a room already and a rental car, so I could pick her up when she arrived.
Ok…things are all set!
Please join me as I relive this wonderful week….and all the ups and downs…..You know with me, I tell it like it is. There are usually some downs, but the ups usually outweigh those!
Nice start to the TR and looking forward to how it unfolds! Especially interested as I'm considering a stay at Universal for my October trip!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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I typically like to fly on Southwest airlines and to get it direct, my best choice is out of Columbus. It is about a 2 ½ hour drive, but I really don’t mind it at all.
My flight was at 4:20, so instead of driving to my sister’s house the day before like I often do, I just drove down that morning and straight to the airport.
I took Claire to school that morning and gave her hugs and kisses and told her I would call as much as I could.
I finished the last minute packing, pulling my driver’s license and credit and debit cards out of my main wallet so I would have those with me, along with some business cards. As I was finishing up, Skip came in to say good bye and totally kept distracting me. I double checked I had my wallet packed in my carryon bag and then I put my cross over purse in my checked luggage so I would have it later when needed. I loaded the car up and headed off!
I always make a stop at a McDonalds just about halfway down for a potty break and a diet coke to keep me going and after that I continued on. I don’t often drive to the airport myself, so I had the gps set…and it had me turn, but you know how they are….there are like 2 roads you could turn on and it doesn’t always specify or the name they say is not what is on the sign….well I made a wrong turn. It rerouted me and told me to take this shorter route…which had a stop light at every block…so it was slow going, but I finally made it to the airport.
This time I approached the airport from a different direction so that confused me a bit too and I had to make a circle to find the parking lot I was looking for to park in for the week.
Once I got parked, I took a picture of the area I was parked and the bus stop as well so I would remember next week when I came back. Last Oct. I wasn’t so smart and had to do a little walking around before I found the right row.
I dragged my bags to the shuttle stop and a bus soon came and whisked me and my bags away to the SouthWest terminal. I checked my bag in outside and rolled my carryon in to go through security.
I have global entry, which means I usually get TSA pre-check as well and I headed to that line. Honestly, both lines were the same. Columbus rarely has a line for security, but I still feel important going through that line.
I headed to Starbucks and got a drink and snack and settled in till it was close to boarding time and then I did a quick dash to the bathroom before it was time to line up.
Everything was on time and soon I was in my seat waiting to fly.
Now the Captain told us we were going to be in for a very rough flight. It was storming on the way down and in Florida as well. He informed us that the seatbelt sign would probably be on most of the flight and that snacks and drinks may be delayed. We did have a few rough patches but I have had much worse and I think it was really a lot less than what they thought it would be.
As we came into Florida you see that it had been raining but we were greeted with a rainbow.
And when we landed the rain had appeared to have stopped. I headed out and made my way to baggage claim but nothing was coming yet so I went outside where it was beautiful. It was starting to get dark, but the weather was warm and it felt fabulous.
I went back in a few times to check on the bags but they seem to take forever and I noticed a few others from my flight outside too…all commenting on how the bags were taking so long. Eventually they did come out though and I grabbed mine and headed off to Alamo.
Here is one of the Universal desks that you check into when using their transportation.
So I get in line at Alamo and wait my turn. I then go up and check in and start going through my wallet….no license. OMG! What am I going to do? I totally started panicking. I asked if my passport would work and he said no. I know I grabbed it this morning…where the heck did I put it? He told me I could go look some more and that the car would still be here if I found it. OK…..but my mind was racing. I was about to cry. How could I have forgotten my license? I wondered if it was at home if Claire could send a picture of it and if that would work? Hmmm….I know I took it though….I just know I did…and also my debit card….which is NOT in the wallet either.
I call Claire and have her look through my purse and wallet at home and she says neither are there. OK, I was right, I knew I grabbed it….and business cards…which I put in my cross body purse, which I packed! I quickly open my suitcase up and grab the purse and pull out the business cards….and there mixed in with them was my license and debit card. Thank the LORD!!!!
And I know how it happened….remember Skip came in while I was finishing up, so I must have just thrown it all in that purse when he came in and then without thinking, I threw it in my suitcase.
Such a sigh of relief! I was so worried I would be relying on taxis and Uber to get me anywhere for the next few days.
I headed back to the Alamo desk and now got officially checked in and then out to get my car.
I stop and showed my paperwork and the guy tells me to hold on as he has to go look. I have reserved an economy type car. I didn’t need anything too big. It was just me for most of the time. Another person asks if I need help and I told him the guy went to look for a car and she says no, he went to help someone else. Another employee backs me up and says he is looking for me. This other employee insists he isn’t…..so she calls him and he says he was helping both of us, but he can’t find any economy cars with Enterprise either. So they send me off and tell me I can pick anything from these 2 aisles. OK….4 door pick up trucks. NO WAY! I don’t want to drive a 4 door pick up truck in an unfamiliar area. I reserved something somewhat small for a reason. UGH!
Oh…and my other choices….12 passenger vans. I would do the truck over that. Then I spot a minivan and beeline over to it. Just as I arrive and push the back door open for my luggage I see another couple had been coming from another direction to it…YES! I scored! Hahahaha. Well I did feel bad, but I was glad I got there first. I did see they found an SUV, so I guess that was better than a truck too.
I set my gps and head out to get in line to check out so I can get on the road.. I get in line and see another line is shorter so I move over and literally as I get positioned in the line, he turns the light out and tells me that the lane is closed. What a jerk. He wasn’t even nice about it. I back up and make my way back to the original line and of course now it is much longer too.
My nerves were on end. Travel day is always stressful for me. I always have a bundle of nerves as I just want to be at my hotel and I really have to relax and make myself focus. It happens almost every single time to me.
Ok. I am out and on my way….and the rain has returned in full force…torrential downpour. I hate driving in that kind of weather at the best of times, but when you are in an unfamiliar vehicle and you don’t know where all the knobs are make it so much worse. Of course, on top of that there is all the toll booths.
Now something I learned since I have been home is that Alamo has an auto opt in system and I could have just gone through and they would have charged the tolls and a small fee to my bill. I really wish I had known that before as it was such a pain going through tolls for those few days. I would have gladly paid the fee.
I am now debating getting myself a sunpass transponder so that I don’t have to worry about it ever again and it won’t matter which rental company I use.
I slowly made my way to my Hotel, which was the Springhill Suites at Flamingo Crossing. I knew it was pretty new as when I used google maps to look at it, it just showed a construction site. My fingers were wrapped around the steering wheel so tight..and I finally got off the expressway, which totally had me in a bundle of nerves and onto Disney property. Wow…I never realized how dark some of those roads were at night. I didn’t want to go too fast as I wasn’t sure where I was going, but I swear every turn I made I got behind a slow bus or a slow construction vehicle. It really was a ride from hell.
Finally I arrived at Springhill Suites and such a sigh of relief!....and it was still pouring.
I ran in and checked in quickly and got my keys and drove around the back to find a parking spot. The lot was pretty full and I found later that they do not have enough parking for this resort and it is also connected to the Towneplace Suites, which uses the same lot.
I sloshed through the rain with my luggage and headed in the back door and up the elevator to my room. I saw a family who said they had been at Disney today and they were soaking wet. It sounds like it had rained most of the day.
I found my room and dropped off my bags and looked at myself in a mirror….drenched rat! There was no hope of fixing myself up at all. I was starving at this point and I just wanted to get some food. My original plan was that I would probably head to Disney Springs to get something to eat tonight, but I ended up getting to my hotel later than I expected and the rain….well I wasn’t stupid….it would be raining there too.
The TV was set so that you could move it to see in the living area or in the bedroom but if you were in the far bed it would be really hard to see. They really should have had a second TV for the bedroom area.
They serve a complimentary breakfast here each morning too….except the hours were kind of weird and I thought they should open earlier for those going to the parks.
I was so hungry and had big eyes. I think I ordered chicken wings and fries…and I think a quesadilla. While I waited I drank my beer and talked to Skip to let him know I arrived and how bad the weather was. I am pretty sure I could hear him smiling. I really think he is excited when the weather is not good for me.
I took a picture of myself and sent it to Cass and my Friend J so they could see how awful I looked….it got deleted so sorry…no pic for you.
Once the food came, I took my food bags up to my room and set it down so I could take some more quick pictures…and get my wet rain coat off!
And then I chowed down and couldn’t even eat half the food I had gotten.
Now I don’t usually work much when I am traveling as it is just too hard and I know I can’t give my clients my best service. I did have someone who asked if I could help with something that day and I did say yes if it was in the morning before I left. Unfortunately it didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped and I was in contact with them throughout the day when possible. Finally at 10 pm I just had to call it a night. I had issues connecting to the wifi as well and it was driving me bonkers. The rest would have to wait as I was too tired. I had told them that if I couldn’t get it done that morning it would have to wait till Friday anyways and it was nothing of super importance….just I was doing a little extra for them. I typically have a backup person who can handle things for me when needed but this was something I didn’t want to burden her with.
I do think from now on I will stick to my guns though and not offer these extra things as it comes back to bite me. Had the day gone well it would have been not much issue, but with it being much longer than anticipated and the soaking rain on top of that, I was just mentally and physically drained.
I called Claire at some point too to see how her day was and to make sure everything was going well.
Lenora and I had also been in contact. I believe we did finally get the email that said we were approved to tour the Epic on Sat. Lenora emailed back to ask exactly what we do to check in etc….and really we got very general and generic info, but we figured we would keep asking till we found where to be.
I got ready for bed and laid in the bed closest to the TV and watched it a bit before I went to sleep.
Thank goodness you found your licence and you managed to get a vehicle that suited you. What a pain about the rain - that was not the greatest first day.
Well you made it. It wasn't the smoothest day to get to your Hotel but first the Rainbow pics coming into Florida were so awesome and the pics of the room and the lounge looked great. Glad you made it and didn't go too frantic with all the stuff that went on.
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Brittany~Take On The World
I'm Lightning to her Thunder~Riley(Me) & Maya(Emily/BFF) Girl Meets World
Sounds like you had quite a stressful travel day! I panic every time I think I lost my license and my DH just smiles because he knows that I will eventually find it but only after having a meltdown . Sorry you had so much rain on arrival which certainly does make travel much more difficult. We stayed one night at the same Springhill Suites in May and were very impressed with it. It's kind of in the middle of no where but once you get your bearings, you realize that it's not that far from the Epcot resorts and DHS.
Quite the travel day with all of the rain and misplacing your license and debit card! Glad you found them as such a relief! That was a little crazy with the rental car and glad you were finally able to get a good one. Your hotel looks pretty nice as does the room.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Thank goodness you found your licence and you managed to get a vehicle that suited you. What a pain about the rain - that was not the greatest first day.
I know...I was totally freaking out and I had to keep calming myself as I knew it wasn't the end of the world and I had to think it out. But at the moment it felt close to the end of the world.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LightningBritt
Well you made it. It wasn't the smoothest day to get to your Hotel but first the Rainbow pics coming into Florida were so awesome and the pics of the room and the lounge looked great. Glad you made it and didn't go too frantic with all the stuff that went on.
Not smooth at all...but I guess that just makes the rest of the trip smooth sailing then....right?
I loved the rainbow too. Such a pretty sight to see.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lindawdw
Sounds like you had quite a stressful travel day! I panic every time I think I lost my license and my DH just smiles because he knows that I will eventually find it but only after having a meltdown . Sorry you had so much rain on arrival which certainly does make travel much more difficult. We stayed one night at the same Springhill Suites in May and were very impressed with it. It's kind of in the middle of no where but once you get your bearings, you realize that it's not that far from the Epcot resorts and DHS.
I kind of liked that it was in the middle of nowhere. It felt a bit more secluded and a little less traffic to fight. I am sure that area will be all built up eventually. Everything had a nice new feeling to it too. My friend, "J", stayed there in May...but at Towneplace and she said that was great too and she would recommend it as well. I am not a fan of staying offsite for either place, but for the money and a few nights it worked very well. If I had been doing a full blown Disney or Universal vacation at the time I would have gone onsite for sure.
I did book the Towneplace for later this month originally, then we decided to do 2 days at the WDW parks before our cruise and they are offering EMH's for onsite guest to Pandora so I cancelled it. LOL.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Kind of a rough start with misplacing your license, the pouring rain, and the lack of an economy car. But your room looks very nice.
It was a rough start...hopefully I have all the bad luck out of the way now!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave
Quite the travel day with all of the rain and misplacing your license and debit card! Glad you found them as such a relief! That was a little crazy with the rental car and glad you were finally able to get a good one. Your hotel looks pretty nice as does the room.
You can bet next trip I will be triple checking where I put that debit card. LOL.
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Especially interested as I'm considering a stay at Universal for my October trip! 
Alaskan Mom aka Bonnie
Sorry you had so much rain on arrival which certainly does make travel much more difficult. We stayed one night at the same Springhill Suites in May and were very impressed with it. It's kind of in the middle of no where but once you get your bearings, you realize that it's not that far from the Epcot resorts and DHS.
Glad you found them as such a relief! 
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