A real recap of my Thanksgiving trip to Universal Orlando and Cabana Bay—check-in was a nightmare, but the feast, parade, and holiday vibes made it worth it. Hacks for your Christmas trips inside. Family-friendly, no fluff.

Timestamps 00:28 – Intro & trip overview 00:58 – Thank you to Cabana Bay team members 01:30 – JetBlue flight in (no surprises) 01:50 – Check-in chaos at Cabana Bay (online check-in fail, room not ready) 02:34 – Upgraded to suite for free (but keys/elevator issues) 04:09 – Parking & luggage struggles 04:38 – Room finally ready, but keys don't work 06:29 – Maintenance fix & front desk runaround 08:18 – Keys still fail, more back-and-forth 10:26 – Finally in the room, exhausted 11:06 – Thanksgiving Day low crowds & early park start 17:10 – Blues Brothers holiday show highlight 17:58 – Holiday parade fantastic (best spot tip) 18:58 – Thanksgiving feast at Bayliner Diner (huge hit, $14 kids meal) 20:25 – Hogsmeade at night & Hagrid's ride magic 22:58 – Best Hagrid's ride ever with holiday lights 25:25 – Black Friday merch haul at Brown Derby (80% off, $4.85 jerseys) 29:08 – Merch tips for gifts & AP discounts 30:36 – Weather surprises & pool at night 31:00 – Cabana Bay apology call & future thoughts 32:16 – Overall great trip despite rocky start 32:22 – Touring Plans shoutout 32:51 – Sign-off: Take care, brush ya hair

Key Takeaways

Check-in at Cabana Bay was wonky—multiple tries, busted elevator, key failures.
Thanksgiving feast at Bayliner Diner was a huge hit (kids loved it, great value).
Holiday parade was fantastic—best viewing spot tip included.
Merch at Brown Derby is perfect for Christmas gifts (80% off deals).

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