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Universal Studios Holidays Have Arrived at Orlando International Airport

holiday shop universal studios earl the squirrel orlando international airport
Credit: Orlando International Airport/Canva

Universal Studios has arrived at Orlando International Airport, and the MCO is understandably excited about the new addition, saying the airport staff is “nuts about this one.”

Getting Around MCO - Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Credit: Orlando International Airport

In order to understand the excitement over the new holiday shop at Orlando International Airport, guests first have to understand the excitement about Earl the Squirrel at Universal Studios Orlando Resort.

Who the Heck is Earl the Squirrel?

So, who exactly is the character Earl the Squirrel? For fans wondering if there’s a backstory here, the answer is yes.

According to Orlando Park Stop, Earl is the holiday mascot at Universal Studios Orlando, and his backstory is as follows:

“The official story from Universal Orlando is that a mischievous squirrel was found nestled in the branches of the park’s main Christmas tree. According to the legend, this squirrel had an affinity for blue Christmas lights, often stealing strands and bringing them back to his nest.

Now, while that is where the official story ends, the lore goes even deeper. The tale is that the squirrel, nicknamed “Earl” by the company’s Entertainment team, actually bit through a strand of lights, causing them all to go out. And according to *some* accounts, when the team investigated, they found the squirrel lifeless by the severed light strand.

Earl The Squirrel | UNIVERSAL ORLANDO

Credit: Universal Orlando Studios

Regardless of which version of the tall tale you believe, little nods to the electrical situation can still be found in signage at the parks and marketing that include Earl the Squirrel. Examples include a decorative “high-voltage” sign featuring a squirrel or this year’s holiday season kick-off video featuring Earl the Squirrel biting through an electrical cord at a haunted house, effectively ending Halloween Horror Nights.”

Earl Arrives at Orlando International Airport

Orlando International Airport recently announced the opening of Earl the Squirrel’s holiday shop inside the airport, welcoming visitors to sunny “Earl-lando.”

“Welcome to sunny Earl-lando!” reads a post on MCO’s official account on X, formerly Twitter. “We’re excited to announce the arrival of @UniversalORLs Holiday Shop! Stop by and pick up some merchandise to get in the holiday spirit. We’re just nuts about this one!”

universal orlando holiday shop

Credit: Orlando International Airport

Christmas lights are seen in photos of Earl’s new holiday shop at Orlando International Airport‘s Terminal B–especially blue Christmas lights–likely the ones for which Earl the Squirrel has an affinity and, therefore, stole from Universal Orlando Resort.

The new holiday shop at MCO offers various items for purchase–each one sure to put guests and visitors to the airport in a festive holiday mood.

universal orlando holiday shop

Credit: Orlando International Airport

The holiday shop features fixtures and elements like a windsock, an old airplane wing, equipment, and other items that give the new location at MCO the welcoming appearance of the inside of an old airplane hangar, and there are, of course, acorns all around. Even Earl the Squirrel can be seen inside the new holiday shop at MCO.

earl-lando holiday shop at MCO

Credit: Orlando International Airport

Earl the Squirrel’s new “Earl-Lando”-themed holiday shop from Universal Studios Resort can be found in Terminal B at Orlando International Airport on Level 3 in the pre-security area (Gates 70-129). The shop is currently open every day from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

About Becky Burkett

Becky's from the Lone Star State and has been writing since she was 10 and encountered her first Disney Park when she was 11. It was love at first Main Street Electrical Parade. Joy is blank lined journals, 0.7 mm pens, and all things Walt, Woody and Buzz, PIXAR, Imagineering, Sleeping Beauty (make it blue!), Disney Parks history and EPCOT. At Disney World, you'll find her croonin' with the birdies at the Enchanted Tiki Room or hangin' with Woody and the gang at Toy Story Land. If you can dream, you really can do it!

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