Orlando MCO stopover ideas?

[terry mardy]

Hi

Just a quick query for some of the experienced Orlando travellers.

I am flying into Orlando from Nassau arriving about Lunchtime, but my next flight leaves at about 9pm, anyone been in a simmilar situation?

Just wondering if there is anything to pass the time or to do whilst there. Oh and there will be the wife and two kids (13, & 10) in tow.

Thanks in advance.

T

[Matt Harper]

I live in Orlando (close to the airport). Where is your outbound flight headed - domestic or International? This impacts check-in times. Security lines can get scarily big at MCO.
Closest obvious would be the Florida Mall at Sand Lake and OBT.
More fun would be The Fish on Fire bar and grill, at McCoy and Detwyler.

[Original Poster]

Another recommendation for the Florida Mall, it's nice and close to the airport and very nice inside with plenty to keep everyone occupied and a pretty large food hall!

[terry mardy]

Hi Matt

We are heading back to Manchester in the evening, but are at a loss with the length of time we have to kill

Cheers

T

[terry mardy]

Sorry

I forgot to say thanks for the recommendations guys!

Cheers

T

[Matt Harper]

You might need 3 hours to check-in and get through security for your transatlantic flight.
FL Mall is a 20 min cab ride from MCO.

[terry mardy]

Matt Harper said:

You might need 3 hours to check-in and get through security for your transatlantic flight.
FL Mall is a 20 min cab ride from MCO.

Matt, thanks for that, what do you suggest I do with our luggage if we do go to the mall? Do they have a luggage store/left luggage facility at MCO?

I quite like the Mall idea, that would deffo kill a few hours, as there doesn't look like much to do at the Airport.

Cheers for the info.

T

[Matt Harper]

Which airline are you on for your Manchester flight? If it's Virgin, you are kind of stuck with your luggage until they open the desks around 4 hours before departure. BA and American carriers have a more helpful attitude to an early check-in.

Look at the logistics of this - if you are wheels down in Orlando at noon, it's going to be 1.00pm before you get all of your bags back. I assume you will be processed by US Immigration in Nassau, rather than Orlando. If your transatlantic flight leaves at 9.00pm, you need to be checking-in at 6.00pm.

So that gives you 5 hours to kill - at least 1 of which will be in a cab, to and from the mall. This could be a bit of a ball-ache for 4 hours of schlepping round a shopping mall full of sunburned British tourists and Peurto Rican hucksters, trying to sell you crappy iphone cases, scalp-massagers and e-cigs.

Orlando International is a big airport and once you are airside, there are several reasonable places to lounge and eat. There is an Outback Steakhouse right by the BA/Virgin/Delta/Lufthansa departure gates. A relaxed two-hour lunch, a few beers, a bit of duty-free shopping and a visit to the Harley shop between Terminal A and B, would pretty much occupy the time you have between arrival and departure. Just a thought...

[Deva Link]

terry mardy said:

Matt, thanks for that, what do you suggest I do with our luggage if we do go to the mall? Do they have a luggage store/left luggage facility at MCO?

You might be able to through-check you bags.

Matt Harper said:

Orlando International is a big airport and once you are airside, there are several reasonable places to lounge and eat. There is an Outback Steakhouse right by the BA/Virgin/Delta/Lufthansa departure gates. A relaxed two-hour lunch, a few beers, a bit of duty-free shopping and a visit to the Harley shop between Terminal A and B, would pretty much occupy the time you have between arrival and departure. Just a thought...

The snag there is he won't be able to get air-side if he can't check in (or isn't through-checked) so won't be able to get to the Outback. (I've never eaten at the airport one, but apparently they have plastic knives and forks!).

The main shopping areas are land-side though.

Florida Mall would be OK if you like that sort of thing and shouldn't be very busy unless it's a weekend day.

You can get a day room at the Hyatt within the airport, but no idea how much that costs.

[terry mardy]

Cheers guys! We are travelling Virgin back, but from the sounds of it, it's either a short mall stop, or hang around the airport, I quite like the idea of a room at the Hyatt for the day, but I that could be costly for the time we'll be there.

Oh well, just have to make sure the ipad is charged and the kids have charged their ipods too.

Doesn't look like there is a left luggage area from the airport website, which would have been great, but anyway its not the end of the world, we can probably get checked in nice and early and then relax airside hopefully.

Thanks for your imput - much appreciated.

T

[Deva Link]

Virgin's website says their check-in opens at 13.30. I've no idea if you could check in for any flight at that time, but don't see why not.
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/travel-inform...

[HOGEPH]

Another vote for the Fish on Fire, get away from the airport for a couple of hours, nice lunch, a few beers, jump on the wifi or read a book and chill, rather than sit around an airport any more than you have to. 5 mins away from MCO, so you know there's no rush to get back.