At MCO where is a good place to meet up?

[mousy_in_canada]

My DH is coming in on SW and I am flying in on Air Canada.. can he meet me at the air canada baggage claim or is that a secured area? Where is a spot that is between both terminals to meet? I get lost very easy in airports and I will have 3 kids in tow lol so it would be better if he can meet me at the baggage claim but not sure if that is possible once he picks up his luggage to come over to where I would be. He lands about 2 hours before me so he has lots of time to get where he needs to go. Any thoughts?

 

[Lewisc]

The baggage claim area isn't secure. He'd have to go back up to level three and go accross the airport. He can either meet you where the tram enters the main terminal or in baggage claim.

Alternately you could both use DME and just meet in your resort.

 

[ducklite]

It depends. If you are flying from an airport taht you pre clear customs, then he can meet you at baggage claim. If you are on a direct flight and need to clear customs in Orlando, then he can not meet you until that happens--which is after you clear INS and pick up your bags and clear customs.

So basically the question to your questions is "need more info."

Anne

 

[mousy_in_canada]

It is a direct flight from Toronto Canada, so I have to pick the bags up and then clear customs and then pick the bags up?? sounds confusing.. I am liking SouthWest more and more.. lol
With the 3 kids I will have at least 5 bags and 3 kids and me.. yikes sounds like....... fun?

 

[ducklite]

It is a direct flight from Toronto Canada, so I have to pick the bags up and then clear customs and then pick the bags up?? sounds confusing.. I am liking SouthWest more and more.. lol
With the 3 kids I will have at least 5 bags and 3 kids and me.. yikes sounds like....... fun?

No. You will preclear customs and immigration in Canada, but you'll still need to schlep the bags and kids to the customs check in point, you can't curb check, and your husnband will not be able to accompnay you to that point. Make sure the bags are on wheels and let each kid take one.

Or drive to BUF and fly out of there. I just flew out of BUF in early December, I really like their set up, and they were courteous and very informative when a blizzard hit the airport shutting it down for an hour or two. (I was flying on US Air who had fares as cheap as SW and gives assigned seats.)

IMHO it's MUCH MUCH MUCH easier to cross a border in a car than on a plane.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

It is a direct flight from Toronto Canada, so I have to pick the bags up and then clear customs and then pick the bags up?? sounds confusing.. I am liking SouthWest more and more.. lol
With the 3 kids I will have at least 5 bags and 3 kids and me.. yikes sounds like....... fun?

No. You will preclear customs and immigration in Canada, but you'll still need to schlep the bags and kids to the customs check in point, you can't curb check, and your husnband will not be able to accompnay you to that point. Make sure the bags are on wheels and let each kid take one.

Or drive to BUF and fly out of there. I just flew out of BUF in early December, I really like their set up, and they were courteous and very informative when a blizzard hit the airport shutting it down for an hour or two. (I was flying on US Air who had fares as cheap as SW and gives assigned seats.)

IMHO it's MUCH MUCH MUCH easier to cross a border in a car than on a plane.

Anne

 

[mousy_in_canada]

oh I loved Buffalo too, but I won a trip to disney and part of that package is return air transportation from Toronto, so I am stuck doing it this way.
The kids are under 9 so we shall see how they do.. oh well I have months to obsess about this..lol

 

[NotUrsula]

Our favorite choice is always the big fountain in the center of the main terminal near the Earport store. Not only can you find it by both sight and by sound, but it's pretty to look at while you wait. (Note that it is not turned on at Christmastime; they put a huge tree in the center of the circle.)

Here is the webpage for the terminal diagrams. http://www.orlandoairports.net/goaa/ops/term.htm
I recommend printing out copies for both of you, with your meeting place circled on it. BTW, the fountain I was speaking of is in the D-shaped yellow spot that is to the right of the food court on the terminal diagram. (It is just outside security for the high-numbered gate areas.) There are moving walkways that take you to it from the food court.

Of course, since that part of the airport comes after the monorail trains, none of this will help you with getting through customs with children and luggage. There is a walk-through on the airport's website that explains what will happen, and it has photos http://www.myflorida.com/goaa/arrive/arrive.htm

When DH and I have to split this way and arrive separately, we pack ahead, and he gets to take the checked baggage on his business trip, while I have the kids. Yes, it's a pain for him to schlep the extra stuff around as he travels, but it is a heck of a lot easier to deal with big bags when you are NOT dealing with little kids, so I think it's fair.

 

[Lewisc]

SW will let your DH check 3 bags, up to 50 lbs each. You might have him take as much of your luggage as possible.

 

[Martha7]

Can you pay a porter to help you with the bags? I've done this in the past when I had to travel alone with the kids as toddlers. You just need to have plenty of tip money!