Atlanta Airport w/ a toddler

[TravelinGal]

We have a HIDEOUS 4 HOUR layover in Atlanta on our return flight. (Air Tran - terminal C). Can anyone tell me what there is to do there with a 1 1/2 year old? Are there any play areas etc? (OK, I know, I've never seen one at any airport, but that was all pre-kid travel! )

What in tarnation do we do for FOUR hours???

(We will have his stroller - gate checking it)

Thanks!
Robin

 

[Pamlur]

We were just through Atlanta last week, we flew Delta and did see some play areas in the A concourse. It's been a couple of years since we flew AirTran, but they might have some stuff set up in their concourse, too. Stuff like Little Tykes playsets.

 

[glass slipper girl]

Ride the train. Not for 4 hours but if your son is like mine, that can kill an hour just riding it around. I think we'd check into play areas, take the train to each end of the terminal (without going back to the security area and have to do THAT again), get off and watch some planes, get an ice cream, ride the train some more etc.

One other thing to know is that AirTran will allow you to fly standby on any flight the same day as your ticket at no additional charge. You can always check their schedule and see if there are any sooner flights from Atlanta to Orlando...you never know, you may luck out! Ask them how that works with your luggage though. When I flew for an emergency last year I couldn't get exactly what I wanted flight time wise without paying a LOT more for it. The AirTran rep told me to try that. He explained to me about how they handle the luggage but for the life of me I can't remember what the answer was on that! If it goes on your regular flight and you are using DME it won't be a big deal but if you aren't it could obviously be royal pain in the rear!

 

[Ellielovesdisney]

I agree with the previous posters...if you can't get an earlier flight take the train to terminal A which has a pretty nice food court. I seem to remember some little tykes type of playgrounds...but I don't remember which terminal they were on. Our DD (2) likes to look out the window at the planes...but I don't think that would last 4 hours. Good luck!!

 

[PlaneJoy1]

On the opposite side of concourse C, Delta Connection has a Little Tykes play area. It is pretty basic but could help blow off some steam. Like the others have said, ride the train. E concourse has a large open food court and shopping. Don't bother with concourse D, but C, B, A and T have some stores, restaurants and food courts if you want to shop around for a while.

If you are into Bare Escentials mineral make-up, they have a store on concourse T.

You can probably get some info from www.atlanta-airport.com

Have a good trip!

 

[ESN]

Not sure if you have gone yet - but last month I spent 6 hrs in Atlanta airport with a 2 and 4 yr old - Not planned - of course - but due to schedule issues (no crew, no plane-etc) with Delta


I must say - I broke airport regulations. I left the double stroller and the car seats at the gate - unattended - (forgive me - but for how many hours can you drag that stuff with you??)


My kids and I must have rode up and down the escalators for over an hour - they were in heaven. We also rode the train between terminals for at least an hour - had some dinner - and my kids spent a decent amount of time throwing stuff into the garbage cans - The trash cans in the Atlanta airport have compactors in them - so my kids loved feeding the "trash monster" --

Needless to say - they had a blast - I - of course - was ready for a margarita(or 6) by the time we boarded...

 

[SqueakyMouse]

I HATE the airport in Atlanta. We got stuck there with our 3 children when coming back from a beach vacation. It should have been a non-stop flight but...well, that's Delta for you!! Anyway, there were so many cancelled, delayed, etc. Delta flights that we were afraid to leave our gate area. There were a couple of fast food dining option (none that appealed to us at the time) and a magazine stand or two, but that is all. Perhaps you'll be lucky and find a play area. I know I would have paid anything to have access to one when we were stuck there!