First time flying with Virgin

[minnie29uk]

Hi!
First time flying with Virgin tomorrow to Orlando MCO.
I pre-booked childrens meals.

What drinks do they have to choose from for toddlers please?Do they come with straws or should I take an empty kiddies cup incase.?

Do the staff mind how many drinks you ask for?

Any tips for LGW or Orlando airport(1st time there!) appreciated,

Thanks,
Lynn

 

[AndRu]

They normally supply drinks in small plastic cups - so I would take your own as the last thing you need is spillage! On Virgin flights we've never had a problem asking for extra water / fruit drinks. If you ask them nicely they've always been happy to oblidge. They're just not happy about giving out lots of free alcohol - which is totally understandable.

Orlando Airport is huge and can be confusing in that you:

Go through passport control
Get your luggage
Go through another check
Hand over your luggage again as it goes onto a conveyor
Go through a security check (make sure you take off ALL metal items!)
Catch a monorail train to the main terminal
Go down and collect your luggage again from a conveyor

One thing to bear in mind is that although it might seem daunting, the staff in the airport are ltra friendly and helpfull. They'll always point you in the right direction. Just stay calm and enjoy the experience!

Have a great trip!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi we fly with Virgin too.

Must admit we always take our own as Joshua is fussy, I would presume they are either cartons of juice with a straw or mini-cans of coke.
I would take an empty cup(s) personally, they will also come in useful for your holiday.

Normally what happens is they leave out plastic cups with water or orange juice in for the whole flight, but generally if you ask for drinks they never object.
They will serve them at intervals throughout the flight also.

Flown from LGW many years ago but cannot really remember anything that would help, MCO is a brilliant airport , very open plan and modern.
Security is obviously strict but usually friendly, overall it's a lovely airport although you will probably be a bit tired perhaps to appreciate it.

You have to collect your luggage twice which is the main problem, but generally it's all a pretty quick process , catching a monorail over to the other side of the airport also. There are usually plenty of Virgin reps. on hand to guide you.

We are actually staying at the Hyatt hotel which is part of the airport itself on our 1st night in August.

 

[minnie29uk]

They normally supply drinks in small plastic cups - so I would take your own as the last thing you need is spillage! On Virgin flights we've never had a problem asking for extra water / fruit drinks. If you ask them nicely they've always been happy to oblidge. They're just not happy about giving out lots of free alcohol - which is totally understandable.

Orlando Airport is huge and can be confusing in that you:

Go through passport control
Get your luggage
Go through another check
Hand over your luggage again as it goes onto a conveyor
Go through a security check (make sure you take off ALL metal items!)
Catch a monorail train to the main terminal
Go down and collect your luggage again from a conveyor

One thing to bear in mind is that although it might seem daunting, the staff in the airport are ltra friendly and helpfull. They'll always point you in the right direction. Just stay calm and enjoy the experience!

Have a great trip!

Thanks ever so much - do you know at which of these points I will get the double pram back!!!?

Thanks,
Lynn

 

[Goofyish]

Hope you have a great trip

Remember to set off nice and early to get down to Gatwick! We always go down the day before and stay at the Hilton. It's very convienient for the terminal and we can get rid of our cases by using Virgin's twilight checkin.

The departure lounge at Gatwick South Terminal is very large with shops and restaurants on two floors. There is a Boots and a Smiths for those last minute items

We always go down the M40 route to Gatwick from Leicester (M69 to Coventry and then A45/6 to the M40). Depending on the time you travel down the M25 can be like a huge carpark! Especially around the M4 / Heathrow section.

On previous flights folks seem to just do to the nearest galley and pick up a drink, especially when the cabin crew go off for their rest. There is a selection of colas and lemonade type drinks in the little cans, but not sure what is available for toddlers. They may have 'Fruit Shoot' type drinks. May be best to take something from the airport just in case.

We were a bit daunted by Orlando (MCO) airport before our first trip there, but the double baggage claim thing sounds more complicated then it is - remember there are about 400 other folks with you so just go with the flow
Not sure where you would get your buggy, you may get them at the first baggage claim after imigration - I seem to remember seeing folks with buggies in that area.

 

[AndRu]

You will get your pram straight after passport control (i.e. the second) and I believe you should be able to use this through the rest of the airport. Although you'll probably have to get your children out of it for the security checks. It seems really strange getting your luggage and then having to wave goodbye to it again - but it all seems to work out!

A tip I picked up from the Brits Guide to Orlando is to have one member of your party wait for your luggage to appear for the final time and send the designated driver (if you're hiring a car) down stairs to sort the paperwork out. Last time we did this my wife waited with our children for the luggage and I went downstairs to Dollar. By the time I'd sorted the paperwork out my wife and kids had come down with the luggage and we were all set to pick up the car and leave.

 

[jax100]

the drink provided with the meal is a fruit shoot. the drinks during the flight is cans/fruit juice water. they have no issues filling up one of your cups for you.
flight back from orlando to gatwick juice offered with meal was water.
we arrived home on mon.

it is quite a walk in gatwick to the terminal but u can hang on to your buggy until u get to the gate where it will be tagged and taken off u. it can be a bit of a walk from the plane to the luggage and there is often long ques waiting to get through passport control. once through there lying to the side of the suitcase trolley thing conver belt will be the buggy pile. u will get that back for the next trek. through customs, where luggage is taken off u again, u will get on to a monorail which will bring u out into the next terminal for finding the luggage and your car. we stayed together until we got to the que at dollar where we left the kids with fil while we qued. saved getting stressed keeping the kids occupied - so if poss at that stage split up. i wouldnt suggest it before esp if u have small children to cope with.

and in orlando trolleys r there for u from passport control until u hand them back. but once in the next section while waiting on them there is no trolley unless u pay to get one. we did this time just used our credit card, as we had 2 suitcases wheelchair and 2 kids. it was something like £1.70 they charged my card.

do u know where u r staying?

any other helpful hints needed?

 

[minnie29uk]

Thankyou for the extra info.
Im single Mum - so no splitting up of adults Im afraid!!(done that already!! )

Which is why I'm being picked up by taxi (find it less stressful)

Hope to write up positive trip report in 3 weeks time!!!

Thanks again everybody,

Lynn

 

[Miffy2003]

Lynn - have a great trip

 

[Girlsontour]

Have a great holiday :

 

[Gonz Of Lancashire]

Lynn, stop worrying, everything will be fine. Have a great time. However, did you know that the temperatures here are set to top 13 degrees, jealous?

 

[minnie29uk]

Thanks everybody - better go to bed.But doubt I'll sleep - too much nervous energy!!!

Cheers,
Lynn

 

[Cochise]

LYnn,

Have the best time and relax, it will all work out fine.

Here is a sprinkle of dust for you