Flying Alone (kinda) info pleaseee

[megveg]

So I haven't been to Disney since 05, but when I went I was with a big group for a school trip so my airline tickets/transportation was taken care of.

In May, My DBF and I will be flying down to MCO alone (Delta). DBF has never flown and every time I've flown I wasn't in charge of checking in, getting us to the airport, etc.

Once we get to MCO we're waiting for the rest of our group (7 other people/AirTran).

so here are my questions

1) When do I find out what terminal/gate/whatever my flight will be from/going to? I have been on the Delta site and it says to print out the flight informationand scan it when we get there but thats all I know.

2) Where would we meet the rest of our party? I have no idea how MCO is laid out other than when I went in 05, there were alot of windows and we just walked out to Magical Express.

3) Where do we go to get our bags? I have never had to do baggage claim (either I was too young, or magical express took care of it). When I go in May, we're not eligible for Magical Express so I have to get our luggage.

4)Where would I go to get our Tiffany Towncar? We booked a van for all 9 of us and I have no idea where to go to wait for it.

5) What should I be worried about? I've flown before so I know generally what happens, but I'm the one who will be the leader in doing everything and I'm nervous. I haven't flown in a few years so I don't know what's changed and I don't wanna be blind sided and panic and cause my DBF to panic too.


ANY helpful hints will be AMAZING <3

Thanks so so so much

 

[goofy4tink]

So I haven't been to Disney since 05, but when I went I was with a big group for a school trip so my airline tickets/transportation was taken care of.

In May, My DBF and I will be flying down to MCO alone (Delta). DBF has never flown and every time I've flown I wasn't in charge of checking in, getting us to the airport, etc.

Once we get to MCO we're waiting for the rest of our group (7 other people/AirTran).

so here are my questions

1) When do I find out what terminal/gate/whatever my flight will be from/going to? I have been on the Delta site and it says to print out the flight informationand scan it when we get there but thats all I know.

2) Where would we meet the rest of our party? I have no idea how MCO is laid out other than when I went in 05, there were alot of windows and we just walked out to Magical Express.

3) Where do we go to get our bags? I have never had to do baggage claim (either I was too young, or magical express took care of it). When I go in May, we're not eligible for Magical Express so I have to get our luggage.

4)Where would I go to get our Tiffany Towncar? We booked a van for all 9 of us and I have no idea where to go to wait for it.

5) What should I be worried about? I've flown before so I know generally what happens, but I'm the one who will be the leader in doing everything and I'm nervous. I haven't flown in a few years so I don't know what's changed and I don't wanna be blind sided and panic and cause my DBF to panic too.


ANY helpful hints will be AMAZING <3

Thanks so so so much

Okay, let's start at the beginning...
1. when you get closer to your date, you will be able to checkin online. This will give you the appropriate gate you need to head to. You can also check it on the big arrival/departure boards at the airport.

2. Airtran and Delta both arrive in the same gate area at MCO, on Side B of the airport. When you get off the plane, you will walk through that particulare gate area, passing other gate areas. You will go to the tram area. Then you board the tram, which takes you to the main, central part of the terminal. It may be easier to join the others in your group in baggage claim.

3. Where is baggage claim? You will need to stay to the left as you come off the tram, then you will see signs for Side B (which you are already on). You are now on Level 3. You will stay left, go down (stairs or escalator) to level 2. Baggage claim is right there. There should be signs that will tell you which carousel is going to have your luggage..it goes by flight numbers.

4. Tiffany Towncar? As you come down the stairs/escalator, you will see people with signs with family names on them. Your driver should be standing there as well, with whatever name you gave them when you booked. The driver will then help you with luggage.

5. Other hints? Are the two flights arriving at about the same time? If not, it could be an issue for your driver to have to wait around. Or, if one group gets there later than the first group, the driver would be booked based on the later arrival.
As for getting around the airport..it's very easy. Just take your time. There is no need to rush around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Yes, it's a large airport but it is pretty easy to navigate. If you are concerned about meeting up with the other group, on Airtran, you could just park yourselves at the gate they are arriving at...or them at yours, whoever gets in first.

 

[Jestocost]

Good advice, except I would caveat the item about your gate number. If you check in online, you may (or may not) get a gate assignment at the time. Even if you do, there's a decent chance that the gate will change between then and when you're scheduled to board.

Since you're checking bags and flying on an airline with assigned seating, there's really no reason (IMO) to check in online. You'll still have to wait in line to check your bags and the person that helps you also will be able to give you your boarding passes, so checking in online saves you essentially zero time (unless your airport is one of the very few that has an express baggage check area for people who have checked in online).

When you check in at the airport, they will give you your departure gate at that time. Even then, gate assignments sometimes will change at the last minute, so it pays to keep an eye on the monitors and to keep your ears open for gate change announcements. In all likelihood, however, the gate assignment you get at the airport will be the gate you leave from.