flying into Orlando International Airport

[Ali and boyz]

can anyone give me some info flying into Orlando International with a totally wheelchair dependant person. Our son cannot walk and we have since his accident always flown into Sanford. the carrier we are thinking of using next year flies into MCO only and I am just a bit paniced re the size, baggage collection etc of the airport if you have a major disability.

would appreciate any feedback negatives and positives to help us decide between staying with Sanford or trying Orlando Intl

thanks

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I'm not a full time wheelchair user, but I have done MCO on wheels (those lovely heavy airport ones, that always have one loose footplate and a slight veer to the left) and didn't find any problem areas. They have elevators and disabled toilets around, and I didn't come across any awkwardly placed steps, narrow doorways etc. Here's a link to the airport's page on disabilities (you may already have seen it, but I've put it in just in case):
http://www.orlandoairports.net/goaa/disabled.htm

I'm sure other people here will be more helpful than I am. Good luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

It is a big airport, but we have had no problems flying into Orlando International Airport in 18 years of travel with DD and her wheelchair (she 21 and got her first wheelchair when she was not quite 3). We always gate check her wheelchair and have not had a problem with getting it back at the gate when we arrive. The last few times, we have also used an aisle chair (we are getting older and she is not getting any lighter). We reminded the flight attendant that we needed one so that it was there when our plane landed.

When you go to the link that OneLittleSpark posted, look at the menu items on the left side of the page. Under the Passenger Terminal menu, there is a link to a map. When you first look at it, it sounds much more confusing than it actually is.
There is a terminal building, which has one side called the A side and the other is called the B side. They are both connected together and you can walk from the A side to the B side if you want. Each side has its own Security, Baggage, car rental and check in areas. Certain airlines fly out of the A side and others fly out of the B side.
The terminal is wheelchair accessible and there are Companion Restrooms throughout, as was already mentioned.

The gates are not attached to the terminal. Certain gates are A side gates and others are B side gates. There is a tram to take you from the gate to the same side of the terminal, so the tram from the A gates take you only to the A terminal.
The trams are wheelchair accessible and are very much like the WDW monorails, except not so high in the air. The doors open very wide and there is only a small flat gap, so it's no problem to push a wheelchair on and off the trams. They are very efficient and leave every few minutes, so you will probably not have to wait more than 5 minutes for a tram. One hint: you enter on one side and you will leave the tram on the other side, so pull into the tram and face the doors on the opposite side because that's where you will get out.

Also, on the link that OneLittle Spark posted, under the Passenger Terminal menu, there is a link to that says Arrival Walkthru. That has pictures and shows many of the things I mentioned about the trams. It also shows the differences for International Travelers (I can vouch for the accuracy of the information for general travelers, but since I have never come in there from overseas, I can't tell you if they missed mentioning anything. Looks pretty complete to me though).

 

[BCV23]

Will you being using Magical Express to get to SSR? It is a great convenience to not have to pick up and transport bags.

We find Orlando to be an easy airport get around for our daughter who uses a power chair.

Terminala A & B are connected on the 3rd level which is the arrival and departure level. If you need to get to the other terminal for any reason (like Magical Express), just be sure to do it on that level.

 

[Ali and boyz]

Will you being using Magical Express to get to SSR? It is a great convenience to not have to pick up and transport bags.

We find Orlando to be an easy airport get around for our daughter who uses a power chair.

Terminala A & B are connected on the 3rd level which is the arrival and departure level. If you need to get to the other terminal for any reason (like Magical Express), just be sure to do it on that level.

wasn't sure (having never done it) if we took magical express if our luggage would get there that night as our flight would be landing at 18.00 and I had read about some luggage getting left until the next morning. so much medical stuff in the luggage

 

[BCV23]

Ah, yes. I remember reading about your concern before. Sorry.

Anyway, maybe you could try asking on the transportation board about arrivals around 18:00. Our last trip, my daughter and I used ME. We arrived on a 4:20pm flight and our luggage was in our room when we finished dinner.

I really doubt you will have problems with a flight landing that early but I understand your concern.

You know, is ME even an option for international flights? I wonder if you have to collect your baggage for customs anyway?

 

[SueM in MN]

You know, is ME even an option for international flights? I wonder if you have to collect your baggage for customs anyway?

That's a good question.
I'd suggest asking on the UK traveler's board.

 

[pampam]

wasn't sure (having never done it) if we took magical express if our luggage would get there that night as our flight would be landing at 18.00 and I had read about some luggage getting left until the next morning. so much medical stuff in the luggage

All medical supplies should be in your carry on, and you will carry it on to Magical Express.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

You know, is ME even an option for international flights? I wonder if you have to collect your baggage for customs anyway?

Have used ME twice from UK. Neither time did ME tags arrive, so had to fetch luggage from carrosel to ME check in myself.

I had wheelchair assistance meet me at the aircraft, who brought aisle wheelchair to my seat then transferred me to my own wheelchair that had been brought to the aircraft door and who then stayed with me right through to ME check-in.

Baggage arrives first at carrosel at international terminal. Redcap assistance take me through passport control, then pulls baggage off carrosel and we all go through customs together. He then puts baggage back onto second conveyor and we take train to main terminal together. Redcap recovers baggage a second time and we all go to ME together. (No ME tags on luggage, so we have to collect ourselves). ME has us on computer and calls for accessible bus. Luggage rides with us on bus. No waiting.

Andrew

 

[leanan]

My BF works for the TSA. He says never ever ever put important medical stuff in your boarded suitcase. He tells me not even my over the counter meds that I am fairly dependant on should go into the boarded suitcase. Also any medical device that must go into a boarded suitcase should be protected with a TSA aproved lock. These are ones the TSA agents have a master key to open but in theory the airline does not have a master key to open.

 

[SueM in MN]

My BF works for the TSA. He says never ever ever put important medical stuff in your boarded suitcase. He tells me not even my over the counter meds that I am fairly dependant on should go into the boarded suitcase. Also any medical device that must go into a boarded suitcase should be protected with a TSA aproved lock. These are ones the TSA agents have a master key to open but in theory the airline does not have a master key to open.

Very good advice.

I just wanted to note thought that the OP had posted on another thread about their medical equipment that will be in the checked luggage. It's all very large things like a special mattress topper and pieces of equipment other than a wheelchair (too large to be in carryon bags).
It sounds from Andrew Bichard's description of arrival from the UK that it will work out so the OP can get their luggage onto the same bus with them.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I've done ME straight from the UK and we managed to get the tags posted through to us. We had to collect our bags to take them through customs, but then we put them on the second conveyor belt and left it for the wonderful people at ME to sort! (It would have worked perfectly, if one of the tags hadn't come off during the flight . Thankfully we just gave them a description of our bag and the found it and got it to our room while we were at dinner.)

 

[clkelley]

Ah, yes. I remember reading about your concern before. Sorry.

Anyway, maybe you could try asking on the transportation board about arrivals around 18:00. Our last trip, my daughter and I used ME. We arrived on a 4:20pm flight and our luggage was in our room when we finished dinner.

I really doubt you will have problems with a flight landing that early but I understand your concern.

You know, is ME even an option for international flights? I wonder if you have to collect your baggage for customs anyway?

From what I've read on the Magical Express information.

International travelers CAN use magical Express.

You collect your luggage at the international terminal, then go through customs.

Then you place your luggage on another belt and it is taken to the main terminal for you. That is when Magical Express collects your luggage to be taken to your resort.

If you can manage it, after customs why don't you just keep the bag that has the extra medical stuff, place the rest of the bags with yellow tags on the belt, then head for the Magical Express area.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you can manage it, after customs why don't you just keep the bag that has the extra medical stuff, place the rest of the bags with yellow tags on the belt, then head for the Magical Express area.

sounds like a plan