flying with virgin into orlando international

[>Ash<]

hi guys,

im travelling with my partner for the hooneymoon trip this october, flying from manchester to orlando with virgin.

ive always flown into sanford never actually flown into orlando, got a bit of pretrip anxiety.

we are using virgin transfers with our trip as neither of us want to drive, is this a meirs coach or a actual virgin bus?

also is orlando international a really big airport? is everything pretty easy to find?? where can i find virgins desk on arrival to get my welcome pack and details about trip?

many thanks guys anything you can say to calm me would be appreciated.

 

[torsie24]

Where are you staying?

If you are staying in a Disney resort then you'll get the Magical Express (which is run by Mears) to your hotel

 

[CupcakeLisa]

Where are you staying?

If you are staying in a Disney resort then you'll get the Magical Express (which is run by Mears) to your hotel

Its not always Magical express - last time we used virgin transfers and it stopped off at two different disney resorts on the way

virgin use Mears

 

[>Ash<]

hi Torsie & Lisa

thanks for the reply,


im staying at AKL last few times we have flown with thomson and been at Port Orleans Riverside but flew into sanford,

we had a bad experience last time as it was actually a mears van that dropped us off and nothing came to pick us up. we had to really play hell with mears before they would do anythign about it.

dont want that to happen again lol juust wondered who else had used virgin transfers.

do i have to book mickeys magical express in advance ?

also whats the aiport like, ive heard they ahver their own monorail and its huge and really complex to navigate around.

 

[torsie24]

Yeah I'd cancel the Virgin transfers and take the ME.

Much more fun. We love the ME.

MCO is fine to navigate. You take a short monorail ride from where you exit the plane to the main terminal, easy to find as everyone is going that way.

The the main building is split into A side and B side.

For the magical express you want to go down to the bottom floor on the B side (it's well labelled) and them with the windows on your left walk to the very end and ME is the last desk.

This Link is a great help.

And this map is a good guide see the 4 bits of the corners, they're the gates, where you have to ride the monorail to/from then in the middle it's one big building, and you can see the A side and B side clearly labelled.

http://www.orlandoairports.net/ops/images/maps/wayfinding_maps.pdf

And then basically ME is on the ground floor where you see the letter E on the map.

 

[>Ash<]

do you know how easy it is to find the virgin desk as i will need to go get my welcome pack on arrival ? or is it different with virgin?

i know with thompson you left the airport went accross to this little building outside where all the reps are waiting with your pack then you get all your transfer details and a pack with all your reps details in?

thanks again for all your help guys virgin couldnt answer a damn thing lol

 

[torsie24]

And you can reserve your DME here:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/reservations/dme/index?bhcp=1

You'll need the American reservation # - the same one you need for the ADRs etc.

 

[CupcakeLisa]

The virgin desk is really easy to find - if i remember correctly its not far from the magical express desk

 

[>Ash<]

thanks for all your help guys you have been awesome and put my mind at rest.

i fly in october it still a little time away yet but ive already started my usual pre trip panic mode lol i dont calm down until i arrive at my resort and get a room key lol then i can start to enjoy the trip lol


we have also booked a savanah view room its my first time at akl and im so excited

 

[queendisney]

If you've booked with VH then you have the transfer vouchers. Yes it will be the Mears shuttle van BUT..with VH's they only do maybe two or three drops off's on route. Its very quick, just as quick as ME and off course there are only a max of 12 people onboard. With your transfer vouchers back it will be a mears coach. (very often its a ME or Cruise line livery)
When you get to Orlando, once you've clear immigration you go to the carousel to pick your luggage up then go through customs. After customs you have the option of either having your luggage put back on a belt and transfered to the main terminal baggage reclaim or you can take it with you up the escalator to the monorail train which will be right at the top, you can't miss it. (Personally I'd take it with you) Once you have got off the monorail you can use either A or B sign posted to exit and baggage reclaim. If you have your luggage just go down either otherwise they will direct VA flight to A (used to be B but they both end up in exactly the same place just at opposite ends). If you have your luggage or after you have collected from this reclaim, you then go down another level to level 1 and you will see the VH's desk. This is where having your luggage with you from the outset pays off. The line for this will be huge if you have to wait at baggage reclaim a second time..you'll be nearly first in line if you have it already!
So to summarise, grab your luggage straight after immigration don't let it go and leg it to the monorail, exit B as its nearest when you get off the monorail (easier then fighting your way across the departure hall where everybody lines up for passport control and the scanners, don't follow all the other VA passengers like sheep and ignor the monorail commentary that directs you to A!!!) , down the escalator to the baggage reclaim floor and catch the lift to level one and go straight to the VH's desk Sorted and very easy!!!

 

[Elise79]

hi guys,

im travelling with my partner for the hooneymoon trip this october, flying from manchester to orlando with virgin.

ive always flown into sanford never actually flown into orlando, got a bit of pretrip anxiety.

we are using virgin transfers with our trip as neither of us want to drive, is this a meirs coach or a actual virgin bus?

also is orlando international a really big airport? is everything pretty easy to find?? where can i find virgins desk on arrival to get my welcome pack and details about trip?

many thanks guys anything you can say to calm me would be appreciated.

There is usually a VH just after the Customs desk - they will guide you if you need help.

If possible take your luggage on the transit with you as it can be quite a wait otherwise.

In exiting the transit ang leaving the secure area - head right to the A side and straight down to level 1 - ths is where you will find the VH desk and transfers.

Do not go down on the B side as you can only get from one side to the other on level 3.

If you are using ME this is in level one side B at the very end of their terminal.