International Arrivals at MCO

[markmcalear]

When you arrive from UK at MCO, after clearing customs you then take a monorail over to the main terminal.

At Xmas 2012 I had to put my luggage onto a carousel and then collect it at the main terminal. This took about 40 minutes. I assume this was because I had 4 children with me and we had 4 large cases.

In May 2014 there was just me and a friend with one case each so we could take these onto the monorail. Obviously a much quicker option.

Next trip is August 2014, there will be 10 of us (4 adults, 4 children and 2 infants) and we will have 9 or 10 cases.

My experience from 2012 tells me that the kids will be tired and hungry so waiting 40 minutes for luggage is not ideal and if I can avoid it then I will.

My question is can I just take all of my luggage onto the monorail? It may need to be split into 2 trips though. And can I use a luggage trolley on the monorail?

Edit: The reason it may take two trips is because we will have a double pushchair for the infants and one child is disabled so there will only really be two adults able to carry the luggage.

 

[scoobydooby]

If you can get it all up the escalator you can take it on the monorail. The escalator is your barrier. I don't think you can take a luggage carrier on the monorail? Me and DD (12), managed three suitcases and two hand luggage bags up the escalator last month. Not easy but possible. So basically, if you have enough bodies to get everything up the escalator without abandoning any of it unsupervised at the bottom, which is not allowed, you are good to go.

 

[Elise79]

You have to physically be able to carry all your luggage - there are no trolleys beyond the baggage drop off.

You need to carry the luggage up the escalator and on the transit to the main terminal.

It sounds like you will need to use the second baggage drop unfortunately.

 

[markmcalear]

ah ok, so Wife 1 could watch cases at the top, wife 2 watches cases at the bottom and then husbands and older kids can start carrying?

 

[scoobydooby]

Yep. So long as you can move them all with the number of bodies you have once you get to the top! I had my DD in training for this exercise!!!!!

 

[wayneg]

No going back down is there?
I believe you have to get all bodies and luggage to the top in one go, if you can't it has to go on the 2nd bag drop.

 

[markmcalear]

There must be a lift for people with pushchairs and wheelchairs to use?

If so cant I just put all my cases into that?

 

[scoobydooby]

No going back down is there? I believe you have to get all bodies and luggage to the top in one go, if you can't it has to go on the 2nd bag drop.

Good question. I can't remember. I seem to think we have done the up and down thing though? Maybe I imagined that....... I will ask my family when they get home.....

 

[markmcalear]

I think I remember it being an escalator and stairs

 

[DH of dolphingirl47]

There is a lift but If memory serves its restricted to those who need it. Suspect the staff will not necessarily think large number of suitcases = need.

Think I would also be putting a call through to MCO to see if there is a luggage restriction on the monorail, its often very busy so the existence of a restriction would not be a surprise.

http://www.orlandoairports.net/arrive/index.htm

 

[markmcalear]

That links contains a pic that clearly shows a set of stairs next to the escalator!!!

I have emailed MCO to ask about it. Hopefully the answer will be that as long as we can get the cases to the top then it is fine to skip the baggage belt.

 

[Elise79]

The use of the lift is restricted to wheelchairs only. Even when we had a pushchair we has to use the escalator.

Once you get the cases to the top you are going to need to be able to carry/pull it all between you as there are no trolleys until you reach the main terminal.

 

[markmcalear]

These Americans make things really difficult

So was my experience of the baggage belt a one off? Does it always take a very long time?

I assume it is because we were one of the first off the plane and through customs so the van that transports the luggage to the main terminal waited until everybody else had cleared customs and dropped their bags too.

 

[wayneg]

We have never felt as though we have had to wait long but not used the 2nd bag drop for a few years now, we only take 2 cases between 3 adults so easy for us to take with us.

 

[scoobydooby]

DH says no down escalator or stairs. Sorry

 

[Laurafoster]

We were told we were not allowed back down the stairs or to allowed to use a lift.

Last trip it was me, DH, 2 kids, 2 cases, 2 car seats and the pushchair (which has to be collapsed on escalator). We managed ok, but was told we had to do it in one trip.

 

[Elise79]

These Americans make things really difficult So was my experience of the baggage belt a one off? Does it always take a very long time? I assume it is because we were one of the first off the plane and through customs so the van that transports the luggage to the main terminal waited until everybody else had cleared customs and dropped their bags too.

The reason for the no going back is it is considered a secure area.

We haven't used the 2nd belt since 2009 and then it took 30 plus minutes for our cases but we were one of the first through.

We don't use it now as we only have 2 cases between 3 of us and there is just no need.

 

[queendisney]

How are you getting to your resort? Do you have a couple of cars? Could you not maybe split up, so that some of the cases go on the second belt for collection by the adults that are ok to wait and those that are really tired can go straight up the escalator with other bags and go straight out to one of the cars. Obviously it will take a bit of working out re drivers..but its an option.

 

[Woodview]

Here is another point of view

My party of 4 is on the same flight as you. We have managed to be off the

plane before you & have gone through customs & put our 4 cases

onto carousel & now we are going towards the monorail.

Unfortunately for us there is a large group of people , in front of us, struggling to carry / drag

a bout 9 suitcases up escalators & onto monorail.

It did not help that there were children , very tired looking , in the group.

Then when monorail arrived chaos happened . Some of the group got on

& some luggage got stuck ( The coach was Full by this time ) so they had to wait for next train.

My mood was not helped by one of the party scraoing my leg with a large heavy case.

My mood level lowered again as this large group insisted to proceed slowly towards the exit in a group and other passengers were unable to pass them out.

Why did they not put All their luggage onto the 2nd belt And everyone would be happy & have a feel good start to holidays ?

 

[markmcalear]

Here is another point of view

My party of 4 is on the same flight as you. We have managed to be off the

plane before you & have gone through customs & put our 4 cases

onto carousel & now we are going towards the monorail.

Unfortunately for us there is a large group of people , in front of us, struggling to carry / drag

a bout 9 suitcases up escalators & onto monorail.

It did not help that there were children , very tired looking , in the group.

Then when monorail arrived chaos happened . Some of the group got on

& some luggage got stuck ( The coach was Full by this time ) so they had to wait for next train.

My mood was not helped by one of the party scraoing my leg with a large heavy case.

My mood level lowered again as this large group insisted to proceed slowly towards the exit in a group and other passengers were unable to pass them out.

Why did they not put All their luggage onto the 2nd belt And everyone would be happy & have a feel good start to holidays ?

I appreciate your point of view, however not everyone would be happy. All 10 members of my party would be upset.

What you mean is "everybody else would be happy" but of course their mood would only be affected by if what you describe above happened. What if I were able to get my luggage up and onto the monorail and through the main terminal with zero inconvenience to other passengers? In this scenario there would be more happy people!!