Is this Possible at MCO?

[Silver Queen]

We will be joining our son and his family for a WDW trip in September. We are arriving via SWA two hours before their scheduled USAirways flight and would like to meet up with them in the airport and ride the ME together to our resort. Once we arrive at Concourse A, instead of leaving the secured area can we hop over to Concourse B and wait for them at their gate or must we leave the secured area and meet them in the main terminal?

 

[kaytieeldr]

You must wait in the main terminal.

 

[goofy4tink]

Security is there for each Side. So, once you get off flight, you won't be able to access another gate if it is on the other Side of the airport. I would plan on meeting up, down on level 1, by the DME area. There is a nice lounge area. You can grab a bite to eat, or a drink, up on level 3, where you arrive. Then, take it down to level 1 (ground transportation), and sit there and relax for a bit. The other party can meet you there...much less stressful that way.

 

[taylor3297]

We will be joining our son and his family for a WDW trip in September. We are arriving via SWA two hours before their scheduled USAirways flight and would like to meet up with them in the airport and ride the ME together to our resort. Once we arrive at Concourse A, instead of leaving the secured area can we hop over to Concourse B and wait for them at their gate or must we leave the secured area and meet them in the main terminal?

Well I haven't done it at MCO, but I have at the Atlanta airport. As long as you haven't left the secured area, you can go where ever you want in the terminal areas.

Several times I have met my dad at the Atlanta airport so I could ride with him to his house. Usually, might flight would get in before his, so I would find his gate and sit and wait until his plane landed.

I don't think this would be any different at any other airport.

 

[Traveliz]

It's different at MCO because there is more than one secure area. After you leave your secure area you can't get back into there or any of the other areas without a boarding pass.

Liz

 

[taylor3297]

I just looked at the MCO map. It is divided where the Atlanta airport isn't.

 

[seashoreCM]

Half of the Side A gates and half of the Side B gates are at one security station and you can actuallly take the trams from one gate cluster to the other.

The other halves are at the other security station.

Depending on exactly what gates you and your son come in on, you may be able to meet at a gate. Take the tram to the main terminal normally. But wait for the second set of doors to open and get off on that side. (Correction follows) When you get off there are four tram tracks side by side with platforms in between, let's call them #1, #2, #3, and #4. If you got off #1 or #2 then go around the ends of the tracks to the platform between #3 and #4.

Gates numbered 1 through 59 are at one end and gates 60 on up are at the other end.

The main terminal is a rectangle that you can think of as a football field. The tram stations are at the goal posts with security in the middles of the end zones. Sides A and B are the side grandstands respectively.

One of the concourses with stores is just outside the security for the lower numbered gates. It is a good place to meet and the Magical Express area is just downstairs from there. (Using the football analogy this open area corresponds to the area goal line out to the 20 yard line.) Or you could meet in the food court (50 yard line)

From anywhere in the main terminal you can all go to the Magical Express area together.

 

[Silver Queen]

Great information, everyone, thank you! I especially appreciate everyone's responses. If we can find out which gate their plane will use we may try SeashoreCM's strategy. If not, we might wait at the main terminal fountain area. I appreciate the suggestion of waiting in the level 1 lounge area, but I think I'll be too excited to sit quietly, I may have to walk around and explore a bit. Thanks again!

 

[Silver Queen]

Just checked the MCO terminal map. It looks like SWA and US Airways on on opposite sides of the terminal so it looks like we'll meet up in the main terminal.

 

[Maleficent53]

MCO airport has a lot of great shops in their non-secure terminal area. Including TWO Disney stores!!! You will have no problem filling the time waiting for your family to arrive.

 

[Lewisc]

A PP mentioned 2 Disney stores. You better make sure you know which Disney store if you want to use that as a meeting place.

Two hours is a lot of time to kill in an airport. Fast food and airport shops grow old fast.

I'd take DME and meet at your resort. Use the pool. Walk around. Take pictures.

 

[DebbieB]

Great information, everyone, thank you! I especially appreciate everyone's responses. If we can find out which gate their plane will use we may try SeashoreCM's strategy. If not, we might wait at the main terminal fountain area. I appreciate the suggestion of waiting in the level 1 lounge area, but I think I'll be too excited to sit quietly, I may have to walk around and explore a bit. Thanks again!

USAirways is in the 30 to 59 group. SW is in the 100 to 129 group. Different ends, separate security. The little light blue block by 30 to 59 is a Disney Store, I think it's called "Magic of Disney". There are chairs to wait here and it's right by the escalators for B to get to DME. The fountain by the Hyatt is not near there.

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

 

[goofy4tink]

And again, since I tend to get lost in the shuffle....if you want to meet up and ride the bus together, just kill some time in the main areas of MCO...lots to do. Then, head down to DME to meet up...much less chance of someone's making a mistake in the 'where' to meet!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

I love airports and can find lots of things to do if I need to be there for longer than necessary. First step, take your time. Don't rush to get off the plane, just hang out and be among the last. Second, walk slower. Look at the shops along the way.

Since you're taking DME, I figure you won't be getting baggage, so you don't have that to worry about. Look at shops inside of your secure area. Dawdle. People-watch (the best!). Once you're outside the secure area, take time to go into the shops. Pre-buy some souvenirs. There's a Universal shop, too. Get a coffee. Sit, relax, and again, people-watch. All too soon they will be landing (if you have internet access of some kind you can use something like flightaware or flightstats to know how close they are and approx when they've landed) and your own reunion can take place, and other people can people-watch YOU!

 

[magicaldisney]

Half of the Side A gates and half of the Side B gates are at one security station and you can actuallly take the trams from one gate cluster to the other.

The other halves are at the other security station.

Depending on exactly what gates you and your son come in on, you may be able to meet at a gate. Take the tram to the main terminal normally. But wait for the second set of doors to open and get off on that side. (Correction follows) When you get off there are four tram tracks side by side with platforms in between, let's call them #1, #2, #3, and #4. If you got off #1 or #2 then go around the ends of the tracks to the platform between #3 and #4.

Gates numbered 1 through 59 are at one end and gates 60 on up are at the other end.

The main terminal is a rectangle that you can think of as a football field. The tram stations are at the goal posts with security in the middles of the end zones. Sides A and B are the side grandstands respectively.

One of the concourses with stores is just outside the security for the lower numbered gates. It is a good place to meet and the Magical Express area is just downstairs from there. (Using the football analogy this open area corresponds to the area goal line out to the 20 yard line.) Or you could meet in the food court (50 yard line)

From anywhere in the main terminal you can all go to the Magical Express area together.

AHHH, but what's at the 35 yard line??

 

[Lewisc]

I love airports and can find lots of things to do if I need to be there for longer than necessary. First step, take your time. Don't rush to get off the plane, just hang out and be among the last. Second, walk slower. Look at the shops along the way.

True, but in this case it's not necessary. Would you rather be looking at the airport shops, buying over priced food/drinks and buying stuff you might not need or take DME to your resort and spending time there? Pool? Restaurant? Snack bar?

At a minimum I'd look at the arrival board and make sure the other flight isn't delayed. Decide in advance what you'll do if your flight is early and the other flight is delayed and 2 hours is going to become 3 hours.

 

[magicaldisney]

This is true, you really should have a plan B. Decide ahead of time what you want to do if it is more than the two hours.

 

[magicaldisney]

Goofy or Seashore:

If my sister lands with Southwest at gate 100 (ish) she could get over to gate 60 (ish) to meet us when we get off of our Delta flight because we are landing in the same endzone? This would be wonderful if I'm understanding you right. This will be the first time we've taken different airlines.

 

[Lewisc]

You can do it BUT if you follow the signs and the crowds you'll wind up leaving the "sterile" area and be unable to return before you know it. Once you get off the tran you have to stop reading the signs and go directly to the other bank of trams.

Why? It's a lot easier to meet at the DME desk, or even at your resort.

 

[kaytieeldr]

All too soon they will be landing (if you have internet access of some kind you can use something like flightaware or flightstats to know how close they are and approx when they've landed)

Or you could go with the "low-tech" method that's worked for years: the Arrivals boards all over the terminals .