Just an idea of how long walks are at Terminal C

Elmo007

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Sep 7, 2009
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I came down to WDW a few days early and had to pick up some family at Terminal C. I was at Port Orleans - Dixie in the Lobby Bar watching Yeeha Bob. I had my family call me as soon as the wheels touched the ground on Arrival. I had to leave Port Orleans, get in my rental and drive to Terminal C. They had to taxi to the gate, get off the plane (maybe use the restroom?) and then walk from the gate to the passenger pick up Zone. They did not have checked bags. We both arrived at the pick up Zone within 1 minute of each other. It should be a longer trip from a Disney Resort to MCO then from a gate to the terminal exit, IMHO
 
I came down to WDW a few days early and had to pick up some family at Terminal C. I was at Port Orleans - Dixie in the Lobby Bar watching Yeeha Bob. I had my family call me as soon as the wheels touched the ground on Arrival. I had to leave Port Orleans, get in my rental and drive to Terminal C. They had to taxi to the gate, get off the plane (maybe use the restroom?) and then walk from the gate to the passenger pick up Zone. They did not have checked bags. We both arrived at the pick up Zone within 1 minute of each other. It should be a longer trip from a Disney Resort to MCO then from a gate to the terminal exit, IMHO
It IS a longer trip from WDW to MCO than from a gate to the terminal exit. If they called when they touched down, you don't know how long it took to taxi. Look below...
1674132422124.png
I highlighted Terminal C (lower left). I circled runway 17L/35R on the right (obviously other runways would be closer). If they landed to the north, that's ~3 1/2 MILES to taxi. Then, you don't know if there was some delay at the gate. Where were they sitting on board? If at the back of the plane, it could take 5-10 minutes to get off the plane. THEN, as you said, they could have stopped for the bathroom.

From the furthest gate to the Terminal C arrival area is ~ 1/2 mile. That should be ~10 minute walk for most people.
 
I came down to WDW a few days early and had to pick up some family at Terminal C. I was at Port Orleans - Dixie in the Lobby Bar watching Yeeha Bob. I had my family call me as soon as the wheels touched the ground on Arrival. I had to leave Port Orleans, get in my rental and drive to Terminal C. They had to taxi to the gate, get off the plane (maybe use the restroom?) and then walk from the gate to the passenger pick up Zone. They did not have checked bags. We both arrived at the pick up Zone within 1 minute of each other. It should be a longer trip from a Disney Resort to MCO then from a gate to the terminal exit, IMHO

But that isn't what you measured, so we don't know it wasn't. Taxiing and getting off of the plane can take a lot of time.
 
Every large airport I have ever used involves a good bit of walking and due to security reasons, unless this is some tiny regional airport you never just get off the plane and walk outside to the exit. MCO is no different in that regard. Which termainal you use is determined by the airline. I am not sure if you think Terminal A/B are better, but it's not something you get to choose. Never used C since it is new, but with both A/B @ MCO you take a tram/monorail to the main terminal. Then you either exit the building or go to pickup your luggage.

After landing, the plane will taxi to the gate. There may be other traffic that causes a delay in getting to your assigned gate. Where you sit on the plane makes a BIG difference in how long it takes until you are in the terminal. Walking in the terminal can also take a good bit of time with someplace as crowded as MCO. I have been on planes that arrived early and our assigned gate was still occupied by another departing aircraft. We either had to wait for them leave or got moved to a different gate.

If you are trying to time your drive to arrive exactly when you party exits the building, I think you will be disappointed more times then not. You might also get into a traffic jam on the freeway driving to MCO, so there are other variables in the mix as well.
 

I landed in Terminal C in December. I didn’t find the walk from the jetway to luggage to shuttle to be any worse than landing in Terminal A or B.

I honestly missed taking the fake-o-rail and seeing all the shops in the “big terminal”
 












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