Late Flight: What to do at MCO airport to kill time?

[daughterlovesdisney]

The only flight available returning home from Fla was at 5:55pm, it appears we will be off the boat and back at the airport by 11:00am. Unable to rent a car, unable to spend money on a hotel room for the day, any other suggestions? Not at all familiar with that particular airport to know what's available.

 

[kcashner]

It's actually one of the better airports, but it's still mostly shopping or eating. There is free internet if you have a laptop.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Read. Play card games. Write in a journal about your fabulous vacation while the memories are fresh.

 

[RedSox68]

We've had to leave on later flights. We walked around the airport, even over to other sections and people-watched. We checked out the stores and snacked along the way. It's a very people friendly airport as far as stores and interesting things to see. Time went pretty fast. They have some great eating places and a food court. Here's a link to shops and restaurants:

http://www.orlandoairports.net/concessions/shops.htm

And airline locations:

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

 

[Toddymae]

OAC has a very good art collection. Grab a snack and walk the airport to look at the art work.

 

[LacyBelle]

You might want to check with your airline for their check-in policy. We traveled with friends last year and they were booked on a later flight like yours and their airline (I think it was USAirways) would not allow them to check in until 3 hours prior to flight time. They had to sit out in the ticketing area with their bags for 3 or 4 hours until they could check in. There's precious little to do out in that area, so don't know how they passed the time.

We were on a 2pm flight on Southwest, so checked in and enjoyed the shopping and dining in our shorter wait.

 

[poohbearbt]

Check out the LUSH store. I could spend hours in there.

 

[CADisneyMom]

It's either an FAA or TSA rule that you can't check bags earlier then 4 hours prior to your flight. If you make sure that you're in the last group to leave the ship then you should get to the airport closer to 12. I always left in the first group because I was always going for an 11:00 flight since I had to get clear across the country on standby.

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

Find Nemo!!

There's a huge fish tank and one of my daughter's favorite pastimes has always been finding Nemo in it!

 

[mousejunkie98]

Are you paying for Disney transfers? If there are more than 2 of you, it's actually a lot cheaper to rent a car. Then you'd not only save money, but you could also drive to DTD or somewhere else to kill time before your flight. Unless you are under 25 and truly unable to rent a car, which would definitely change things.

 

[scootch]

I got a rental car for $39 with a Budget, I got a code off mousesavers. We have a 355 pm flight. We are going to drive up to Downtown Disney and I have some leftover tickets for Disney quest. Doesn't open till 1130 but figured we can spend a few hours there and just walk around DTD.

 

[policycobb]

It's either an FAA or TSA rule that you can't check bags earlier then 4 hours prior to your flight. If you make sure that you're in the last group to leave the ship then you should get to the airport closer to 12. I always left in the first group because I was always going for an 11:00 flight since I had to get clear across the country on standby.

Really??? UGH! I have a 4:30 departing flight.

 

[elgerber]

You might want to check with your airline for their check-in policy. We traveled with friends last year and they were booked on a later flight like yours and their airline (I think it was USAirways) would not allow them to check in until 3 hours prior to flight time. They had to sit out in the ticketing area with their bags for 3 or 4 hours until they could check in. There's precious little to do out in that area, so don't know how they passed the time.

We were on a 2pm flight on Southwest, so checked in and enjoyed the shopping and dining in our shorter wait.

Even in this case, you do not have to wait in the ticketing area at the Orlando airport. There are many shops and eateries that are outside of security. Yes, you would have your bags with you, but at least there are still places to eat/shop while you wait.

 

[Disney Dreams]

We did exactly this in November. DH took his single "I'm not going" stance of our entire vacation when I suggested we go do SOMETHING, ANYTHING, for the s-e-v-e-r-a-l hours between getting of the ship and our evening flight home.

So... airport it was. What did we do? Hmmm....

Played on the ipad with free WiFi.
Played Othello against each other on the ipad.
Wandered through shops while DH hung with the carry-on bags.
- There are some great shops there!
- Did I mention the Disney shops after 8 days of Disney?
Lunch
Wandered
Back to the shops.
Looked at / edited through vacation pictures on digital camera.
Tried to talk DH into booking another cruise.
(repeat several of the above)
Board plane and sleep.

- Dreams

 

[Blanche_Neige]

If the OP is using DCL then she could take advantage of onboard airline check in and NOT have to worry about her suitcases.

We also had a late flight (6:30pm) after our cruise we used DCL transportation and we did not have to bother with the luggage until we landed it was great, espacially with 3 kids

we left the port around 9am and we got to the airport close to 10am. We did get a day room at the Hyatt for 89$ it was well worth it.

We got to relax, swim, eat watch TV, shop, nap. It was great. I know it's an added cost to the vacation but it was worth it.

 

[policycobb]

I called SouthWest and was told the earliest you can check-in your bags is 4 hours before your flight. I should have reserached this before I purchased my tickets.

 

[Blanche_Neige]

I called SouthWest and was told the earliest you can check-in your bags is 4 hours before your flight. I should have reserached this before I purchased my tickets.

Are you using DCL transportation to go to MCO? If so I believe Southwest is one of the participating airlines for the onboard check in.

If you use the service they take your suitcases and you do not have to take them with you to the airport yourself.

 

[Cmbar]

Are you using DCL transportation to go to MCO? If so I believe Southwest is one of the participating airlines for the onboard check in.

If you use the service they take your suitcases and you do not have to take them with you to the airport yourself.

Has this changed? Southwest wasn't when we went in October. Do they participate now?

 

[Blanche_Neige]

​

Has this changed? Southwest wasn't when we went in October. Do they participate now?

I saw on the mousesaver website that SW was a participating airline at WDW I assumed it was the same for DCL

I am sure the Info is on the FAQ sticky thread.

 

[Cmbar]

​

I saw on the mousesaver website that SW was a participating airline at WDW I assumed it was the same for DCL

I am sure the Info is on the FAQ sticky thread.

Unfortunately they are not the same. There have been plenty of rumors as to whether Southwest will add the Cruise line but I don't think it has happened yet. I hope it happens soon!