Logistics question - dropping off travelling companion at MCO

[irisesareblue]

My travelling companion (adult step-daughter) is a newbie traveller - she is 35 but hasn't been anywhere. On the way to Orlando I am travelling with her, however, on the way back home, she is leaving the day before I am. (we live about 1500 miles/2300 km away from each other).

I am booked to stay that night at the Hyatt Orlando Airport but will be returning to Universal Orlando to see the Blue Man Group after I drop her off. I will have a rental car which I will be returning to the rental car agency (Alamo) that evening after I return from the BMG so my thought is that I will just return the rental car and walk through the airport to the hotel for the night. However, I don't want to be keeping my luggage in my rental car at a theme park so I would like to check in at the hotel before returning to Universal.

My problem is that I would like to spend some time with DSD at the airport and be sure she gets through security OK - I don't want to leave her stranded and panicked.

So, could anyone tell me - on a Saturday afternoon, her flight is at 1:55 pm - does anyone have a guideline as to how long before her flight should she be at the security checkpoint? Would an hour before the flight be feasible?

I was hoping that I could do this - we would leave our hotel at DTD at about 9:30 am - we would then be at the airport by 10 am - we would then park my rental car in the lot nearest A Side of the Landside Building and I can take her into the airport to get her bags checked at the Westjet Gate. I would then have her walk with me to check into the Hyatt and drop my bags off at the room or with the concierge if the room is not ready - hopefully I'll be able to check in at the hotel early. We would then return to the security area for her to go through security and head out to the gates.

Am I totally out to lunch here? Not sure how huge the airport is - any other time we've been to the World, we've driven

 

[dioxide45]

If she has not been anywhere and therefore probably hasn't flown or been to large airports, I would suggest an hour and a half to be at and going through security. After security she will still need to baord the tram to the gate areas. It is better to be early and sitting at the gate than to be late and miss a flight. Give her extra time given her inexperience.

 

[agnes!]

I assume that the Saturday you're referring to is January 2nd? Oh my, that's at the tail-end of the Christmas rush...all bets are off. I would be at the airport TWO hours before her plane's scheduled departure. Sometimes on a normal day the MCO security lines can be AWFUL, you do not want that unpleasant surprise...to round the last corner as you're walking to MCO security (BTDT...ugh) and have a line that seems to stretch into tomorrow and have the two of you be stressed about your DSD making it to her gate.

Your plan sounds pretty solid, the hotel should let you store your bags there before your room is ready. You might want to phone them up to see what the procedures are. Why are you parking on A Side? Couldn't you drop your bags off at the hotel's front-door/outside lobby?

Have fun at Blue Man Group ,
agnes!

 

[irisesareblue]

We're actually flying to Orlando on January 2nd and staying until January 9th. Sorry I forgot to put the date.

Thanks for the input though!

 

[crashbb]

I know it isn't what you asked (so feel free to ignore me), but I have a suggestion which would avoid you driving back/forth to the airport.

When you arrive at MCO, take your DSD through what she will have to do to leave. In other words, go to the check-in counter/luggage drop off counter then walk to security. Check out the different lines (i.e. shes not going to want to go into the "expert traveler" line. You can even go over the air side stuff (i.e. getting the tram and finding the gate) - which you won't be able to do if you drop her off.

If you do all this, she might feel comfortable enough to take a cab from USO (which you put her into) to MCO and you wouldn't spend your morning driving there and back. Assuming you both have cell phones, she can call you for reassurance if needed.

I should announce my bias - I was flying as an UM at 5 and flying alone (not as an UM) at 12 (in both cases, the day after the respective birthdays). So, I forget how imitating adults can find the flying process. You, obviously, know her much better than I do.

 

[irisesareblue]

I appreciate the advice crashbb - unfortunately, I don't know her very well - she has only this past year been in contact with my husband and this is a "get to know ya" trip for her and I (messy divorce with his ex and his daughter is now 35 and has 2 grandchildren my husband hadn't met until this year). We have become good phone friends but I'm afraid I'm still a little nervous - I don't want her to think I've abandoned her and she's got to do this on her own...... My 2 daughters were supposed to come with us but their schedules at college this term are too intense to take the time off.

I will use your advice about taking a scout around when we get to Orlando and familiarizing ourselves with the airport and we'll see what she says as we get closer to the end of the week.

 

[winterman]

I agree with the PP who said 2 hours. Leaving from MCO, I would never want to allow less that that.