Meeting Up at Arrival at MCO - Separate Flights?

[DisneyLisa]

We're arriving at MCO at 10:40pm in October (Air Canada) & our friends are arriving at 11:15 pm (Continental). I've never been to MCO and am wondering if someone can give me advice as to the best way for us to meet up. I have a car reserved with National so figure I should go get the car right away. Should they meet us at the car rental location or should I drive somewhere to meet them? What would be the easiest? TIA

 

[DebbieB]

Make sure you specify which terminal you are meeting at. There are two sides - terminal A and terminal B

http://www.orlandoairports.net:/goaa/main.htm

Air Canada is in terminal B, Continental is in terminal A. I had a similiar situation in February, I came in on USAir in terminal B, my friends came in on Continental in terminal A. We met by the Disney Store near B security on level 3, both terminals meet at level 3. Your Air Canada is coming in first, but I assume you will have to go through customs, so you may actually not get to your meeting place first (assuming both flights are on time).

 

[DisneyLisa]

Originally posted by DebbieB
Your Air Canada is coming in first, but I assume you will have to go through customs, so you may actually not get to your meeting place first (assuming both flights are on time).

We actually go through US Customs in Toronto so it shouldn't take any extra time in Orlando. I'm just not sure if we should meet in the terminal before getting the rental car, get the rental car & wait for them at the rental garage or get the rental car & meet somewhere else (ie. terminal entrance or something).

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by DisneyLisa
...I'm just not sure if we should meet in the terminal before getting the rental car, get the rental car & wait for them at the rental garage or get the rental car & meet somewhere else (ie. terminal entrance or something).

Once you pick up your car, there is nowhere to wait for them. You would have to either continue to circle round and round the airport visually checking the arrivals area each time (this is not a fun thing to do at any airport) or you would have to drive around and park in the shortr term parking lot and pay.

As Debbie said, your best bet is to set a place in the terminal and wait for each other right there. Just be sure to specify exactly where you'll meet. Debbie mentioned outside the Disney Earport shop but make sure you specify *which* one since there is one in the A terminal and one in the B terminal.

 

[DisneyLisa]

Thanks to both of you for your replies. I guess we'll arrange to meet somewhere in Terminal A as we're sheduled to arrive first (but who knows) and then head to the car rental lot in Terminal A together. We'll probably come up with an alternate plan in case our flight arrives late & they arrive before we do (I really hope that doesn't happen as I hate the idea of getting to our resort any later than we already are ) We'll both have cell phones so we will have a way to communicate if things don't go as planned (ie. we're looking for eachother in opposite terminals ).

Thanks again.

 

[safetymom]

I would arrange to meet in the middle of the airport by the big screen listing the flights.

We had to do this last year and it worked beautifully. This way you are still in the airport to monitor the flight in case it is delayed.

 

[DebbieB]

When I met my friends that I mentioned above, we said to meet by the big flight board. Didn't know there are 2 of them! I got there first, I was waiting at the one by the Disney Store on B Side. Something told me to take a walk around, here there was another one on the A side! Since they were coming off A, I waited there and it worked out OK.

 

[DisneyLisa]

I'm getting a little confused but hopefully after I'm done studying the map of MCO (which I am in the process of doing right now) I'll understand the layout of the airport and can come up with the "perfect" meeting place. Right now it's clear as mud.

 

[safetymom]

Why not meet then by the Hyatt lobby? That is easy enough to find and there is only one Hyatt at the airport.

 

[DisneyLisa]

Which floor is the Hyatt Lobby on? I'd like to find a place that will give us quick access to one of the car rental garages so we can get out of the airport & off to our resort as quickly as we can...it'll be close to midnight. The Orlando airport looks so huge.

 

[safetymom]

It is on the main floor after you get off the monorail from Ter. A or B. It is very easy to spot, then go down a floor to baggage then go down another floor to get to the parking garage.

 

[DisneyLisa]

So... DD & I could arrive, go to Terminal B & get our luggage, go back up to the 3rd floor & wait for them at the Hyatt Lobby, meet them, go with them to Terminal A Baggage then to the Car Rental in Terminal A...does that sound right?

 

[safetymom]

That will work. When we met my daughter we had gone downstairs and gotten our luggage. When she arrived we went down and got hers and then walked outside to the shuttle.

It looks or sounds like you do a lot of walking but it isn't bad. After all you are on vacation.

 

[DisneyLisa]

Thanks safetymom...even though the MCO website shows it to be approximately the same size as the Toronto Airport (which I've been to dozens of times) it just looks so huge & confusing to me on the map. Once I've been there & seen it I'm sure I'll be fine...I think I've finally figured out how it's layed-out.

One last question if you don't mind. Is the Hyatt Lobby incorporated into the 3rd floor or is it separate? Thanks again for your help.

 

[safetymom]

It is part of the 3rd floor area. You will do fine when you get to MCO.

 

[safetymom]

It is part of the 3rd floor area. You will do fine when you get to MCO.