Orlando Airport -- what's there to do?

[pgsahm2]

I've never flown! And neither have my kids.

We have a flight out of MCO at 6:30 pm but we'll be arriving probably before lunchtime. Basically we'll be at the airport ALL DAY. I'm hesitant about this but we have no other choice.

What is there to do at the airport? Are there shops and/or restaurants? It's going to be a long day with two kids I'm afraid.

TIA!

 

[Traveliz]

Yes there are shops and restuarants -

Why do you have no other choice than arriving before lunch?

Liz

 

[MinnieGirl33]

There is lots of shopping... Crocs, Borders, Brookstone, Disney, Universal, Sea World, Kennedy Space Center, Harley Davidson, Ron Jon, etc...

As for food, Chili's, Macaroni Grill & Outback for sit down meals.

What about seeing if Hyatt has a day rate & go swimming?

I think it's nice as far as airports go.

 

[iluvflorida8]

Orlando airport is one of the nicest and cleanest airports in the country. If your kids don't want to go to a regular restaraunt, there is a large food court with all different choices(McDonalds,Chick Filet,etc)...

 

[kirbsam]

i dont care how much there is to see or shop or eat or how clean it is. sitting in an airport with or without kids is about the most boring thing there is. make sure you have books and those travel type games for them. buy a couple of magazines or wordfinds, but be prepared for complete and utter boredom.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

The Florida Mall is only about 15-minutes away from the airport and would be a better place to kill some hours than in the airport. But if you absolutely have to be in the airport the store selection (because of all the theme park stores) is way better than any other airport in the U.S.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Alexander]

UGH! I would strongly recommend not going to the airport so early! Are you getting there so early because you have to check out of your hotel? We always head to Downtown Disney for a few hours if we have later flights. I totally agree with kirbsam, the airport is a rotten place to hang out.

Again, I wouldn't get there that early! What if your flight ends up being delayed another hour or two! Yikes, that's a lot of time in the airport!

If you are staying at a Disney resort, make arrangements with Magical Express. They'll pick you up about 3:30 for a 6:30 flight. You could hang out and swim at your hotel. Or go downtown and be back to your hotel for the bus. The hotel will hold all of your luggage for you.

If you are staying at another hotel, check into the Mears shuttle. It won't cost as much as eating and shopping in the airport for 6 hours would. Even a cab from a private home or location would be a better deal.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I would opt for the day rate at the Hyatt. You have to book it over the phone. Here's the link to the hotel which contains the phone number and pictures. You can swim in the roof top floors, watch planes, etc.

http://orlandoairport.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

Here's the MCO website which will list the shops, places to eat, etc. plus maps of the terminal.

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

 

[pgsahm2]

We are arriving early because we are returning from our cruise that day. Our town car will pick us up at the port and take us the airport. I wish we could have gotten an earlier flight but it didn't work out. I'm hoping the airport will be entertaining enough!

Thanks for the replies!

 

[Traveliz]

We are arriving early because we are returning from our cruise that day. Our town car will pick us up at the port and take us the airport. I wish we could have gotten an earlier flight but it didn't work out. I'm hoping the airport will be entertaining enough!

Thanks for the replies!

Well that makes sense - unfortunate though.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do to pass the time!

Liz

 

[MinnieGirl33]

FWIW, some airlines will let you fly standby on earlier flights on the same day for no additional charge.

It might be worth looking into.

 

[CarolA]

Call the Hyatt at the airport. They have a day rate where you get a room and use of things like the POOL! You cannot book this on the website you have to call. I think it's about $80, but probably that's less then you would wind up spending in the shops LOL!

 

[NotUrsula]

Spending that much time at the airport is deadly dull. MCO is a nice airport, but IMO, it's not THAT nice, especially when there is so much good stuff to do near the port. As long as it isn't the dead of winter, what I would do in that circumstance is go to the beach or KSC.

If renting a car was an option, I'd rent a car from the port, spend the day at the beach or KSC, and toodle on down to MCO at my own pace.

If you can't drive, I'd get a room at one of the beachside hotels in Cocoa and spend the day playing, and have the towncar pick you up there instead. You can easily get a cab from the port to Cocoa.

 

[salmoneous]

One quirk about MCO is that all the "interesting" stuff is before you go through security. Once you go through security and go out to the "pods", there is nothing to do.