Security Setup at MCO

[Escapecar]

How does the Orlando Airport handle security screening? Do you clear it before you get on the trains to the terminals, or do they have seperate screening facilities at each terminal? (I was down there in December for the Tangerine Bowl, but I have no memory of it!)

We're coming down from Kansas City at the end of June, and my wife's 15-year-old goddaughter is going to join us from Washington DC to help with our kids. We're trying to figure out if we can get her to her gate for the flight home, then head to ours, with a minimum of hassle.

We'll fly Southwest, since it's a non-stop. She lives near Reagan, so USAir would probably work better for her family, but we'll fly her via BWI if the Orlando security would take up a lot of time.

Thanks!!

 

[Mickey_Maniac]

You will go through security in the main terminal before you get on the tram to the outlying terminals. They recently (maybe a year ago) reworked the queue area so it seems to run much smoother. They also expanded the number of screening lanes.

Watch out for the forbidden items though, they are very strict. Last time they took a pair of safety scissors out of my DD's carry on art kit that we forgot were in there. These were the kind that dont even cut paper, but they took them anyway.

If you are in seperate outlying terminals, you should still be able to get your GD to her gate. You can go over in her tram, leave her at her gate, then come back in the tram and walk over to the other one. They are both behind the security checkpoint. Just make sure to leave enough time.

Good Luck

 

[Escapecar]

Thanks, Mickey_Maniac!

That's the answer I was hoping for.

Now, back to the planning.....

 

[safetymom]

If you are in A and someone is in B not sure how the security handles that. They both have security checkpoints so you may have to go through security again.

You might want to check the MCO website and see if there is any info about it.

 

[Pinnie]

I am pretty sure that USAir is in Terminal B and SWA is in A. And if my memory serves me correctly, they have to different screening areas and 2 different trams.

pin

 

[SueM in MN]

I am pretty sure that USAir is in Terminal B and SWA is in A. And if my memory serves me correctly, they have to different screening areas and 2 different trams.

Pinnie is right about the different screening areas and different trams.
Last year, my mom and niece were down to Orlando with us and left on the same day as we did, but they were in A and we were in B. We wanted to go to their gate with them to make sure they got there OK, but we were not allowed to go thru the "A" security because we were not ticketed for a plane leaving from that area.

If you are leaving from the same "side" (A or B), as someone else mentioned, the tram area is after you pass thru security, so you would be able to all go thru security, take them on their tram to their gate on then take the tram back to your gate.

Here's a link to the Orlando airport website that actually shows pictures of the areas. If it doesn't work, go to www.orlandoairports.net and click where it says "Passenger Terminal" on the left side. These pcitures are under the "Departure Walkthru" . There is also an "Arrival Walkthru" set of pictures.

 

[Escapecar]

Thanks for everyone's input, it's starting to make sense.

I emailed the Orlando Airport, just to see what their "official" policy is. We'll make this work out somehow!

 

[pooh41]

Where can I go to use a computer to obtain a boarding pass (early) before I leave Orlando?

 

[Snoozan]

Pooh41 - I'm just back from MCO and didn't have a chance to get to a computer to get my return boarding pass - so of course, ended up in group B. The SW agent told me we didn't have to have the printed boarding pass, we just needed to have gotten on a computer to "check-in" the nite before and they would have printed the boarding pass at the counter for us. That means I could have had one of my kids to the check-in from home for us the night before our return flight, had I known. Do you have anyone at home that would be willing to "check-in" for you the night before to give you a better chance of getting the "A" pass?

If you're going to try this, I'd call SW first to be sure what the agent told me was correct - that you didn't need to actually print down the boarding pass for the return flight.

 

[dizneycc]

The SW agent told me we didn't have to have the printed boarding pass, we just needed to have gotten on a computer to "check-in" the nite before and they would have printed the boarding pass at the counter for us.

Well, that's very interesting~ I will definitely keep this in mind! We actually paid $10 at the GF to use their computers. To me, it was well worth the extra time we had in the park that day and not having to worry about getting an A seat.

 

[DebbieB]

If you are leaving from the same "side" (A or B), as someone else mentioned, the tram area is after you pass thru security, so you would be able to all go thru security, take them on their tram to their gate on then take the tram back to your gate.

Not always. Actually there are 4 groups of gates.

A 1-29
B 30-59
B 60-99
A 100-129

http://www.orlandoairports.net:/goaa/images/diagrams/terminal_overview.jpg

I ran into a situation with friends last month. My friend & I arrived on the B 30-59 side, her sister arrived on B 60-99. They were on opposite ends of the terminal and we could not go to her sister's gate because there was a separate security station (her sister arrived an hour after us).

A 1-29 and B 30-59 share one security area, B 60-99 and A 100-129 share another. You could jump between A 1-29 and B 30-59 if you don't exit the security area.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by pooh41
Where can I go to use a computer to obtain a boarding pass (early) before I leave Orlando?

At the Dolphin's business center, open 24/7

 

[Mickey_Maniac]

We stayed at the BCV a couple of weeks ago. At midnight, I got up to try logging on and had trouble connecting so I went down to the front desk to ask where I could go. She said she could do it for us. She had to go into the back office, but was back in about 5 minutes with boarding passes in hand.

I dont know if the other resorts will do this as well, but its worth a try...

 

[mslangen]

>A 1 - 29 amd B 30-59 share one security area, B 60-99 and A 100->129 share another. You could jump between A 1-29 and B 30->59 if you don't exit the security area.

Think this isn't the truth. You are right with the security checkpoint. There is one security for gates 1 to 59. The other will be for gates 60 and higher. When you board the tram at the concourse and exit at the main terminal you are not in the security area. You exit the tram at the other side. I don't think that they will allow you to exit the tram at the side where people are coming in. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is doable if you don't mind to go a second time in the same security line. What I mean is that it is possible to board the other tram then you should board, but you have to go back to the main terminal and exit the tram. As I said it will be at the other side and you can not board your own tram before going again through the security.

Gr. Marcel.