what to do until 2:00 flight

[AnnMorin]

Got a GREAT deal on Southwest today, unfortunately the flight does not leave orlando until around 2:00. any suggestions as to what to do? How about our luggage?I really don't want to sit in the airport for half a day. thanks Ann

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

I'd rent a car from Avis, visit <a href="http://www.ronjons.com/locations/cb_general.htm"><font color=blue><i>Ron Jon's</i></font></a>, have lunch at the <a href="http://www.cocoabeachpier.com/"><font color=blue><i>Cocoa Beach Pier</i></font></a>, drive to the airport, check my bags, return the car, and head to the gate.

 

[ldb1030]

we got a cheap hotel near the airport, stored our luggage in the room and had a nice lunch then took the hotel shuttle to the airport! Nice to have a place to hang out instead of the airport!

 

[CamColt]

We went to the airport and tried to get on a standby flight. Our luggage got on and we actually could have gotten on but the seats werent together and Im a big chicken. I would have been grabbing the poor person's next to me arm every time the plane shook. It actually worked out well once we finally arrived home(after our 2:30 flight). We didnt have to wait for our luggage it was right there in a roped off area waiting for us.

 

[kimtenn]

Orlando airport is chock full of mall-like fun shops (like from Universal Studios and Sea World). DH and I always like a late flight back home so we can look at the neat shops at the airport.

 

[tlt]

Dave's idea sounds great if you have a car/place to keep your luggage....watch your time though...it will go by quicker than you think...we had a 2pm flight also. Remember, it takes a while to get to the airport from the terminal and you would need to eat a very early lunch to make it on time. We were off the ship around 9am, in our car with our luggage by 9:45, and at the airport by 11:15 (lots of traffic that day). We shopped and had lunch and we were at our gate by 1:15...that only gave us 2 free hours in the airport which goes by fast.The airport does have lots of great shops to spend your time in...we loved the SeaWorld, Universal, and esp the several Disney stores. You can always spend whatever time you have shopping/looking...it is a pretty airport with lots to see. If your plane left much later, there is plenty to do, but 2pm isn't really as late as it seems.

 

[AnnMorin]

We have always been off the ship by 8:15am at the latest, with getting the rental car could we squeeze in NASA or is that just impossible with making our 2:20 flight?

 

[tlt]

We've been to NASA and it is wonderful and definitely worth seeing, but it is expensive to only go for a couple of hours...there is a bunch to see there and you might be overwhelmed with what to see and what to miss...there are buses that take you to several of the sites because it is soooooooooo spread out over a lot of land...the buses are a do-it-yourself pace...they circle at all the spots every 20min or so and you get off and on at your own pace...there is a lot to see at each stop though and the bus thing alone took us 1/2 a day...then at the main bldg...there are movies, exhibits, IMAX, shops, etc...It is a whole day trip to us...I wouldn't know what to tell you to do in just a few hrs...it probably could be done if you researched it and knew in advance what you were interensted in and what you would skip, but it would be hard to do...it is all good. It is pricey though for only a few hrs.

 

[MO64RN]

In addition to the shopping at the airport you can also do lunch. There is a Chili's restaurant in the center of the main terminal. I think you would be cutting it a little close to go to KSC. Too much to see in too little time. Check in and check your bags, eat lunch, and shop. Just chill.

 

[prymsu]

I also like to try to do stand by if at all possible. It is always a nice surprise when you can catch an earlier flight and get home earlier than planned so you can get started on all the laundry!

 

[DisneyKids]

We would probably rent a car (Avis), drive to Dowtown Disney and have lunch and wander through the shops a bit. It's about an hour drive from port and 20 to 30 minutes back to the airport. Might be a little tight with needing to get to the airport early with security concerns but it's a thought.

 

[AnnMorin]

What is downtown disney? Do you need a park pass to go there? I think KSC is out as I didn't know it would take all day but downtown disney is a thought... tell me more!

 

[mcnuss]

Downtown Disney is a shopping and entertainment area near to WDW. It's a great place to have lunch, window shop, wind down. There is no admission fee.

We do not leave until 7 pm after our cruise and we are planning on going there for at least part of the day.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

www.downtowndisney.com

 

[AnnMorin]

WOW! downtown disney looks great (thanks for the link Dave )
My son would love the DisneyQuest. So my problem is solved, we will get off the ship, rent a car, go there for a few hours and head to the airport. Thanks for the great idea everyone!