What to do with luggage at MCO!?!?

[goofy4tink]

I just flew cross country myself and I was really surprised at the 'food' that was available to us on the plane!! Either a small boxed thing that they charge close to $6 for, or free snacks.
So...here's the thing. When you choose a flight that arrives that late, you have to remember that the facilities on the other end are going to be limited. You have to make choices. So...you are going to have to bring your bags with you. MCO doesn't provide storage for checked bags. I guess you could bypass baggage claim and eat, then you would have to head to the unclaimed baggage office. And no telling how long they are open and functioning. Or, just tag the bags, and let DME handle them the next morning. You won't have bags that night, and they will be out on the public baggage claim carousel until they are pulled for overnight storage. But, they will be picked up first thing in the morning and delivered to your resort room.

I suppose what I'm saying is that you can't have it all. You chose to fly in late, when DME is no longer providing baggage delivery service. So now you have to deal with it. Not to mention that flights are delayed, all the time. So, you may very well not arrive at 10:45.

As for food, I would just pack something in either the carryon bags, or in the checked bags, and then eat that. You may very well have to go without a complete meal that night. But, there are alternatives to a big meal.

 

[Alesia]

OP, looking back through your posts, I think you might not realize that you can bring real food on the plane, so you won't just be limited to protein bars and other snacks. You could bring sandwiches, fruit, salad, pretty much anything that you don't need to heat up. You can still have a perfectly substantial meal on the plane and save yourself a lot of trouble.

 

[seashoreCM]

It is my belief that, although you don't have to hustle, you should get to the Magical Express welcoming area not too long after your really late evening flight arrives. Reasonable means enough time to collect baggage but not to have a sit down meal.

Otherwise DME could "shut down" without you.

Would you feel included correction inclined to bring a few boxes of cereal on board for the kids to nibble on? Perfect to go with a video screen in the airplane seat back or in a portable DVD player or computer.

 

[Minnesota!]

Honestly, I would take DME to my resort, check in, and then have pizza delivered. That way you can eat in your jammies, unwind from the long day, and still have something substantial (and quiet conversation with the DH!).

 

[SaraJayne]

I am LITERALLY flying across the country. West Coast to east coast! I leave at 12:15pm my time (9:15am EST) and don't arrive till 10:45pm EST. I don't think snacks brought on the plane will be enough... I also can't count on getting anything on my layover as the food in Denver is not very good at the airport near the Southwest arrivals/departures! While we are arriving at 10:45pm is will only feel like 7:45pm to me and 8:45pm to him (he is coming from Denver while I am coming from CA)

There are southwest flights arriving after ours. I was originally booked on one arriving at 11:45pm.

If you are leaving the west coast at 12:15pm, it will be 3:15pm in the eastern time zone. West coast is three hrs behind, not ahead.

 

[chartle]

OP it sounds like you are picking up your husband in Denver and have a short layover there. Is it possible for him to pick stuff up and bring so you don't have to lug it all the way from California.

I like a lot of others see a major hassle trying to wrangle all that luggage and trying to find something to eat at 11:00 East Coast time but still within your normal West coast dinner time.

 

[malibuconlee]

Honestly, I would take DME to my resort, check in, and then have pizza delivered. That way you can eat in your jammies, unwind from the long day, and still have something substantial (and quiet conversation with the DH!).

This is a great idea! I think it's what I would do.

 

[robinb]

Honestly, I would take DME to my resort, check in, and then have pizza delivered. That way you can eat in your jammies, unwind from the long day, and still have something substantial (and quiet conversation with the DH!).

This is a great idea! I think it's what I would do.

Sheesh. Why didn't the rest of us think of that ?!?

 

[Alesia]

Honestly, I would take DME to my resort, check in, and then have pizza delivered. That way you can eat in your jammies, unwind from the long day, and still have something substantial (and quiet conversation with the DH!).

That's a great idea! We like Giordano's on arrival day

 

[dudspizza]

I am wondering about the Denver comment. I have been thru Denver many times and they have many food options available in the middle of the terminal. SW is in terminal C basically and there's McDonalds and a Villa Pizza for sure, plus others depending on the amount of time you have. You can always get foot and take it on the plane with you.

Since you are taking DME, I would eat in Denver, time permitting, and then head straight to your resort. You can order food when there...

Duds

 

[goofy4tink]

It is my belief that, although you don't have to hustle, you should get to the Magical Express welcoming area not too long after your really late evening flight arrives. Reasonable means enough time to collect baggage but not to have a sit down meal.

Otherwise DME could "shut down" without you.

Would you feel included to bring a few boxes of cereal on board for the kids to nibble on? Perfect to go with a video screen in the airplane seat back or in a portable DVD player or computer.

DME is NOT going to shut down on anyone!!! There will always be transportation for those with a reservation to ride the bus. They may have to wait a bit if they choose to dilly dally on the way to the DME area, but they will get to WDW.

 

[MaleficentRN]

How long is your Denver layover? It's not haute cuisine, but I see several sit down and counter service places there.I have a great app called Gate Guru. It shows all shops and restaurants, with reviews, in most airports.
At MCO, Starbucks is open 24 hours. They have sandwiches. I don't know how late the pizza places will be open on your arrival day.That's worth investigating.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Depends on the OP's starting airport. It could be as little as 40 minutes, or as much as an hour and a half.