What would you do?? Long wait @ MCO

[katiee511]

I think I need help working this out This Sat I fly into MCO arriving at 12:35 pm. Reserved a rental car from Dollar. My dilemma is what to do while waiting for the rest of my group. They arrive at MCO at 5:55 pm

We are staying offsite at a timeshare and it is not reserved in my name, so I can't check-in, even if it would be ready early. Add to that the fact I don't want to be driving around Orlando alone, paying tolls both ways and paying to park in the garage for their arrival....

I would also love not to cart my luggage around with me if I choose to hang around the airport waiting. If I check out my rental car, can I leave it parked there for a few hours?? or will it look available and they may assign it to someone else and there goes my luggage!

I love to read, so I will bring a book with me but will not be able to bring my laptop, so I can't amuse myself reading the DIS.... so if it were you, would you hang around MCO waiting? or would you get the car and go hang out somewhere near the airport? Are there restaurants nearby that do not require paying a toll to get to and back? Then would you wait in the cell phone lot for the rest to arrive? Does anyone have a more creative way for me to spend my 5+ hour wait???

Thanks for your input I feel I might be missing something here!

 

[Lewisc]

Have you friends call you just before their flight leaves. You don't want to be waiting in the cell lot longer then necessary.

I wouldn't let a few dollars in tolls dictate my actions. There are a couple of restaurants just N of the airport, in the vicinity of the hotels. Tolls not required. You can get on Sand Lake without paying a toll. If you have a GPS go to preference/settings and check the box that says avoid tolls. Otherwise paying the tolls will be a lot easier. You could go the Florida mall. You could go to the grocery store. Make sure you leave room for your friends and their luggage. Careful with perishables.

You have to decide what you want to do. Read? Shop? Dine? Watch a movie? Not sure if the schedule works.

 

[dudspizza]

There are a couple of restaurants just N of the airport, in the vicinity of the hotels. Tolls not required. You can get on Sand Lake without paying a toll.

Just take the north exit from the airport and stay on Semoran Blvd. There are quite a few restaurants just on the other side of the Freeway. You could find something to eat and sit and read your book. When your friends arrive you could drive back to the airport and pick them up. They could call when they are on their way to baggage claim and you could swing up to the curb and pick them up.

Restaurants include Tony Romas, Dennys, TGI Fridays, Chilis and Hooters.

Enjoy!

 

[rvchat]

a lot of airports (International too) and this one is one of the best! I could spend so much time shopping and eating here alone. And it has that great skylight so you don't even feel like you're in an airport.

 

[Lewisc]

Sitting at a restaurant table for 4 hours while you read a book is kind of pushing it.

You asked what we would do. How early can you check in? 3? 4? Then I'd try to get written authorization allowing you to check in. Grocery shop. Drop off your stuff. Then drive back to MCO. Use the cell phone lot. Plan won't work if check in time is 5p and/or you can't get permission to check in.

 

[katiee511]

Thanks everyone.... you have given me more to think about. I think getting the car and exploring the area may be the way to go. I don't mind waiting in airports but dragging my luggage around adds a whole new dimension

The Mall sounds good. The grocery stop will be better done after they arrive, I think. Getting authorization to check into our condo would be wonderful. Then I could drop my luggage leaving more room for theirs. I'll have to Mapquest it and see if it's doable. We are staying at Cypress Pointe Resorts (and one of the people I am waiting on is the one with the GPS!) Does anyone know if its worth the drive? Any experience with Cypress Pointe? I think check-in is at 4 and there will probably be long lines for a Sat.... do places like that have a luggage storage area like Disney hotels?

 

[Lewisc]

Just North of DTD. I'm not saying it's walking distance. Pay the tolls. Probably not worth the aggravation of local roads even if you have a GPS. Just bring a roll of quarters.

edited to add probably about a half hour drive.

 

[skelooch]

What time did you schedule your rental car pick up for, if you show up early or late it could change your rental contract.

If you scheduled it for shorty after your arrival I would definitely check in for the car, even if you don't take it at that time.

Perhaps you can have whomever's name is on the hotel reservation to give you permission to check in on their behalf by calling the hotel.

I definitely wouldn't hang around the airport for 5-6 hours.

 

[Telcogirl]

How about simply heading to Downtown Disney for a few hours to get you into the vacation spirit? Parking is free and you can get a bite to eat and enjoy some Florida sunshine as you browse the shops.

 

[chamonix]

I love airports, but no way would i simply hang around MCO for over 5 hours! I also love to read, but really, Sitting inside for 5 hours on the first day of my vacation would not be fun. Except......if it was sitting by the pool or the beach or outdoor restaurant, park, etc......so, my advice, or, what I would do:

Get rental car and head to resort. If it works out and you can arrange to check in ahead of time, fine, if not, i would change into a swimsuit and sit by the pool or somewhere nice and read, eat, drink etc. there at the resort....or downtown disney, or even hit a park to people watch or something. 5 hours is a long time, you could definitely do something fun. A few bucks in tolls would not stop me, but only you know what your budget is, and if it's that tight, i guess you need to stay put at the airport. Unfortunately, Orlando airport is just not that big or interesting. Also, I'm not a mall girl, so that wouldn't be my choice....but if that sounds fun to you, go for it! But definitely leave the airport and do something would be my advice.

 

[katiee511]

All great advice... thanks everyone!

Update: my cousin called the resort and listed me for early arrival. If the unit is not ready, I should be able to store my luggage with them. Then find somewhere to grab a bite, walk around and read if I get bored.

Packed my quarters for tolls and will drive around to get familiar with the area and just enjoy the sunshine since its 30 degrees in Indiana with frost this morning, it will be wonderful to just be warm again!