Tips on VS to Orlando

Hi,

I am taking the family (wife, daughters 6 and 9) to Orlando from LGW on VS 15 in PE on Saturday 15th Dec returning on Jan 2.

Does anyone have any tips that would smooth my journey along?

I know the Club house is not open to my kids but can I get a fast track through security etc?

I am a frequent flyer on VS and BA but normally leave from LHR so I know my way around that airport but not LGW.

Any hints and tips gratefully received.

Regards

SD

Hi,

Don't know about fast track - sometimes p/e get it sometimes not (are you flying club gold?)

Try and bag seats upstairs - much better than the p/e section downstairs. I am sure others will be along shortly.

David

When you get to Orlando, you should be off the aircraft fast in PE [probably ahead of some of UC too] - make your way to immigration without delay, especially if there are other VS / BA aircraft in, as the queues may already be long.

At MCO, only certain immigration counters take biometric passports - look for the biometric symbol on the glass screen on the counter [hard if the queue is long, I know]. If need be ask someone which counters take the 'new' passports [as they were referring to biometric passports as 'new' ones back in November]. If the Visitors immigration line next to the US Citizens one is a biometric lane, then this may be a good bet, as the US Citizens line will invariably move faster and they may then call people off from the Visitors lane to be processed on the US Citizens lane.

The bag re-check after customs may or may not be in use. When I flew to MCO in November, it was blocked off, so you had to carry all your luggage onto the train - no trolleys available until you get to the main terminal [and then only downstairs in the bag reclaim area, I think]. I know other people who have posted MCO TR's on here since I went found the bag re-check was open. It all depends how light you are / are not travelling as to whether you appreciate the re-check or loathe it.

If you're renting a car & have used the bag re-check to get your bags to the main terminal, you may well want to go and sort the paperwork out for the car if you've used an on-airport company. Once you've done that, head back up a level to collect your bags. The re-checked bags are transported from the satellite terminal to the main one by road & it's pot luck how long they take. I have waited a good 15mins for bags in the main terminal in the past. That's about it for arriving in MCO. Have a safe drive to wherever you are staying.

For the return journey, I have always found Orlando airport to be quite pleasant. The only negative I guess is that there is nowhere near enough seating in the gate area. You have 2 VS & 1 BA flights all leaving within an hour or so and there are not enough seats to cope with the close on 1000 people waiting for their flights. If you have FC Gold status and can get into the Delta Crown Room, then do - it's much more relaxing to wait up there (although I am unsure what their policy is with regard to children, especially if they are young - I have seen early teenage children in there).

Enjoy your flight home and get the warm jumpers / coats ready, as you will need them for sure when you get back to the UK!

James

Originally posted by David
Hi,

Don't know about fast track - sometimes p/e get it sometimes not (are you flying club gold?)

Try and bag seats upstairs - much better than the p/e section downstairs. I am sure others will be along shortly.

David

We were given Fast Track in October when we flew PE to MCO but the airport was so busy they were letting everyone through when we got there.

Defo get the seats upstairs if you can, much better than downstairs. Are you staying at Gatwick overnight? If so use Twilight check in the night before, saves a lot of hassle the next day.

The only other advice I would offer is get to the theme parks early, Often you can get an hour or two to get on the ride before they get too busy, oh and enjoy yourself.

Miopyk [8D]

Have a read through some of the TR's to Orlando, can allways pick up some useful info there. Upstairs in PE is better in my opionion, are you staying on site at Disney? If so make sure you use full advantage of extra magic hour. Make sure to take PSP's etc to make the flight quicker if you like. Check out

http://www.attraction-tickets-direct.co.uk/forum for tickets and advice or
http://www.thedibb.co.uk for advice and great deals

find them a really good source of infomation!

Enjoy your trip![y]

Originally posted by sdurkin
Hi,

I am taking the family (wife, daughters 6 and 9) to Orlando from LGW on VS 15 in PE on Saturday 15th Dec returning on Jan 2.

Does anyone have any tips that would smooth my journey along?

I know the Club house is not open to my kids but can I get a fast track through security etc?

I am a frequent flyer on VS and BA but normally leave from LHR so I know my way around that airport but not LGW.

Any hints and tips gratefully received.

Regards

SD

Ask for Fastrack stickers at Check In ... I had them last month travelling PE [:D]

However, be warned Fastrack dosen't open till 7.30am if at all [:(!] I ended up spending an hour in the normal channel [V]

I would most certainly suggest that unless you have lots of luggage then take it with you to the train.

Upon arrival and after immigration you collect your bags. You then walk down and can put your bags on a conveyor to be reclaimed again in the main terminal. From personal experience i will not do this again. It took about 25 mins to get our bags the first time then once in the terminal another 25 mins to claim then again.

Lastly. if you do have a lot of bags or small children ensure you have some US coins, i cant remember the exact amount but you have to pay for trolleys.
Use the lifts right opposite the second bag claim in the main terminal to go and get your car hire.

Originally posted by stu
It took about 25 mins to get our bags the first time then once in the terminal another 25 mins to claim then again.

I think Kraken's tip here is spot on. Forget about (re)claiming bags and go and get the hire car sorted out before those desks get swamped. By the time you've finished there the bags will be through.

We are a day behind you SD and will definitely be rechecking bags - not too sure we'd have a choice with two young kids and at least 6 bags.

Thanks for the tip on the biometric passports Kraken - first time we've had to bother but my daughter just renewed her passport - not sure there is any info on the biometrics though as she is only 5.

My only other advice - but it might be a bit late now - is to make sure you have your own headphones for the kids - VS headphones just do not sit right on kids heads.

FM

Originally posted by FamilyMan

Originally posted by stu
It took about 25 mins to get our bags the first time then once in the terminal another 25 mins to claim then again.

I think Kraken's tip here is spot on. Forget about (re)claiming bags and go and get the hire car sorted out before those desks get swamped. By the time you've finished there the bags will be through.

We are a day behind you SD and will definitely be rechecking bags - not too sure we'd have a choice with two young kids and at least 6 bags.

Thanks for the tip on the biometric passports Kraken - first time we've had to bother but my daughter just renewed her passport - not sure there is any info on the biometrics though as she is only 5.

My only other advice - but it might be a bit late now - is to make sure you have your own headphones for the kids - VS headphones just do not sit right on kids heads.

FM

Thanks very much for all your help.

Regards

SD

[buns]

SD

Welcome to V-flyer.

Just cover a few points on the Gatwick end of your trip.

The departure lounge in the South Terminal tends to be rather full in the morning (no matter what the time of year, but especially so at Christmas). Finding seating will be an issue and the shopping is rather limited.

If you are not a VS Gold (and your budget can stretch to it), why not take some time out in the Servisair lounge which you can book through BAA beforehand?

As this post indicates, sometimes if the Clubhouse is not full, they may accept paid entrance.

As far as Fastrack is concerned, I have always been given a fastrack sticker on my boarding pass when travelling PE (even prior to achieving Au with VS). The Fastrack entrance is now completely separate and opens around 7.15 am

Have a great trip

buns

Originally posted by buns4vs
SD

Welcome to V-flyer.

Just cover a few points on the Gatwick end of your trip.

The departure lounge in the South Terminal tends to be rather full in the morning (no matter what the time of year, but especially so at Christmas). Finding seating will be an issue and the shopping is rather limited.

If you are not a VS Gold (and your budget can stretch to it), why not take some time out in the Servisair lounge which you can book through BAA beforehand?

As this post indicates, sometimes if the Clubhouse is not full, they may accept paid entrance.

As far as Fastrack is concerned, I have always been given a fastrack sticker on my boarding pass when travelling PE (even prior to achieving Au with VS). The Fastrack entrance is now completely separate and opens around 7.15 am

Have a great trip

buns

Thanks Buns,

What does the Fast Track sticker look like?

BTW, I have a Priority Pass card courtesy of my Amex Centurion and it says I can use

'Gatwick Airport South Terminal - SERVISAIR LINGFIELD LOUNGE
Location: Airside, Upper Level

Gatwick Airport South Terminal - SERVISAIR ASHDOWN LOUNGE
Location: Airside, on the left before 'the World Duty Free Shop'

Gatwick Airport South Terminal Ð US AIRWAYS CLUB
Location: Airside'

Regards

SD

[buns]

Originally posted by sdurkin

Thanks Buns,

What does the Fast Track sticker look like?


Regards

SD

Last time I had one it was a small oval purple stick - the last time I went through Gatwick, the agent just wrote on 'Fastrack' as the stickers had run out.

Methinks the Gatwick Security people have seen their fair share of PE Board Cards in their time and this will not be a problem for you

BTW, I have a Priority Pass card courtesy of my Amex Centurion and it says I can use

'Gatwick Airport South Terminal - SERVISAIR LINGFIELD LOUNGE
Location: Airside, Upper Level

Gatwick Airport South Terminal - SERVISAIR ASHDOWN LOUNGE
Location: Airside, on the left before 'the World Duty Free Shop'

Gatwick Airport South Terminal Ð US AIRWAYS CLUB
Location: Airside'

Ace[y][y][y]

buns

Originally posted by buns4vs

Originally posted by sdurkin

Thanks Buns,

What does the Fast Track sticker look like?


Regards

SD

Last time I had one it was a small oval purple stick - the last time I went through Gatwick, the agent just wrote on 'Fastrack' as the stickers had run out.

Methinks the Gatwick Security people have seen their fair share of PE Board Cards in their time and this will not be a problem for you

BTW, I have a Priority Pass card courtesy of my Amex Centurion and it says I can use

'Gatwick Airport South Terminal - SERVISAIR LINGFIELD LOUNGE
Location: Airside, Upper Level

Gatwick Airport South Terminal - SERVISAIR ASHDOWN LOUNGE
Location: Airside, on the left before 'the World Duty Free Shop'

Gatwick Airport South Terminal Ð US AIRWAYS CLUB
Location: Airside'

Ace[y][y][y]

buns

Thanks very much for all your tips, very useful.

Regards

SD

Just bagged 72 and 73 A & C - don't know who is more exited - me or the kids!!