Question for Seasoned Orlando PAX

I have to travel to Orlando on business in September, and I'm flying with a colleage from LGW to Orlando, departing on the Saturday 17th, and returning the following Friday 23rd.

Can anyone give me any sage tips on having the most hassle free trip in terms of flights (and hotel - staying at the disney swan & dolphin - the location of the conference) etc. We're flying VS in PE (27 out, 16 back, K class). I've already got seats reserved upstairs both ways.

Thanks,

Viz.

[fozzyo]

Check-in nice and early and try to bag the Emergency Exit seats upstairs. These can only be allocated at physical checkin so no DIY or On-Line checkin.

Also, if you aren't able to get into the CH and don't have a Priority Pass then you may want to look into booking one of the pre-bookable departure lounges. They are fairly basic, but usually have snacks and drinks included in the price and are much more comfortable and quiet then the general departures area.

Foz xx

[HighFlyer]

What sort of stufff did you want to know?

Are you renting a car? Or have transfers booked?

I guess I'm looking for tips on "things to avoid" or "things to ensure you do" at Gatwick and/or Orlando, any check-in/check-out tips for Disney Swan & Dolphin hotels etc. I'm used to flying LHR/LAX and have that worked out to a "T", however LGW to Orlando may be fraught with problems I know nothing about....

Cheers.

I've been to MCO many times and have always been off the plane, through immigration/customs and out the other side with no problems at all in very quick time. Flying PE or UC your luggage comes off first on a separate conveyor to economy, it then goes through a second security check and you collect it again. We've always found our luggage easily and quickly, never had a problem (touch wood). I would suggest if you're able to either use online check-in for your return flight, or take advantage of the Downtown Disney check-in. With 2/3 Virgin flights leaving from MCO each afternoon/evening the check-in can get crowded, even for PE. We took advantage of the twilight check-in at Gatwick and managed to get the exit row seats. Re. the Swan/Dolphin, they are both fantastic hotels and have some good restaurants but if you're after a good steak, head to the Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney's Yacht Club (5 minute walk along the Boardwalk), although you have Shulas at the Dolphin it is very very expensive and you can have an equally good meal at the Yachtsman for better value (although it's still not 'cheap').

Another vote for the Yachtmans Steakhouse at the Yacht Club - have a wonder along to the entrance of epcot after to see the fireworks (foc) and probably one of the least crowded views around.

If you are picking up a hire car, one of the party should collect the bags and the second one nip round the corner and down the lift to collect your car. It can be a bit manic if there are a few planes in at the same time.

Your in a great location at the Swan, so have a wonder round Boardwalk at night, plenty of bars and a little entertainment for a small fee.

(And another vote for the check in at downtown - what a great invention)

Been twice this year and planning third for end of november to catch thanksgiving sales;)

regards

David.

oh .. and tip of the year - when you return to mco go to your furthest left for security, its much much quieter than the right hand side. (and the crown room whilst not a clubhouse is a priorty pass lounge)

For Car Hire (similar to David's comments above)
After customs and dropping your backs of for the transfer to the main terminal, skip straight passed the collection carousel and go down another flight of stairs and collect your car paperwork. Then shoot back up stairs to collect you bags which should now be waiting for you then go straight over the road to the garage to collect your car.

Alternatively if you haven't organised it yet I believe there is an alamo desk actually in SWAN or DOLPHIN so you can organise the pick up here at your leisure the next day.

Just a useless piece of information for you, the statue on top of the DOLPHIN is a fish, this is because the hotel is named after MAHI-MAHI dolphin (which is a fish) rather than the mammal Dolphin you may expect to see at Sea-world.

Said it before and said it again, go to Ruth's Chris steak house on Sand Lake road.

Paul

Some other points:

1. Although many have mentioned getting to the airport early and grabbing exit row seats, consider avoiding these seats to be certain you don't get some evil kid kicking the back of the seat all flight. Kids infiltrate this route in all classes , and i'd therefore consider going for one of the back rows, either in the first or second section of the upstairs PE cabin.

2. If you go for Hertz for car rental, you can get the nifty Neverlost satnav system, but you'll need to get a transfer bus outside the airport to the Hertz lot. If that's too much effort, go for Avis who are on site. They have a somewhat inferior satnav system, but you only have to go down the escalator from the bag reclaim to get to the desk. Both will give you 1000 FC miles, which is surely the most important thing .

3. Have some dollars ready for the tolls if you are taking the Beeline Exressway or the Central Florida Greeneway from the airport. Avoid the I4 as much as possible, as there may still be crowds about in September and traffic gets heavy.

4. Eat as many Krispy Kreme doughnuts at the airport as possible on your way home - you will miss these when you are back in the UK unless you can be bothered to hunt out one of the new stores popping up all over the place back here (side tip: Bluewater shopping mall has a Krispy Kreme outlet and an Apple store, thus reducing the need to visit America quite so much...[8D])

5. Enjoy ice cold Bud on tap in the Delta Crown Room. If you don't have a Gold card/Priority Pass, beg steal or borrow to get in there (or I think there is a way you can get in there by paying..).

6. Priority boarding works at MCO. It's to the left of the normal boarding area. Use it, then wonder why VS can't sort this out at LGW [:p]

Where is the Disney "Downtown check-in" located, and how does it work - thanks for the tips so far, this is exactly what I was looking for.

Viz.

Downtown Disney check in is right outside Cirque De Soul. It's free if you are Gold or with VH - otherwise $5 but probably the best $5 spent.

You get your boarding card and don't need to be at the airport till about 1 hour before departure.

regards

David

If I'm travelling PE, is their much advantage to checking in downtown, or are the queues at the terminal horrendous?

One other thing, is what do to between check-out (probably around midday) and going to the airport??? Anyone know any cool, pleasant, quiet places to hang out in the area?

Cheers all.

VizBiz, MCO terminal is always choka-block, especially on Thur-Sun with 4 VS flights going out, so DTD check-in is very worth while.

As for what can you do midday onwards!!!????!!!! Your in Orlando!! Entertainment Capital of the world:D:D.

You know what I would suggest, after checking in at DTD walk across the street to Typhoon Lagoon and chill out round the huge wave pool or take it easy lounging around whilst floating on the lazy river, or even try some of the water slides or a swim with the sharks maybe.

After all of that they have shower and changing facilities to use before heading out to the airport.

They have lockers you can use to place your belongings in (travelling home clothes), so all you need to carry home is your wet swimming shorts. This gets my vote all the time when you have to get out of the hotel.

Other than that why not take in one of the parks, Universal or Sea World are usually good for a day.

Or take a trip down I-Drive, go to Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum or some of the other activities they have down there, or a game of crazy golf maybe.

I could just go on and on!!!:D:D

Matt

Final Questions I think; where is exactly cirque soleil (sp?) and more relevantly, is there a good online map of the area?

Cheers to all.

See here for details on Cirque Du Soleil
http://www.cirquedusoleil.com
The show in disney is called La Nouba - Absolutely fantastic. I take in the show pretty much every time.

Try here for maps
http://www.orlandoinfo.com/
But you will pick up one as good as any other if you are getting a hire car

Paul

Vizbiz, it can be found at Downtown Disney West Side, near enough nextdoor to the Virgin Megastore.

The Virgin Check-in desks are open from 8am until 1pm and are located outside in the parking lot area. You can't miss CdS, and the vans parked up near the check-in desk area.

Its a 2-5 minute drive from Disney Dolphin/Swan Hotels

Matt