MCO Arrival Question
 

Dear FT Friends,

We are driving down from Georgia tomorrow to Orlando to spend a week with my husbands nephew… college graduation gift from us for a week at Universal Orlando Resort and Halloween Horror Nights.

He will be arriving on LATAM Airlines and I believe arriving in Terminal B. We are not familiar with that terminal. Anyone know where the best place to tell him to meet us once he gets through immigration and collects his checked luggage?

Thank you

I'm responding just in case people with more knowledge don't respond in time for you. I have never flown internationally into MCO, but at every airport I've ever flown into there is always an exit that every international arriving passenger needs to go through after clearing immigration, retrieving their checked bags, and going through customs. And you should be able to be there when he walks through that exit. No need to find a coffee shop or other meeting place in the terminal (although at many airports there is a coffee shop directly opposite that exit, which is nice!).

Thanks!

unfortunately he will have to hang at airport because he arrives at least 3 hours before we arrive.

How about the lobby of the Hyatt hotel that's connected to the central terminal hub?

Do you know if it is easy to get there from baggage claim? English is not his first language so just trying to make it easy.

Another issue worth considering is whether there's a place in the lobby of the hotel where he can hang out for three hours. Of course at many hotels, a non-guest can just walk right in to a hotel and make themselves at home in a seat in the lobby, But I wonder if an airport hotel would design its lobby to discourage that; they presumably don't want a large number of airport customers crowding the hotel lobby waiting to be picked up or for flights. That said, there certainly are eateries in the lobby that he could hang out in, presumably just ordering a coffee or something minimal (or a full meal if that's his desire).

Thank you… coordinating is a nightmare… hubby cannot get out of hospital earlier… and we have long drive. Resort will not let him on property without us…. Logistical challenges.

The entrance to the Hyatt is on the main arrivals level of the central hub; baggage claim is one floor below directly underneath. There are signs throughout the terminal directing travellers to the Hyatt and it's a natural and conspicuous landmark within the central hub. OP's family member does not need to spend all three hours in the lobby (there's a food court and other shops in the central hub) but I'm suggesting it would be a good place to set as the final rendezvous. The lobby itself is pretty vast.

https://orlandoairports.net/getting-around-mco/#hotel

Thank you… he is so anxious and excited! Appreciate all the advice.

Since you are driving, I’m fairly certain there is a driveway and street entrance to the hotel (they have valet parking) so an added plus would be less likelihood of being asked not to loiter at curbside should one of you want to run in and meet your traveller.

No idea where to meet but a note about Busch Gardens Halloween Horror Nights. It is very intense horror. So make sure you want to be scared. It's not tame by any means and very graphic. Just a warning.

we are doing Universal Studios… we have Rush Of Fear passes.

Ok, so not Halloween Horror Nights. That is specific to Busch Gardens.

Actually, Halloween Horror Nights is specific to Universal Studios!

Howl-O-Scream is Busch Gardens.

oops! My bad. Halfway watched the commercials. I don't do scary so would never go to either. So sorry for the confusion. I get commercials for both and they look so alike...well. that's my excuse, and old age and bad memory and what was I talking about?