MCO - 2 Questions about check-in and I about Delta lounge

Hello,

My second post!

I am flying UC from MCO to LGW on VS 16 on Sunday 4th April

a) Is it worth making use of the Downtown Disney Check-in – in terms of convenience? Will have spent a week “doing the Parks”...staying about 20 minutes away from Downtown Disney.
b) For the VS16 flight that departs at 19:30 – what time should one arrive at MCO? 3 hours before departure?
c) What is the shared lounge (Delta Crown Room – or Sky Club as it is no known) like at MCO in terms of facilities, drinks and food? I have read elsewhere that a member of ground crew actually escorts the UC pax from the lounge to the plane at the time of embarkation – is this correct?

I hope someone can give me some answers here.

Cheers

[Neil]

Hi,

The use of DTD is up to you, when we fly UC we tend to use it because it allows us to enjoy a full last day without the worry of our bags, but we stay in a villa and have to check out by 10am.

I would say 3 hours, is to long to arrive at MCO, even more so if you have used DTD check in.

The Delta Crown lounge at MCO is okay, but not great. It is a nice place away from the masses in the main area, which are pretty rubbish, free drinks/papers/wifi, but no food and very basic snacks, an hour or so is more than enough in there for me.

I have never been escorted from the lounge to the a/c, but it is only a 2min walk, so not really necessary, just walk to the front of the queue with your boarding pass out to get straight on board.

Just to add on to Neils reply, check the time your hire car is due back. Its great to have the whole of the lasy day free, but if your car is due back at 4pm and your not flying till 7.30pm, the Delta lounge doesn't really hold your attention for that length of time.

1 and a half hours before departure is "usually" plenty of time to be at the airport*

David

*disclaimer - it's whatever you feel comfortable with.

If you are in the airport early, rather than the lounge, I would recommend McCoys in the Hyatt.
Views out over the airport - the Trio is good.

I've never seen the "escort" from the lounge working but it is very close and MCO priority boarding does seem to work well.

Last time I was in the lounge (Dec) they were in the middle of a re-furb - anyone been recently?

Edit to add: We find DTD is well worthwhile. We are always glad to get rid of cases early bringing the car quite close to the check-in.

DTD check works well; as others have said it's good to get rid of the baggage (they take suitcases as well )

Last time I was in the lounge (Dec) they were in the middle of a re-furb - anyone been recently?

Hi Bill

Was there in Feb and didn't really notice any difference, just the usual generic lounge.

David

If you are in the airport early, rather than the lounge, I would recommend McCoys in the Hyatt.
Views out over the airport - the Trio is good.

Ssshhhh Bill dont give the location of the secret hideout away! Love going to McCoy's and then walking straight onto the plane, past all those poor souls in Outback and Burger King!


I personally never use DTD check in- every time I am over at DTD the queues look horrendous (although not an issue if J). I have always found the check in area at MCO to be well manned by VS and have never waited more than 5 minutes to be checked in. I normally arrive about One Hour 45 before take off check in, head to McCoys and then go over to Airside 4 once the queues for security have died down. However as Neil pointed out I do not have the "problem" of the bags as I have nowhere to check out of etc.

[Neil]

Just to pick up on what Will said
about DTD being busy, the twice we have used it, we did OLCI first then got to DTD at about 10:30/11ish to just get rid of the cases and it was very quiet, obviously it is busy fairly early so the later the better.

DTCI might also be busy due to it being Easter Weekend and school holidays so prepare for some queues.

DTD lines can be busy for Y pax if you're early.
Rarely busy 10am on, and never a problem if J or PE from my experience.

The main problem for Y seems to be people having to repack overweight cases - that can cause much disruption.

Fri/Sat can be more busy for Y when there are 4 aircraft operating.

Thanks for the responses.

I won’t have a hotel check out/hire car return to worry about as I’m staying with friends and being driven to the airport.

I was interested in David’s comment about of “1½ hrs before departure is "usually" plenty of time to be at the airport... it's whatever you feel comfortable with”. I tend to err on the side of caution – particularly as last time at MCO 2 years ago, I remember horrendous lines at security etc. Anyway, I might well check out McCoys as recommended by Bill S! 8D

Any further comments/observations about Delta lounge and flying upper class out of MCO to LGW, would be greatly appreciated

Cheers

I have never had anyone in front of me at the UC checkin at MCO so DTDCI is useful only because you don't have to leave suitcases in the car once you've checked out of your hotel / villa or if you decide to stop off on the way to the airport. We sometimes do some last minute shopping at the Mall at Millenia before we head home and so it's nice to know the suitcases have been checked-in and we have our boarding passes. Also, if you do go mad shopping and need to check another bag at the airport after completing DTDCI, it's no problem.

90 minutes before the flight is fine for arrival at MCO. UC checkin is a couple of minutes, and security has never been worse than 45minutes for me.

The Delta Lounge is okay, it's quite big and the drinks are okay, but there is nothing to eat other than peanuts and other snacks. I've never been to McCoys but I might check it out. I've not heard of an escort to boarding from the lounge, but as others have said, it's not far to the gate

Priority boarding works well at MCO, with AU, UC called first. I'm always on the M/cr flight which leaves about 18:30, so once on board, it's a case of welcome drink, a quick meal, followed by lights out. Choice of wake up call or not (I go for not) then bacon butty and off the plane.

Have a great trip.

For me it depends on class of travel/card level. If you can use Upper Class check in, then I would whole heartedly recommend that you do NOT use downtown check in. The queues at the airport for Upper are minimal. I don't think I have waited more than a few minutes at MCO airport for check-in. Where as at Downtown Check in I have waited up to 20 minutes even when travelling UC.

Paul