Picking up visitors at Orlando Int. Airport.
 

I would appreciate any hints to save time to pick up arrivals at Orlando Int. Airport. Where to park, what to watch for when going into the airport, etc.
I've never been there and know how confusing airports can be.

I always exit at the 7-11 before tha airport on the right. I think it's exit #8. Then my passenger calls me when she arrives at ground transportation and lets me know what marker # she's at. Takes 5 minutes to get there, drive into "arriving passengers" and pick them up.

We use...
 

Another alternative is to use the cell phone lot ...its all the way on the south side of the airport. (drive past the terminals - follow signs)

Plenty of parking, port-a-potty, and close to the terminals.

as you are entering the airport watch for the cell phone lot and just pull in and wait for your pasgr to call you. then youre just seconds away!

I've used the cell phone lot several times. I've found that the best timing is: passengers call you just as they deplane. By the time you arrive at their Level 2 [Baggage Clain level] Arrivals, they should normally be waiting on the curb for you!

Note that I usually pick up at the A side (north), so pick ups at the B side (south), so the amountof time may vary.

SWR
:beer3:

Here is a map that may help to find the cell phone lot.
http://www.orlandoairports.net/ops/i...ne_Lot_Map.jpg

Another vote for the cell phone lot!

cell phone is your best option I believe

should say cell phone lot[see above]

It is critical to know whether your passenger is in Terminal A or B. I always give a "door" number when someone is picking me up. For example A 10 is about in the middle on the A side. Also know that car pick ups are on the baggage claim level but if you are using a van like the Villages airport vans you have to go down one level from baggage claim.

Take the toll roads .... Fla Turnpike to 528 to airport and back the same way. It will cost you about $10.00 in tolls round trip but it is well well worth it as ANY alternative route to the airport is huge pain and add a LOT of time to your trip (trust me, I grew up in Orlando)

When you get there look for the airline on the terminal A & B lists (BIG overhead signs) so you know which terminal pick up to go to.

Follow the signs to the "cell waiting lot" and tell your party to call when they get to baggage claim ..... then again when they go outside with the door number.

2 different options
 

Although we have yet to pick up friends or relatives at Orlando, we too have heard of the 'cell phone parking lot' but talking with friends just last night, they informed us that it was almost as economical for guests to take the Villages Shuttle and get dropped off in Sumter Landing.

It is $60.00 round trip PER PERSON to use the Villages Shuttle!

The Villages Transportation ? Orlando International Airport Shuttle Service

Ok here is the deal. The Express Pick Up is for me a no brainer if you use it once you will use it every time. There are a few rules you have to follow.

1. Must have Sun Pass and I suggest that you call Sun Pass and confirm that your account is set up to use the Express Pick up.

2. When you pull into the Express area the instructions are on the signs because the security is very intense but brief. Because you are parking inside the terminal. They will look in your trunk and you can not have any packages in your trunk. You have to get out of your car and open your trunk. They will also use mirrors to look under your car. But all you have to do is stop and open your trunk. This only takes a minute or two.

3. Now the good part you are parking in the terminal where the limos park. When you get out of your car you will walk about 10 yards and you are in the terminal where the rental car desks are at. Go up one level any you are at the baggage level.

4. I have never paid over $1.00 and who ever you are picking up will say how did you get this parking place. Cost goes on your Sun Pass account.
Express Pick Up entrance is on the right as you come into the terminal.

Below is a link to the information from Sun Pass.

http://www.orlandoairports.net/ops/i...p_Brochure.pdf

I agree that the Express Pick Up is the easiest and quickest. My daughter was surprised that we only had to walk a short way to get to my car. We love it.

Cell Lot all the way,,, follow the signs when arriving at the airport, Park in the cell lot. when they arrive,, only a minute or 2 and your at the door waiting for them.

I used express pick up several years back. I thought they had stopped the general public from being able to use it. And it was reserved for commercial pick up's. Glad to hear it is available once again.

I'm retired military so I wait at the Navy Exchange on Tradeport Drive, on the west side of the runway (has real bathrooms and a Subway Shop). You do not have to be military to go into the Exchange, only to buy something there. You can get to the terminals using Bear Road (Cargo) that runs along the north and east side of the runway, past the B-52 park. Use Google maps to see the route. Although the signage for the airport reads terminal "A" and "B", they are really the North and South side of the same building. To pick up at Terminal "B" you have to do a loop on the Southside so your car is facing the right way. I exit The Beeline at Jetport Drive, just after the first toll and turn left. That goes to Tradewinds (stay in the right lanes or you end up back on The Beeline).

Definitely use the cell phone lot. So handy. Your visitors call as they deplane and will be at the curb when you pull in providing they have no baggage. If they have baggage have them call after getting baggage in case there is a delay. We did the round trip Sat and the tolls increased 25 cents ea so a round-trip is now $12.50. Doing it again tomorrow.

Thanks everyone, lots of good info. I hate airports. Next will be getting to Cape Canaveral cruise ship terminals, from The Villages. I don't want to park there just drop off passengers and a week later pick them up. I guess that's another post.

Also
 

It seems you have a lot of recommendations, (I think the cell lot is the
best and have the person call when they land)
As an added assist..If you have a cell phone I would sign up for the "Flight
Track" app. I have been going back and forth a number of times and this is
a great help. I can track the flight from when it first took off, where it is
as it flies to the airport and notified when it has landed, and what gate.
In addition, if I am interested I can also track what altitude they are at
as they fly and at what speed. exact time when they took off and estimated
time at the gate. There is more but this is some of the assistance I get when
picking someone up or taking them there, (e.g. if flight will be late, etc). It works great !!:thumbup:

I have a simple flip cell phone and those apps probably won't do me any good. I've never had to pick up company and don't know if I'll ever will again. The express parking appeals to me because I like to get there maybe an hour or more early to allow for any unexpected delays I may have and don't want to be waiting in a cell phone parking lot for all that time. I enjoy people watching and airports are the best.
I really appreciate all the help from everyone.

Our primary visitor is our daughter and she will call when her plane is about to take off. We then drive down to OIA and use the regular parking and usually are in and out about 1/ hour from the time we park our car.
OIA does a really good job given the the extremely heavy traffic.

We like to greet our daughter when she approaches baggage area.

airport pick up
 

plan to arrive 30 to 45 min after arrival make loop in drive until pick up they will call or you will see them

You have a couple of options of how to get through Orlando and over to CC Terminal ALL of them will eventually lead you back to 528 ..... even if you went straight west of TV, through Deland, over to I-95 and then south .... you would still have to get on 528 eventually.

So, I would still go - turnpike to 528 and carry on past Orlando International to the terminal in Cape Canaveral. Prob another couple of bucks toll each way but the easiest and fastest.

BTW ..... at one time (and prob still is) the toll system in / around Orlando was the highest priced toll system in the USofA on a $$$$ per mile basis.

Cell Phone Lot
 

The cell phone lot is the best alternative. Once your arrivals call, it's no more than five minutes to your pickup point. Watch for the sign on the way into the airport. It's a right-hand exit just before you enter either A or B arrivals road.

Just for everyone's information the Orlando Internation Airport is not designated OIA. It is Officially MCO. I couldn't figure how they got that and looked it up.
"The airport code MCO stands for the airport's former name, McCoy Air Force Base, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation. Because MCO is the largest major airport near Disney World, its code is sometimes jokingly described as "Mickey's Corporate Office."