3 Things To Ease the Misery of an Orlando Airport Flight Delay

Experiencing a flight delay stinks but it doesn’t have to ruin your trip!

If you’re visiting Orlando from out-of-state or out-of-country, there’s a decent chance you might travel through Orlando International Airport (MCO). One of the busiest airports in the world, MCO sees about 850 flights daily, but that doesn’t mean they always go according to plan. For a multitude of reasons, flights can get delayed and that can really put a damper on your vacation.

If you ever find yourself experiencing a flight delay, you could wallow in the misery and inconvenience, or you can make the best of your situation and take advantage of some of the great offerings MCO boasts. If you’re looking to kill time at the airport before your flight is finally ready to take off, we recommend these three activities!

SHOP

Did you feel rushed during your vacation and feel like you didn’t have enough time to get plenty of souvenirs? A flight delay may actually give you ample time to rectify that.

At MCO Airport, you’ll find some Universal and Disney stores that can absolutely save the day when it comes to last-minute shopping. Store locations are as follows:

• Magic of Disney — Terminals A & B (West & East Halls)
• The Walt Disney World Store — Terminal C (Palm Court)
• Universal Orlando Stores — Terminals A & B (West & East Halls) and Terminal C (Palm Court)

Turn lemons into lemonade as you use the extra time to pick up some special souvenirs for yourself or your loved ones. You might even find something you missed at the parks!

Featuring a lot of the same merch you’ll find on property at both Disney World and Universal Orlando, these stores take “airport gift shops” to a whole new level.

GRAB SOME GRUB

Waiting around for your flight can work up an appetite, so grab some food!

When it comes to dining at MCO, we have plenty of thoughts. For starters, the food options in Terminals A and B aren’t great. You’ll find Burger King, Cold Stone Creamery, On the Border, Starbucks, and more, but the better dining options are in Terminal C.

Here, you’ll find a Wine Bar George, Chef Art Smith’s Sunshine Diner, Summer House and Summer House Market, and other restaurants that’ll give you the kind of quality you’d find at Disney Springs.

All is not lost though if you aren’t in Terminal C. Some pre-security options in Terminals A and B include McDonalds, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Panda Express, and Firehouse Subs to name a few.

We recommend getting familiar with the food and shopping options ahead of your travels, just in case. You can learn about everything that’s offered on the MCO website.

VISIT A LOUNGE

Undoubtedly, one of the best things to do during a delay is visit an airport lounge if you have access!

MCO offers seven lounges for passengers and includes the following:

• Admirals Club Lounge — American Airlines (Gates 30-59)
• Sky Club Lounge — Delta Air Lines (Gates 70-99)
• Plaza Premium Lounge — Gates C230-C245
• United Club Lounge — United Airlines (Gates 30-59)
• The Club at MCO Lounge — Gates 1-29
• The Club at MCO Lounge — Gates 70-99
• USO Welcome Center Lounge — Terminal A, Level 1

Most of these lounges are available to pre-book and are available to members only. Many offer complimentary amenities and services, such as food, drinks, business centers, relaxation opportunities, and much more. If you’re an airline member with lounge privileges, we definitely recommend spending some time in a lounge if your delay allows for it!

Did we miss any tips when it comes to surviving flight delays? Let us know and continue to follow us right here at AllEars for more travel tips and updates!

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If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

What are some of your favorite ways to escape the misery of flight delays at Orlando International Airport? Let us know in the comments!

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