A flight delay at Orlando International Airport (MCO) can turn a carefully planned travel day into several unexpected hours of waiting. If you have already checked out of your Orlando hotel, Airbnb, or vacation rental, there is another problem to solve: what should you do with your luggage?
Instead of spending the entire delay sitting at MCO with your suitcases, you may have options for making better use of your extra time in Orlando.
First, Check How Long Your MCO Delay Is
Before leaving the airport area, check your airline’s app and the MCO departure board for the latest flight information. A delay of an hour or two usually isn’t enough time to venture far.
But if your flight has been pushed back by four, six, or even eight hours, you may suddenly have a large portion of the day available.
Keep in mind that delays can change. Airlines may move departure times forward again, so continue monitoring your flight and leave enough time to return, go through security, and reach your gate.
What Can You Do During a Long Flight Delay in Orlando?
What makes sense depends on how much extra time you have.
For a shorter delay, you may prefer to stay near MCO and get a meal or relax outside the terminal before returning.
With a longer delay, travelers may have enough time to visit areas such as Lake Nona or explore restaurants and attractions elsewhere in Orlando. If you have many hours available, destinations like Disney Springs or International Drive may also become possibilities, depending on traffic and your revised departure time.
The biggest obstacle is often your luggage.
Dragging multiple suitcases around Orlando can make an unexpected afternoon much less enjoyable.
What Should You Do With Your Luggage?
If your bags haven’t already been checked with your airline, you may not be able to hand them over immediately. Airlines generally have their own limits on how early checked luggage can be accepted before departure.
Your hotel may hold bags after checkout, but returning to the hotel later can mean an additional trip in the wrong direction.
Another option is a luggage pickup and delivery service such as Bagzee. In Orlando, Bagzee can pick up luggage from a hotel, resort, vacation rental, or other location and arrange for it to be delivered to MCO later.
That means a traveler whose 3 p.m. flight suddenly becomes an 8 p.m. flight can potentially spend those extra hours without carrying suitcases around Orlando.
Turn an MCO Delay Into Extra Orlando Time
A delayed flight is frustrating, but a long delay doesn’t necessarily mean spending the entire day inside Orlando International Airport.
Check your updated departure time, decide whether you realistically have enough time to leave, and make a plan for your bags. With luggage taken care of, an unexpected flight delay can become a few extra hours for lunch, shopping, sightseeing, or simply enjoying Orlando before heading home.
For travelers dealing with luggage between checkout and a delayed MCO departure, Bagzee offers another way to make those unexpected hours easier to use.