How do I request Assistance at Orlando

[RealCinderella]

I will be travelling alone with my daughter who has severe learning disabilities and autism.

I need assistance from the gate of the plane, through immigration (avoiding the huge cattle hurding area which she will be terrified of) and getting us through the baggage claim and to the Magical Express Area along with our luggage and a pushchair.

How do I request this, is it through the airline or some other way?

[DisneyBride08]

Following as we are in the same boat and when I called virgin the lady wasn't very helpful about that side of things. I have read that people say there is someone to ask when you arrive and they direct you to a special queue but I'm not sure how true that is

[scottiedogz]

They do it for you - if you need help to get on the plane, they are waiting at the other end to help you. Ideally they put you in a wheelchair and accompany you through all the check points.
Ring Virgin special assistance and tell them everything you need, they will book it in advance and then when you check in just mention it again and they will do the necessary things. They really are very helpful, and you get through immigration really quickly, even though you have to wait until everyone is off the plane in Orlando - you zip straight past them. Good luck.

[Teach0778]

I emailed special_assistance@fly.virgin.com
Got a prompt reply asking about what assistance I required. A wheelchair was waiting for us - just give your name getting off the plane and they check on a handheld computer. They also helped us with luggage and took us all the way to our hire car.

After years of special assistance we no longer wait till the end to get off as they tell you too. Always wheelchairs waiting and as I said they were checking names this year.

[zingy]

I travel alone with my daughter who suffers with Autism.I use her own lightweight wheelchair.I try and ask a skycap if he would help myself and daughter through immigration and transfer on the monorail to the transport area.Sometimes it has been successful,others dreadful.I have struggled with my daughter having a major meltdown at the immigration stage with her refusing to do the normal screening.Its the only part of the travel to Florida that I dread.We love Going ,so offering a skycap a nice tip to get you through the process sometimes works.

[Guest]

As others have said, it's the airline's responsibility to book special assistance for you at Orlando, and your departure airport as well if you need it as that can be quite an ordeal too.

I flew from MAN to MCO in May 2016 with VA and booked special assistance at both ends as I don't walk too well now. I was pushed through MAN on a wheelchair and taken through security and right up to the departure gate. I was then allowed to board early. Very handy and good.

At MCO, a assistant was waiting at the plane exit with a wheelchair and he took me through the disabled line at immigration. The previous year, my daughter was allowed to accompany me through the disabled line. The queue was very short.

The assistant then recovered my suitcase from the carousel ant it fitted very nicely underneath the wheelchair. We then boarded the monorail to my destination - the hotel shuttle bus collection point. He was given a tip of course.

Don't worry about special assistance at MCO - other than demanding the service when you return. I failed to speak up and got no more than a shrug of the shoulders at check in when I enquired. The security check before boarding took about an hour and I nearly didn't make it. The same nearly happened at MAN (no wheelchair to be seen) but I was intercepted by a keen eyed 'queue marshal' who sent me to the disabled line for a passport check. Boy, was I glad!