This lounge is designed with a inexperienced and blue colour palette supposed to replicate Central Florida’s springs and waterways. Maximalist wallpaper and enormous artwork items evoke the spirit of Florida.

Flooring-to-ceiling home windows overlook the tarmac on one facet (nice for airplane recognizing) and Terminal C’s Palm Court docket concourse on the opposite.

Locations to take a seat vary from custom-designed couches to semi-private workspaces with worldwide charging ports. There’s additionally a devoted quiet zone.

Complimentary baggage storage is handy and low-key needed, given the lounge’s normal crowds.

One of many lounge’s most charming options is an interactive household zone, the place contact screens on the wall make for a enjoyable exercise. The interactive “Tasty Turtle Treats” recreation, which you play by standing in entrance of an enormous display, is a must-try (not less than in the event you’re round age 10).

It is LEED Licensed, which means the house was constructed to fulfill sure sustainability requirements.

In comparison with nearly all of different Precedence Cross lounges within the U.S., the Plaza Premium Lounge’s meals choice is a minimize above.

Gadgets on the buffet characteristic globally impressed choices, together with:

• Hen and vegetable stir fry.

• Pastries, together with desserts and cookies.

Then there’s a separate space the place you may order objects which are made recent for a further price. These embody cheeseburgers, rooster tenders and fries.

Adults can pattern cocktails curated by the lounge’s mixologists — together with three drink recipes unique to Plaza Premium company. However other than home beers and wines, most alcohol prices further.

For what it’s price, drinks had been fairly inexpensive by airport requirements, with some cocktails beneath $10.

There are showers (which value further) and bogs, which Plaza Premium’s advertising supplies promote as “luxury washrooms with spa-like shower facilities.”

However I can’t vouch for them. Each time I’ve gone to the lounge, there’s been a line down the hallway simply to make use of them, so I by no means have.

I used to be too impatient to attend — particularly with no-line bogs within the public areas of the terminal — and felt awkward blocking the hallway as folks handed with plates of meals.

Right here’s the catch: this lounge will get crowded. Normally, the eating space has the power of an affordable resort breakfast buffet proper earlier than closing.

It’s not simply the buffet space that’s packed, however seating all through the lounge. Throughout one go to, a traveler politely requested to share a cocktail desk with me as a result of there have been no different spots accessible (I stated sure).

Arrive on the flawed time, and chances are you’ll find yourself inhaling a rice bowl and a few cookies whereas standing.

I’ve by no means seen the lounge use waitlists to handle crowds, although I believe it’d assist. A spokesperson for Plaza Premium confirmed that they don’t have a proper waitlist system in place, however is presently exploring choices to raised handle capability.

Though they generally publish indicators outdoors saying the lounge is full and seats usually are not assured, they maintain letting folks in.

The Plaza Premium Lounge at MCO is a reputable improve over most different Precedence Cross lounges within the U.S., and it’s positively the very best of MCO’s Precedence Cross lounges. The meals is nice, however solely stick round if crowds are gentle.

And it is in all probability not price paying for a day go. Lounges are speculated to be a respite from the hectic terminal.

Terminal C at MCO is already calm and well-designed. Paradoxically, it’s the Plaza Premium Lounge that feels extra chaotic.

I’ll usually take the free meals over paying for a meal. But when I see a mob outdoors the Plaza Premium check-in desk, I head to Sunshine Diner or Wine Bar George as an alternative. Then I kill time making pressed pennies and taking photographs with Hagrid’s bike duplicate on the Common Orlando retailer as an alternative.

(High picture by Sally French)