Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
General None Reported / Taken
Airspace Structure; Procedure
On final approach Runway 17L at MCO; as pilot monitoring; we spotted a drone at our altitude at 1500 feet MSL less than 1/2 mile off to the left; as we approached glide-slope intercept. We were at Flaps 2; and would normally have completed configuring the aircraft for landing and would have begun the before landing checklist by 1500 feet. However; we immediately reported the drone to ATC/Tower which caused more distractions. Confirming location of the drone and providing a description to Tower put us late configuring with gear and final flaps as we approached 1000 feet and began the before landing checklist.  We descended below 1000 feet by the time all was complete. Everything appeared stable fairly quickly and the FO (First Officer) made a normal landing.  We both agreed after landing; however; that the distractions from the drone and Tower communications caused us to configure later than normal and a go-around would have been a better course of action.  Distractions from drone and ATC/Tower contributed to the incident.  Suggest better awareness of altitude on final approach when distractions occur.
A321 Captain reported encountering a drone while on approach to Orlando International Airport.