Orlando World Airport is my least favourite airport. We’ve flown via maximum of the sector’s busiest airports, too–Atlanta, Dallas, Paris, London-Heathrow, Denver, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and so on. None of them are as unhealthy as MCO. Now not even O’Hare or LAX!
If truth be told, I fly via LAX regularly–typically at least one time monthly. It’s now not my favourite airport on this planet and I’d by no means counsel it to first-timers (there’s a explanation why it makes our checklist of items to NOT do at Disneyland), however when you be told the fine details, it’s like taming a beast. There’s a way to the insanity, and the chaos of LAX turns into comfy. Most definitely partially as a result of Angelenos who decide to fly LAX are no-nonsense and transfer with goal.
That isn’t the case at Orlando World Airport. Regardless of considerably decrease quantity than Los Angeles or Atlanta, it feels busier than each. Of all airports we’ve flown, MCO is constantly the worst for the departing visitor enjoy. This can be a confluence of a number of components: TSA on the airport is understaffed, asymmetric day-to-day flight distribution, and the truth that that is simplest the second one flight many households have ever flown (the primary being the only to Walt Disney Global). There’s so much I love about MCO and the “persona” of the airport, however the true visitor enjoy is just like the antithesis of Disney.
The entire above was once true over 5 years in the past. We’ve been “caution” readers about Orlando World Airport for the simpler a part of the decade. The ones are air quotes round caution as a result of there’s no cheap choice. It’s now not like Disneyland, the place you’re a lot at an advantage paying a little bit further to fly via John Wayne (SNA) or Lengthy Seaside (LGB). Positive, there’s Sanford, however that provides overtime to the go back and forth…despite the fact that possibly which may be offset via shorter waits on the airport? (After those terrible stories, I’m open to making an attempt possible choices!)
Actually, our warnings have extra been about adjusting expectancies and serving to readers get ready accordingly. Most significantly, arriving sufficiently early. There are many seasoned vacationers who may arrive an hour prior to their flights in different places (on reasonable, my curb-to-gate time at SNA or LGB is 5-10 mins), however that’s a recipe for crisis at MCO in positive instances. That’s the aim of this submit–to percentage our enjoy and function a cautionary story so that you don’t leave out your flight.
Because it’s been some time since we’ve performed a Walt Disney Global transportation record, we figured now may well be a great time, following our contemporary flights (and terrible stories), and as MCO braces for a record-setting vacation season. Let’s get started with that visitors record from the Larger Orlando Aviation Authority…
The 2024 vacation go back and forth length starts on Friday, December twentieth and runs via January 5, 2025. Right through the 17-day length, MCO is anticipating 2.9 million passengers, a slight build up of one % over 2023’s checklist numbers. The busiest go back and forth day is anticipated to be Saturday, December twenty eighth, with greater than 192,000 overall arrivals and departures.
This will have to be unsurprising to Walt Disney Global fanatics, as the following two weeks rank because the “best” 2 on our lists of the 10 Absolute best and 10 Worst Weeks to Seek advice from Walt Disney Global in 2025 & 2026. Along with the busy theme parks, Orlando will host a couple of faculty soccer bowl video games, and the Town Gorgeous has been rated as some of the Most sensible 10 international go back and forth locations this vacation season via a couple of publications.
Right here’s a rundown of the day-to-day passenger projections, according to the Larger Orlando Aviation Authority:
Because of the full quantity of passengers, MCO is encouraging vacationers who want to take a look at baggage to be on the airline price ticket counter 2 hours upfront of exits. To make sure vacationers can safe a parking lot, navigate in the course of the terminals, take a look at luggage, pass in the course of the safety screening procedure, and arrive at your gate with ok time, a 3-hour window is advisable.
Document crowds might reason strains or delays at more than a few issues all the way through your go back and forth adventure. In conjunction with that, the Larger Orlando Aviation Authority is offering actionable recommendation to make your enjoy more uncomplicated–and so that you don’t leave out your flight:
- Obtain the MCO app and consult with our site @FlyMCO.com for flight standing and updates.
- Pack as flippantly as imaginable and put on simply detachable sneakers.
- Do NOT carry weapons or guns via safety. Take a look at your baggage for prohibited pieces prior to coming to the airport.
- If now we have reached parking capability, please believe the usage of a rideshare supplier or a taxi.
- Take into account enhanced screening laws imply electronics better than a mobile phone should be got rid of out of your bag and positioned in a bin on the checkpoint except you’re within the TSA PreCheck program.
- Don’t go away baggage unattended or settle for pieces from strangers for shipping.
- Position identity tags at the inside and outside of checked and carry-on baggage.
- If touring with a puppy or convenience animal, carry a leash. The puppy will want to be on a leash whilst the animal service is correctly screened via TSA.
It’s value noting that MCO has set new data, after which damaged its personal data, time and again over the past two years. It’s been a little bit since they’ve printed a listing, however I wouldn’t be shocked if each and every unmarried one among MCO’s best 20 all-time busiest days came about this yr or closing. Suffice to mention, height dates this vacation season will probably be insanely busy.
A part of that is for sure the brand new terminal expanding the full capability of the airport. (I’ve but to fly out of the brand new terminal, however in accordance with what I’ve noticed, it’s some distance much less busy than the legacy ones–so possibly that’s the most efficient recommendation of all: fly out of Terminal C.) However that’s now not it all. The opposite terminals also are a lot busier than they was. There’s an increasing number of seating in what was empty walkways, and the road/wait time for TSA will get longer/upper. It doesn’t topic what day you fly, or what time. So don’t suppose you’re going to steer clear of that via going at off-hours or some of the “much less busy” days.
Numerous widespread vacationers suppose arriving 2 hours prior to a flight is overkill. Now not at MCO. Even with TSA Precheck, that’s (no less than) how early I intention to reach. With out it, I’d counsel appearing up 3 hours prior to your flight. I love Orlando World Airport and suppose they’re doing the most efficient they are able to beneath the high-demand and high-friction instances. Once more, it’s numerous components–inadequate staffing, beaten infrastructure, and an “detrimental visitor combine” (to borrow a time period from Disney).
As for our contemporary enjoy, arriving into MCO was once completely high-quality. It was once busy, certain, and the terminals and concourses had been filled with other people (largely as a result of seating spaces were expanded into walkways), however that’s par for the route. You don’t have to move via safety or wait in any strains while you arrive (except one thing is going extraordinarily mistaken, I assume), so there are not any problems with the airport itself when touchdown. Fortunately, as that implies now not beginning your Walt Disney Global shuttle out at the mistaken foot.
The one damaging to our arrival enjoy was once with Mears Attach. As up to now discussed, I’ve used Mears Attach Pushed via Sunshine numerous instances because it debuted–together with each and every time going from MCO in 2024. It wouldn’t marvel me if I’m the all time main person of Mears Attach–now not that that’s one thing to gloat about. I simply suspect that different “trade” vacationers are the usage of Uber/Lyft or renting automobiles.
I’ve already lined the nice and unhealthy of this within the contemporary Mears Attach Pushed via Sunshine Assessment: Is Walt Disney Global’s Airport Commute Nonetheless Excellent? In a nutshell, my private stories with Mears Attach were…high-quality. However I additionally know what to anticipate and don’t thoughts a “leisurely” power to my ultimate vacation spot.
On the contrary, I favor Mears Connect with Uber or Lyft a large number of the time–and unquestionably favor the cost as a solo traveler. The buses are by no means complete, so I will snatch a seat within the again and paintings on my pc for an hour or two prior to attending to the lodge.
The equation is other once we’re touring as a circle of relatives with a baby. Megatron does now not have a pc and does now not want to get any paintings performed; her sturdy desire isn’t to be sitting in the similar spot for 1-2 hours. When touring along with her and Sarah, I additionally wish to get to the lodge quicker so we will unpack, consume dinner–get started having circle of relatives amusing! I’d danger a wager that your instances are very similar to this, versus mine as a solo traveler.
The issue with Mears Attach is that call for has dropped. On my journeys within the closing ~18 months, I’ve spotted increasingly stops, which means that each and every shuttle takes longer except you’re some of the first couple of stops. The inns also are now not all the time close to one any other. You may well be preventing at an off-site Marriott, Gaylord Hands, and so on., to your strategy to Walt Disney Global.
This, I think, has created a vicious cycle. Call for is down so stops were added, resulting in a drop in long run call for as Walt Disney Global regulars understand the commute provider is simply too sluggish and not value it, resulting in extra stops one day. Frankly, I don’t see how Mears Attach reverses this pattern, with the exception of possibly all the way through height season dates when quantity is upper.
The issue when quantity is upper is the choice of buses. Or possibly extra as it should be, the allocation of them. On a couple of events this yr, I’ve arrived on the Mears Attach departure level to peer 0 buses idling. This was once an extraordinary sight again within the Disney’s Magical Specific days. This has came about with out a lot regard for call for–I’ve used the provider on busy dates and low season ones, and it’s came about each instances.
That is exactly what came about to us. It took some time prior to any buses gave the impression, at which level there have been a number of lengthy strains for the more than a few lodge spaces. We in reality were given lovely fortunate–our line was once picked first! And since our line was once the longest, we didn’t sit down round looking ahead to extra passengers to reach. Including to our nice good fortune, Castle Desolate tract was once the primary prevent (of 5 – 6, if I recall as it should be). This in reality ended up being some of the quickest (most certainly the quickest–I don’t time them, regardless that) enjoy I’ve had with Mears Attach as soon as our line was once pulled.
With that mentioned, I will’t lend a hand however surprise how dramatically other the enjoy would’ve been for visitors within the later stops within the different strains. There have been individuals who had arrived prior to us who had been nonetheless ready in strains throughout the airport when our Mears Attach bus departed MCO. In the event that they came about to be prevent 5 – 6, their overall time may just’ve approached 2 hours. I point out this to underscore the evergreen level that Mears Attach goes to be hit and miss: some okay-to-good stories, and a few horror tales.
Rapid-forward to the top of our shuttle (transportation inside Walt Disney Global was once incredible–I’ve 0 lawsuits or the rest that warrants bringing up), when it’s Mears Attach pick-up time. Above I discussed that I all the time use Mears Attach when arriving at MCO and heading to Walt Disney Global. Smartly, that’s seldom the case when departing and heading to the airport.
My enjoy has been that Mears Attach pick-up instances are manner too inconsistent and typically a lot previous than I would like as a solo traveler with TSA PreCheck who does now not take a look at baggage. It’s additionally not possible for Mears Connect with strand you at MCO, the place their operations are situated, while this is a factor that occurs from time-to-time on the motels. (It’s now not one thing you will have to concern about, as Walt Disney Global will step in to help…however I’d nonetheless favor not to stand there after which bother with a taxi voucher or no matter.)
A couple of hours prior to our bus pick-up time, I won an e-mail and textual content message that our pick-up time have been moved up via half-hour. Now not a large deal for us–we simply left the park a little bit previous. (As an aspect notice, departure day park visits are one explanation why I love motels with non-bus transportation that’s extra predictable. Despite the fact that our bus stories had been flawless this shuttle, we did construct ourselves extra of a buffer on that closing day for the bus. It ended up being overkill, however it’s “important” from my viewpoint since you by no means know what chances are you’ll get with WDW buses.)
After ready and ready, and our unique departure time passing, a Mears Attach bus in the end arrived. Phew. The motive force got here out and emphatically apologized, which felt like overkill to start with. Positive, the bus was once 35 mins past due for the new pick-up time, however I believed everybody’s flights had been in accordance with the outdated pick-up time. Then he mentioned that he was once simplest there for visitors with a departure time that was once virtually an hour in the past, and it made sense.
As we weren’t a part of that hour-late pick-up time, the motive force didn’t wish to take us. “Your bus will probably be right here in a while,” he with courtesy defined. I (additionally with courtesy) wondered this, stating that this bus was once an hour past due, our bus was once additionally already past due, and I had but to obtain any monitoring information for our bus. It appeared extremely fantastic Mears would dispatch back-to-back buses. I understood his place, given that there have been extra stops and he most certainly didn’t wish to run out of seats…however I’ve but to be on a Mears Attach bus this yr that’s been even half-full. He in the end, fortunately, relented and allow us to board.
A number of stops later, the bus was once one-quarter complete and airport sure. After lining up for bag drop on the Delta counter, I won a textual content that our Mears Attach bus was once on-site at Port Orleans French Quarter. Had we waited for that bus, I’m lovely assured that we might’ve neglected our flight. The bus nonetheless would’ve gotten us to the airport ~90 mins prior to our flight, however now we had a brand new drawback, unbiased of Mears.
The road on the Delta counter for bag drop was once ridiculously lengthy. Goodbye that it was once blocking off the trail to safety and gates, inflicting airport body of workers to interfere and arrange switchbacks to corral the road. In speaking to them and overhearing their frustrations, this was once now not an extraordinary factor.
The road itself wouldn’t were an issue if the Delta counter had been correctly staffed. It was once now not. In the future, the belief of this truth set in, and passengers with quickly-approaching flights began turning into stressed, inflicting a Delta staffer to move in the course of the line and pull someone with a flight that was once “in point of fact quickly” for the agent help line. Delta then allotted all however one among their staffers to provider that line.
Regardless of the cutoff was once for this speedy lane, we had been too early for it. Delta’s means made sense from a useful resource allocation viewpoint and making sure to the best extent imaginable that no person neglected their flights, so I am getting the verdict. It didn’t make it any much less painful status in that line, regardless that. The principle line moved glacially sluggish as a result of there was once just one agent checking baggage, which was once additional exacerbated via about 1/2 the visitors in entrance people having such a lot of baggage that I’m assuming they had been flying somewhere some distance away to start out new lives.
It additionally didn’t lend a hand that apparently no person listened to the secure refrains of “please have your IDs able while you get to the counter!” I’ve by no means noticed other people be so leisurely about being at the precipice of lacking their flights. However in my enjoy, that’s the MCO passenger manner–virtually no person has any sense of urgency. You’d suppose it had been the loud library, somewhat than some of the global’s busiest airports.
To be abundantly transparent, I don’t blame the Delta staffers for this. That they had been dealt a nasty hand and had been obviously understaffed. That’s now not the fault of the front-liners. Between disgruntled visitors getting heated with them and oblivious visitors now not following their directions, it’s lovely simple to peer why Delta has a staffing drawback at MCO. It’s only a unhealthy and irritating scenario throughout.
I didn’t time it since I didn’t be expecting to be within the line see you later, however I used to be there for simply over an hour. To drop one bag off. Mockingly, I used to be feeling in point of fact grateful at this level that we took Mears Attach they usually set the pick-up time so early! If I had been flying solo (and for some explanation why had a checked bag, which I wouldn’t) and took an Uber to the airport, I’d’ve neglected my flight. Smartly, possibly now not since I’d’ve been pulled for the short lane…however you get the speculation.
We had way back made the decision that Sarah and Megatron will have to undergo safety via themselves so they may spend a while consuming and stretching their legs within the Delta living room. This intended I used to be going via safety on my own. The traditional line had a 25 to 35 minute wait, which in reality isn’t too unhealthy via MCO requirements. In eyeballing it, I’d in reality wager that it was once on the decrease finish of that vary–all of it depends upon what number of scanners had been open.
TSA PreCheck had a lovely brief line, a lot shorter than I’ve encountered prior to now. However, within the spirit of this submit being full of lawsuits, I made the amateur error of opting for the PreCheck line closest to Transparent. You by no means make a choice the road closest to Transparent, even though it’s shortest. That’s as a result of Transparent skips the road that skips the road, which means there’s a gradual circulate of passengers being pulled to chop TSA PreCheck.
Clearly, I shouldn’t be pissed off via this (that’s height entitlement or first global issues!) however I used to be wired after that Delta line. In spite of everything, it couldn’t have added greater than 5 mins to my wait, and I used to be on the Delta living room for an excessively fast chew now not lengthy after. And I’ll let you know what–few issues are higher herbal rigidity relievers than seeing your daughter stroll round guffawing. Your entire earlier worries and cares simply soften away. The caffeine within the espresso additionally most certainly helped.
Making plans a Walt Disney Global shuttle? Find out about inns on our Walt Disney Global Lodges Opinions web page. For the place to consume, learn our Walt Disney Global Eating place Opinions. To save cash on tickets or resolve which sort to shop for, learn our Pointers for Saving Cash on Walt Disney Global Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a novel have a look at artful pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney Global Journey Guides will lend a hand. For complete recommendation, the most efficient position to start out is our Walt Disney Global Go back and forth Making plans Information for the entirety you want to grasp!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Any MCO or Mears Attach horror tales of your personal? Or have your stories with the airport and commute been most commonly certain? Ideas on surviving the vacation crowds at MCO, the usage of Mears Attach, or anything? Any questions we will allow you to resolution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas under within the feedback!
