Orlando International Airport - Orlando International Airport

Orlando International Airport (MCO IATA) is the primary airport serving the Orlando metro area. It is the second-busiest airport in the state of Florida, and the largest airport serving Central Florida. At 1 Jeff Fuqua Blvd, Orlando, FL ☏ 1 407 825-2001.

The Orlando area is the most popular travel destination in the United States, with over 50 million visitors every year. As a result, Orlando International Airport serves a large number of destinations nationwide, including almost every large and medium-sized city east of the Mississippi River and several major hubs in the Western United States. International connections are made by flying through an airline's hub or by connecting (or driving about 3½ hours) to Miami International Airport—which ranks second in the U.S. by international passenger traffic with its extensive connections within the Americas and to Europe.

Understand

The airport is southeast of downtown but is conveniently located close to the region's attractions.

The airfield was established in 1942 as Orlando Army Airfield #2, a supplement to operations at Orlando Army Air Base (originally Orlando Municipal Airport, now Orlando Executive Airport). It was renamed Pinecastle Army Airfield a year later. After the end of World War II, it was transferred to the city of Orlando, but with the advent of the Korean War, the Air Force retook possession in 1951 and named it Pinecastle Air Force Base. In 1959, the base was renamed McCoy Air Force Base in honor of Colonel Michael N. W. McCoy, the commander of the base's B-47 bomber fleet, who was killed in a crash the year prior.

In 1962, with passenger flights to Orlando exceeding what Orlando Herndon Airport (now Orlando Executive) could handle (both in passenger volume and aircraft size), the Air Force agreed to share the McCoy airfield (and its longer runways) with the city of Orlando. Orlando–McCoy Jetport opened in 1964, its terminal a converted missile barn. With the ORL airport code assigned to Orlando Herndon, the new Jetport was given the code MCO, for McCoy. The opening of Walt Disney World in 1971 brought enormously increased traffic, and the civil facilities were greatly expanded in response.

With the end of the Vietnam War, McCoy AFB was among dozens slated for closure. The airfield was transferred back to the city in 1975, and in 1976 the Orlando–McCoy Jetport became Orlando International Airport. The U.S. Navy took over some of the military facilities for a Naval Training Center, which remained active until 1999. Today, the only military presence remaining on the grounds of the old base is an Armed Forces Reserve Center, a Florida Army National Guard armory, and a Navy Exchange retail store serving the area's large number of retired military personnel.

Orlando International's massive main terminal opened in 1981, with the original Jetport terminal going through several subsequent tenants before being demolished in 2006.

Flights

A Delta Air Lines aircraft on the tarmac at MCO.

Orlando International Airport is a focus city (or minor hub) for Frontier Airlines (serving about 10-12 cities), JetBlue Airways (20-25 cities), Southwest Airlines (40-45 cities) & Spirit Airlines, all of which fly numerous routes to/from Orlando. MCO regularly sees Boeing 747s from Virgin, British Airways, & Lufthansa; however, and despite being one of the first prepared to handle it, there has yet to be an A380 seen on routes to/from MCO.

Departures

Orlando has a clever hub-and-spoke layout that's quite easy to navigate. One large building houses all of the landside functions (ticketing, baggage claim, etc.). Signage divides it into Terminal A and Terminal B, with the dozens of airlines spread evenly between them. Broadly speaking, the larger mainline carriers — American, Delta, and United — are on the B-Side with a few others, while most low-cost and international carriers are on the A-Side. In any case, check signs to find your airline's ticketing and gates. All ticketing is on Level 3, but major U.S. airlines also have check-in on Parking Level R-1.

In between the terminals are two separate security checkpoints, depending on which gate you're going to. One leads to gates 1–59, the other to gates 70–129. Security lines can become extremely long (1 hr), especially during the summer tourist season and near holidays. Combined with long check-in lines, it is advisable to arrive 2-3 hours before your scheduled departure.

Arrivals

Baggage claim for most airlines is on Level 2, except for the airlines, Emirates and Virgin whose baggage claim is on Level 1.

If you are arriving via an international flight, and are a member of CBP's Global Entry program, take note that the kiosks are different than at every other airport. Orlando is the pilot location for the new facial recognition-based re-entry kiosks. Instead of scanning your passport and taking fingerprints, you'll simply line your face up to the camera on the kiosk and press the button to take a photo. It will then print out the receipt with your information like normal, but with your picture also on it. If you have a connecting flight, you there is a connecting baggage drop off just after you clear customs but before you leave the restricted area that you can use if your bag has been tagged through to the next destination. There is also a separate screening station back into airside of the departures area, so you can skip the long lines at regular security.

Ground transportation

Overview of Orlando International Airport.

Level 1 is the Ground Transportation level, where rental car offices are located inside and public buses, airport shuttles, and taxis are accessed outside.

By car

Most tolled expressways in the Orlando area require drivers paying cash to exit off the right side of the highway at toll plazas, while drivers with electronic transponders ("SunPass") or registered to be billed/pay by mail continue on a straight path at highway speeds through the plaza. Most rental vehicles either include use of a transponder or are registered to use the SunPass lanes, with the rental company billed later and billing tolls to your credit card.

Orlando International Airport is sandwiched between two tolled expressways (motorways), with easy access to several major roads crossing the Orlando metro area. The airport is conveniently located within the Orlando metro area and without traffic congestion, it should take no more than 30 minutes to reach most of Orlando and the Kissimmee/Disney World area. Cities & towns on the northern side of the Orlando metro are, such as Sanford, should take no longer than 45 minutes to reach (again, without traffic congestion). The cities and beaches of the Space Coast, Daytona Beach, and Polk County are 45-90 minutes from the airport. Further away, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Ocala, Gainesville, Vero Beach, & Fort Pierce are 1½-2 hours away.

The main airport terminal and parking structures are surrounded by a circular drive, which has numerous off-ramps (off both the left & right) leading to the various parking structures and to connecting roads. This can be confusing/disorienting for some drivers, especially foreign drivers leaving the airport in rental vehicles and unfamiliar with the area, road system, and the vehicle they are driving. Be especially alert to signage and it is better to circle the terminal than swerve across multiple lanes of traffic and risk having an accident.

The Beachline Expressway (also State Road 528) runs along the northern edge of the airport and runs west to Interstate 4 (the primary north-south artery through the Orlando metropolitan area) and runs east to the beaches of the Space Coast, which includes towns such as Cocoa Beach, Titusville, & Melbourne.

The Central Florida GreeneWay (also State Road 417) forms a half-loop around the eastern side of the Orlando metro area, beginning at Interstate 4 near Kissimmee/Walt Disney World and running north to Interstate 4 near Sanford. It passes a couple miles south of the airport and is reached via Boggy Creek Rd. State Road 417 is the fastest way to reach Kissimmee, Walt Disney World, and Polk County (via I-4). If using S.R. 417 to travel north to eastern suburbs of Orlando or to Sanford or Daytona Beach (via I-4), take the Beachline Expressway east to reach the GreeneWay.

At the airport, you can drop off departing passengers on Level 3, and pick up arriving passengers on the baggage claim level, Level 2.

Parking

There are large parking garages flanking the north and south sides of the terminal building, signed as "A Garage" and "B Garage" corresponding to the neighboring terminal. Rates are $19/day. To access the main terminal from the "A Garage" or "B Garage", take the elevator to the lowest level, the Pedestrian Tunnel, walk through the tunnel (or ride the moving sidewalk), then take the long escalators to Levels 2 or 3 or use the elevators to access all levels of the main terminal building.

While most people search for parking spaces on the lower levels of the A or B Garage, continue up to Level 4 to access the Terminal Top parking garage (Levels 4-10), which permits both short & long-term parking. The benefit of driving up to these levels is that the Terminal Top parking structure is located directly above the main terminal building and the elevators in this parking structure travel directly down to ticketing & baggage claim areas of the main terminal building.

C Garage is located 1 mile south of the airport, and is slightly cheaper than A and B Garage at $17/day. A tram connects the garage to the terminal.

Cheaper still are the North and South Park Place economy lots, at $10/day. (However, if you're parking for no more than 1 hour, the garages are a better deal.) Shuttles connect to the terminal every 10 minutes.

By rental car

Orlando is the "rental car capital of the world" and, as can be expected, there are many car rental agencies offering a large number and wide range of vehicles for rental. These agencies have desks on the first level of the main terminal, on both A and B sides. Additionally, there are numerous car rental agencies located off-site which provide free airport transfers from their location and may offer lower prices (See OIA website).

Beware: Several gas stations near the airport prey on visitors topping off the tanks of rental cars by charging extraordinarily high prices ($2-3/gallon above local prices)! The practice has made national news and local ordinances require all stations to conspicuously display their prices on road-side displays. Nonetheless, there are still many unsuspecting visitors who are shocked to pull up to a gas pump with regular unleaded gas for $6.50/gallon, when stations 2-3 miles away are charging just $3.50!

By bus

Public transportation in the Orlando area is provided by Lynx ( 1 407-841-5969) bus system. Lynx buses can be found on the Ground Transportation Level (Level 1) of the Main Terminal's "A" side at Commercial Lane spaces A38-A41. Fares are $2/ride with free transfers within 90 minutes. Day passes are $4.50 and a 7-day pass costs $16. Discounted fares for Youth/Elderly requires riders to present a Lynx-issued ID, available only by applying at the Central Station Terminal with a 5-7 day turnaround and therefore not viable for short-term visitors. Routes (known as links) from the airport are:

  • Link 11—Downtown Orlando (Map/Schedule; departures every 40 minutes 6AM-midnight M-F, 6AM-10PM Sa, & 6:30AM-9:30PM Su/holidays)
  • Link 41—Apopka (Map/Schedule; departures 5:15AM-22:45PM M-Sa & 5:30AM-21:30PM Su/holidays)
  • Link 42—International Drive (Map/Schedule; departures every 60 minutes 5:30AM-11:30PM M-Sa, 6:30AM-11PM Su/holidays)
  • Link 51—Downtown Orlando (Map/Schedule; departures every 40 minutes 5:30AM-10:30PM M-Sa, 5:15AM-9PM Su/holidays)
  • Link 111—Walt Disney World (Map/Schedule; departures every 75 minutes 5AM-midnight daily/holidays)

By shuttle

Disney Magical Express Buses

Almost every medium to high priced hotel in the city offers airport transfers. Additionally, there are several shuttle services options that run from the airport to various points, including Kissimmee, theme parks, University of Central Florida, and the cruise port at Port Canaveral. Approximate rates for shuttle vans range from $18-26 depending on your destination (see OIA website for details on local transport). You may wish to contact your hotel or cruise line (if leaving from Port Canaveral) to inquire about discounts on certain shuttles or possibly free airport transfers.

Out-of-town shuttles provide service to destinations within about 1-2 hours' drive. These shuttles are prohibited from serving Orange, Seminole, and northern Osceola counties. A full, up-to-date list of these may be found on the OIA website.

By taxi

Taxi cabs/vans may carry up to 9 passengers/luggage and may be found on the Ground Transportation Level (Level 1) of both the "A" and "B" sides of the Main Terminal. Rates are determined by a taximeter, regardless of the number of passengers, and flat fares are prohibited. Approximate taxi fares from airport to popular destinations may be found in the OIA website.

  • Mears Transportation Group, toll-free: 1 888 983-3346. dominates taxi service in Orlando and operates different brands (Yellow Cab Company, Checker Cab Company, and City Cab Company) with identical rates. 

Taxi Cab companies at the airport include:

Ride-hailing services, like Uber and Lyft, may be hailed anywhere in Orlando for drop off at MCO. However, only the high-end ride-hailing services such as Select XL and Uber Black can pick up passengers at MCO at the Express Pickup Tunnel on Level 1 next to the rental car counters, which probably translates to a rate comparable to or higher than the regular taxi services at MCO.

Get around

The 'People Mover' at Orlando International

Orlando International is structured into two components, landside and airside. There is a central landside terminal (one building divided into Terminals "A" and "B"), containing airline counters, baggage claim, rental agencies, numerous shops, and a hotel. This central terminal is connected via trams to four airside terminals, known as Airside 1-4, with the airplane gates. There are plenty of shops and restaurants in both the central terminal and the airsides.

Main terminal

The main terminal consists of one large, rectangular structure which has been divided (by signage, not physically) roughly into thirds across the shorter side into two "terminals"—Terminal A & Terminal B—separated by a central concourse with shops, a food court, and two atriums on the ends where security checkpoints and connections to the airside trams are located.

New automated people mover to be operational Fall 2017

The four Airside terminals are connected to the main landside terminal by automated tram systems called the Automated People Mover (APM).

Wait

The east airport atrium with shops and the Hyatt Regency hotel.

Lounges

Spas

Aircraft spotting

Aircraft spotting is permitted, however spotters must first visit the Public Affairs office (located on the 3rd level of the Main Terminal to the left of the security checkpoint for gates 60-129) to complete a "use of facilities" form and present a valid photo ID. Level 9 of the terminal top parking garage provides panoramic views of most of the airport as well as great views of downtown Orlando.

Eat and drink

If you're departing from the airport and have plenty of time, you may want to grab a meal before going through security. It's risky if you're on a tight schedule, but the landside main terminal has by far the widest variety of restaurants. Take a peek at the security lines; if they're long, better get in line and then see if you have time to eat airside.

If you're flying into the airport, the options in the landside main terminal are the most convenient, because you can pick up your luggage on level 2, then return to level 3 to eat.

The options in each airside terminal are much more limited, and vary widely among them.

As long as you're happy with American chain restaurants, you'll find the selection at Orlando to be pretty good. If you want food that's a little more inspired, the list will be a lot shorter. The hotel restaurants Hemisphere and McCoy's are your best bets in the main terminal. While not as gourmet, each of the Airsides has at least one unique restaurant that may tickle your fancy.

Main terminal

All of the restaurants in the landside main terminal are on the mall-like Level 3, where security and the ticket agents are. There's a good-sized food court right smack in the middle of the level featuring the usual American mall fare: Chick-fil-A, Firehouse Subs, McDonald's, Moe's Southwest Grill, Nathan's Hot Dogs, Panda Express, Sbarro's, and Starbucks, along with Auntie Anne's, Carvel and Cinnabon for sweets.

If you have more time, there are a couple of options for a more substantial meal:

The Hyatt Regency hotel also has two full-service restaurants, located within the hotel on the east side of the landside main terminal (to Airside 2 & 4, Gates 60-129):

  • Hemisphere Steak & Seafood (Hyatt Regency, 9th Floor). Breakfast: M-F 6:30AM-11AM, Sa Su 6:30AM-noon; Dinner: M-Sa 5:30PM-10PM. This upscale steakhouse has a great view of the airport's runways, located as it is at the very top of the main terminal. To an extent, you're paying for the view as much as for the food, but the cuisine matches the quality of the scenery. With its subdued atmosphere and small size, it can even be the setting for a relaxing, romantic dinner. entrees $24-40. 
  • McCoy's Bar and Grill (Hyatt Regency, 4th Floor). Daily 11AM-12:30AM. Located on the Hyatt's lobby level, McCoy's is a bit bigger, a bit livelier, and a bit less expensive than Hemisphere. The focus is on fresh local ingredients, resulting in a fairly eclectic menu that still manages to include several classic favorites. A very good sushi bar is available 4PM-11PM. Entrees $11-32. 

Airside 1 (Gates 1-29)

Airside 2 (Gates 100-129)

  • Cask & Larder. Daily 5AM-last flight. 
  • Kafe Kalik. Caribbean. (probably closed) 

Airside 3 (Gates 30-59)

Airside 4 (Gates 60-99)

Buy

Just in case you couldn't find that perfect souvenir before your last day in Florida, Orlando International has you covered. Level 3 of the main (landside) terminal is essentially a small shopping mall, complete with food court. Most notably, there's a Universal Orlando gift shop, and not one but twoDisney shops. The other retailers are about what you'd find in just about any mall back home. One shop you might not have at home is Del Sol, where the stock in trade is apparel (mainly T-shirts, but also flip-flops and sunglasses) that changes color in sunlight; the effect is fun to see even if you don't buy anything.

The airside terminals vary greatly in their retail offerings. The newer ones, 2 and 4 (gates 60–129), have a wide variety of shops that go well beyond the usual books, magazines, and trinkets. The older ones, 1 and 3 (gates 1-59), have much more limited shopping options.

Airside Terminals 1 and 4, the only terminals with customs facilities, have duty-free shops.

Connect

MCO offers free WiFi throughout the airport. If your device runs out of juice, there are charging stations located in each wing of the airside terminals. If you don't have a device at all, you can also make use of Internet kiosks available in both the landside and airside terminals. Cellular and PCS wireless service is available from all the major providers.

Cope

Sleep

Full sized hotel, with all amenities and services, directly within Orlando International Airport Main Terminal.
  • Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, 9300 Jeff Fuqua Blvd., ☏ 1 407-825-1234, fax: 1 407 856-1672, ✉. The hotel is inside the main (landside) terminal's East Hall (to Airside 2 & 4, Gates 60-129), between the A-Side and the B-Side. The hotel and its restaurants are outside the secured area of the airport and so may be accessed by both travelers and non-travelers. 

Nearby

This huge airport travel guide to Orlando International Airport is a usable article. It has information on flights and ground transportation as well as some complete entries for food and beverage options at the airport. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page .