Dec 19, 2024
Orlando International Prepares For Crowds As Central Florida Ranks A Top 10 Global Holiday Destination
ORLANDO, Fla. - The year-end holiday travel season is here, with Orlando International Airport (MCO) poised to welcome millions to Central Florida for bowl games and celebrations.
During the next few weeks, Orlando will host multiple college football bowl games, and the City Beautiful has been rated as one of the Top 10 global travel destinations this holiday season by two publications. Conde Nast Traveler and WalletHub both rank Orlando as one of the best places to ring in 2025.
To welcome the large holiday crowds, MCO offers enhanced parking options, including MCO Reserved Parking and expanded surface parking lot access, and additional passenger features that focus on travel convenience. Those expanded surface lots - Atlantis, Endeavour and Discovery - are only accessible with E-Pass and SunPass Plus. SunPass customers must be enrolled with Easy Pay and opted in for parking. A transponder must be used to enter and exit the lots.
“To assist in making the travel journey as seamless as possible, we encourage travelers to try our new MCO app and website,” says Kevin J. Thibault, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “Once there you can access a wealth of information that ranges from signing up to reserve your space for parking, reserve space in the security checkpoint line or follow step-by-step directions on where to find amenities throughout the terminals.”
The 2024 holiday travel period begins on Friday, December 20th and runs through January 5, 2025. During the 17-day period, MCO is expecting 2.9 million passengers, a slight increase of 1 percent over 2023’s record numbers. The busiest travel day is expected to be Saturday, December 28th, with more than 192,000 total arrivals and departures.
Due to the overall volume of passengers, MCO is encouraging travelers who need to check luggage to be at the airline ticket counter 2 hours in advance of departures. To ensure travelers can secure a parking space, navigate through the terminals, check baggage, go through the security screening process, and arrive at your gate with adequate time, a 3-hour window is recommended.
Additional Holiday Travel Tips at MCO: Be of good cheer. You are not alone. Record crowds may cause lines or delays at various points throughout your travel journey.
- Download the MCO app and visit our website @FlyMCO.com for flight status and updates.
- Pack as lightly as possible and wear easily removable shoes.
- Do NOT bring guns or weapons through security. Check your bags for prohibited items before coming to the airport.
- If we have reached parking capacity, please consider using a rideshare provider or a taxi.
- Remember enhanced screening rules mean electronics larger than a cell phone must be removed from your bag and placed in a bin at the checkpoint unless you are in the TSA PreCheck program.
- Do not leave bags unattended or accept items from strangers for transport.
- Place identification tags on the outside and inside of checked and carry-on luggage.
- If traveling with a pet or comfort animal, bring a leash. The pet will need to be on a leash while the animal carrier is properly screened by TSA.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is proud to operate Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), two of Florida’s premier air travel gateways. MCO is a world-class global connector, serving nearly 58 million annual passengers across its three terminals, A, B and C. Connected to an Intermodal Terminal Facility that offers high-speed passenger rail service, Terminal C is an inventive structure that elevates the customer experience with 100% automated screening lanes at TSA checkpoints. ORL is conveniently located just miles from downtown Orlando and provides vital general aviation access to the heart of the region.
For more information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority at 407-825-2055 or email us at MCOPIO@goaa.org for further assistance.