Insider’s Guide to the Orlando International Airport

The Frog Family enjoys nothing more than a great, well-planned trip to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and the other theme parks. Of course, there is plenty of planning that goes into a trip to Orlando. ­Getting to and from "The City Beautiful" is one of those big logistics. After all, you can’t get that dream vacation started without first arriving safely at the Orlando Airport!

In this guide, we're covering everything you need to know about Orlando Airport, aka Airport MCO! Put on your Minnie Ears and pack your bags because we're about to take flight in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

Hop To

• Overview
• Other Airports
• Navigating the Terminal
• Security
• Gates
• Bus Transportation
• Car Rentals and Rideshares
• Hotels

Orlando Airport Overview

The Orlando International Airport hosts the following airlines:

• Aer Lingus
• AeroMexico
• Air Canada
• Air Canada Rouge
• Air France
• Air Transat
• Alaska Airlines
• Allegiant
• American Airlines
• Avelo Airlines
• Avianca
• Azul
• BahamasAir
• BermudAir
• Breeze
• British Airways
• Caribbean Airlines
• Copa Airlines
• Delta
• Discover Airlines
• Emirates
• Flair Airlines
• Frontier Airlines
• GOL
• Iberia
• Iberojet
• IcelandAir
• JetBlue
• LATAM Airlines
• Norse Atlantic UK
• Porter
• Southwest
• Spirit
• SunCountry Airlines
• United
• Virgin Atlantic
• Viva
• Volaris
• WestJet

Depending on your airline, you will end up at Terminal A, B or C. You can check out where you’ll be headed ahead of time, or follow the signs guiding you at the airport. With 133 gates at Airport MCO, it’s not hard to get lost … or distracted by the fun Disney and Universal stores. (Hop tip: If you forget to grab a souvenir for your cousin Kermit during your trip, simply pick one up before your flight home at one of these on-site shops!)

Other Orlando Airports

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is our main focus here. However, Orlando has a much smaller, secondary airport that is an option to fly into, as well: Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB). We find that SFB has two main differentiators. First, budget airline Allegiant Air and Sun Country Airlines are the only two airlines that fly in and out of SFB. Second, and most importantly, this smaller airport is about 35 minutes further from “Tourist Town” than MCO. This means that while you may find a much better deal on flights, you will rack up more costs in taxi fares to arrive at your destination, whether that be Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, or downtown.

We have had a few first-time frog friends accidentally book flights at SFB instead of MCO, thinking it was the closest airport. It isn’t a bad option; you just need to factor in whether it's actually a cost savings or the most efficient for your family.

Navigating Orlando Airport with Kids

We know that airports can be difficult to navigate, especially if you have tadpoles in tow. Luckily, Orlando Airport is pretty straightforward and has great navigational tools. Throughout the airport, you’ll find interactive kiosks that allow you to search for your gate, find restaurant options and map out where you’re headed. Luckily, Orlando Airport is one of the kid-friendliest airports around.

At the main hub where terminals A and B meet, you’ll find quite a few fun places to shop if you have some time to kill. Let your tadpoles explore the SeaWorld store for a Shamu plush, or grab a chocolate frog from the on-site Universal store’s massive selection of Harry Potter merchandise. Also in Terminals A and B is the new EPIC Universe store. Be sure to check out our blog for a First Look Inside Universal Epic Universe Worlds before it opens to the public on May 22, 2025.

There are two separate Disney stores at the airport—one in East Hall and one in West Hall—that have all of your theme park snack favorites, as well as classic and trendy merchandise to take home with you. There’s even a pin station! Don’t forget to take pictures with all of the great Disney displays.

If you (or your wallet) have had enough of the theme parks, there are a few other fun places to keep your tadpoles entertained. Natalie’s Candy Jar is an adorable, classic candy shop that will have your little ones ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the fun flavors. This is a great place to pick up a couple of fun snacks for them to enjoy on the flight. Nothing can make a flight more enjoyable than snacking on your favorite sweets!

Right next door, you’ll find an arcade called Power Play Arcade. It's the perfect spot to let your tadpoles burn off energy before a long flight. There’s a nice seating area outside for mom and dad to relax while the kids play away. We consider Natalie’s Candy Jar and the arcade to be the dynamic duo of destinations if you have free time! There is also a 3,000-gallon aquarium that is a good place to pass the time and see some of our fishy friends.

On the “grown-up” side of things, there are plenty of fun places to shop for you, too. My favorite stop is Kylie Skin to stock up on some body lotion and detox masks for when I get home. Sometimes you need to decompress after an action-packed vacation, right? There are also all of the essentials, such as a Truist ATM and a TSA Pre-Check Center. (Quick tip: If lines are long at your airline’s desk, and your baggage is already checked, you can find general check-in kiosks that allow you to print boarding passes from a variety of airlines across the airport.)

We also love that the Orlando Airport offers a wide variety of dining options, from quick and budget-friendly places like Chick-fil-A to a nice sit-down meal at Macaroni Grill. Flexible options are perfect for frog families like ours!

There is also free public wifi and 12 lounges at Airport MCO for passenger use:

Security at the Orlando International Airport

Orlando International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country. The lines almost always look especially long, and they can be during peak seasons. However, we have also found the airport and security personnel at Orlando Airport to be among the friendliest and most efficient that we've hopped to. If you want to have the best shot at lower waits, we generally recommend booking the earliest flights available, but then you might also have grumpy tadpoles (it's a trade-off).

While there’s always the chance that you can stroll through security with no wait, we recommend allotting about an hour to get through the line — just in case. If you typically arrive at your local, low-key airport two hours ahead of your flight, we recommend getting to the Orlando Airport three hours in advance.

Standard airport security procedures apply here. Be prepared to remove all food and large electronics from your bags (anything larger than a cell phone) and put them in their own separate bin. We know this can be a hassle if you’ve stocked up on snacks for the trip, which by the way, we highly recommend to save money and prevent any tadpole meltdowns. No beverages are allowed through security, so don’t make the mistake of buying each tadpole an apple juice just before heading through. Also, don't froget about those souvenirs on the return trip. There were tears when we made the ultimate mistake of not checking Lily's Wizarding World of Harry Potter snow globe, and it had to be surrendered.

Gates at the Orlando International Airport

Once you get past security, you'll hop on a tram to your intended gate. At this point, you need to know your gate number. If you make a mistake and hop on the wrong tram, you'll have to take another train back to the terminal, exit the secure area and go through security AGAIN. (Yes, we've made this mistake. We like to consider it part of our research to help you.)

At the gates, you'll find more shops, a food court and other services. Yes, you can get your Starbucks fix. If there is enough time, you need a little pampering and you've got someone watching the tadpoles, we highly recommend escaping to the XpresSpa. Find this in Airside 1 near gates 1-9 and Airside 3 near gates 40-49. If you're looking for a refreshing dining respite from the airport hubbub, we highly recommend Cask & Larder, near gates 100-129. Set under the tree at this farm-to-table restaurant offering Southern-inspired cuisine, and you'll almost believe you're picnicking outside. You worker-bee types can also plug in your device along the counter/bar areas.

Bus Transportation To and From the Orlando Airport

It pains us to say that Disney's Magical Express, which provided complimentary transportation to and from the Walt Disney World resort, has been discontinued. It's been years, and the news still hits us like a ton of bricks.

If you want to still take a bus to Disney, you'll have to book with Mears Connect. This is located in MCO Main and Terminal C—just look for the signs for "Ground Transportation." Before you board, you'll need to pick up your bags from baggage claim on Level 2.

Unlike Disney's Magical Express, which played a heart-filled Disney video and fun trivia, Mears Connect plays a traditional video exploring hot spots in Florida. Depending on the length of your drive, the video may repeat itself. Furthermore, Mears Connects drops off at multiple hotels, not just those connected to a nearby theme park. This can make your commute longer, depending on where your driver has to go.

However, if you're traveling to Universal Orlando, you can take the SuperStar Shuttle to and from the airport. Transportation is located in the same place as Mears Connect. It costs $39 per adult and $29 per child. Children under the age of two are free.

Car Rentals, Ride Share & More at Orlando International Airport

As we mentioned before, Orlando Airport is an incredibly high-traffic airport. If you plan to rent a car, be sure to book ahead of time. On more than one occasion, we have seen every single rental car vendor sell out of vehicles. We recommend doing so as soon as your flight is confirmed. A bonus is that prices tend to be cheaper the further out you book, so you can hunt for the best deal!

The rental car companies are located on both the A and B sides of the terminal on Level 1. Simply follow signs for ground transportation, and you won’t be able to miss the long wall of vendors. Orlando International Airport offers the choices of  Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar Car Rental, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless Car Rental, Sixt, and Thrifty. The streets of Orlando can be pretty chaotic, so definitely go for a car you will feel comfortable driving that can accommodate your entire frog squad and cargo.

If you’d rather have someone else drive for you, there are always options such as Lyft and Uber. Please note that the cost of these rideshare services can increase during peak pricing. Think holidays, evenings, and weekends. You will meet your driver at the Ground Transportation area on Level 1. These apps do a great job of mapping out the Orlando Airport, so you’ll know exactly where to find your driver. Always confirm the name and license plate before getting into the vehicle.

As with any airport, there is a near-endless list of taxi and car services available. You can find all those that serve Orlando International Airport here. If you have a large party and no need for rental cars, this is a good option.

Hotels at Orlando International Airport

If you fly into Orlando Airport late at night or have a departing flight early the next morning, staying at an on-site or nearby hotel is an excellent option. Luckily, Airport MCO has quite a few great ones to choose from. If you have young tadpoles, we really advocate for this approach to avoid adding to existing airport stress with exhausted, grumpy little ones. And if you don’t arrive until after midnight, it may not even be worth the expense of paying for a “full night” at your actual hotel near the tourist destinations, as oftentimes these are more costly.

Right at the center of the Orlando International Airport is the Hyatt Regency. Can it get any more convenient than that? If you have an early flight the following morning and don’t want to worry about arriving on time or transportation, this is your best bet. This hotel has great rooms and a Roman-style outdoor pool with runway views. Not a bad way to spend the night!

Not on-site but incredibly close by is Homewood. This Hilton hotel offers complimentary shuttle service to Orlando Airport, pet-friendly rooms and an outdoor pool. Standard suites are 1-2 bedrooms with full kitchens and can fit up to six adults! It is within walking distance of several restaurants and overall a great option whether staying for a night or a week.

The Holiday Inn Express is just a few miles away from the airport and offers a free hot breakfast, complimentary Wi-fi and many other standard amenities.

Well, there you have it. The Frog Family’s Insider Guide to the Orlando Airport. We hope this helps you travel with ease when you’re headed to your favorite tourist destinations. Read more about traveling to and from Orlando airport. Have a tip or time saver we haven’t mentioned? Share it in comments below.

Hoppy planning!

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