CROWD ALERT: Record Number of Travelers Expected at Orlando Airport

The holiday season is here and that means things are about to get VERY busy in Disney World.

But the theme parks won’t be the only thing that’s going to be really busy over the next few weeks. You can also expect Orlando International Airport to be busy, and this year, the airport is expecting record crowds.

So HOW busy can you expect Orlando International Airport to be this holiday season? Well, nearly 3.9 million passengers are expected to travel through the airport over the 23-day Christmas and New Year’s travel period. This is a 13.5 percent increase over 2022.

The airport provided a chart detailing just how many passengers will be expected over the next few weeks. It looks like the busiest travel day will be on December 30th, with the airport expecting around 187,000 people to travel through it.

Every day is going to be pretty busy, though, so if you are planning to fly through Orlando International Airport, the airport has some tips called the 3-2-1 guidelines:

Be at the airport ticket counter at least THREE HOURS before your flight
Be at the security checkpoint at least TWO HOURS before your flight
Be at your gate at least ONE hour before your departure time

This may seem like a lot of extra time, but you might find you’ll need it given how backed up check-in counters and security checkpoints might be. You might also want to sign up for MCO Reserve, which lets you schedule a time to go through a shorter security line.

A new surface parking lot will also open for the busy season: it’s accessible with E-Pass and SunPass Plus. Sunpass customers will also need to be enrolled with Easy Pay and must have a transponder to enter and exit the lot. Orlando has added more than 2,000 new parking spaces since last year.

If you’re using rideshare services, the airport is working to have more drivers available to help passengers. Orlando International Airport is also encouraging passengers to use rideshare services, especially if parking lots are at capacity. Airport visitors may also notice more ambassadors in shops during this busy time.

So you’ll want to make sure you bring your patience with you if you’re traveling through the airport, but if you follow the 3-2-1 Guidelines, you should have a fairly hassle-free experience without risking missing your flight. Of course, delays and cancellations can happen, so make sure you have a way to get notifications from your airline via its app — you can also download the official MCO app.

Be sure to check back with AllEars again soon!