4 Important Rules to Know About Orlando Airport Security for 2026

Getting through security at Orlando International Airport can be tricky, especially since it’s one of the most crowded airports in the country.

If you’re planning to fly through the airport in 2026, there were some updates in 2025 that are now in full effect for the new year, and knowing about them ahead of time is bound to make your trip a lot smoother.

Get That REAL ID or Pay A Fee

In 2025, TSA began requiring that travelers have a REAL ID to fly, and if you don’t have one from February 1st and after (or don’t have another acceptable form of ID, such as a passport), you’ll need to pay a $45 fee and undergo the TSA ConfirmID process. Don’t want to do that? Then you won’t be able to fly.

Why does it cost money? Well, this is to make sure that the fee to cover an insufficient form of ID will fall on the traveler themselves instead of other taxpayers. If you know ahead of time that you won’t have a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID to fly, you can pay the fee ahead of time online. While you can pay for it at the airport as well, it may cause delays.

Families Can Make It Through Security Easier

For those who are traveling with their families, especially young children, there are new lines at the Orlando International Airport called “Families on the Fly.” This line focuses on flyers who are traveling with strollers, diaper bags, and other items that come along with flying with small kiddos.

The line is only available to be used by families with kids 12 and under, but you don’t need to register online ahead of time or apply in advance — you can just show up and hop in line. However, if you’ve been thinking about getting TSA PreCheck, families can also get a discount on the service thanks to the Families on the Fly program, which can save you even MORE time in line.

MCO Reserve is STILL Your Best Friend

Don’t want to pay to skip the line at Orlando International Airport, but still want to save time in line? Great news — MCO Reserve is still available, and it’s completely free! This is a way you can pre-reserve your space in line at no additional cost. You’ll let the airport know what time you plan to arrive, and then when you get there, you’ll be led through a separate line.

This can be a MASSIVE help, and all it requires is a little pre-planning, which we feel is totally worth it. Anyone can use this service, and if you know you may be cutting it close for your flight, or you just want to have a smoother flying experience, we highly recommend checking it out.

Use This iPhone Feature To Make Flying With Your REAL ID Easier

If you’re concerned about keeping your REAL ID on your person, or you just want to have it on your phone just in case, you’ll want to look into Digital ID. At 250 airports, you can use Digital ID to create an ID from your U.S. passport and utilize it in place of a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID for domestic travel. Now, it’s not available at ALL airports, but MCO is one of them!

Currently, this is only available for iPhones, and it’s very easy to set up. You will need to take photos of your REAL ID-compliant identification at home to set it up on your phone. However, it’s only available in 12 states at this time (plus Puerto Rico as well as Japan), so it may not be available for you just yet.

Learn more about this helpful feature here!

We’ll continue to keep you updated on all the latest travel news to help you out on your upcoming trips, so stay tuned to AllEars!

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Are you planning to fly through Orlando International Airport this year? Tell us in the comments!

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