I Thought I Experienced Everything at Orlando Airport — Then This Happened

It’s no secret that, like many travelers who visit Disney World, Universal, and other Central Florida theme parks, I travel through Orlando International Airport (MCO) a lot.

As I’ve made my way through MCO to travel domestically and internationally over the years, I’ve seen a great many things. Long security lines, new stores and eateries, boarding procedures, you name it. However, recently I encountered something I’d NEVER seen before.

My party arrived at MCO two hours before my flight, as one should, only to find that nearly ALL of the airport’s parking lots were full, even the valet!

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We parked in the economy lot, which is about a 15-minute shuttle ride from the airport. While this wasn’t a huge issue for us, thanks to — stressing again — arriving two hours early, it could definitely have been a problem for travelers who cut things a bit closer.

The strangest part was that the shuttles didn’t seem overly packed, and nothing at the airport itself seemed out of the ordinary, leaving me befuddled by the whole situation.

Perhaps issues like this will become a distant memory once the parking aspects of MCO’s ongoing litany of refurbishment projects are completed. Currently, the airport is adding a new $13.9 million Parking Guidance System that will provide real-time information on approximately 11,000 spaces across MCO’s four parking garages, as well as 8,000 new spaces.

In addition, a further $1.2 billion parking and rental car expansion program scheduled to see completion by 2030 will:

• Make customer service areas bigger, better, and easier to use.
• Add Premium Reserved and Valet parking spots for faster, more convenient parking.
• Improve behind-the-scenes baggage screening to help bags move more quickly and reliably.
• Create more space for rental car pick-up and drop-off inside the airport’s parking garages.
• Upgrade rental car service areas so vehicles can be cleaned, fueled, and ready for customers more efficiently.
• Offer a more seamless rental car return process that allows travelers to drop off both their car and checked luggage in one easy step.

Recently, I had an… interesting day at MCO that just verified to me that arriving two hours early for domestic flights – and three hours for international flights – is the way to do it. Stay tuned to AllEars for more travel stories!

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What’s the strangest airport experiment you’ve had lately? Let us know in the comments below.