With the holidays kicking into full gear, that means the holiday crowds are, too!

We’ve been keeping an eye on the crowds throughout the Disney parks, but there is another place that we like to check in on every once in a while to see what the crowds are like — and that is the Orlando International Airport (MCO). If you’ve ever flown to Disney World, you’ve probably visited this airport and maybe even heard about the nightmare it can be when it comes to crowds (we’re looking at you, TSA line).

We’re sorry to tell you, but the holiday crowds aren’t projected to be any better this year. According to a press release that was put out by MCO, they are expecting 3.9 million passengers to travel in and out of the airport during the 23-day Christmas and New Year’s travel period (December 16th to January 7th). That means they’re expecting a 3.9% increase compared to 2022.

On December 30th, the airport projects that it will be the busiest day of the season — serving over 187,000 passengers. That is A LOT of people! If you’re planning on flying into or out of MCO, plan accordingly so you don’t miss your flight.

How can you plan accordingly? Let us tell you!

Make sure you check into your flight 24 hours before your takeoff time — the airline app should remind you to do this! Then, you will receive your boarding pass, seat assignments, etc. Make sure you arrive at the airport at least 3 hours early, especially if you’re planning to check a bag; those lines can get long!

Once you check your bags, head to the security checkpoint for your designated airport terminal. These lines can be super long, especially during the holidays. Don’t forget to check out the TSA wait times on the airport website! After security, head to your gate (you know, to verify that it exists). After that, feel free to roam around the terminal until your boarding time!

Parking can sometimes be hard to come by at MCO, so make sure you account for that in your plans if you’re leaving your car at the airport. MCO recently opened three new parking lots that created more than 2,000 new parking spaces, so hopefully, it’ll be easier to find a spot this year!

We know traveling around the holidays can be stressful. Make sure you prepare for your trips to the airport accordingly — especially if you’re visiting major airports! Keep checking in with us at DFB for more news and updates.

How Early Should You REALLY Get To Orlando Airport (MCO)?

 

How have your experiences been flying in or out of MCO? Let us know in the comments!

The post Orlando Airport Issues WARNING About Projected Holiday Crowds first appeared on the disney food blog.