Happy New Year! If you were able to ring in the New Year at Disney World, we have a warning for you if you are heading back home in the next couple of days. The Orlando International Airport (MCO) is going to be BUSY. The busiest days during the New Year travel period are upon us, and we have some tips if you are traveling through the Orlando International Airport soon.

The busiest travel days for New Year travel are: January 3rd (196,212 travelers), January 4th (195,960 travelers), and January 2nd (191,324 travelers). If you are heading home in the next three days, be prepared for lots of fellow travelers to be right there with you!

It is a popular time of year for traveling; kids are out of school, and many businesses are closed for the holidays. If you are anything like us, that means it is the perfect time for a Disney World trip. Obviously, lots of other people are also thinking the same thing! Orlando International Airport is entering a busy travel period, and we have some tips to help make your trip home as smooth as possible! Even if you aren’t traveling during the busiest times, these are still great tips for your trip!

Book Your Transportation Ahead of Time

The first step in your journey home is making sure you can actually make it to the airport. Make sure you know how you’ll get there! Whether you drive there with your rental car, pre-book a rideshare service, or book a shared shuttle service like Mears Connect, make sure you have a plan.

There will be lots of other people also trying to make it to the airport, so if possible, pre-booking your transportation is the way to go! 

Arrive Early

Currently, Orlando International Airport recommends arriving at least THREE hours before your scheduled departure time, but it is also important to check with your specific airline for its recommended arrival time. You will want to make sure you have plenty of time to return your rental car, check your luggage, go through security, and reach your gate.

While it can be tempting to squeeze every minute of your vacation, arriving at the airport extra early will help prevent a stressful situation if lines are long. It is always better to have some extra time to grab a bite to eat or just relax at your gate, rather than feeling rushed and worried about missing your flight.

Use MCO Reserve

If you don’t have CLEAR or TSA Pre-Check, consider taking advantage of MCO Reserve. This is a FREE service that can help you get through security faster. You can reserve your MCO Reserve time in advance, and when you arrive at the airport, you will be able to access a dedicated MCO Reserve lane during your reserved time window.

You can book your time slot up to 7 days in advance, and screening times are available for flights departing between 6:30 AM and 8:30 PM. This service can help you get through security faster, but you will still want to make sure you arrive at the airport with plenty of time!

Download the MCO App and your Airline’s App

There’s an app for that! We are huge fans of the MCO app, and it can provide you with lots of information for your trip. You can view wait times for security, check parking availability, find out about shopping and dining, and there is a map of each terminal. We highly recommend downloading it, along with your airline’s app. Your airline’s app can provide crucial details about your flight status and any updates you need to know. We want you to have all the information you need right at your fingertips!

We know it can feel overwhelming traveling during busy times, but being prepared, arriving early, and having extra patience will go a long way. We are here to make sure you have the best Disney World vacation! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World tips, tricks, and news.

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Are you flying through the Orlando International Airport during one of these busy travel days? Let us know in the comments!