MCO: book your ride before you land and know which terminal you're in

Two terminals, far apart

Orlando International is one of the busiest airports in the country, and it now has two separate terminal buildings. Terminals A and B share the original main building on the north side. Terminal C, opened in 2022, sits to the south and handles a mix of domestic and international airlines. A people mover links C to the main building's parking and rental area, but you don't want to discover mid-trip that your ride is waiting at the wrong one.

Your airline's app or your boarding pass tells you the terminal. Check it for both your arrival and your departure, since some airlines use different terminals for different flights.

Arriving, step by step

1. At Terminals A and B, gates are on separate airsides. Ride the automated tram from your gate to the main terminal. At Terminal C, you walk.
2. Go down to baggage claim. Bags often take 20 to 40 minutes at busy times.
3. Follow the signs for your ride: rental cars, ride-share pickup, shuttles or LYNX buses. Each has its own marked area on the ground transportation level.
4. Order your ride-share only once you have your bags and are close to the pickup zone. Waits are usually short.

Getting to your hotel

Ride-share or taxi. The simplest choice. Expect roughly $40 to $70 to the Disney area, $30 to $50 to International Drive or Universal, and $25 to $45 to downtown. Prices rise at peak times and when many flights land together.

Shared shuttle. Mears Connect and similar services run to Disney and the main hotel areas. They cost less for solo travelers and couples but stop at several hotels, so allow extra time. Disney stopped running its free airport bus in 2022.

Rental car. Counters and cars are in the garages next to each terminal. Every road out of the airport is a toll road, so read the rental company's toll plan before you drive. See whether to rent a car before you book.

LYNX bus. Local buses run from the airport to downtown and toward International Drive for about $2. They are slow and not built for big suitcases, but they work for light travelers.

Brightline. The train station is at Terminal C, with service south to Miami. See Brightline from Orlando to Miami if you plan to combine cities.

Which to choose comes down to group size and plans. Solo travelers and couples heading to a single resort do well with a shared shuttle. Families of four or more usually pay about the same for a ride-share and get there much faster. Anyone planning springs, beaches or the coast should pick up a car here rather than hunting for one later. If you need a car seat, book a car service that provides one, since most ride-shares don't.

Leaving Orlando

Security lines at MCO can be long, especially on Sunday afternoons, Saturday mornings and the end of school holidays. Arriving about two hours before a domestic flight is a sensible default, and more on peak days. Check your terminal again: if you drive, rental returns are at the matching garage, and going to the wrong terminal costs real time.

If you have a few spare hours, the main terminal has a hotel inside it, food courts on the upper level and seating with runway views. Terminal C has newer dining and more open space.

Food and practical tips

• Eat before security if your flight is early; some gate areas have limited choices.
• Bring a refillable bottle; filling stations are past security.
• Theme park shops at the airport sell merchandise, but prices are similar to the parks, so don't count on bargains.
• Free Wi-Fi works throughout both terminals.

Mistakes to avoid

• Telling a friend or shuttle to meet you at "the airport" without naming the terminal.
• Accepting the most expensive toll package at the rental counter without comparing options.
• Booking the cheapest 6 a.m. flight home after a late night in the parks. Getting there two hours early means leaving the hotel around 3:30.
• Assuming SunRail serves the airport. It doesn't. If you're comparing airports, Sanford is the other option.