With the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, Orlando International Airport (MCO) is bracing for a significant increase in passengers. The airport anticipates over 1.9 million travelers from November 22 through December 3, marking one of the busiest travel periods of the year. According to WESH, MCO is set to handle more than 959,000 departures, surging past the pre-pandemic numbers of 2019, which saw 836,000 departures during the same period.
The troubleshooting airport has expanded its parking options to resolve the puzzle of parking. With the influx of passengers, parking is at a premium, and to this end, MCO has added 2,000 extra parking spaces available to travelers. Making their journey smoother, passengers can now reserve parking spots ahead of time, as reported by WFTV. The new spaces include an overflow parking area and three lots, Atlantis, Endeavour, and Discovery, conveniently opposite the train station.
Kevin Thibault, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, highlighted the importance of being prepared for the busy season. He noted that the passengers can reserve parking at Level 4 of Parking Garage C, where after parking, a terminal link shuttle is available to get to Terminals A and B. Thibault candidly remarked in an interview cited by WESH, "This year will be a very busy, busy holiday year."
Airport officials stress the importance of planning to get ahead of potential bottlenecks. They advocate for travelers to follow the 3-2-1 rule: being at the airport ticket counter 3 hours before their flight, at the checkpoint 2 hours before, and at the gate 1 hour before departure. On a practical note, the airport also suggests using the latest MCO app for real-time parking updates, rideshare programs, taxis, or having someone drop passengers off if parking reaches capacity.
To ease holiday travel, the airport is speeding up security and reminding passengers to follow the rules. They urge against bringing prohibited items like weapons and highlight the importance of following protocols, such as handling unattended bags and traveling properly with pets or comfort animals.
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