ORLANDO, Fla. – Living in Orlando, it feels like a rite of passage to hop on the tram and hear Mayor Buddy Dyer’s “welcome home” message at the airport.
I have resided in The City Beautiful for nearly five years and flew out of MCO for the first time in September.
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With nearly 2 million travelers expected to pass through MCO for Thanksgiving, here are some tips and tricks that I wish I knew before seeing the iconic carpet, and what I would tell my friends and family to do when coming here.
Arrive three hours early
I know, I sound overly anxious, but airport officials swear by the 3-2-1 rule.
“Passengers should be at the airport ticket counter three hours before their flight; at the checkpoint two hours before; and at the gate one hour before departure,” per MCO.
Take into account, the airport is huge and there is a tram that takes you from security to your gate, depending on what terminal you’re using.
Worst case scenario, you have extra time to grab a Cuban sandwich from ZaZa (the best food option in my opinion) and to download shows or movies on your device to watch during your flight.
Download the MCO app
On Nov. 13, airport staff debuted the redesigned and enhanced MCO app. To improve the app, the airport said it conducted surveys to find out what travelers wanted and needed in an app.
On the app, you can track your flight, see parking availability, find restaurants and stores around the airport, check security wait times and more.
Click here to watch how to reserve a parking spot on the app.
Get a Visitor Toll Pass
This is a great tip for your friends and family if they plan on renting a car and driving around through toll roads.
Currently, rental car companies can already provide a transponder inside the car one rents, which pays tolls automatically. However, the rental car company then charges the person renting the car for the daily use of the transponder on top of the cost of the tolls.
The Central Florida Expressway Authority debuted the Visitor Toll Pass earlier this year and it’ a way for visitors to pay the lowest toll rate in the state, according to its website.
This pass is free and can be used if your friends or family plan on flying in and out of MCO.
- Download the Visitor Toll Pass app and reserve your pass. (This is where you can also connect a card to add funds to pay for the tolls.)
- Pick up your pass at one of the six Visitor Toll Pass vending machines around MCO.
- Hang up the free pass on your rental car’s rearview mirror.
- Return your pass to the drop off boxes around MCO. (You will get charged $10 if you forget to return it.)
All in all, this could save your folks some money as they get the cheaper toll price, and you don’t have to pay the rental car company a daily transponder fee.
Check your souvenirs (and snacks!)
If you are bringing home some souvenirs, check TSA’s website on what can and cannot be put in a carry-on bag. For example, larger snow globes must be packed in a checked bag.
To add on, if your Harry Potter wand or Mickey Mouse ears end up being damaged on your way home, it may be worth reaching out to the park’s merchandise service team to see if they can make some magic happen.
Universal’s Contact: 888-762-0820 or email at MerchServices@universalorlando.com
Disney World’s Contact: 407-939-4251 or email at merchandise.guest.services@disneyparks.com
On the other hand, TSA also provided a guide on what holiday food is allowed to be packed in a checked bag. Per its website, baked goods, meats, stuffing, casseroles, macaroni and cheese, fruit, candy and spices are all allowed. Items such as wine, gravy and cranberry sauce should be carefully packed in a checked bag, according to TSA’s website.
Read Erik Von Ancken’s parking hacks
Let’s be real, this whole story wouldn’t exist without our News 6 expert, Erik Von Ancken. He is a seasoned vet who frequently reports on traffic and parking issues at MCO.
If you plan on braving the parking garages at the airport, he offers some suggestions such as going offsite, paying extra for a reserved spot to even pointing out where the 2,000 new parking spaces are.
Click here to check out those hacks.