If you are flying to your Universal Orlando Resort vacation, you’ll be transiting Orlando International Airport.
Here is our guide to navigating the airport as smoothly as possible plus an overview of all that the airport has to offer.
Note: there is an airport that calls itself “Orlando” Sanford International Airport. It is not in Orlando, rather it is in Sanford which is 40 to 45 miles from Universal Orlando making transport to Universal much more expensive and requiring extra time. Also Universal’s SuperStar Shuttle does not service Sanford International Airport! Using this airport is not recommended unless you are renting a car and wasting your time is not a big deal.
Arrival at Orlando International Airport (MCO, KMCO)
When your airplane arrives at the gate you will be in one of 4 outlying gate buildings (the airport calls these “Airsides”). Each of these buildings has 2 to 3 corridors with gates radiating from a central area. In the central area you’ll find all of the shopping and dining venues as well as the tram to the main terminal.
As you exit your airplane look for and follow the signs for Terminal and Bag Claim. These will lead to your terminal’s central area. In the central area look for the sign for Shuttle to Terminal & Bag Claim, this will lead you to the shuttle to the main terminal.
The automated, above ground, subway car style shuttles will whisk you to the main terminal fairly quickly without much of a wait.
Main Terminal
The main terminal sits in the middle of the Airside buildings, which are located at its 4 corners.
The main terminal has a central common area with dining, shopping, lounging areas and TSA screening. There are 2 sides to the airport, the north A (Orange) Side and south B (Green) side that each have separate airline ticketing, baggage claim, and transportation options.
Each side is 3 stories with ticketing on the “main” third level, baggage claim on the second, and ground transportation on the first.
As you exit the shuttle from your Airside building continue to follow signs for either A or B Bag Claim and Ground Transportation.
Once in the main terminal you’ll either proceed to your baggage claim (A or B) or the SuperStar Shuttle if you have not checked bags.
If you are picking up your bags you’ll need to know whether you need to go to Baggage Claim A or B! Check your airline app, airport monitors, or your flight attendant might have told you. Head for that baggage claim.
After claiming your bags, or if you only have carry-on either head down to your side’s first floor for ground transportation, out the doors on the second floor for Uber or Lyft pickups, or to the A side first floor for the SuperStar Shuttle.
If you are riding Universal’s SuperStar Shuttle you will head to the A Side. You’ll see the signs for Universal’s SuperStar Shuttle which is located on the first floor.
FYI – Depending on the time of day, the main terminal can be very busy and congested.
Of note in the Main Terminal is Universal Orlando Store, for those last minute purchases.
Orland International has a USO Lounge on the A Side first floor (outside security).
Ground Transportation
The first floor of both the A and B sides houses Ground Transportation. That is: rental cars, limos, taxis, Universal’s SuperStar Shuttle (A Side only), Disney’s Magical Express (B Side only) and pickups via personal vehicles.
Transportation Options
Rental Cars – Numerous Rental Car Companies have counters on-airport on the A and B sides. These are:
- Advantage
- Alamo
- Avis
- Budget
- Dollar
- Enterprise
- E-Z
- Hertz
- National
- Payless
- Thrifty
Other companies have off-airport locations accessible via shuttle vans.
Be sure to check for military, government and USAA discounts!
When departing the airport in your rental:
- For Universal Orlando Resort, the Orlando ITT, SeaWorld use the north airport exit (portions are tool roads, currently about $3.50)
- For WDW use the south airport exit (portions are tool roads, currently about $1.25)
Ride-Hailing Services – Uber and Lyft pick up on level 2. As you exit from Baggage Claim check for the sings with numbers located above the pickup area by the road. Text this number to your driver for ease of pickup.
One-way rides to Universal start at about $25
Uber – Free ride up to $15 by signing up via this link for Uber (or use the promo code steveb14703ue if the link doesn’t work). This promo is for your first ride only, any value not used expires so this is perfect for a ride from Orlando International to WDW.
Lyft – $5 credit towards your first ride when you sign up for Lyft using this link. This promo is for your first ride only.
Airport Shuttles – There are numerous companies that offer shuttle and limo service from the airport to all Central Florida locations.
Universal’s SuperStar Shuttle – If you are using the SuperStar Shuttle for your transportation to your Universal Resort head to the A Side first floor, then follow the signs. The SuperStar Shuttle counter is located at the very far left of all the rental car counters on the first floor.
Just let the person at the counter know your name and they will locate your personal documents’ wallet. In it will be your SuperStar Shuttle information (for your return trip) and any tickets (like the Freedom Pass) that you might have purchased as part of your room package. They will then direct you out the doors to the bus waiting area to wait for your ride.
The actual travel time to Universal is about 15 minutes. Once in the area, you may be dropped right at your resort, or you might stop at a few others first.
Departure from Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a very busy airport!
Lines at the TSA Checkpoints can be very long!
Plan accordingly! Note: Universal’s SuperStar Shuttle usually picks you up 2 to 3 hours prior to your flight!
- If you are using the SuperStar Shuttle – You’ll be dropped off on the first floor
- Other Shuttles and Disney’s Magical Express will also drop off on the first floor
- Limos may drop you off on the third floor or the first
- Uber and Lyft will drop you on the third floor
- Rental cars follow the signs for rental car return. Both A and B sides have one
Ticketing, check in, and shuttles to departure gates are located on the third floor.
Airport Facilities
As mentioned above, the main terminal sits in the middle of the Airside buildings, which are located at its 4 corners.
The main terminal has a central common area with dining, shopping, lounging areas and TSA screening. The Main Terminal has a food court, lounging areas, stores, restaurants, and a hotel.
The 4 Airsides have all 119 gates, stores, and restaurants.
There are 2 TSA Security Checkpoints which serve:
- Airside 1 & 3
- Airside 2 & 4
The Airsides are accessed only via a shuttle train from the central airport building after passing through TSA screening.
- Airsides 1 – Gates 1-29
- Airsides 2 – Gates 100-129
- Airsides 3 – Gates 30-59
- Airsides 4 – Gates 70-99
Each Airside has a central area with the Shuttle Station and the dining/shopping locations. Two to three long hallways containing the gates extend outwards form here.
Dining
Here are the dining locations that are available:
| Restaurant | Main Terminal | Airside 1 | Airside 2 | Airside 3 | Airside 4 |
| Auntie Anne’s | X | X | |||
| Bahama Breeze | X | ||||
| Burger King | X | X | |||
| Carvel | X | ||||
| Chick-fil-A | X | ||||
| Chili’s | X | ||||
| Chipotle | X | ||||
| Cinnabon | X | ||||
| Cold Stone Creamery | X | ||||
| Firehouse Subs | X | ||||
| Jersey Mike’s Subs | X | ||||
| Manchu Wok | X | ||||
| Macaroni Grill | X | ||||
| McDonald’s main | X | ||||
| Moe’s Southwest Grill | X | ||||
| Nathan’s Famous Subs | X | ||||
| On the Border | X | ||||
| Outback | X | ||||
| Panda Express | X | ||||
| Ruby Tuesday | X | ||||
| Qdoba | X | ||||
| Sbarro’s | X | ||||
| Starbucks | X | X | X | X | |
| Villa Italian Kitchen | X | ||||
| Wendy’s | X | ||||
| Zaza Cuban Dinner | X | X |
The Main Terminal has Universal, Disney, SeaWorld, and Kennedy Space Center stores. Many other generic shopping options are available in a the Main Terminal and Airsides.
Helpful Links:
TSA Pre check sign up, Recommended!
Orlando International Airport Official App – MCO app
Orlando International Airport Offical Site – With Security Wait Times
May your travel through MCO be smooth!
Over to you. Do you have any tips for the Orlando Airport? Tell us in the comments section below!
This guide will be helpful to your non-military family and friends, so be sure to share!
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