Flying into Orlando International Airport (MCO) for the first time? Whether you're heading to Disney World, Universal or your Orlando villa, arriving after a long flight can feel overwhelming. This guide walks you through every step—from landing and immigration to collecting your rental car and leaving the airport—so you know exactly what to expect.
Orlando International Airport Terminal C
The majority of people going to the Disney area will fly into Orlando International Airport terminal C, with both British Airways and Virgin offering direct flights from the UK into MCO's terminal C.
It can be daunting arriving in an airport that you don’t know, so here's a few tips to help you through the experience!
Here is a quick checklist of what to do when you arrive at Orlando International Airport (MCO).
- Leave the aircraft (make sure you have all you're carry on luggage and your passport)
- Walk to immigration (this takes about 5-8 minutes)
- Collect luggage (this typically takes between 30-60 minutes so be patient)
- Pass through Customs
- Visit rental car desk
- Pick up Visitor Toll Pass
- Collect your hire car
- Drive to your villa
Arriving at Orlando Airport
When the plane lands you will firstly need to pick up your luggage, it's usually quite a long walk from the plane, but take your time, as I'm sure you will still be quicker than your bags! We normally wait around 30 minutes from our bags to arrive at the baggage carousel.
You may see The Beagle Brigade walking through passengers; they are not to be petted as their role is to sniff out fruit, vegetables and meat banned from crossing the country's borders. Failure to declare food products can result in fines of up to $10,000 - not a good start to your holiday!
US Passport Control
Next you go through passport control / U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is also wise to have a copy of your ESTA and your flight itinerary showing details of your return flight in your hand luggage, should you be asked to show it. This queue can be long but they normally have lots of desks open so goes down quickly, typically this should take 30-60 minutes but we have done it in less than 5, it just depends how quickly your luggage comes out and if there is another flight that arrived ahead of you. They normally take your photo and maybe your finger prints via digital scanner. They will often ask the purpose of your visit and how long you are staying for. They may want to see documentation of your return flight details.
VR360 TOP TIP
Terminal C participates in the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) programme, which lets you submit your details as you arrive at the airport via the app. You need to take a quick selfie once you have landed and then submit the form via the app. Then head for the MPC queue, this is normally a much shorter queue and in the past has been on the left side of the customs area. It allows you to skip the larger queue for passport control.
Once you have gone through passport control you head through the one way doors, so make sure you have everything and everyone with you, as you can’t turn back!
Orlando Airport Car Hire
You are currently on level 6, Arrivals. Next you need to head to the car hire desks to sign paperwork, to do this firstly head to level 4 using the elevators or escalators on the far side of the concourse, and follow the signs for your car hire company.
Visitor Toll Pass - Orlando Airport
VR360 TOP TIP - The toll roads in Orlando have moved to a cashless payment system, therefore, I also recommend that you pick up a Visitor Toll Pass, the machine for this is located next to the car hire companies, you need to download the app and reserve a pass ahead of time. Then pick up the pass from the machine and enter the registration plate of your hire car into the app when you arrive.
Also make sure you hang the toll pass tag in the windscreen before you leave the airport otherwise it won't get read by the toll machines as you drive through them.
You need to decline the toll option with the car hire company, otherwise they will charge you a daily rate plus the cost of the tolls, which is considerably more than what you would pay for just the tolls. Just remember to drop the pass back at the end of your stay to be refunded the initial $10 rental fee. https://www.visitortollpass.com/How
Once assigned a car, you can head to the garage following the signs for your car rental company. There are toilets as you leave this area, which might be worth stopping at as it could be an hour drive to your villa!
Leaving Orlando International Airport via Hire Car
Once you have your rental car and toll pass, you need to follow exit signs from the car park, your villa directions will either take you on the 417 heading South or 528 heading West (both ways are toll roads!). Most of the cars have Apple CarPlay and the Android Auto, it's best to set this up before you leave the garage, so that you can have access to the maps and navigation.
I hope these hints into what to expect have been useful to you? Have a fun onward stay in Orlando!