For Disney World guests, it’s the dream trip you’ve planned for months: flights booked, park tickets in hand, your phone loaded with Genie+ or Express Pass strategies. But as you walk into the airport, you’re hit with a sea of travelers, snaking security lines, and the low hum of travel fatigue. Is this the start of your magical vacation—or a logistical nightmare?
This Memorial Day weekend, Orlando International Airport (MCO) is bracing for an overwhelming surge of travelers. Airport officials have revealed that nearly 1 million passengers are expected to travel through the airport from Thursday, May 22, to Tuesday, May 27, making it one of the busiest weekends in Orlando travel history.
So what’s driving the spike—and how will it impact Disney and Universal vacationers?
A Record-Breaking Travel Surge Hits Orlando: Disney World Guests Be Prepared
According to updated forecasts, 957,000 travelers are expected to pass through MCO in just six days. This is a significant increase compared to 2024 and signals a major rebound—and expansion—in domestic and international travel.
Here’s a snapshot of what to expect over the holiday weekend:
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Friday, May 23: 87,498 departures (vs. 82,402 last year)
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Saturday: 83,675 departures | 84,564 arrivals
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Sunday: 82,266 departures | 81,240 arrivals
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Monday: 87,054 departures | 86,878 arrivals
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Tuesday: 73,152 departures | 75,143 arrivals
Orlando has always been a major vacation hub, but with demand surging and summer break officially beginning, travelers are flooding the city for one reason above all: theme parks.
Why It Matters: Disney, Universal, and the Bigger Picture
While long airport lines are nothing new, this particular travel wave is telling a much bigger story. Orlando’s tourism industry is booming—again. Not only are visitors returning in force, but upcoming attractions like Universal’s Epic Universe, opening in 2025, are already drawing advance hype.
This isn’t just a spike. It’s a shift.
For Disney World and Universal Orlando, this means more crowded parks, fuller hotels, and increased pressure on transportation infrastructure, especially airport operations. For travelers, it means more planning and less room for error.
Your MCO Survival Guide: How to Beat the Madness
If you’re flying into Orlando this weekend, there’s good news—you can still have a smooth trip if you follow some essential steps:
🎟️ Use MCO Reserve for TSA
Reserve a TSA checkpoint slot via the FlyMCO website. It’s free, and it can save you major time during peak hours.
📱 Download the MCO App
Get real-time updates, maps, security wait times, and dining options—all from your phone.
📦 Watch MCO’s Packing Tips Video
Brush up on TSA rules with MCO’s official YouTube packing guide. Avoid unnecessary delays at security.
🚗 Skip the Loop: Use Cell Phone Waiting Lots
Drivers picking up travelers should park in the North or South Cell Phone Lots instead of circling the terminal.
✈️ Check the TSA Website
Stay up to date on prohibited items and travel regulations at tsa.gov.
Disney World Guests and Universal Travelers: Timing Is Everything
With higher-than-normal airport crowds, even minor delays could impact your Disney Park Reservation or early-entry window at Universal. Leave extra time for everything.
Flying out of Orlando? Be at MCO at least three hours before your flight—even earlier if you’re checking bags or flying on a budget airline with fewer counters.
If staying at a Universal partner hotel, confirm shuttle schedules. Disney guests should plan around traffic and make sure their ride shares or private transportation are pre-booked to avoid surge pricing and last-minute stress.
Final Thoughts: A Smooth Landing Starts with a Solid Plan for Disney World Guests
Memorial Day weekend may be the unofficial start to summer, but for Orlando, it’s a glimpse into the future—one full of opportunity and intensity. With Disney magic, Universal thrills, and one of the busiest airports in the U.S. all in the mix, getting in and out of the city is becoming part of the adventure.
So pack your patience, charge your phone, and plan ahead—because the fun doesn’t start at the castle gates. It starts at the terminal.
