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Orlando Airport Moves Airline Check-In: What Disney Travelers Need to Know

Two Major Airlines Affected

Allegiant and Sun Country passengers leaving a Walt Disney World vacation need to check their airport directions before heading home. Orlando International Airport’s current airline directory places both carriers in Terminal A, with both using the security checkpoint for Gates 1–59.

The Orlando Airport terminal change matters most before passengers reach security. Going to an old check-in location, or following signs toward the wrong gate range, could consume time needed for baggage drop and boarding. There is no verified evidence here that the relocation has caused missed flights or unusual TSA delays.

A person with a backpack looks up at an airport departures board. To the right, Mickey Mouse in a tuxedo waves. The scene is bright and bustling with travelers heading to Disney World trips and Universal and Disney travel. Disney vacations Orlando airport.
Credit: Disney Fanatic

Orlando Airport Terminal Change: Where to Check In

MCO’s official airline locations map places Allegiant at Door 8 and Sun Country at Door 9 on the Terminal A side. Airline check-in is on Level 3; Terminal A baggage claim is on Level 2.

Those numbers describe different parts of the journey. Door 8 is a curbside reference for finding Allegiant’s counter, not a departure gate. Likewise, Sun Country passengers should not mistake Door 9 for their boarding location.

Before leaving your Disney hotel, check your airline’s latest instructions and tell your transportation provider which carrier you’re flying. Reconfirm Terminal A rather than relying on a saved itinerary or directions from a previous trip.

Inside the Magic’s coverage of earlier MCO airline relocations illustrates why familiar airport routines need updating. That earlier move involved different airlines and should not be treated as guidance for this change.

For families traveling with children or several bags, the practical benefit of checking ahead is straightforward: everyone can follow the same departure plan before reaching the curb, instead of sorting out conflicting directions while unloading at the airport.

Guests walk through Walt Disney World during rainy weather in Central Florida.
Image Credit: Inside The Magic

Follow Your Gate Range to TSA

The airport directory assigns Allegiant to Gates 30–59 and Sun Country to Gates 20–29. Both entries identify the same security checkpoint: Gates 1–59.

That shared checkpoint is the useful detail for travelers trying to avoid a wrong turn. After completing any necessary counter visit, follow signs for your current departure gate and the checkpoint serving its range.

Terminal letters and gate numbers are not interchangeable instructions. MCO’s directory also lists some Terminal B airlines at the Gates 1–59 checkpoint, so describing the choice simply as “Terminal A TSA” versus “Terminal B TSA” can obscure the actual route.

Ask an airport employee before joining a line if the signs do not match your boarding information. A short directions check is preferable to discovering the mismatch after waiting.

Disney World guests around Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom
Credit: Sarah Larson, Disney Fanatic

Leave Room for Check-in and Screening

MCO’s official security guidance asks travelers to reach the security checkpoint two hours before departure. That is a checkpoint target, not a recommendation to arrive at the airport curb two hours before takeoff.

Build your hotel departure around the steps that come first: transportation, unloading luggage, finding the airline counter, and completing any required baggage drop. Check your carrier’s deadlines separately; this terminal assignment does not establish a new universal check-in cutoff.

For passengers considering a reservation lane, Inside the Magic previously explained MCO’s security reservation system. Consult current airport instructions rather than the older article’s original operating hours.

The airport currently describes MCO Reserve as a free option for passengers without TSA PreCheck or CLEAR+, with limited daily availability. A reservation still leads to standard screening and does not replace the need to choose the correct checkpoint.

Guests near a Lightning Lane entrance at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.
Credit: Disney

Update the Ride and Baggage Plan

The airport leg deserves its own place in a Disney vacation itinerary. Inside the Magic’s airport transportation guide outlines the broader transfer choices, although travelers should verify current providers, prices, and pickup instructions before booking.

For this departure, share the airline and terminal with your driver or shuttle operator. If your party is splitting across different carriers, check each booking individually rather than assuming everyone needs the same counter.

Arriving passengers should also check their baggage instructions. MCO’s terminal map identifies Terminal A baggage claim on Level 2; use the flight displays for the assigned carousel.

Disney’s airport luggage transfer expansion is another planning consideration, but eligibility must be checked separately. Do not assume a resort baggage service applies to Allegiant or Sun Country simply because both now appear under Terminal A.

disney world guests enjoy epcot's food and wine festival
Credit: Disney

What to Confirm Before Your Flight Home

Related coverage of MCO’s changing tram operations provides broader airport context, but it does not establish a detour for these flights. Follow the route posted for your gate on your travel day.

The verified operational takeaway is specific: Terminal A counters, Level 3 check-in, and the Gates 1–59 checkpoint for both airlines. Individual gates remain flight-specific, so check the airline app and airport screens again after arriving.

Before departure day, update any saved transportation notes with the current terminal information. Then leave enough flexibility to resolve a counter or gate question without turning the trip home into a race.

Emmanuel Detres

Since first stepping inside the Magic Kingdom at nine years old, I knew I was destined to be a theme Park enthusiast. Although I consider myself a theme Park junkie, I still have much to learn and discover about Disney. Universal Orlando Resort has my heart; being an Annual Passholder means visiting my favorite places on Earth when possible! When I’m not writing about Disney, Universal, or entertainment news, you’ll find me cruising on my motorcycle, hiking throughout my local metro parks, or spending quality time with my girlfriend, family, or friends.

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