How to navigate MCO — Terminals A and B, Terminal C, the automated people movers from the gates, which level bag claim and your ride are on, and getting to Disney, Universal and Tampa Bay after you land.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the gateway to Walt Disney World, Universal and the rest of Central Florida, and it is bigger than first-time visitors expect. Knowing how it is laid out — and which level your ride meets you on — turns it into a simple airport.
MCO Layout: Two Terminal Complexes
MCO has two separate terminal complexes:
- Terminals A and B share one main terminal building, with gates out in satellite airsides: gates 1-29 and 30-59 on the A side, gates 70-99 and 100-129 on the B side.
- Terminal C opened in 2022 as its own building, with its own gates, bag claim and curbside.
Airlines move between terminals, so check your boarding pass or MCO's terminal maps before you set off.
Getting From Your Gate to Bag Claim (Terminals A and B)
- Leave the aircraft into the airside gate area.
- Follow the signs to the shuttle station in the center of the gate area and ride the automated people mover to the main terminal — a ride of about a minute, arriving on Level 3.
- Go down to Level 2, the Arrivals/Bag Claim level, following the signs for Bag Claim A or Bag Claim B as announced for your flight.
MCO's own Getting Around guide covers this step by step.
Where Your Ride Meets You
- Private car service and rideshare (Terminals A and B): curbside on Level 2, the Arrivals/Bag Claim level. Your chauffeur confirms the exact spot by call or text when you land.
- Rental cars, shuttle vans, resort transportation and buses: Level 1, the Ground Transportation level.
- Terminal C: bag claim is on Level 6, with curbside pick-up there; rental cars, shuttles and buses are again on Level 1.
Moving Between Terminal C and Terminals A/B
The Terminal Link people mover runs 24 hours a day between Terminal B and the airport's train station; from there it is a walk of roughly 1,200 feet through Parking Garage C to Terminal C. A 24-hour shuttle bus also connects the two, picking up at Terminal C on Level 1. Details are on MCO's Terminal C page.
Trains at MCO
MCO's train station sits beside Terminal C and is served by Brightline, which runs to South Florida — see MCO's Terminal C guide. It is not a connection to Tampa Bay, so an airport transfer is still the way west.
Private Transfers From MCO
- MCO to Walt Disney World: roughly 20-25 minutes, traffic permitting — ask for current pricing when you book
- MCO to Universal Orlando: roughly 20-25 minutes — ask for current pricing when you book
- MCO to Tampa: roughly 80-95 minutes — ask for current pricing when you book
- MCO to Clearwater: roughly 100-115 minutes — ask for current pricing when you book
Tips for Theme Park Visitors
- Disney's Magical Express no longer runs, so arrange your own transfer before you fly
- Give yourself time for bags at a busy airport, and tell us your flight number so we track the real landing time
- Check your airline's recommended arrival time for the flight home — MCO publishes current security guidance on flymco.com
- Traveling with a group or a lot of luggage? Tell us when you book and we will size the vehicle to it