Skip the Line for FREE at MCO Airport on Your Next Disney Vacation

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

For many Guests, the worst part of visiting Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort is the crowds. Every year, millions of fans choose Disney as their vacation destination, and with that popularity comes long lines inside and outside of the Disney Resort. After waiting in long lines for the entirety of a vacation at Walt Disney World Resort, the last thing anyone would want to do is wait in long lines at airport security on the way home.

MCO, the Orlando Airport, has gained an unfortunate reputation for having extremely long lines for security. Some people have reported waiting hours in line for security.

Luckily, a new hack is going to change that forever.

MCO Terminal C

MCO Reports Busiest Day Ever

It is no secret that Disney tourism is back and better than ever. Guests are flooding into Walt Disney World Resort, and we are seeing tourism numbers meet and exceed the pre-pandemic numbers. Some people might be surprised to know that Orlando International Airport actually had its busiest day in history on March 11, 2023.

With all these new travelers, the TSA line within MCO airport has gotten longer than ever. Many families travel to Walt Disney World Resort with their young children and large families, and a TSA line after an exhausting theme Park vacation can be a nightmare for parents.

Mco reopening

Fortunately, Disney travelers can now save time with the MCO TSA Reserve program at the Orlando International Airport. This program has become an essential tool for anyone planning a magical Disney vacation.

Orlando International Airport is the closest airport to the Walt Disney World Resort. As one of the busiest airports in Florida, Orlando International can be overwhelming for travelers. The MCO TSA Reserve program brings some much-needed relief for Disney travelers by providing a reservation lane at security checkpoints. This means travelers won’t have to wait in the same long lines as the rest of the airport visitors.

@not_that_jonathan

This is the best tip I heard about flying to Disney and I am so thankful for it. Google MCO Reserve and it’ll take you right to where you need to go. #disney #disneyworld #magickingdom #hollywoodstudios #epcot #flyingtodisneyworld #mco #mcoreserve

♬ original sound – Jonathan

Reservations are completely free and can be made online prior to your trip. The service is not available to those with TSA Pre-Check. They can be made for flights from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Orlando Airport Celebrates the Return of Figment to EPCOT

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot, Uncategorized

Just a couple of weeks ago, The Walt Disney Company hosted its ultimate fan event — the D23 Expo — in Anaheim, California, just steps from the Disneyland Resort. The Expo celebrated all things Disney and there were a ton of fun events and happenings, including the Disney Legends awards, exclusive merchandise and shopping opportunities, and panels that shared more on everything from first looks at new films and television shows to news about what is happening in Disney Parks around the world.

As in years past, the Disney Parks Panel was one of the most in-demand panels at the Expo. Disney fans always want to be the first to hear about what is coming down the pike at places like Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland.

At this year’s Parks Panel, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro shared a lot of exciting news — including more on Splash Mountain’s transformation into Tiana’s bayou Adventure, the return of Happily Ever After to the Magic Kingdom, and San Fransokyo coming to Disneyland. One of the more unexpected announcements had to do with Disney World’s popular theme park — EPCOT.

D’Amaro shared that a Figment meet and greet would be returning to EPCOT for a limited time in 2023 — although no specific dates have been announced at this time. Fans were shocked and excited to hear that the icon of EPCOT would once again be back at Disney World and greeting Guests. Even the Orlando International Airport was excited to hear the news, and shared the following tweet:

For years, Guests visiting EPCOT could head to the Imagination Pavilion and ride Journey Into Imagination and then meet the purple dragon himself. The Figment meet and greet ended in the early 2000s, but since then, Figment seems to have only grown in popularity. At last year’s International Festival of the Arts, Disney released a Figment popcorn bucket, which sold out in less than two days and had Guests waiting 5 hours to get their hands on one.

Even though D’Amaro said that the Figment meet and greet will only return for a limited time, it is possible that, if the meet and greet proves to be popular, Disney could choose to keep it around for a while. Only time will tell!

NEW Disney Store Coming to MCO

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

MCO in Orlando is Florida’s busiest Airport.  It’s also one of the top 10 busiest airports in the world! Anyone who has ever flown into or out of MCO will agree that it can be chaotic. The TSA lines can be maddeningly long so getting there early is vital.

To alleviate some of that stress and congestion, the airport has built a brand new 1.8 million square foot terminal. The centerpiece of this new terminal? A bright shiny new Walt Disney World store! 

Expected to open on Sept. 19, the store will be the first magical stop for many inbound travelers and a last chance for outgoing guests, giving travelers a convenient spot to buy commemorative souvenirs, including items that celebrate the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. 

Front and center in the new store will be an eye-catching 3-D Cinderella Castle display. Because travelers can get easily distracted, the store’s design team wanted to make sure the storefront captivated the eye. Design director Steve Carsella said, “This challenge combined with the beautiful backdrop of this store and the massive digital real estate was inspiring. This is now a magical place, not merely screens, where the possibilities are endless.”  

He went on to add, “This location is different in many ways, there are so many gorgeous details to take note- from the LED wallpaper and a sculpted castle to the oversized park icons placed on the ceiling in the center atrium.” 

The finishing touches are currently being added to the store, and Cast Members are still curating the collection of goods to sell, but we have complete faith it will be amazing when it opens later this month!

The Orlando Airport Is Getting a Major Upgrade

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Via InsideTheMagic.net

If you’ve ever traveled through Orlando International Airport (MCO), you probably know that the baggage claim system is nothing to write home about.

Right now, travelers who are visiting Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando, and other Central Florida sites pick up their suitcases at the baggage carousel in a very typical fashion. This is about to change for those who come through MCO’s upcoming state-of-the-art Terminal C, however.

Orlando reporter Greg Angel recently shared a first look at Terminal C, which is nearing completion. Angel specifically shared details about a baggage system upgrade that will make things easier for all vacationers, including Disney World Guests who make their way through the new terminal.

Disney Store Orlando International

The journalist shared a photo of a press release that reads:

Orlando International Airport’s South Terminal Complex (STC) creates an unforgettable travel experience. Through a combination of passenger-centered designs and state-of-the-art technology systems and enhancements, the STC is built to improve efficiency, uphold passenger safety, and excite the imagination. The first LEED*v4 airport campus, the complex will make MCO — already a world-class, global gateway to the most-visited destination in the U.S. — also one of the most innovative airports in the nation. The new terminal features dozens of technology systems that both support the building and its functionality, while expediting the passenger process. 

n a later Tweet, Angel noted that MCO CEO Kevin Thibault shared that the pet-friendly terminal will accommodate 10 to 12 million passengers per year upon opening, but may eventually be expanded to accommodate upwards of 60 million passengers annually.

Airplane

This new phase of travel at Orlando International Airport is a major perk for Disney World Guests and other theme park fans. It is worth noting that MCO already offers a variety of perks, including its very own “FastPass” system that allows travelers to skip the line in certain situations.

Woman who led officers on chase through Orlando airport on motorized suitcase refuses plea deal

Posted on by Mathew Corn Uncategorized

Via DisDining.com

Recently, there was a story of a New Jersey woman who led police on a slow “chase” through the Orlando airport as she refused to comply with their requests after being denied boarding by airline staff members because she was intoxicated. The woman has now refused a plea deal offered to her by prosecutors.

Chelsea Alston was traveling from Orlando to New York when the incident occurred. A Southwest Airlines gate agent refused to allow Alston to board the aircraft when she appeared to be inebriated. Airline personnel called for Orlando Police officers to intervene as Alston was drunk and angry about not being on her plane to New York. When an officer asked her to go to the airport’s main terminal so she could sober up and book another flight, she refused and instead rode away on her motorized suitcase, which was more of an electric vehicle mounted to her luggage.

If she’s convicted, she could face a maximum of five years in prison for each felony count she received. She has pleaded not guilty.

Alston can be seen in a video as she rides her suitcase through Orlando International Airport as an officer follows behind her on his bicycle.

“We’re going to have a bike pursuing a suitcase in a minute,” says Officer Andrew Mamone while riding his bicycle trying to reach Alston as she rode away from him.

bodycam on bike orlando police department

During a trial management meeting held on Monday of this week, Alston told officials she wanted to proceed with a jury trial. Her charges include battering an officer and causing more than $1,000 in property damage. Prosecutors had offered her the opportunity to plead guilty to misdemeanor charges instead, but she declined the offer.

passenger under arrest orlando international airport

Alston earned both charges for behaviors toward the officer; the video shows her spitting on the officer more than once, and then when she was in the patrol car, she tore up the vehicle’s headliner and then defecated in the seat. Damages to the officer’s vehicle are estimated at $1,200, according to the arrest report from the Orlando Police Department.