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Practical Guide to Orlando Airport Terminals (MCO)
Quick Questions about MCO Terminals
How many terminals does Orlando Airport have?
Three: A, B and C. Terminals A and B share one building, the North Terminal Complex. Terminal C, opened in September 2022, is the South Terminal Complex.
Is it easy to move between terminals?
Between A and B, yes: about 160 m (525 ft) on Level 3, a 2–3 minute walk. To reach Terminal C you take the Terminal Link train (4 minutes, 24 hours, before security) and then walk about 365 m through Garage C, or use the free 24-hour bus.
Which terminal is better?
Terminal C is the most modern and best rated. Terminals A and B are older and get most of the complaints about restrooms, seating and food after security.
Does luggage take a long time to come out?
Yes, it is the most repeated complaint in all three terminals. Waits of 45 minutes are common, and recent reviews of Terminal C report up to 2 hours on international arrivals.
Are there differences in ground transportation?
The options are the same, but signage for rental car returns and ride-hailing pickup is often described as confusing in all terminals. Terminal C connects directly with Garage C and its rental car counters.
Is there Spanish-speaking staff?
Often, but not at every counter. Several services, from VIP lounges to rental cars and currency exchange, have bilingual staff according to recent reviews.
What happens if the train to the gates is not working?
When one of the trains is out of service, passengers are moved by shuttle bus, sometimes with ramps and outdoor sections. Recent reviews report this both on the Terminal Link and on the trains to the gates, so leave extra margin if your connection is tight.
Critical Points: Smart Traveler's Manual
Slow baggage, especially in Terminal C
Baggage delivery is the most consistent complaint in all three terminals. In Terminal C, international passengers collect their bags before immigration, so a slow carousel also delays passport control.
💡 Suggestion: travel carry-on only if you can, and tell whoever picks you up to wait in the free cell phone lot until you have your bags.
Getting to Terminal C
It is the main friction point between terminals: train, then a long walk through the garage, plus very long walks inside Terminal C itself. If a train is down, the transfer is by bus.
💡 Suggestion: if your trip involves Terminal C, add 20–30 minutes of margin even if the connection looks comfortable on paper.
Food after security in A and B
Reviews repeat that some gate areas of Terminals A and B have very few open options, with several places closed during the renovation works and early closings at night.
💡 Suggestion: eat in the food court before security, especially if your flight is at night.
Two separate security zones
Gates 1–59 and gates 70–129 have different checkpoints and are not connected airside. Taking the wrong one means going back and through security again.
💡 Suggestion: check your gate number before choosing a checkpoint and a train.
Garage C fills up
Several reviews report Garage C closed as full and drivers redirected to remote lots, plus reports of QR code readers failing with prepaid reservations.
💡 Suggestion: keep your reservation email as backup and see the parking guide for alternatives.
Pros and Cons of MCO Terminals
- Pros:
- Terminal C: modern, clean and spacious, with the best ratings in the airport.
- Free 24-hour connections: Terminal Link train and bus between the North Terminal and Terminal C.
- Short walk between A and B: 2–3 minutes on Level 3.
- Food court before security: wide choice in the North Terminal public area.
- Cons:
- Slow baggage: long waits in all three terminals, worst in Terminal C.
- Long walks in Terminal C: from the gates to baggage claim and immigration.
- Dated A and B: restrooms, gate seating and outlets get frequent complaints.
- Confusing signage: especially for rental car returns and terminal changes.
How the Terminals Are Connected
Between A and B: both terminals sit on opposite sides of the same building. On Level 3 they are about 160 m (525 ft) apart, a 2–3 minute walk.
To Terminal C: the Terminal Link (APM) train runs 24 hours from Level 3 of Terminal B, between the check-in counters and security, to the train station (Intermodal Terminal Facility). The ride takes 4 minutes. From the station you walk about 365 m (1,200 ft) through Garage C to Terminal C. The whole route is before security.
Free bus: a shuttle bus runs 24 hours between space B65 (Terminal B, Level 1) and space C272 (Terminal C, Level 1), as a permanent alternative to the train.
To the gates: in Terminals A and B, after security you take an airside train to your gate area (gates 1–29, 30–59, 70–99 or 100–129). Each train serves one group of gates.
User experience:
- The trains are fast and easy, but several travelers boarded the wrong one: the train is chosen by gate number, not by terminal.
- Reviews from June to September report trains out of service for works, with bus transfers, ramps and outdoor walks in the heat.
- Passengers changing between Terminals A/B and C often describe the signage as unclear and ask staff for directions.
Strategy: check your gate number before security and before boarding the train. If you depend on Terminal C or have reduced mobility, add 20–30 minutes in case a train is replaced by a bus.
Terminals A and B: A Classic Design with Current Challenges
Terminals A and B are MCO's original facilities and share the same building and, to a large extent, the same traveler reviews. They are frequently described as outdated and in need of renovation to handle the current passenger volume, and parts of them are now under works.
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User experience:
- Restrooms in A and B are a frequent complaint: odors, lack of supplies and lines at the women's restrooms.
- Gate areas are crowded, with too few seats and power outlets that do not always work.
- Several reviews mention heat inside the terminal and on the trains on summer afternoons.
Terminal A
Terminal A is located in the northern part of the North Terminal Complex and is distributed across three levels:
Level 1
Ground transportation, including taxis, buses and rental cars, luggage wrapping (Wrap N' Fly), baggage claim, the USO center and the lost and found office.
User experience:
- Taxi complaints repeat: meters already running, high fares and refusals of short trips.
- The Mears Connect shuttle gets more consistent reviews for transfers to the Disney area.
Strategy: confirm the fare before getting into a taxi and check that the meter starts at zero. For a Disney resort, compare with Mears Connect.
Level 2
Baggage carousels 1–16, pickup for ride-hailing apps (Uber, Lyft, Wingz, KreweCar) and a service animal relief area.
User experience:
- Waits for luggage of 45 minutes or more are common, sometimes with several flights sharing one carousel.
- The service animal relief areas are well valued.
Level 3
Check-in counters, access to the security checkpoints for the gates, currency exchange, information counters, restrooms, bars and restaurants, nursing rooms and VIP lounges. Ride-hailing apps also pick up here from 9:00 pm to 2:00 am.
There are separate security checkpoints for the two groups of gates (1–59 and 70–129). You can reach the parking garages from this level.
User experience:
- The pre-security food court is the strong point: wide choice and tables to sit down.
- After security, several gate areas have few open options, with places closed for renovation and early closings at night.
- The Admirals Club is described as small and often full at peak hours.
Strategy: eat before security and check the restaurant list by gate before you go through.
Terminal B
Located in the southern part of the North Terminal Complex, Terminal B is practically a mirror of Terminal A, sharing its structure, services and user-reported issues.
Level 1
Ground transportation, including taxis, buses, resort transfers and rental cars, and luggage storage (Hold My Luggage).
User experience:
- Signage for rental car returns is rated as confusing by many drivers.
- Several rental agency reviews mention insurance presented as mandatory when it is optional.
Strategy: review the rental contract line by line before signing, and consider the airport's Visitor Toll Pass instead of the rental company's toll plan. More in the car rental guide.
Level 2
Baggage carousels 20–32, pickup point for ride-hailing apps (Uber, Lyft, Wingz, KreweCar), a service animal relief area and a nursing room next to carousel 24.
User experience:
- Slow baggage delivery is a consistent complaint in this area.
- On a first arrival, the ride-hailing pickup point is not always easy to find from baggage claim.
Strategy: follow the "Rideshare" signs, not "Ground Transportation", to reach the app pickup point.
Level 3
Check-in counters and access to the security checkpoints for gates 30–99, plus currency exchange, information counters, restrooms, bars and restaurants and VIP lounges. Ride-hailing apps also pick up here from 9:00 pm to 2:00 am.
User experience:
- The general perception is of a terminal that needs modernization.
- The gates used by American and United get many complaints about limited food: few restaurants open and long lines at the carts.
- Finding a free seat in the waiting areas can be difficult.
Strategy: if you fly from gates 30–59 or 70–99, buy food in the food court before security.
Terminal C: Modernity and Large Spaces (with its own challenges)
Terminal C, opened in September 2022 in the South Terminal Complex, is the modern face of MCO. It is used by JetBlue and most international airlines. The Palm Court is its center, with shops, restaurants and cafés, and the terminal was designed as the world's first airport campus with LEED v4 certification. Its baggage system tracks each bag with RFID technology.
User experience:
- Travelers describe it as beautiful, spotless and spacious, and security is usually fast.
- The most repeated complaint is the distance: long walks from the gates to baggage claim and immigration, with few moving walkways.
- Baggage on international arrivals is the weak point: waits of one to two hours are reported, and you collect your bags before immigration.
- Some travelers find fewer food options than they expected, and none to share with people who are not flying.
Strategy: wear comfortable shoes and allow time for the walk. If you arrive on an international flight, see the immigration and connections guide to understand the order of the process.
Level 1
Ground transportation, a nursing room and the lost and found office.
User experience:
- Some sections lack ramps and escalators, which makes moving heavy luggage or strollers harder.
- Several passengers who requested wheelchair assistance report long waits in this terminal.
Strategy: request wheelchair assistance from your airline when booking and confirm it again at check-in.
Level 2
Check-in counters, security, boarding gates, the Palm Court, nursing rooms, pet relief areas, shops, restaurants and an information counter.
User experience:
- The Palm Court gets excellent comments for its atmosphere and its shops and restaurants.
- Before security there are very few places to eat, and no bar to wait at during check-in.
Level 4
Bridge to Garage C and the ground transportation area, rental car counters and a nursing room.
User experience:
- The direct connection to the garage and the rental counters is a clear convenience.
- Signage inside the garage is often described as confusing, and Garage C is frequently full.
- Late at night some rental counters in Terminal C close, and travelers are sent by train to Terminals A and B.
Strategy: there is no gas station in the rental car return area: the closest is a Shell at the South Travel Plaza (Jeff Fuqua Blvd and South Park Place). If you land late, confirm your rental company's hours at Terminal C.
Levels 3 and 5 (train station)
The intermodal station next to Terminal C has the Terminal Link train to Terminals A and B on Level 3 and the Brightline station to South Florida on Level 5.
Level 6
Baggage claim, immigration and customs, coffee shops and pickup for ride-hailing apps (Uber, Lyft, Wingz, KreweCar).
User experience:
- The Great Hall is praised for its architecture, but the baggage wait here is the most criticized part of the terminal.
- Immigration itself is usually fast, especially with Global Entry, but the Mobile Passport Control line can get long at peak times.
Strategy: if you have Global Entry, use it. If someone is picking you up, ask them to wait in the cell phone lot until you have cleared customs.
