The holiday season is upon us, and Florida is bracing for a flood of visitors, with Orlando at the heart of the action.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) has been recognized as one of the Top 10 global travel destinations by Conde Nast Traveler and WalletHub, a fitting honor as it prepares for record-breaking holiday travel numbers.
According to MCO, “The 2024 holiday travel period begins on Friday, [December 20], and runs through January 5, 2025. During the 17-day period, MCO is expecting 2.9 million passengers, a slight increase of 1 percent over 2023’s record numbers.” The airport added that Saturday, [December 28], is expected to be the busiest day, with over 192,000 arrivals and departures.
To help travelers manage the holiday rush, Kevin J. Thibault, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, recommended leveraging technology. “To assist in making the travel journey as seamless as possible, we encourage travelers to try our new MCO app and website,” he shared. “Once there, you can access a wealth of information that ranges from signing up to reserve your space for parking, reserve space in the security checkpoint line, or follow step-by-step directions on where to find amenities throughout the terminals.”
MCO released an infographic outlining the anticipated visitor numbers for the season. Peak traffic is expected during the weekend of December 28 and 29.
The increased airport activity comes as Walt Disney World Resort gears up for another season of heavy holiday crowds. Following the Thanksgiving rush, Christmas and New Year’s festivities promise to bring even larger audiences to Central Florida.
Adding to the excitement—and challenges—at Disney is the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which has already begun selling out. The $429 Magic Kingdom option for December 22 is completely sold out, signaling what’s likely to become a pattern for the rest of the holiday week.
Visitors this season also have a chance to experience some Disney attractions before they temporarily or permanently close in the New Year. Magic Kingdom’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will shut down until 2026, while Disney’s Animal Kingdom will permanently retire TriceraTop Spin as the park transitions DinoLand U.S.A. into the Tropical Americas-inspired Pueblo Esperanza area.
Are you planning a holiday visit to Orlando? Let us know in the comments below!
