The First Ride of Your Disney Vacation Just Got a $253 Million Upgrade at Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport, better known as MCO, opened upgraded Gate Link tram service to Gates 100-129 on Thursday, October 1.
New vehicles. Modernized track. Each set carries up to 240 passengers.
It is the first milestone in a $253 million project, itself part of MCO’s $6.9 billion Capital Improvement Program.
What Is Done and What Is Not
One of two tracks serving Gates 100-129 is finished. Crews are working on the second now.
Three new trams were installed on February 27 and have been in testing since.
Lance Lyttle, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, called the result “a smoother, more dependable experience for passengers.”
The Upgrade Worth Knowing About
Platform screen doors.
They are the glass barriers between the platform edge and the vehicle, opening only when a tram arrives.
Three benefits. Nobody can fall or step onto the guideway, which is the main safety risk in automated transit. Conditioned air stays in the station instead of escaping into Florida. And dwell times get more consistent, because the system is not waiting on unpredictable boarding.
The project also covers new running surfaces, power distribution, vehicle controls, communications, and operating systems. MCO cites reliability, capacity, modern safety controls, and energy efficiency as goals.
🚆✨ That new Gate Link smell! ✨🚆
— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) October 1, 2026
A brand-new Gate Link tram is now in service, transporting travelers to and from Gates 100-129. This is the first of four scheduled tram replacements as part of the Gate Link Replacement Project for Airsides 2 and 4, serving Gates 70-129. pic.twitter.com/pU0a0uO7E0
Why They Needed It
Gates 100-129 are on Airside 2, where the original system went in during 2000.
Gates 70-99 are on Airside 4, dating to 1990, with vehicles replaced in 2008. That is 18-year-old equipment on a 36-year-old guideway.
Both run as dual-lane shuttles, roughly 2,000 feet per lane. Trip time is one minute and thirty seconds, with 40 seconds of dwell at each station.
Notable: the oldest system is scheduled last.
A 2017 project already replaced the systems serving Gates 1-29 and Gates 30-59. The Aviation Authority board approved the current funding in October 2023, with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America holding the design, build, operate, and maintain contract.
The Schedule
- Gate Link 4800, Gates 100-129: December 3, 2025, to July 2026
- Gate Link 4700, Gates 100-129: July 2026 to December 2026
- Gate Link 4600, Gates 70-99: December 2026 to June 2027
- Gate Link 4500, Gates 70-99: June 2027 to October 2027
Gates 100-129 should be fully done around year-end. Gates 70-99 are then under construction from December 2026 through October 2027.
Trip in 2027? That second block matters. Dates come from MCO’s project page and could change.
Also, check your actual gate number instead of guessing. Assignments vary by airline and flight, and that is the only way to know if this affects you.
What It Feels Like Right Now
MCO says travelers will notice “only a few extra minutes,” even at peak.
One Gate Link runs during daytime hours unless something forces closure. Shuttle buses handle overnight and maintenance windows.
Two ADA-accessible shuttle buses run 24/7 between gate areas. Waits run one to two minutes, and the trip between Gates 70-99 and Gates 100-129 takes under five minutes.
The airport also says it tries to keep travel parties together, holding a group for the next bus when needed. Traveling with kids, that is the line that matters.
Guest service ambassadors and added wayfinding signage are in place. Guest Relations is at 407-825-3177.
The Number to Remember
Add 30 minutes if you are getting a rental car or using ground transportation.
That is MCO’s own recommendation and the most useful thing in the announcement. Mears Connect, rideshare, and rental counters all sit past the tram ride.
Put it in your arrival day, not your departure day.
Why It Matters
Airport tram upgrades are not exciting. They also affect nearly everyone flying into Orlando for a Disney or Universal trip.
And this is an actual improvement, not a cost cut. New vehicles, more capacity, safer platforms, better reliability on a connection you cannot skip.
Source: Orlando International Airport and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
