Orlando - Arrival into MCO - how long ot clear the airport?

Hi,

I'm planning a trip arriving into MCO early-mid afternoon in late March. Appreciate this is variable, but what sort of time should I expect to allow to clear international immigration, collect bags and pick up a pre-booked car? Have heard many horror stories of 3hrs plus but wondered how representative this really is?

Thanks for any advice.......

I can't speak to immigration times, but I can't imagine 3 hours, let alone 2. The rental cars are directly across the street & 1 level down from baggage claim. If you belong to the rental car company's frequent renter program, you would just walk across the (small) street and into the parking structure where the major car rental companies have the cars.

Now, depending on where you are going after leaving the airport, you may encounter some rush hour traffic.

Good luck and enjoy your stay in Central Florida.

Thaks for this, it's very helpful. I'll be heading up to Titusville, so hopefully won't get caught in too much traffic? I'm not in the rental program's frequent program so I may have to just wait in line, alas.

Do you have any tips for helping speed through the terminal? I'd assumed that I had to out my bag back on the carousel before transferring by monorail, but I understand you can avoid this and take your bag on the transit service? (I'll have a flight bag and likely one roller case.) Is this indeed the case?

Any tips from MCO travellers welcome.....

Thaks for this, it's very helpful. I'll be heading up to Titusville, so hopefully won't get caught in too much traffic? I'm not in the rental program's frequent program so I may have to just wait in line, alas.

Do you have any tips for helping speed through the terminal? I'd assumed that I had to out my bag back on the carousel before transferring by monorail, but I understand you can avoid this and take your bag on the transit service? (I'll have a flight bag and likely one roller case.) Is this indeed the case?

Any tips from MCO travellers welcome.....

Going toward Titusville, you will be taking SR 528 (AKA The Beachline) east. You will pick up this road upon exiting the airport at the north end. I wouldn't think there would be much rush hour traffic here.

The only tip for speeding through the airport I can suggest is to join your rental car's frequent renter program. You "may" save as much as 1/2 hour by not going to the rental car counter, but rather directly to the cars in the parking structure across the little road, just outside the main terminal building.

Going toward Titusville, you will be taking SR 528 (AKA The Beachline) east. You will pick up this road upon exiting the airport at the north end.

Just two minor corrections: 528 is called the BEE Line (not the "Beach Line") and access to it is via the south exit of the airport (the north exit is to the 417 "GreeneWay").

Going toward Titusville, you will be taking SR 528 (AKA The Beachline) east. You will pick up this road upon exiting the airport at the north end. I wouldn't think there would be much rush hour traffic here.

The only tip for speeding through the airport I can suggest is to join your rental car's frequent renter program. You "may" save as much as 1/2 hour by not going to the rental car counter, but rather directly to the cars in the parking structure across the little road, just outside the main terminal building.

Rental pickup isn't too bad at the airport.. To unboard the plane and get to the luggage carousel would be around 20 minutes.. Maybe 25 or 30 minutes out of the airport. Maybe an hour with a rental car.. This is non peak times that is.

Just two minor corrections: 528 is called the BEE Line (not the "Beach Line") and access to it is via the south exit of the airport (the north exit is to the 417 "GreeneWay").

drscoop,
I stand by what I said earlier. SR 528 is called The Beachline! Or more formally, the Martin Andersen Beachline Expressway. It used to be called the Bee Line, but no longer. Florida House Bill 385 became effective on July 1, 2005, changing the Martin Andersen Bee Line Expressway to the Martin Andersen Beachline Expressway in an effort to spur tourism and promote Central Florida beaches. Take a look: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Road_528

Leaving your terminal, you will go north to pick up the Beachline. See for yourself: http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=Titusville%2C+FL&saddr=MCO&hl=en

Welcome to Central Florida. I hope you enjoy your trip.

Do you have any tips for helping speed through the terminal? I'd assumed that I had to out my bag back on the carousel before transferring by monorail, but I understand you can avoid this and take your bag on the transit service? (I'll have a flight bag and likely one roller case.) Is this indeed the case?

Any tips from MCO travellers welcome.....

Yes you can take bags on the transit. If you put your bag back on the carousel the other side of Customs you'll be waiting an hour for it when you reach the main terminal.

Thanks, all, for the helpful comments. Looking at the arrival timetables, my flight arrives with a good hour either side of any other inernational flights, so hopefully immigration will be fairly quiet. (I assume immigration is cleared before getting on the monorail?).

drscoop,
I stand by what I said earlier.

I absolutely stand corrected! How embarassing... I can forgive myself for the Beeline/Beachline thing, but messing up the north and south exits from the airport, well, that I can only blame on a glass or two too many wines before I posted before!

Thanks for providing the CORRECT info, Orlando Vic...

I absolutely stand corrected! How embarassing... I can forgive myself for the Beeline/Beachline thing, but messing up the north and south exits from the airport, well, that I can only blame on a glass or two too many wines before I posted before!

Thanks for providing the CORRECT info, Orlando Vic...

Thanks for not being too upset with me. I was just trying to help our friend get to Titusville.

Come to think of it, I could use a glass of vino now too.

Hey.. we all lose our sense of direction sometimes. :D

Clearing immigration can be a nightmare at MIA. It has taken us over an hour at least once. It really depends on how many planes are arriving from all over the world.

Clearing immigration can be a nightmare at MIA. It has taken us over an hour at least once. It really depends on how many planes are arriving from all over the world.

I don't think that will be much of an issue at MCO- the airport doesn't have the same amount of international traffic coming in. At most, I think there's only one or two int'l flights that will be coming in at the same time.

I don't think that will be much of an issue at MCO- the airport doesn't have the same amount of international traffic coming in. At most, I think there's only one or two int'l flights that will be coming in at the same time.

Well, I guess it would have helped if I could actually read correctly. Sorry about that!

I haven't arrived in MCO internationally, but have been burned by their setup. All gates are separated from the main terminal where security resides by four trams. On the non-int'l side, you can ride one tram out, turn around, and switch to the other tram. Not on the int'l side. On that side, arriving PAX get to the tram via an escalator, and are barred from (re)-entering the terminal by TSA. Thus, if you are a domestic Pax, and make the error of going from the terminal back to the tram, you have to re-clear security. I did this trying to see my fiancee off on her Delta flight, before changing terminals to my Jetblue flight -- no go. Re-clear security. And security is... not efficient.

This seems to be MCO's way of avoiding the fiasco of re-checking your bags after clearing customs when you just want to leave the airport -- ala Atlanta and some others (Cincy?) I'm not sure what would happen if you had a connection in MCO -- if the domestic leg was in the same terminal as int'l arrivals, would you have to ride the tram in, clear security, and ride the same tram out again? Or is there a mini-security station in there somewhere.....

To add some value to my post to the OP.. bring lots of quarters. Especially if you are taking the B-Line -- exact change lanes aren't as fast as the Sun Pass, but better than the full serv lanes.

I haven't arrived in MCO internationally, but have been burned by their setup. All gates are separated from the main terminal where security resides by four trams. On the non-int'l side, you can ride one tram out, turn around, and switch to the other tram. Not on the int'l side. On that side, arriving PAX get to the tram via an escalator, and are barred from (re)-entering the terminal by TSA. Thus, if you are a domestic Pax, and make the error of going from the terminal back to the tram, you have to re-clear security. I did this trying to see my fiancee off on her Delta flight, before changing terminals to my Jetblue flight -- no go. Re-clear security. And security is... not efficient.

This seems to be MCO's way of avoiding the fiasco of re-checking your bags after clearing customs when you just want to leave the airport -- ala Atlanta and some others (Cincy?) I'm not sure what would happen if you had a connection in MCO -- if the domestic leg was in the same terminal as int'l arrivals, would you have to ride the tram in, clear security, and ride the same tram out again? Or is there a mini-security station in there somewhere.....

To add some value to my post to the OP.. bring lots of quarters. Especially if you are taking the B-Line -- exact change lanes aren't as fast as the Sun Pass, but better than the full serv lanes.

We all have to admit that MCO's setup is.. well.. a bit Mickey Mouse?:D

Thanks, all, for the helpful comments. Looking at the arrival timetables, my flight arrives with a good hour either side of any other inernational flights, so hopefully immigration will be fairly quiet. (I assume immigration is cleared before getting on the monorail?).

Where are you arriving from? Many flights from Canada to the US go through pre-clearance in Canada, and are treated just like US domestic flights upon arrival.

I'll be arriving from Europe and so will need to clear immigration upon arrival.

And, as suggested by Ludocdoc, I have been collecting quarters from colleagues who've been in the US recently....$5 and increasing which should see me through the booths.....

All these tips are very much appreciated! :)

I'll be arriving from Europe and so will need to clear immigration upon arrival.

And, as suggested by Ludocdoc, I have been collecting quarters from colleagues who've been in the US recently....$5 and increasing which should see me through the booths.....

All these tips are very much appreciated! :)

You'll be fine. Keep your quarters handy because the first toll both on the Beachline (SR 528) comes up just a few miles east of the airport and should be the only one you encounter on your way to Titusville. When you first see the toll both, stay in the far right lane.

I've only arrived at MCO from an international flight once. When I came back from Panama this is how it was for me. You exit the plane and go to an immigration hall that's downstairs at the airside terminal. Customs and Immigration is down there, and it wasn't busy the evening I went through, although I was first off the plane, and used Global Entry.

I didn't have any checked luggage to collect, so after Customs I went up a level, and had to go through a TSA checkpoint (x-ray belt and WTMD, no NoS) before exiting into the airside terminal B. I walked to the train and took it back to the landside terminal, and exited past security, and past the baggage claim and rental car desks area to the airport parking garage.

In my case it was about 10 minutes from plane to car, because I was in FC, had the trusted traveler program, and no checked luggage. That's absolute best case and would not be applicable to your question about how long.

Thanks for all the useful info here so far about MCO's int'l arrival procedures. I have a question regarding the liquids rules and security. I'm guessing the 3-1-1 rule is still being enforced with folks reclearing security, even though some are exiting the airport?

I have a FRA-MCO flight in December and I might be bringing back wine or other such liquids. I assume I'll have to check those? If I pick up something in FRA's duty free, will I get the opportunity to put the liquids into my checked bag at MCO before reclearing security?

Thanks in advance for any advice. I've flown domestically many times out of MCO and have dealt with int'l arrivals at major hubs, but not at an airport like MCO where I can't head directly for the exit.

Well, I guess it would have helped if I could actually read correctly. Sorry about that!

Yep, reading the post always helps in formulating a proper response.

Thanks for all the useful info here so far about MCO's int'l arrival procedures. I have a question regarding the liquids rules and security. I'm guessing the 3-1-1 rule is still being enforced with folks reclearing security, even though some are exiting the airport?


They have a procedure now where arriving international pax do not have to be rescreened, but I am not sure if they use it for every flight.

If they don't use it for yours, you should have access to your luggage to put the dangerous stuff in there before rechecking.

Thanks for all the useful info here so far about MCO's int'l arrival procedures. I have a question regarding the liquids rules and security. I'm guessing the 3-1-1 rule is still being enforced with folks reclearing security, even though some are exiting the airport?

I have a FRA-MCO flight in December and I might be bringing back wine or other such liquids. I assume I'll have to check those? If I pick up something in FRA's duty free, will I get the opportunity to put the liquids into my checked bag at MCO before reclearing security?

Thanks in advance for any advice. I've flown domestically many times out of MCO and have dealt with int'l arrivals at major hubs, but not at an airport like MCO where I can't head directly for the exit.

I'm agreeing with one point and offering a suggestion.

1) There is a security screening area AFTER you clear customs and BEFORE you enter the Airside area.

One poster mentioned that they don't use it anymore and I won't contest that point for a fact (TSA doesn't have much method to the madness).

What I recommend is:

1) Clear Immigration
2) Collect your luggage
3) Clear customs (with duty-free... that won't be a problem)
4) Step to the side and safely pack your duty-free in your checked luggage
5) Re-check your luggage BEFORE going up the escalator
6) Then you may or may not have to go through a TSA screening

I wish I could provide a more concrete response to your question, but, the TSA and airport authority holds the cards in this one and could change their procedure from day to day.

Fly Safe

Thanks for the advice, all. My trip isn't for a few more months, but I'll post about my security experience afterwards.