Labor Day Weekend Crowds Expected at Orlando International Airport

Crowds are expected to travel through Orlando International Airport this Labor Day Weekend. Find out when the busiest travel day is expected.

Orlando International Airport

Orlando International Airport (MCO for short) is a busy airport. Many people traveling to or from Disney World or Universal Orlando use this airport as it is only about a half hour away.

MCO is consistently listed in the top 10 busiest airports in the United States due to the number of travelers visiting Central Florida. At over 11,000 acres it is also one of the largest airports as well.

Expected Crowds

mco arrivals and departures — Photo Credit: Heather

Labor Day Weekend travel period runs from Thursday, August 28th through Tuesday, September 2nd. During this six day travel period, Orlando International Airport is expected a total of 890,839 passengers.

Labor Day Weekend is the unofficial end of summer. The crowds are expected to increase by 3% compared to last year.

2025 mco labor day crowds — Photo Credit: flymco.com

Friday, August 30th is expected to be the busiest day with a total of 161,279 travelers. However, even with these projected numbers, none of these days are the airport's busiest day. Check out MCO's busiest day HERE.

What Does This Mean For You?

mco atrium gates security — Photo Credit: Heather

Orlando International recommends that travelers use the 3-2-1 timeline, especially when busier times are expected

MCO recommends travelers use the 3-2-1 timeline. 3: Be at the ticket counter at least 3 hours prior to your departure time. 2: Head to security 2 hours prior to your departure time. 1: Be at your gate 1 hour prior to your departure time.

The 3-2-1 timeline is as follows: be at the ticket counter at least 3 hours before your departure time. Be sure to head to security 2 hours before your departure time, and be at your gate 1 hour before your departure time.

More helpful tips are to have TSA precheck or MCO Reserve to help you speed through the TSA security checkpoint. A new option for families is the "Families on the Fly" program. You can check out the details HERE.

And the most important thing that Airport officials recommend packing during this busy time…patience.

Will you be traveling during this busy holiday weekend? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to share this post with your friends!

Source: flymco.com