Doing This at the Orlando Airport FEELS Illegal — But It’s NOT

We’re gonna let you in on a little secret. Okay, well, maybe it’s not a secret technically, but it’s likely something that not many people know about.

Orlando International Airport (MCO) has seen quite the glow-up lately, with the opening of the new Terminal C and the recent addition of a Brightline Train Station. If you’re bummed that you can’t check the new changes out without booking a flight, we’re here to tell you that you’re WRONG — thanks to the new Experience MCO Visitor Pass Program.

What Is It?

The Orlando Airport has rolled out the new Experience MCO Visitor Pass Program! This new service allows people without a boarding pass for a flight to check out the new Terminal C at the airport. It’s an exclusive pass that lets approved guests enjoy the amenities like shopping, dining, and more.

Since Terminal C is past the TSA Security Checkpoint, typically, you would need a boarding pass for a flight in order to get through. But with Experience MCO, you can apply for a visitor pass and go through security to experience the terminal.

This is a pilot program currently being tested by MCO, so it may not always be available. Entry is restricted to 10AM through 4PM and guests must leave Terminal C by 8PM.

How Does It Work?

Either on the day you plan to visit or up to seven days before, you can apply online for a pass — but note that availability is limited for each day. You can head to experiencemco.orlandoairports.net to fill out the application. You’ll need to provide your date of birth, gender, and full legal name exactly as it appears on your government ID.

Flight board at Orlando International Airport

After that, TSA will have to review the request and if you’re good to go, you’ll get an email with your approval status after midnight on the day of your approved visit. If you’re applying same-day, you’ll get approval within 15 minutes. Here’s a look at what the email might look like:

All the information you need is located in the email so you’ll be ready for your visit. When you get to security, open the Experience MCO Visitor Pass to show the TSA agent along with your ID and let them know about the pass. You’re in, baby!

Our Experience

We booked our entry for between 11AM and 12PM, so we headed on through security with no problem at all. We toured Terminal C when it first opened, but this is a whole new experience for us.

Y’all, this Walt Disney World store is pretty darn awesome. There’s a Spaceship Earth mural to the left, and a glowing light display above the entrance.

Check out that castle, too! The chandelier adds a magical vibe and we love the nods to all the parks. You’ll find a lot of merchandise here like apparel, ears, and more, so if you forget something before you fly back home consider making the stop here.

Of course, there’s also a Universal Orlando Resort store! This one is larger than the Disney World store (at least it seemed like it to us!) and has a ton of innovative features.

Oh, and this photo op with Hagrid’s Motorbike! You don’t even have to wait in line for hours for this one.

There’s a ton of Universal merchandise in here, including an entire Harry Potter wand display with all the most popular options.

If you can’t wait for Summer House on the Lake to open in Disney Springs, you can book a visit with Experience MCO to check out Summer House Santa Monica instead! It’s the same team who will be bringing the new table-service restaurant to Disney World.

We love Wine Bar George in Disney Springs here at AllEars, and now we have another location we can visit — in Terminal C! It’s not a huge space and is mostly bar seating, but listen, we’ll take what we can get.

Love Homecomin’ at Disney Springs but hate that you can never get a reservation? Chef Art Smith has also opened the Sunshine Diner at MCO! It’s a different concept and features a different menu, but from the same mastermind who brought us those glorious Thigh-High Chicken Biscuits.

If you’re just looking to whet your whistle, you can stop by Orlando Brewing…

…or grab some baked goods and sandwiches at Olde Hearth Bread Company. There are a ton of different stores and dining options in Terminal C, so chances are you’ll find something for just about everyone. And with that

By this point, we were getting a little hungry, so we decided to check out Greenbeat! This spot features fresh, customizable bowls.

Seriously, check out how delicious this looks! We built our own bowl with a ton of veggies, noodles, nuts, and a delicious spicy Thai peanut sauce. We’re not trying to be dramatic, but 10/10 would go to the airport just for lunch again.

If you’re feeling like you need a pick-me-up, check out Barnie’s Coffee! We picked up an Iced Santa’s White Christmas Coffee with Oat Milk and we’re seriously glad we did.

Once again, we’re not trying to be dramatic, but where has this been all our life?! Is Barnie’s Coffee better than Starbucks and Joffrey’s?! You’ll have to book your Experience MCO Visitor Pass to go see for yourself!

Experience MCO can be a great way to spend a little more time with your friends or loved ones before they head back home, or if you just can’t get enough hanging out in airports (hi, it’s us, we’re those people). Click the link below to book your own Experience MCO Visitor Pass.