Popular Florida Airport Visitor Pass Program Returns, Now Expanded

by SharonKurheg

Ever since commercial airports began introducing visitor pass programs in the mid- to late 2010s, there’s been some give and take.

Pittsburgh International Airport was the first airport in the country to offer a Visitor Pass, called MyPitPass, in September 2017. Others soon followed:

  • MSY in December 2019
  • SEA in December 2019
  • DTW in January 2020
  • FNT in January 2020
  • TPA in January 2020

Of course, when the pandemic hit, those programs were paused. For YEARS.

But then, slowly (for some airports very slowly), Visitor Pass programs started being offered again. In fact, 5 of the 6 original airports that had visitor pass programs before the pandemic have been re-established (Pittsburgh’s MyPitPass still hasn’t, but they were in the middle of a huge upgrade for years, so we’ll give them some slack), along with nearly 20 others. To date, there are 25 airports offering some version of a visitor pass program.

Orlando paused its program

That number would have been 26, except Orlando International Airport quietly paused its program.

Established on September 1, 2023, the visitor pass program at Orlando International Airport, Experience MCO, was a popular one. That was, no doubt, in part because it gave visitors a chance to view Terminal C, which, at the time, was still brand new. But then in March 2025, the program was quietly stopped, with a notification on Experience MCO’s website that they were re-evaluating the program and hoped to bring it back soon.

Experience MCO is back (and expanded)

Happily, the “pause” only lasted 9 months because effective December 16, 2025, Experience MCO is up and running again. And not only is it back, but the program has expanded to include not just Terminal C, but Terminals A and B, as well.

From MCO’s website:

Screenshot of Experience MCO Visitor Pass Program details on flymco.com

Get ready to Experience MCO in a whole new way!

The Experience MCO Visitor Pass Program allows the non-traveling public to visit MCO and enjoy the amenities on the post-security side of the passenger terminals. Shop, dine, spend some more time with loved ones who are flying out – how you Experience MCO is up to you!

Airport employees are welcome to participate when they are not working.

Employee Restrictions:

  • Employees are not eligible if you’ve forgotten or lost your badge, still employed at the airport but let your badge expire, or your badge was subject to suspension or revocation.
  • During your visit, you’re strictly prohibited from using your badge to access areas of the airport not otherwise open to the general public.
  • If you violate these terms, you may be subject to administrative fines, suspension, or revocation of your badge.
  • Employees may not use employee security screening when participating in this program. All participants must use TSA Standard Screening.

Now all of that, so close to the top of the page? Maybe employee shenanigans were why the program was paused back in March? Especially because when it was paused, they said it was to reassess staffing and operations? Hmmmm….

How Experience MCO works

Anyway, their procedure is about the same as the other airports that offer a visitor pass.

Step 1: Apply online

You can apply up to seven days in advance.

Provide your date of birth, gender, and full legal name exactly as it appears on your TSA-approved photo identification (e.g., passport or REAL ID). You’ll receive a confirmation email verifying that your request has been received. If you cannot select a particular date on the online form, the visitor slots have reached capacity for that day.

Step 2: Get TSA’s approval

Your request will be reviewed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

You will receive an email with your approval status after midnight on the day of your visit.

Step 3: Present your Experience MCO Visitor Pass

If approved for entry, you’ll receive your Experience MCO Visitor Pass attached to your approval email. When entering the TSA checkpoint, make sure to open the Experience MCO Visitor Pass attachment to provide to the TDC (Travel Document Checker), along with your TSA-approved photo identification (e.g., passport or REAL ID). Your MCO badge is not an acceptable form of identification.

Please Note: As of May 7, 2025, state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs that are not REAL ID-compliant are no longer accepted as valid forms of identification at airports.

Please refer to TSA’s list of approved photo identification. Make sure to advise the TSA officer that you have an Experience MCO Visitor Pass when presenting your photo ID. Experience MCO Visitor Pass guests must enter the TSA checkpoint standard screening line. Entry is restricted to 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Experience MCO Visitor Pass guests are required to exit all terminals by 8:00 p.m.

You can apply on this page of their website.

The fine print

They do emphasize that printed Experience MCO Visitor Passes will not be accepted. Only digital versions.

Experience MCO guests are subject to the same security regulations as passengers boarding an aircraft and must comply with TSA’s screening procedures, including not bringing items prohibited by TSA and complying with the TSA’s 3-1-1 liquid rule.

At this time, expedited screening and trusted traveler programs, such as TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, or the MCO Reserve program, cannot be used with the Experience MCO Visitor Pass.

The Experience MCO Visitor Pass availability is limited and granted on a first-come, first-served basis, with all access subject to TSA approval.

Participation in this program requires you to depart the terminal by 8:00 p.m.

The Experience MCO Visitor Pass does not allow exit and re-entry. In response to exigent circumstances or operational needs, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel the program, cancel approved Experience MCO Visitor Passes, or modify program rules at any time without prior notice.

“Orlando International Airport is pleased to welcome the return of non-ticketed guests to eat at our restaurants, explore our retail concessions, or simply spend quality time with a traveling loved one,” said GOAA CEO Lance Lyttle in a press release. “We thank our partners with the Transportation Security Administration for their assistance with the program’s re-implementation now in place across our entire campus.”

The other 25 airports

The other 25 airports that offer versions of a visitors pass include:

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