What Changed at MCO Gates 1-29 in 2026? 4 Rivers, a Bigger Starbucks & More Construction

If you have flown out of Orlando International Airport's Gates 1-29 recently, the food-and-retail area looks noticeably different. We walked through it in September 2026 and found some changes already open while construction is still very much in progress.

QUICK VERDICT: The biggest immediate improvement is more choice. 4 Rivers gives travelers a distinctly Orlando option, and the enlarged Starbucks is a meaningful upgrade for a gate area that can get busy. But this is not a finished renovation yet.

What is new right now

The most obvious addition is 4 Rivers Southern Smokehouse. The airport location includes an express market, ordering counter, grab-and-go snacks and a full bar area with seating. It feels much more substantial than a basic airport food counter.

There is also a much larger Starbucks. The new location has a wide counter and more room around it than the older compact setup travelers may remember.

What is still there

The older Starbucks across the way was still present during our visit. On the Border was also still there, and Hudson remained open. So for now, this is a transition period rather than a complete replacement of the old food-and-retail lineup.

Construction is still happening

We also saw active construction next to Hudson News, which is a good reminder that the gate-area changes are still rolling out. Orlando International Airport says its broader Concession Master Plan will redevelop more than 200,000 square feet across Terminals A and B, with phased openings scheduled from summer 2026 through late 2028.

Why this matters if you are flying soon

Do not assume an older MCO restaurant guide is fully current. Gates 1-29 are in the middle of a multi-year refresh, so what is open can change. If you are counting on a specific restaurant before a flight, leave yourself enough time to look around rather than planning around an old map or blog post.

THE VERDICT

The changes are moving in the right direction. 4 Rivers is the most interesting addition so far, the new Starbucks is genuinely more useful, and the area already feels like it is getting a better mix of local and national options. We would still call Gates 1-29 a work in progress, though—not a finished makeover.

Official project reference: Orlando International Airport's Elevating MCO Concession Master Plan and GOAA's 2025-2026 concession announcements.