Customer Service
Orlando Airport’s animated astronaut making security lines efficient and fun
August 19, 2025
There's a digital ambassador, Annie the astronaut, focused on improving customer experience at Orlando International Airport (MCO).
Annie is an immersive digital experience in play at MCO's West Checkpoint focused on helping travelers navigate security and reduce stress relating to wait times. She also offers up travel tips, according to a press release.
It was launched by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority in June and created by Synect.
Displayed across LED video walls, Annie's 3D journey includes vibrant terminal scenes, over 100 original characters and thousands of frames of high-end animation.
"This collaboration with Synect is a testament to how wayfinding can transcend function to become an experience," Karla Carman, senior manager, wayfinding and signage, at Orlando International, said in the release. "By blending placemaking with real-time information, we're turning a traditionally passive space into an opportunity for engagement, delight, and orientation — all while staying true to the unique spirit of MCO."
In Annie's airport journey, the astronaut strolls through a 3D replica of Terminals A and B, complete with check-in counters, plants, a food court and other elements modeled directly from the facility.
The content shares real-time TSA wait times, 3-1-1 reminders, divestment tips such as bin reminders, post-security concession highlights via QR code and themed "Easter Eggs" like a digital version of MCO's much-loved carpet.
The immersive content plays on identical LED video walls and features:
- Eight custom scenes based on MCO's terminal architecture.
- Over 1,000 animated elements and 100+ custom character models.
- More than 7,200 rendered frames built in Maya, Cinema 4D, and After Effects.
- Live API integrations for real-time updates.
- Airport-specific details, including native Florida trees, MCO's iconic carpet and Synect's ReadySeeGo devices.
Annie's Journey is powered by Synect's Passenger360 Digital Content Management System, which runs more than 2,100 digital displays across MCO's Terminals A, B and C and the Train Station.
"Security is one of the most critical and emotionally charged parts of the passenger journey," Yahav Ran, CEO of Synect, said in the release. "Our goal with this project was to support MCO's vision of delivering an elevated, guest-focused experience by enhancing the checkpoint, reducing stress and positively influencing passenger behavior with content that's helpful, timely and engaging. MCO continues to lead the way in using content strategy and technology to create meaningful airport moments."
"Annie's Journey is informative, uplifting and unmistakably MCO," Lance Lyttle, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which operates Orlando International Airport, said in the release. "In partnership with Synect, we're transforming the checkpoint into an interesting, fast, branded experience using a content-first strategy and our Passenger360 platform, which connects guests with real-time information and a host of airport amenities."
