MULTIPLE PLT RPT; B737. BOARDING IN MCO; CABIN ATTENDANT SMELLED ELECTRICAL BURN FUMES LOCATED NEAR DOOR #1. CHKED OUT BY FO AND MCO MECH. AT CRUISE; SMELL STRONGER. DIVERT TO RIC FOR MAINT AND FIRE DEPT CHK. NOT LOGGED.

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PRIOR TO DEP FROM MCO; THE FLT ATTENDANT; LOCATED BY FORWARD BOARDING DOOR; ASKED IF I SMELLED AN ABNORMAL ODOR. I CAREFULLY INHALED AND DID NOT RECOGNIZE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I THEN MOVED INTO THE GALLEY AREA AND CHKED AGAIN. I WAS UNABLE TO RECOGNIZE ANYTHING ABNORMAL. HOWEVER; SINCE WE NOW HAD 1 INDIVIDUAL SAYING SHE SMELLED AN ODOR; AND 1 SAYING NOT; I CHOSE TO ASK FOR A MECH'S OPINION. A MECH CHKED AND WAS UNABLE TO RECOGNIZE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. ON TAXI; THE FLT ATTENDANT STILL FELT SHE SMELLED AN ODOR AND PRESENTED THE INFO TO THE CAPT. I EXPLAINED THAT I RECOGNIZED NO SMELLS AND THE MECH HAD AGREED. WE HAD A NORMAL DEP AND CLB. APPROX 1 HR AND 10 MINS FROM LNDG; THE FLT ATTENDANT CALLED SAYING THE ODOR WAS GETTING MORE PWRFUL; AND IT WAS POSSIBLY ELECTRICAL. WE SENT A JUMP SEATING AIRLINE B737 FO BACK TO INVESTIGATE. HE RPTED THAT THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE FLT ATTENDANT'S COM PANEL. AT THIS TIME WE ELECTED TO DECLARE AN EMER SINCE HE CONFIRMED IT COULD BE ELECTRICAL. THE FLT DIVERTED TO RIC. UPON NORMAL ARR AT THE GATE; A FIRE CREW AND CONTRACT MECH INVESTIGATED -- NEITHER WERE ABLE TO IDENT A PROB. THE AIRLINE THEN FLEW IN A COMPANY MECH TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE. HE WAS UNABLE TO IDENT A PROB. AFTER ABOUT 2 HRS AND THE MECH FELT POSSIBLY A NEWLY PAINTED PART; WHEN WARMED THROUGH NORMAL USE; CAUSED THE ODOR. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN. WHILE REVIEWING THE PAPERWORK; THE CAPT ASKED WHY I DID NOT ENTER ORIGINAL COMPLAINT IN LOG. I DID NOT CONSIDER IT A MAINT ITEM SINCE NEITHER THE MCO MECH NOR MYSELF RECOGNIZED A PROB. WITH NO MAINT ACTION; NO ENTRY WAS MADE. I BELIEVE THE FLT ATTENDANTS; HAVING BELIEVED THEY SMELLED SOMETHING; ALLOWED THEIR BELIEF TO ESCALATE. THEY CONVINCED THEMSELVES THAT WHAT THEY SMELLED WAS ELECTRICAL AND VERY STRONG. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A RESULT OF THE FLT ATTENDANT FEELING HER INITIAL COMPLAINT WAS NOT ADDRESSED ADEQUATELY. SHE FIXATED ON THE ODOR. ON THE GND IN RIC; SHE LATER SAID HER EYES WERE BURNING; AND FELT WE ALL NEEDED TO LEAVE THE ACFT. TO PREVENT RECURRENCE IS BETTER COM; WHICH ALL PLTS -- MYSELF INCLUDED -- STRIVE FOR. A LOGBOOK WRITE-UP; WHILE CREATING A PAPER TRAIL; WOULD HAVE DONE LITTLE TO CHANGE THE OUTCOME. HOWEVER; IT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE MECH TO OPEN A PANEL; WHICH MAY HAVE SUPPRESSED THE FLT ATTENDANT'S BELIEF A PROB EXISTED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 467896: DIVERSION DUE TO ODOR IN CABIN TRACED TO FLT ATTENDANT INTERPHONE PANEL WITH NO ARCING OR BURNING NOTED. FLT ATTENDANT ON BOARD HAD PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED ODOR TO MECH WHO CHKED FOR SOURCE WITH NO MAINT LOG ENTRY MADE.