Airport Questions

[disneynut4u]

Has anyone arrived via Orlando-Sanford airport? How far is the drive to WDW (I know it really depends on the resort)? Opinions of the airport?

 

[mmexpress]

45-60 minute drive.
It's a nice small airport, easy to negotiate.

 

[MichWolv]

If you arrive such that you'd be driving to WDW during rush hour, I'd suggest taking 417 (toll) instead of I-4. I-4 can be ugly during rush hour. The toll on 417 is fairly high, but worth it to avoid the rush hour traffic.

 

[Philo]

Yep, arrived and flown from there.

Airport is pretty basic but it does the job. I didn't drive (caught a bus provided by our TA which was plesent enough) but the route didn't look too complex.

 

[TURKEY]

If you arrive such that you'd be driving to WDW during rush hour, I'd suggest taking 417 (toll) instead of I-4. I-4 can be ugly during rush hour. The toll on 417 is fairly high, but worth it to avoid the rush hour traffic.

Taking 417 during rush hour and having to pay cash isn't that much fun.


When are you arriving? If not in the immediate future, I would recommend purchasing a Sunpass (http://www.sunpass.com/) that is good for all Florida toll roads. The amount you would spend to and from Sanford would be about the $25 or so it takes to start an account.


Most if not all the 417 tolls have Sunpass only lanes that you can zip right through and not sit in the backups to pay cash.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I take the auto train from Sanford a lot and the drive takes about 40 minutes with decently flowing traffic on I-4. I think the airport is a little bit closer than that.

 

[DAKOTADISNEY]

What is the auto train? We may be flying into Sanford again and would like to hear about other transportation options other than car rental. Thanks.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

What is the auto train? We may be flying into Sanford again and would like to hear about other transportation options other than car rental. Thanks.

It is am Amtrak train where you bring your car along with you. It is a non-stop journey from Lorton, VA (right near DC) and Sanford, FL. Regardless of if you are heading north or south, you depart at 4pm and arrive around 8:30am or so. Your car goes along on the train with you and after some waiting they drive it off and you are set to go with all your luggage still packed in it. A little long for my liking, but very convenient to have your own car with you.

 

[DAKOTADISNEY]

Thanks for the info. I hadn't heard of it before.

 

[melissw]

I used Sanford last year to/from Rockford, IL. We were able to get our bags quickly, faster than most if not any other airport I've flown into. got our car from Alamo (which is a bit of a walk outside the airport) and were on our way. It was a Sunday so the drive to Disney wasn't bad. Checking back in for our way home was a bit slow at the airline counter, but tolerable. Going thru security was MUCH faster than going thru security at Orlando (which is my least favorite airport as far as security lines are concerned). And of course flying out/back to Rockford is a nice change of pace from Midway or Ohare!
We are not renting a car when we go this April, which was one of the few reasons we chose not to fly into Sanford, but otherwise I would do it again.