Anyone ever fly into Sanford vs. Orlando Int'l?

[Tabetha]

We're thinking about flying Jetsgo in February, but they fly into Sanford.

I think Mears picks up from there, but I can't find any quotes. And any car service quotes I find are twice the cost of a car service from Orlando Int'l.

Any suggestions? Saving $$ by flying Jetsgo, and then losing that $$ by paying a lot more to get to the resort is kind of useless!

 

[talicskai]

Have you considered a car rental instead? The airport is located just off I4 between Daytona and Orlando. It is a small airport and you would be about 45-50 minutes from WDW.

Also I am not sure where you are located but Canjet flies non-stop Saturdays from Hamilton to Orlando (MCO). Prices are quite good. We always fly Southwest from Buffalo because you just can't beat the price and it is nice to clear customs at the bridge instead of in an airport.

JMHO.

 

[BeamsofLight]

We flew Jetsgo home in June. (We had gone down on Air Transat, but didn't want to come back with them .. long story). Anyway, we used Tiffany Towncar both ways (from Orlando Int'l to WDW and then to Sanford). The total cost was $135, I believe. It was slightly different than their usual rates because we weren't arriving and leaving from the same airport. You can check their website for rates, if you're interested though. The drive out to Sanford took about an hour.

Next month we're flying WestJet. Their prices were about $100 less than Jetsgo and they fly into the international airport. Their flight times were better too (IMHO). Maybe try looking at WestJet as an option too?

Edited to add: the "$100 cheaper" bit refers to the total cost for our 2 plane tickets, just to be clear.

 

[Tabetha]

Hm, WestJet. Didn't even cross my mind, frankly.
I don't think CanJet is going to work for us, but WestJet may.

Flying into Sanford seems like such a bother.

We're going in February, and I know there will be seat sales after Christmas. Am I pushing my luck by waiting? I know some of these charters sell out early.

 

[BeamsofLight]

I wouldn't say Sanford was particularly a bother. The airport was efficient enough. The drive out there at the end of the vacation was kind of a drag, especially since it's a longer drive and even though the flight time we got with Jetsgo was later, we had to leave WDW an hour earlier than if we were just going to MCO. It's also pretty small and a little odd (to me) for international check in. They had us check-in in one building then we had to go outside again and walk to the other terminal to go through security. Then we waited in that terminal (our flight was delayed about an hour) and then we walked allllll the way back across the first terminal to where the plane was, but this time behind the glass wall separating the domestic waiting area and the ramps to the planes.

I don't know about how the seats sell out or anything with WestJet (or any other airline really). I usually book my flights around 3 months in advance if I can. The downside of that is if a seat sale comes on after, a charter won't refund the difference (well, Canada3000 did but they're gone now).

I guess it depends if you need to leave and return on specific days, or if your vacation can be flexible. If it's only a certain week you can go, I'd say the sooner you book the better. JMHO.

 

[Tabetha]

Thanks for the suggestions. I did some math, and I figured that at this point, our best bet is to fly out of Buffalo via Southwest.

Even with spending a night at a hotel and parking the car for the week, we're still coming in at only about $360 C$ each, including a town car from MCO to the Poly.

 

[talicskai]

Great decision! Take it from someone who has flown from Buffalo three times now ~ you will never go from Toronto again! Southwest is wonderful and arrival in Orlando is so easy when it is a domestic flight! Enjoy.......I wish I was going with you.

 

[Tabetha]

Well, your suggestion saved me a couple of hundred dollars.

Maybe I'll have room in a suitcase for you? It's the least I can do!

 

[talicskai]

Sure! When are you going? We are considering driving down in February with a bunch of friends, but I want to fly! Perhaps, hubby can just pick up me and the kids at the airport ~ I'll run that by him...hehehe

 

[Mid-Night Owl]

We went Jetsgo to Sanford last March. Weren't particularly impressed with our having to clear customs in Toronto (we connected from Ottawa), but going through Sanford is a breeze.
Have a great trip!