Direct Air to Sanford vs Others to MCO

[Jacquaman]

Thoughts please.....

I am considering using Direct Air to travel from Worcester MA to Sanford/Orlando.
Sanford is said to be about 45 minutes to Epcot. Does anyone recall the transit time for the Express to an Epcot hotel?

 

[pr surfer]

Express? As in Magical Express? It doesn't run to Sanford.

 

[Jacquaman]

Right. I was looking for the MCO transit time on ME. Thanks.

 

[ccudmore]

From my experience if you're taking DME, it'll be faster to drive from Sanford to Epcot than it will to take DME from MCO to one of the Epcot resorts. The Sanford airport is so small and easy to get around, the time saved there more than makes up for the extra driving time (around 15 minutes longer). MCO to Epcot resort is about 30 minutes by car, 45 minutes by DME.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Right. I was looking for the MCO transit time on ME. Thanks.

The DME motorcoach ride from Orlando International Airport to the first resort stop at WDW is around 30 minutes. You need to add time for DME check-in, waiting for departure, and potentially making a couple of other resort stops before your resort. That makes the total time an average of around 70 minutes. (I've done it in less than an hour; but another time, late at night, it took closer to 2 hours.)

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

From my experience if you're taking DME, it'll be faster to drive from Sanford to Epcot than it will to take DME from MCO to one of the Epcot resorts. The Sanford airport is so small and easy to get around, the time saved there more than makes up for the extra driving time (around 15 minutes longer). MCO to Epcot resort is about 30 minutes by car, 45 minutes by DME.

Those numbers are all rather optimistic.

When using a rental car from Orlando Sanford, you need to add time to claim your luggage and rent a car.

When using a rental car from Orlando International, you need to add time to claim your luggage (which can take a long time there) and rent a car.

When using DME from Orlando International, you need to allow time to check in, wait for departure, take the 22-mile ride to WDW, and possibly stop at other resorts first.

The distance from Orlando Sanford to Epcot Resorts is around 45 miles, twice are far as from Orlando International.

If you're planning to rent a car anyway, Sanford can be a good choice. If not, the cost of the rental car (including gasoline) and the limited airline schedule works against Sanford.

 

[goofy4tink]

Just flew out of Worcester for April vacation....really a nice experience. Not to mention...$63 to park the car for 10 days!!
So...it will take you an hour to drive from Sanford to WDW. DME, from gate to resort, is about 70 mins, but could be about 90 mins. I've had a time of 50 mins and a time of 85 mins.....with lots closer to the 65-70 min mark.
A car service will run you about $200, r/t...maybe a bit less depending on who you use. We are using a car service in Oct for two couples. Since we are spending only $159 pp, r/t, for airfare, that $200 isn't bad at all.
If you are planning on renting a car, I found it to be easy to do. Budget/Avis were right in front of the terminal/parking lot. Very easy. I believe Hertz and Alamo/National were there as well, but didn't pay too much attention.

Long story short...
Sanford to resort (gate to resort actually)....about 90 mins.
DME to resort.....70-90 mins.