Hotels on route from Sanford to Orlando

[greenclan67]

Hi all, this is a first flying into Sanford for March Break. We are arriving a day earlier then we are booked at Mystic Dunes. We don't land til 8 pm. So really just need someplace to sleep for the night and maybe if enough time for the kids to swim that night. Are we better off to stay in Sanford and do the drive in the morning, (I know it is not long) but we really have no plans for the first day there, because we are waiting for check in for the resort that day. Any suggestions?
Also, the day we fly back we fly black at 9 am from Sanford. I am assuming being at the airport by 7:30 (being a smaller airport) would be enough time. Would we be better off checking out of our resort a day earlier, it is already paid for, and going closer to the airport because of traffic? It is a Friday morning if that helps? Any help would be appreciated! TIA

 

[minnie mum]

Personally, I'd try to find an off property hotel really close to WDW. Yes it means that extra drive on the night you arrive. But it also means that you avoid fighting rush hour traffic going into Orlando the next morning. Never underestimate Orlando rush hour!!

Why would you not plan on the parks on your first full day?? You don't have wait until you've physically moved into your room. Official check in time is 3 or 4pm, but you can show up any time after 6 or 7 am, check in at the desk, receive you KTTW, check your bags with Bell Services and then head to the parks. You can claim your bags when you return to the resort later in the day.

Your return flight is an international one. I know it's a small airport, but I think you're pushing your luck arriving that late. And again, you've got rush hour traffic to deal with (although you're heading out of town, not in), so allow extra time for this, plus dropping of the rental car once you get to the airport. I certainly wouldn't check out a day early. But I think you should probably leave an hour earlier than you are currently planning.

ETA: OOPs just saw that you are staying off site, so KTTW doesn't apply. But there's still no need to just hang around your resort. Go to WDW. Enjoy!