Loved Allegiant flight from Rockford to Sanford--Sanford is a breeze!!!

[IowaGirl]

I live in Iowa and Rockford is about a 1 3/4 hour drive from where I live, but it was worth it!

Parking is free in Rockford. You park pretty much right by the front door. They have free luggage carts in the parking lot if you need them.

Allegiant was good, and getting out of Sanford was so quick and simple.

We rented from Alamo, which is on-site, but a little bit of a walk to catch.

True, Sanford is about 40 minutes from the Disney area, but we drove I-4 our whole trip except when we went to Cocoa Beach. That toll road to Cocoa Beach was the worst trafffic we saw the whole trip.

It only took us 10 minutes from the time we returned our rental car to check in for our flight home.

It really was so easy! We paid $84 each way from Allegiant. We are never able to get in on a really good price from Airtran at our more local airport, at least it is never there when I look.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I have nothing to add to this thread, except...

It's a pleasure to read such a positive post on this board. Lately, there have been all sorts of posts from people who were unhappy with their airline, their rental car company, airport personnel, or with Disney itself. Some complaints were very legitimate; some seemed like over-reactions to one degree or another — but the people were genuinely unhappy.

It's nice to read positive things about Allegiant, Rockford, and Sanford. We live much closer to Chicago-Midway and Chicago-O'Hare than to Chicago-Rockford, but it's good to know there's another option.

 

[jenjersnap]

Allegiant is hoping to start Orlando non-stops from our smallish local airport and I would be thrilled if they did! Right now they only go to Vegas from our airport, we've done that and it was an excellent experience except that they lost our luggage for three days. But for, like, $85 round trip, I will gladly chance it again.

 

[DonnaLeah]

We were hoping to fly Allegiant out of Mid-America-St.Louis, but the airfare was not competitive with SW. Mid-America is a small airport about 40 miles from our home, as compared to having to drive into St. Louis. Maybe next year!!

 

[Disneynutbsv]

Good to hear this! We are flying allegiant in August from Portsmouth We also booked from Alamo. What were the choices of vehicles were there? Did you rent full size, intermediate, mini van, suv?

 

[djm99]

We were hoping to fly Allegiant out of Mid-America-St.Louis, but the airfare was not competitive with SW. Mid-America is a small airport about 40 miles from our home, as compared to having to drive into St. Louis. Maybe next year!!

I think it was depending on when you booked. The prices have gone up. I booked in March and it was only $79 each way. Plus tax and all our flight was only $174.60. I couldn't find anything like that from Southwest. You must have gotten a "ding" price!!! We are flying out of Midamerica to Sanford on July 29, 2006.

 

[goofy4tink]

That's good to know. I've flown into Sanford in the past, flying PanAm, and found it to be very nice, usable airport. We have Allegiant flying out of Worcester now (like PanAm used to) and I'm looking forward to flying them and renting at Sanford. Thanks for the post!!

 

[2thfairy]

We just got back from disney a few days ago and flew allegiant for the first time. It was much cheaper for us and the airport was very nice and easy to get around. Our flights were great and had very nice flight attendants. We rented a car from alamo and that went really smooth too. It is a little farther drive but the money we saved was well worth it.

 

[Lady74]

That is great to know. We fly out of Rockford on the 14th of July and are renting from Alamo. It will be the first time flying Alegiant and flying out of Rockford for us and we only live a mile from the airport. Our tickets were 84 each way and the rental for 9 days is 334(its a caddy!!!!). Cant wait 18 more days to go

 

[DisneyDadof3]

We were hoping to fly Allegiant out of Mid-America-St.Louis, but the airfare was not competitive with SW. Mid-America is a small airport about 40 miles from our home, as compared to having to drive into St. Louis. Maybe next year!!

Really - I found it the other way around a while back. Anyway - we got tickets for 4 and hotel 1/2 mile from Downtown Disney for $722.

Since I live on the Illinois side of St. Louis, it saves me driving to Mid-America as opposed to St. Louis.

Southwest does run good deals, but not always the best. I search STL and allegiant as well as airtran out of Bloomington. Those 3 seem to have the best deals most of the time.

 

[DonnaLeah]

djm9 and DisneyDadof3--Received an email special from SW on Friday that expired today for $69 one way. Allegiant has been $119 for departure on 7/29(noticed it did go down to $99 but that just happened in the last day or so). Return on 8/5 is $149. Anyone wanna trade!!???

 

[DisneyDadof3]

djm9 and DisneyDadof3--Received an email special from SW on Friday that expired today for $69 one way. Allegiant has been $119 for departure on 7/29(noticed it did go down to $99 but that just happened in the last day or so). Return on 8/5 is $149. Anyone wanna trade!!???

Sorry - can't trade - wife would kill me as would our kids

Keep watching the allegiant prices. My wife's cousin went with us two weeks ago. The price was 189 one way, then dropped to 79 for one or two days. By the time she purchased it was 89 one way and 119 the other. However, the day after she bought the tickets, the price jumped to $229 and $119 each way. The price seems to fluxuate closer to deadline. She ended up with ticket like 7-10 days before we went. Good luck. I like at least having the alternative with allegiant. Now if they only flew on days other than Wednesdays and Saturdays!

 

[Ella's Mom]

Happy to hear you liked flying out of Rockord. I definitely agree - flying in and out of Rockford is a breeze.

 

[gobledygook]

Hiya IowaGirl! I'm a Rockfordian, glad to hear you had a positive experience at our airport! Like Lady74 mentioned, I am also very close to the airport. I think a big reason why I've made so many Disney trips in the last 3 years is because the Rockford and Sanford airports have made it SO easy! Flying from IL to FL is as hassle free from here as driving to the mall

PS, Lady74, good luck with your flight, you'll love it! Have a magical trip

 

[TSR6]

yay for Rockford!

Thats good news, but I'm still driving to WDW from Rockford in 21 days.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

another ROckfordite checking in!! i didnt know there were so many of you all out there!!!

Thanks for the info, but we too are driving this year!!!! maybe next year!

 

[TSR6]

It's not a bad drive at all.. plus i just bought a Navigation head unit for my truck to play with on the trip down.

WDW is the first thing im going to check in it once it arrives.. I know it's one of the pre-programmed "Points of Interest" in it.

 

[IowaGirl]

1) Allegiant provides no free in flight service. Just a heads up. It is a short flight, but if you are counting on a cup of coffee or a pop, then you will have to pay for it. We all had drinks with us and had a little picnic lunch at the airport before we boarded.

2) I had a full size car from Alamo. It was $123 dollars total with all taxes and fees for the week. The lower three sizes were all the same price and my full size car was only $1 more for the whole week when I booked. I used the Wal Mart code, plus an online Alamo coupon for $15 off (I was supposed to print that coupon but I did not know that--there was never a rpompt to print and the guy asked for it when I picked up, but was nice about it.)

3) You have to walk outside a bit to Alamo rental. It is all covered if it is raining, but a little walk.(Except for one crosswalk) It is not inside adjacent to baggage claim like a few other companies. I remember Hertz being one of them. You could have your rental car picked out before your significant other can retrieve the bags.

All of the staff we encountered we very pleasant and quick, airline and car rental.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Thanks for the info Iowa Gal!

 

[Lady74]

We are flying out of Rockford soon I was going to call to see when we should be at the airport. Our flight is at noon but do we realy have to get there 2 hours before our flight?
I need to drop the dog off at the airport lodge before we go to the airport, I thought if we dropped the dog off at 10:45 we would get to the airport before 11:00. Is that enough time or do they realy want you there before that? Thanks for the help