Orlando Sanford Airport out of Toronto & Hamilton

[Etch]

Got an email yesterday from Swoop announcing they're resuming direct flights to Orlando in the fall. The interesting part is that, in the Toronto area, they will be flying out of Pearson and Hamilton to Orlando Sanford airport now.

Anyone have any experience with flying into Sanford? Looks like its about 20 minutes further away from the Disney area then MCO. Seems like it might be a viable option if they are able to offer lower prices, especially with DME coming to an end this year.

So anyway, if you have flown into Sanford please share your experience good or bad.

 

[mommasita]

I love Sanford. It is no nice and small. It is a little further, but you will gain that time back, not having the long time going thru the terminal.
It has been a few years, so things must have changed, to show you, I used to work for Jetsgo, and we used this airport all the time. At that time there were not many car rentals, so I’m not sure how that is now, we used a car service for pick up.

 

[dis_guy]

I got the same email this morning. Our Swoop nonstop from Edmonton is also using Sanford now. It's once a week to start and later on it goes twice a week. I found a nice little video about the Sanford airport on Youtube. I might be tempted once we can travel freely again. Especially so with the upcoming demise of DME.

 

[dmbcanada]

Haven't flown to Sanford, but it is an hour to hour and a half drive to Disney Property. They have Mears and other shared shuttles. They have all major car rentals on site:

Alamo	407-585-3500	800-327-9633
Avis	407-585-4421	800-331-1212
Budget	407-585-4427	800-527-0700
Dollar	407-324-1314	800-423-4704
Enterprise	407-585-4400	800-736-8222
Hertz	407-585-4410	800-654-3131
National

 

[White Cat]

I have flown into Sanford at least 100 times mostly from Niagara Falls. It’s a very nice airport. Easy to get out of. Uber and rental cars right out the front door. The ride to the attractions is a very easy and nice ride on toll roads. I much prefer this route than MCO to YYZ.

 

[White Cat]

As far as Niagara Falls airport it’s new and only has 2 gates. Very easy to get around. Parking is pre paid which is unusual. I have left a car there for up to 2 months with no issues. There is free parking for those who come to pick up someone.

 

[migel]

I've flown Niagara Falls to Sanford a few times, although not in the past several years. As others have mentioned, Sanford is a much smaller and easier airport to navigate, and it's only an additional 20 minute drive to Disney over MCO. The only thing to keep in mind, the on-airport car rentals were not 24 hrs (at least they weren't a few years back). I think most closed before midnight at that time.

 

[White Cat]

I've flown Niagara Falls to Sanford a few times, although not in the past several years. As others have mentioned, Sanford is a much smaller and easier airport to navigate, and it's only an additional 20 minute drive to Disney over MCO. The only thing to keep in mind, the on-airport car rentals were not 24 hrs (at least they weren't a few years back). I think most closed before midnight at that time.

They stay open 1 hr past the last flight in.

 

[Pumpkin1172]

It is good to know this is an option. Right now, I know too many airlines are changing or cancelling flights. BUT, I will be keeping my eye on them to see how their flights from certain areas go to see if I would trust to use them as a carrier.

I would hate to get down there, then be stranded as the return flight was cancelled or vice versa.

 

[migel]

They stay open 1 hr past the last flight in.

We had a 2+ hour flight delay one occasion, and although our carrier was still open, a few others on the flight were out of luck.

 

[White Cat]

There is a Swoop flight coming in today to Sanford from Hamilton. I’ve heard Flair is going to have routes from Breslau to Sanford but haven’t looked into it.

 

[White Cat]

Might start November 30.

 

[Kennedy Cooke]

Does anyone on here with experience flying into SFB have any recommendations for getting to WDW from the airport? I would just like to know what the best options are and would love if you could include pricing! Thanks!

 

[White Cat]

Does anyone on here with experience flying into SFB have any recommendations for getting to WDW from the airport? I would just like to know what the best options are and would love if you could include pricing! Thanks!

Yes. You get on the toll rd the whole way to Disney. I have a house about halfway and have many times. Cost would be about $6 in tolls. Your rental car will have a transponder and you will be billed separately a bit later on your credit card. It’s a nice drive actually.

 

[Etch]

OP here. I decided to jump in and give Sanford a try. I have a Kitchener/Waterloo-Sanford flight booked on Flair for a trip to Universal over March Break. KW airport is literally 5 minutes from my house so if it goes well I could see using it often.

I'll report back on Flair and Sanford Airport experience when I return.

 

[White Cat]

OP here. I decided to jump in and give Sanford a try. I have a Kitchener/Waterloo-Sanford flight booked on Flair for a trip to Universal over March Break. KW airport is literally 5 minutes from my house so if it goes well I could see using it often.

I'll report back on Flair and Sanford Airport experience when I return.

I actually live by both those airports. You’ll be fine. Your only concern will be Flair. I use Sanford whenever possible to avoid MCO and YYZ.

 

[jaceraden]

They stay open 1 hr past the last flight in.

This is not the case for us. Our flight has been pushed back. 3 times now. I wasn't able to rent from Sanford because they are closed well before we arrive. Granted we arrive on December 24 but wanted people to be aware.