Recent Sanford Problems

[Aceman88888]

Quoted from another forum......

Just back from holiday,using sanford for the first time, NEVER AGAIN! after a 9 hr flight,it took another 2 1/2hrs to leave the airport. Apart from the long immigration queue,and baggage claim was a disgrace, it was so busy you couldn't move and the staff couldn't cope with all the incoming flights,and their luggage.To top it all the hire car queues were so long,you could easily wait 1 1/2hrs.

and.....

I agree. Visited Florida for the first time in June 05 and was surprised by the lack of organisation at Sanford airport. Flight was due to land approx 3.30pm local time and we didn't leave Sanford airport with our luggage and hire car until 7.30pm. Our flight was delayed for 1 hour so the rest of the time was spent at immigration and queuing for hire car voucher. Ended up driving the 60 minute journey to hotel in the dark. Not great for first timers.

I am quite concerned over this. We deliberately booked a later departure flight out of Gatwick because of the young kids. This is due to arrive into Sanford at 4pm. If we get these sort of problems then a nightime hunt for our villa is on the cards....not good with young kids. Glad Im taking my SATNAV with me......

 

[terrynewpack]

We usually arrive into Sanford and have suffered very few delays. However like mentioned we arrived there 11th June and it was packed. It does appear that all the arrivals seem to get there at the same time. Whilst this doesn't appear to be totally planned this is what happens in practise.
They have now abandoned the individual queues for each immigration officer in favour of one massive Disney type queue and whilst under this system you do appear to keep moving nevertheless there are literally hundreds and maybe thousands of people in front of you.

Not very good.

Terry

 

[xox_Violet_xox]

Last year we found it very easy to get through Sanford, especially as there were two flights from the UK plus a flight from the UK that was delayed two days.We got our bags fairly quickly and also got through the immigraion quickly but it was really the car hire that was the problem

Hope it isn't that badly organized when we go!!!

 

[florry]

we've never had a problem !

 

[KAC2005]

We're just back and didnt have any problems. We were off the flight first though and didn't have to que at immigration. We did last year but it wasn't that long a wait! Our cases were off quickly we had more trouble when we got back to Glasgow, 2 cases came through and the other was nowhere to be seen, we got it eventually!!

Kathryn

 

[snookhams]

we have just booked TCD for next August for the first time into Sanford and I am now a bit concerned about all this queueing and time - we have the MCO pretty much sewn up - travel PE, so off first not to long to queue collect luggage and then I collect car whilst DH and Eldest DS collect the cases for the 2nd time.... plan to do this again this year. Now next year we are flying sunshine 1st, does this mean we will be off the plane first or will it be a general free for all....

 

[Amyrlin]

I have never had a problem at Sandford, usually in and out quite quickly, luggage has been fast and the queues for the car hire seem to move fast.

 

[Floridaaddict]

We landed on 14 May 05, at 15.15 we drove out of the parking lot at 18.30! It was just bad luck, we landed at the same time as 4 other flights from the UK and we were the last to make it to immigration.
As for the Airport, it seemed efficient enough, all of the "booths" at immigration were open, and you were directed to the next one available.

 

[arieliwish]

Landed at Sanford last sept with TCD. We were delayed on the tarmac at Manchester for ages so our expected landing time of 6.30pm was nearer 9pm! There were queues for immigration, but these moved fairly quickly and the large afro-american, friendly airport official kept us, and the kids, amused! (anyone else encountered him?)
The car queue wasn't too bad, and we arrived at our hotel (first time there, ME driving, in the dark) just before half eleven. This was including a drive around the Rosen car park (turn right, where??), and also a map stop in walgreens car park!!!!

 

[brigadoon]

We got back last week, and all I can say was that our experiences at both ends of the trip at Sanford were very positive, much more so than Orlando.

Even although we were almost last off the flight from Manchester, we only had to to wait about 10 minutes to go through immigration. However, as we were leaving the hall, we turned to see it filled to capacity, so more flights must have come in. I wouldn't like to have been at the back, but it's all down to luck, I suppose.

As we had hand baggage only, we were able to stroll straight through to the Dollar desk, where we found no queues at all, so it couldn't have been quicker.

On the way back, we arrived about 10.30am for the 15.30 flight and again had no queue at all in front of us, so that couldn't have been easier. We had been thinking about using the Guest Lounge, but as we got seats by the window easily, I couldn't see the point of spending goodness knows what on a few "free" drinks and a slightly more peaceful atmosphere.

Having done Orlando International twice before, my preference would now be for Sanford, but we probably had a better experience than many who arrived at the wrong time.

 

[bozzly]

I have used Sanford 3 times always arriving around 4pm. The longest it has taken to get off the plane through to driving out has been 35 mins.
Last April we were through and on the road within 22 minutes.

 

[Mr-D]

Does it make a difference if it's a weekend or weekday. ?

 

[terrynewpack]

Does it make a difference if it's a weekend or weekday. ?

Might do because our bad experience was a Saturday and to be honest I can't remember the last time we went on a Saturday. There were about 5 flights that had arrived roughly at the same time and another came in right behind us.

We have always told everyone to go via Sanford but I couldn't put up with that every time.

Terry

 

[Mr-D]

I noticed one of the earlier posts quoted 14th May which was a Saturday as well. Thats what made me wonder

 

[rosiejo]

We had a problem at International last tip - got off the plane and through immigration fine and then spent about 2 hours waiting at Dollar as they had a car shortage! Meant we left the airport in the sun and hit kissimmee in dark :0( Not good for my DH2B's first time driving in Fl.

Oh year and another thing that didn't help we're Virgin's directions! Why do they give you directions with road names on when you can't really work them out! We would've got very lost had it not been for the fact that I had stayed int he same area of the 192 previously and recognised a few landmarks. Instead of saying turn right at such and such a road - they should say turn right before the IHOP just after a huge shop with a giant flamingo out front!

Here's my tip - use www.mapquest.com to locate your hotel on the map - just type in the zip code. Then go to http://www.kissimmee-us192.com/map/ushwy192mapindex.htm and look up the road. The maps here have all the shops and restuarants along the 192 listed and the markers. So you can write down some landmarks to guide you.

Also good to work out which restuarants are nearby for that "we're here but I'm starving" situation