Sanford or Orlando International?

[Debwid]

I am planning to fly from Manchester and want to go direct so only Virgin appear to fly to Orlando International. The other tour operators all seem to fly to Sanford. I am therefore looking at booking with Virgin. I would like to hear your views on which airport is best, time it takes etc.

cheers

 

[disney_princess_85]

I've flown into both airports. Sanford is much smaller with less shops and eateries than MCO. Saying that, it was a bit frantic at MCO (especially when flying home) and I found Sanford to be better organised. I think MCO is a little closer than Sanford, but not by loads. Also, you can only get the Magical Express from MCO.

 

[wayneg]

Only been thru Sanford once, not a good experience but it was 7 years ago. We have always found Dollar car hire collection faultless at MCO, Sanford was hard sell and very unfriendly, even lying to get me to upgrade. On return checkin and security was a farce, long long lines, then to top it off we had about a 4 hour delay, there is/was nothing to do, very basic airport.

MCO, used about 20 times, loads of shops, places to eat, free wireless internet, gets busy at security but usually though quickly. Love MCO.
Only downside to me is on arrival, immigration & bag collect can take a while, one of reasons we don't mind indirect flights, might add 2-3 hours onto journey but then you go straight to bag collection at MCO which is usually very fast for internal flights, then car collection area is usually empty unlike when the international flights arrive mid afternoon.

Also consider Tampa, we used it last August, not much further than Sanford(45 mins) took us exactly 1 hour.

End of day the airport would not really be a consideration for my choice, all down to finding cheapest flight and most convenient times/dates, Sanford only cater for 7/14/21 days, we tend to go 9, 12 or 25 days so its rarely an option.

 

[torsie24]

Definitely MCO. We love the Magical Express!

 

[Natasha&Matt]

Been through both, Thought Sanford was much better, easier smaller was out so quick.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Never been to Sanford, MCO is a fab airport in my opinion.

 

[Revtel]

We have used both over the years. Had a bad experience at Sanford many years ago, but it has improved enormously recently, and we now prefer it.

It's much smaller than MCO, but with a reasonable selection of eateries, easy check in, excellent car rental access, and the journey to and from Disney is straightforward.

 

[penlanspice]

We've been through both many times but MCO wins hands down for us, they are much more efficient and we find we have always got on the road quicker. Also it's closer to Disney I drive etc.
But as Wayne suggests I would also go with whoever is cheaper.

 

[Jets fan]

I have only ever been in Sanford once and it was awful as 3 huge aircraft from the UK arrived within a few mins of each other and it was hell. It took 2.5 hours for the luggage to come through from our plane as we were the third aircraft. It was boiling hot and bloomin awful. We have never had any problems with MCO, mind you if the flights came in at the right price I would go to Sanford again.

Tina

 

[PJB71]

Hi

We have flown in and out of both.

Lastime we were at Samford we had a 12hour delay to get home and were out of our minds as there is not much to do there at all.

MCO has our vote anyday

 

[kgarrigos]

I thought this would be an easy answer but for me its not ,MCO coming in was brilliant ( we were indirect) but going back it was so big we got lost a couple of times while looking around , that said i think Sanford to small and you struggle to sort your time whilst waiting for flight.
If I had to choose I suppose it would be easy MCO really just keep your whits about you.

 

[Debwid]

Thanks for all the replies. I will keep my options open and price up holidays coming into Sanford but right now MCO is looking the favourite. With a 6 yr old, if we have any delays MCO is definately looking the best option.

 

[PudseyChancer]

Like others have said, for me, price is the main consideration these days. Pandemonium can descend at either airport if you're unfortunate to land the same time an another flight.

Have done both, think MCO is set up better, has more to do and is a bit more modern, has the benefit of Magical Express as well.

I would however, recommend Sanford over MCO, have got through there a lot quicker, has a decent duty free on the way back, and an excellent kids club that saved us when we were delayed for 8 hours coming back last time round. Get through Homeland Security a lot quicker than at MCO so any location advantage is often negated - but to be honest, you might as well flip a coin!

 

[Debwid]

Like others have said, for me, price is the main consideration these days. Pandemonium can descend at either airport if you're unfortunate to land the same time an another flight.

Have done both, think MCO is set up better, has more to do and is a bit more modern, has the benefit of Magical Express as well.

I would however, recommend Sanford over MCO, have got through there a lot quicker, has a decent duty free on the way back, and an excellent kids club that saved us when we were delayed for 8 hours coming back last time round. Get through Homeland Security a lot quicker than at MCO so any location advantage is often negated - but to be honest, you might as well flip a coin!

Well just when I had thought I had decided, more or less!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Been through both, Thought Sanford was much better, easier smaller was out so quick.

Weve done both lots and lots of times.

I agree with the above, always always quicker away from sanford.

I find the whole thing a lot less stressful at sanford.

But HEY, they are both in Florida

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Actually, others has said that mco has more to do,I kinda disagree, at sanford they have a games room that the kids pay a one off to get in and they play arcade games, my dn loves it.Anyhting to keep her out the shops

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

I found MCO quite boring, I thought there would be some more shops past security but there was a small newsagent style duty free, a couple of eateries and that was it. So if there were any delays and you had already gone through security, I'm sorry to say, you'd be stuffed.
With Sanford, whilst there still isn't much to do, with a half decent duty free, a Disney shop, a bar, and some eateries. I think you'd be able to distract your kids and entertain yourselves better. (Unless it's night-time delays. Then you're stuffed and have to resort to sleeping on the chairs.

Sanford was also a lot quicker to get through immigration for us too, we've been out with our bags and everything within 30 minutes. Compared to our last trip when we went via MCO and took us well over 2 hours.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[wideeyes]

I have only been to MCO, I like to use the Magical express. Also don't really fly charter as we usually book with Virgin as it fits our needs better.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I agree this will be my fifth time flying in with virgin to mco and getting the dme. I love the dme.

 

[Debwid]

Thanks for all your replies. Virgin is looking the best option again as I priced up some hotels with Thomson and they were coming up more expensive than Virgin.

Is the Disney Magical Express the downtown check in? Sorry for being ignorant!