Tackling Sanford airport!!!!

[lisagirlyUK]

Hi,

I read in SimonVs book that it was a good idea to go straight to the car hire before collecting luggage and therby missing the worst of the queues.
There are 7 of us going in August and 2 will be the drivers. How can we tackle the airport - can the 2 drivers dash over to where the car hire will be? or will I also need to go with them as the entire holiday was booked in my name? Also is there a plan anywhere for the airport so they will know where to go whilst the rest of collect the luggage? We have arranged the whole thing through TCD so dont know who the car hire is with?

Sorry loads of questions!!! ANy help would be fab!!!!!

Thanks!!!

 

[James Weir]

If you go to the following site www.kissimmee-us192.com you
will find a walk through plan of the arrival at sanford.Bear in mind
300 people are arriving at the same time,and if more than one
flight arrives at the same time it can be quite busy.The car hire
and tour operator desks are just out the entrance and straight
accross the road,you normally have to go to the tour operators
desk to collect your paperwork,and then you can collect your
car,dollar car hire is next to TCD,each driver,must sign the hire
papers.We can usually be away from Sanford within 30mins of
arriving.However once you collect your cases you go through
customs and they collect your custom forms,one per family,so
it would be better to keep altogether.

 

[***SandieUK***]

Sanford is on a much smaller scale than Orlando Int Airport and almost intimate in comparison!

It is usual for just the driver and perhaps one other to queue up at the car hire desk and the rest of the party to wait outside. Everything is pretty close and in view of everything else - there is no need to panic!

 

[patdavies]

I would think that US Customs might take a dim view of some of your party not accompanying their baggage. If there was a problem, you couldn't get back to the rest of your party as they would still be in the 'secure' area airside.

I learnt on our trip at easteer that we should get the car first and villa etc. later.

 

[wilki32]

We flew into Sanford last year and it was so much more relaxed than Orlando International and a lot easier to navigate. I am sure you will have to collect your baggage and last year, as James said, we had to pick up all the info and paperwork from TCD which is over the road from the terminal. There should be enough people there to make it realitively hassle free,
Then go to the car hire centre (we used dollar with TCD last year) and again there should be plenty of people to assist.
Another website is the airports official one which is www.orlandosanfordairport.com which I found very useful, if I remember it even has a section where you can see pictures and get directions from the airport to the resorts.
Don't worry we go with the attitude that if there is a wait then the rest of the party can start getting some sun straight away, unfortunately I was the one getting the hire car whilst DW & DD would soaking up the rays and I was in the freezing cold aircondition car hire centre!
Hope this helps.
Anthony

 

[edie w]

You can't do Simon V's trick at Sanford. You have to all collect your luggage and take it through security with your customs form (s).

The only reason you can do it at MCO is there's a double baggage claim system. After the first collection you go through the first security with your bags, then it's sent off again while you get the monorail to the main terminal and second security. The second collection is just a pick up with no subsequent security.

Sanford airport arrivals is tiny. You won't lose each other!

 

[lisagirlyUK]

I must have been getting my airports confused!!!!

I think we will stick together and queue and wait like everone else!!