redcloud's Review of Orlando Sanford Airport
13th Jul 2004
Overall Rating
- Value for money
- Transport linksAverage
- Eating facilitiesAverage
- Overall cleanliness
- Date of use (month/year)2004
- Range of shopsAverage
- Customer service
A generally nice airport!
Bad Points
A long way from Orlando!! Slow immigration, and small!!
General Comments
Orlando Sanford Airport is a nice, little airport but what I would say if your flying there is, don't expect too much!!
When your flying out of Sanford try and arrive quite early. The check in area, though large, is always crowded and involves a long wait to check in. My advice would be try and get there as soon as check-in opens and then take a ride down to Sanford and have a look around before returning your rental car and jumping on your flight in the time you have left over.
Once through security there is a nice array of shops and a food court. The departure lounge however is small and can get very crowded. It has a very British feel to it, which is probably because everyone in the departure lounge is British as the airport only really handles flights from the UK!!
Your real problem at Sanford comes when you arrive. If you are unlucky enough to arrive just after another flight has landed they will probably keep you seated on the plane for about an hour because Sanford's very small immigration hall cannot handle more than a few hundred people. If your unlucky enough to be seated at the back of a plane arriving at Sanford and don't have a US passport you can expect to wait up to an hour to get through immigration.
However, once your through all the airlines have welcome desks just outside the terminal and the car rental places are just a short walk away.
Then Sanford's biggest downfall becomes apparent. Your actually no where near Orlando!! Admitedly, thats a bit of an exaggeration, but if your staying somewhere on International Drive expect to have to drive for about an hour to get there from Sanford, and if your in the Disney area expect to have to go an hour and a half to get to your destination. Its one of those things that you say 'oh well we have to have to put up with it' when you make your booking and your really looking forward to going on holiday, but when your actually there after a 9-10 hour flight you begin to wish you had gone into Orlando Intl because you would have just got into your hotel or villa with a cup of tea whilst those people at Sanford are still getting through immigration!!
What I would say in conclusion is if you have no choice and have to fly into Sanford its not all that bad. Its an ok airport. However, if you have some choice go into Orlando International. Its nearer the resorts and has a better infrastructure for us tourists which makes the whole experience more pleasurable.
On average, people found this review very helpful
Members' Comments onredcloud's Review
World Traveler on 26th Aug 2008
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Try using the early check in service on day of departure open from 8am-1200. You get the best seating, your boarding passes and have your bags tagged and sent to the airport for screening. The next time you see your bags is when you arrive back home. Once you arrive at the airport you go directly to departures so no waiting in long queues. Located at 7548 Universal Blvd. Behind Wet&Wild.