Originally Posted by flyclub
True, however I always thought that was because of having to catch the Monorail (which rather ironically used to have the same voiceover as the ones in Disney World) to the main terminal?
I believe domestic flights don't have that situation - its only the international flights which have to do this to clear customs/immigration and consequently as you then mingle with the domestic passengers, hence the need for securtiy again. Also the bags are collected with the domestic bags then in the main terminal where the Hyatt is located.
Not ideal I must admit after a long flight.
Indeed you are correct - it's because you mix with domestic passengers and I think that's why when Sanford was presented as an option (combined with presumably cheaper handling fees) the tour operators were falling over themselves to leave. A few years ago MCO started construction on a South terminal I believe and this was going to get around the situation. I presume however it was shelved on the back of falling traffic after 9/11.
IIRC there also used to be an issue with getting rental cars on site at MCO which was causing considerable delays for pax leaving the airport and again this was something Sanford was able to do better.
It's quite a bit further out, but the "touchdown-to-disney" time is probably comparable if you've got bags checked. (My folks also faced a massive delay once at MCO as a big thunder storm rocked in just after they cleared customs. That meant no ramp workers so although they got to the main terminal via the monorail, their cases took another couple of hours to make the same journey...)