Anyone care to contrast the experience between Orlando's two airports from a convenience and ease of travel perspective? I've been through MCO 4 times (although the last was 2001) and thought it to be gargantuan and especially difficult from a car rental and baggage claim perspective. Then there's the double-price gas stations.....

I understand SFB is some distance further away from WDW, has limited service (I can only get there on Allegiant from Youngstown), no Disney buses, and I'm guessing limited food and shopping options. Specifics, anyone? Thanks.

If Wally World and the other theme parks are what you are traveling to Orlando for, stick with MCO. Orlando traffic is a major pain along I-4 and in other areas, and flying into SFB is about as convenient as flying into TPA if your destination is the theme parks area in Orlando.

MCO is closer to disney and the attractions, but if you really didn't like MCO then SFB is only about 15 miles farther each way. SFB is tiny compared to MCO so you would probably make up that time in the airport. To see the layout and shops check:

http://www.orlandosanfordairport.com/

The Allegiant flight from YNG arrives at night and the time you'd arrive for departure is mid-day so you would avoid rush hour in I-4. Or even better pay the tolls and take the 417 which is close to SFB.

I live mid-way between these two airports. SFB is more like 35-40 miles north of MCO. If you want convenience to WDW and the other theme parks, MCO is a far better choice. If you can get a substantially cheaper price, then go with Sanford.

I don't think getting a rental car at MCO is that much of a hassle, particularly if you belong to the frequent rental program. You just leave baggage claim and take the elevator down one level, bypass the rental car counters, exit the building, walk across the little road directly into the parking structure. This is where you claim your rental car.

You are right that SFB has limited food and shopping, a gift shop, bar and a couple of quick food places behind security are pretty much it. Fly into SFB if you can save a lot of $$, don't do it just for the convenience of a smaller airport. The walk to car rental is not much difference between the two, and MCO is many miles closer to WDW.

Perhaps something has changed since my last visit then. My first two times involved long bus rides to an offsite facility. When I was last there, I snagged an inexpensive reservation with Hertz that clearly said "in terminal". So I walked up to the counter, presented my reservation and when they found I had no status, promptly told me to go the "vacation center"..

Which then required yet another bus trip to an offsite facility... SIGH. At least I got a double upgrade out of the deal. The agent was having a bad day, and all I had to do was smile and politely conduct my business. But I still wish I didn't have to do the bus.

For years Hertz was the only major rental company that was offsite and used buses. They moved back to the airport within the last year or so. The only rental car companies that still bus are small local ones.

Oh good, I was really wondering about the car rental situation.

We still may go SFB, but we just saw some fares from AirTran to MCO that seem to meet our needs, so we're going to jump on that.

I hope you were able to get that fare into MCO. It would have to be a pretty significant fare difference for me to recommend SFB to you and for no other reason but that MCO is far more convenient to the parks. Yes the 417 is a smooth drive most of the time but it is long and a bit pricey in tolls, and you never know what you're going to get with I-4. I would have a look at fares into TPA if considering SFB as drive time to the parks wouldn't be much different.

Also, like mentioned above, all of the major rental companies are now in the terminal and if shopping and food options are important MCO is the choice with numerous option pre and post security.

Beware, last I checked the evil gas stations are still there. They did make the news recently though because they don't have price signs so a lot of people were filling their cars on their credit cards without realizing the price until it was too late. I believe these places have been told to stop that practice. Now whether that means put signs up or lower prices I don't know. Best thing is to drive another mile or so past them and there is a race trac that is fair and even more after that.

Last I see you mentioned baggage claim in your post. Now it could be just me but it seems like at some point over the last few years bags are coming out quicker in MCO. I'm usually one of the first off the plane and have priority tags on my bag, thank you status, and there are a lot of times that I'll have my bag and be walking back past crowds of people from my flight not even to the carousel yet. Just an observation from someone based in Orlando that flys through MCO a lot. I could be wrong though and am just used to the wait. Either way enjoy your trip.

Yeah, the fare was still available, we got $179 on Airtran on a nonstop. Not ideal time on the way down, but it will work.

I fly in an out of MCO and the part I like least is the unpredictable wait times at security screening. The last two trips it's been great < 10 minutes but other times I've seen a 30 minute wait.

I live in Central FL so I haven't rented a car here in years.

I keep quarters in the car in case I run into a toll booth that doesn't have a person in it to make change.

When driving in Orlando, allow plenty of time for traffic. Half the folks on the road are from out of town and don't know where they are going, and the other half are locals who are in a hurry and frustrated with all of the traffic.

Isn't that the truth!

Epass/Sunpass. It's like instant priority status to skip the line.

Count me out of that equation I may be from out of town, but I know exactly where I'm going and get frustrated at the tourists as well

From Disney and most other theme parks there are cheap gas stations on the way to top off at.

Example: Returning from Disney via I-4 East (northeast) to 528 (Beach Line) east, watch for what looks like an exit ramp on 528 to pay the toll in cash. Then get off at exit 9 (Tradeport). Left and cross under. Nice cheap gas station right there on the left. With the gas station on your left, possibly rounding a corner depending on how you left the station, get into middle lane. Required right onto McCoy for your last mile and a half to 436 (Semoran Blvd.). Right is the airport entrance, left goes to the double price gas station.

Reverse of this route to go to Disney; leave airport by north exit, left at first light (Frontage). Next light is McCoy where you take two quick lefts to get on 528 west.