Orlando & Florida - Questions & Answers (Part 1) *CLOSED*

Cardew

There are two potential bottlenecks at both MCO and Sanford - immigration and the car rental desks.

If you get it 'wrong' and arrive behind a couple of Jumbos you can have a very long wait. The trouble is that nearly all of the direct flights from Europe arrive in a fairly short time slot - a couple of hours or so.

Sanford is only about 20 miles North of Orlando so shouldn't add more than 30 mins to your journey and the 417 doesn't have heavy traffic.

gizmos

I guess we've all got different experiences of each airport. MCO remains my firm favourite, more spacious on the return leg. Sanford was so crammed and no seats etc and lack of shops.

It really depends on timing as has been mentioned.

Cardew

gizmos wrote:

I guess we've all got different experiences of each airport. MCO remains my firm favourite, more spacious on the return leg. Sanford was so crammed and no seats etc and lack of shops.

It really depends on timing as has been mentioned.

I agree. I have used Sanford twice and never again; but I have picked up and returned lots of friends from there(as well as friends who have used Sanford) and it has always been packed - but if you are lucky enough to be one of the first planes to arrive in the afternoon you will have a different experience.

jordylass

I've been lucky enough to travel to Orlando a lot of times over the last few years. I have used both airports but my preference would be for Sanford. It is the only airport I can fly directly to from Newcastle which gives it the edge, but it is a smaller, easier to negotiate aiport which makes it nicer for the start and end of the journey in my opinion.

gizmos

jordylass wrote:

I've been lucky enough to travel to Orlando a lot of times over the last few years. I have used both airports but my preference would be for Sanford. It is the only airport I can fly directly to from Newcastle which gives it the edge, but it is a smaller, easier to negotiate aiport which makes it nicer for the start and end of the journey in my opinion.

NCL based as well but still travel down to LGW to goto MCO - again its a personal preference that BA are my preferred airline.

afinn

We have just got back from Orlando. We travelled out on 8th December on Virgin flying to MCO. What a nightmare at the airport.
1. We had a grim faced immigration officer at MCO who seemed like she was looking for the least excuse to send us to the back of the line (told me off for crossing the white line before she told me to!!!).
2. No probs with baggage it was on carousel before we got there.
3. First security check going out of the baggage hall.
4. Put luggage back on conveyor belt to be taken to other side or airport. Get on monirail to other side of airport.
5. Go up 1 flight of stairs after dropping luggage off and guess what you join another line to be searched again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
6. Once search procedure is over (frisked our 10 year old because machine bleeped when he went through, also had to take shoes and coats off) you can get on monorail to other side of airport to pick luggage up again.
7. Find a porter and go downstairs to pick up hire car.
In total 2 hours from getting off flight to leaving airport.
Compared to going to Sanford in May this year MCO was a total nightmare.

If you have 2 kids of 9 and 13 who need separate rooms why not consider renting a villa it will probably work out cheaper than getting 3 hotel rooms. We just rented a four bed with pool including pool heat and it cost £900 for 2 weeks for the villa, we rented an 8 seater van through airline network which was just under £400 and the flights were with Virgin and total just over £1600 for 6 of us.

afinn

divadee wrote:

i have had that letter, they are changing us to excell as well. but they did state in the letter that it will have a first class seating config. they better had as we changed the date of our holiday to get first class!!!!

Just to let you know my niece had to fly home early and the only flight she could get back was through Travel City with excel air. She said the economy seats were not as wide as her shoulders (she is not a big girl) and she went to have a look at first class just to check it out for us and she said that the first class seats were not as big as the economy seats on the First Choice 'plane she had flown out on. After hearing that I am very relieved that we cancelled with Travel City and re-booked flight with Virgin. We did speak to a guy working for Travel City at Sanford Airport when we dropped her off and he actually said that he did not blame us for cancelling the excel air flights. The previous Thursday (8th December, the day we flew out) the MOD had requisitioned all excel air's 'planes and they had to put customers on any other available airline, Monarch, Mytravel etc.

I would suggest you speak to Travel City and get a clear picture of what sort of seat you will get getting.

afinn

tech wrote:

Thanks for the advice, my kids would be 9 and 13 in June but 10 and 14 in Aug.

Out of June, August or October I would definitely pick October. August is to crowded and it rains almost every day, not for long but you will always get at least one shower. June is nice but it is the beginning of the hurricane season so it may be risky. October, the hurricane season should be over and it is not too hot and crowded. Just my opinion. As I have said above thing about renting a villa it will make life much easier with the kids.

jordylass

October is a lovely time of year to go and would always be my month of choice. There are no American holidays then, so there shouldn't be much of a queue anywhere, the weather is lovely, dry and warm through the day although you may need a jumper at night.
The hurricane season isn't officially over until the beginning of November, and there was a small one late October this year, but it shouldn't be as bad as the hot months.
If you're happy self catering then a villa is definately the way to go, you have so much more space and convenience than a suite.

adchesney

I am planning a family holiday (two-weeks) in October 2006.

Could anyone give me "ball park" figures on what I need to budget for flights, villa, car hire, etc...

There will be six adults.

Any ideas an help would be appreciated.

ANDREW