U.S. Airports

Now the airports,
The first important difference to note is that there are two airports that receive international flights in Orlando. Orlando's main airport is McCoy International which is situated on the Beeline Expressway (Highway 528) that runs from I-4 Eastbound to Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral. The second airport, at which most of you will arrive, is Orlando Sanford Airport which is, to all intents and purposes, Orlando's charter airport. Sanford is to the North East of Orlando and is a healthy drive to the Parks. So, when you are booking your trip, check to see which airport your aircraft arrives at.

The airports are completely different in their size and layout. McCoy is much like any large international airport such as Heathrow or Gatwick. It is very large, bright and airy and is not unpleasant to spend time at. Terminal B holds the international terminal part and, because of the U.S. warped sense of humor, Terminal B is totally identical to Terminal A in look. Unless you are connecting on a U.S. domestic carrier, Terminal B should become ingrained in your mind as "your" terminal. The actual gates are located on "fingers" that are connected to the main terminals by automatic trains that bring you from the customs hall to the baggage claim. (Note that you claim your bags, clear them through customs and then give them up again and then reclaim them a second time inside the main terminal.)

Sanford on the other hand is a much simpler proposition. It is one big building that sees, in the height of the summer rush, an enormous rush of flights from early to late afternoon. I have seen as many as 14 U.K. charter flights arrive in Sanford in that period and that's a lot of people. The congestion is much more apparent when departing than arriving with thousands of souls loaded down with 40 kilo suitcases of everything you could possible lay your hands on. Sanford is also much simpler to negotiate and your rental car, should you rent one, is no more than a short walk away, and is directly across from the airport exit, only the driver can enter this building, the rest of the part will have to wait at the side exit (to the left).

The first thing you will come across in Sanford is Immigrations, you will have filled out the green Visa waver form on the plane, this must be filled out accurately, as they will make you go to the back of the line and fill out a new one. Each adult in your party will have an eye scan and finger print taken; this will only take a few seconds. For the latest Visa information see the U.S. embassy site.

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Last Updated: May 9, 2009