Chances are you are going to be arriving in Orlando on an aircraft.
There are Two Airports that bring people to Orlando. The Orlando International (MCO) and Sanford (SFB).

Immigration
When you arrive you will go though immigration and customs. On the plane, the Cabin Crew will have given you the relevant Visa Waivers and immigration forms. It is vitally important to fill these forms in correctly, so please pay attention to the instructions given on the aircraft. If you make a slight mistake then ask for another form and start over. Any mistakes on these forms will delay your passage into the USA.

Have all paperwork ready and completed correctly.

Ensure you have all your paperwork to hand and keep everyone together in a tight group. People will start queuing behind the white line in front of the immigration desks. Take your place behind the line and only move forward when asked to by the official.

There is a tendency for these officials to appear 'non too friendly''. They take their job very seriously indeed. Just answer all the questions, I wouldn't recommend any smart answers or trying to engage them in conversation.

Arriving at Orlando International (MCO) see below for arriving at Sanford.

After leaving the aircraft you will walk down some corridors and eventually arrive in a big hall where you will go through Immigration.

Next it's more corridors and into baggage claim.

First Baggage Claim
Hopefully by this time your baggage should be waiting for your collection. Get yourself a Trolley (they are Free here). Your baggage conveyor will be identified by your flight number, your airline name and the name of the airport you came from. Pick a spot near the conveyor and have your other party members stand well back.

Once you have your baggage follow the signs or hoards of other people through Customs. You may be stopped and asked a few questions.
You will still have to get your luggage checked and you will be asked if you are bringing any food stuffs into the USA. Be honest, it's not worth the risk. You should be OK with Coffee & Tea, but only in unopened packaging.

Best to bring unopened packages. They don't like it if consumables could have been contaminated.

You will now pass through the doors into another corridor, move along to where somebody will now take your trolley and bags off you again. They will shout out a baggage claim area, 'A' or 'B'.
The design of MCO is 4 satellite buildings (airside 1-4) around a central hub. You are currently in a satellite and must get to the hub.
Note if everything is operating correctly, and you arrive at Airside 4 (British Airways and Virgin) then you have the option to take your luggage onto the AGT (Train) System.
If you arrive at Airside 3 (Aer Lingus) then you have to do the 2nd bag drop, but if you have cleared immigration at Dublin you will arrive as a US domestic passenger and go into the satellite building and onto the AGT.
Those travelling on indirect flights will have cleared immigration and customs at the point of entry and those bags will be in the main hub.

Go up the escalator and across the walkways to the AGT. This train will take you to a huge central building that when you exit the train and enter the central atrium. It is a huge space with built in Hotel and will certainly take your breath away.

There are big signs for Baggage Claim 'A' & 'B' and stairs, escalators or elevators (lifts) to take you down to Level 2. Note Virgin luggage is on level 1, baggage claim 8A.

Get yourself another Trolley here, you will have to pay for it, you put your money into a vending machine that takes Dollar Notes. In 2010 $4 is required for each trolley. There is a 25c refund when you take the trolley back, if you can get them to fit in the rack! Only $1 notes are accepted or use a credit card.

Second Baggage Claim
You will again need your flight number to identify your area and the correct carousel.
This is the area where any tour operator or agents you have booked through will meet you.
When you see one that you have booked with just approach them and tell them who your are.

If you are using a taxi or shuttle service, you will exit the building at this level.

Car rental is downstairs at Level 1, so use the elevator to go down and find your rental company.

You can get a view of this process HERE at the official MCO Web site.

Getting your car at MCO
The holiday rep you met earlier will have given you directions to your Car Rental Desk
If you arranged through an 'off airport company' they probably instructed you when to call, where they would meet you or where to catch the Shuttle.

At the car rental desk
Have your driving license and passport ready, you may also need your booking reference that the travel company gave you.

You will be asked to take out extra insurance. It’s up to you but don’t get fooled by this. As long as you have the insurance's booked through your agent and adequate personal insurance, you should be OK.

If you came by yourself or without a booking. – You will need to arrange your insurance with the clerk. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Loss, Third Party Liability and local taxes & cover charges are all compulsory.

Extra insurance for personal injury will almost definitely be covered by your holiday insurance. But, it's up to you.

Finding your car
The Car Rental Desks are at street level. If hiring from one of the major companies, you will walk out of the big doors and across to the multi storey car park.

Follow the signs to your rental company and look for the aisle that has your car type. Compact, Intermediate, Full Size, etc.

Note – If your type aisle is empty, just pick the next car ‘up’ Not ‘down’ This is an automatic upgrade to the next biggest size. Don’t downgrade yourself. This type of upgrade is free of charge and gets you a better car at no extra cost.

MCO Map





Arriving at Sanford Airport (SFB) ... Sanford Web Site
On leaving the aircraft you will go down some winding corridors and eventually arrive in a big hall where you will be processed through Immigration. Officials will direct you to the back of the room where the queues (lines) will soon grow.
Ensure you have all your paperwork to hand and keep everyone together in a tight family group.

Take your place behind the line and only move forward when asked to by the Official

There is a tendency for these officials to appear 'none too friendly''. They take their job very seriously indeed. Just answer all questions, I wouldn't recommend an smart answers or trying to engage them in conversation.

Baggage Claim and Customs Hall
Next it's more corridors and into the Baggage Claim and Customs Hall..
Your flight will be identified by it's Flight Number, Airline and Origination Airport.
Collect a trolley for your luggage and collect your baggage.

Customs
Your luggage will be checked checked.
You will be asked if you are bringing any food stuffs into the USA. Be honest, it's not worth the risk. You should be OK with Tea & Coffee, but only in unopened packaging.
Once through Customs, you'll leave the building and out into the sunshine

Representatives Building
As you go through the doors you will see the representative building across the road.
If you look to your right, you will see the Alamo Car Rental Office about 100 yards away (note this for later if you have booked with Alamo)
Cross the road and enter the representative building. Here you will meet your travel representatives. As you enter the building you will see signs for Dollar Car Rental straight ahead of you.

All Representatives of Travel Companies are here. Can be a bit of a squeeze and a jumble of people, bags & kids
Find who you are supposed to be checking in with and form a queue. This may take longer than Immigration & Customs.
If you can, take as long as you feel necessary to get accustomed to where you are going and what you are expecting when you get there.

Getting your car at Sanford Airport
Unless you have arranged your holiday yourself, you car will be part of your package. Your Travel Company Representative will direct you to your Car Rental Desk.
If you arranged through an 'off airport company' they probably instructed you when to call, where they would meet you or where to catch a Shuttle.

At the car rental desk
Have your driving license and passport ready, you may also need your booking reference or voucher that the travel company rep. gave you.
Note – You will be asked to take out extra insurance. It’s up to you but don’t get fooled by this. As long as you have the insurance's booked through your agent and adequate personal insurance, you should be OK.
If you came by yourself or without a booking. – You will need to arrange your insurance with the clerk. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Loss, Third Party Liability and local taxes & cover charges are all compulsory.

Extra insurance for personal injury will almost definitely be covered by your holiday insurance... But, it's up to you.

Some companies offer a free tank on return - you may want to ask!

The agent will usually confirm that you know where you are going to - ask them for instructions if you want they are very helpful.


Finding your car
The Car Rental Desks are at street level... (the whole building is) You go though some doors and out - into the sunshine.
Outside is a covered walkway and beyond a set of Car Parks. Each is numbered or given an alphabetical letter. Find your car by it's license plate number.

SFB Map



For directions from the Airports to Walt Disney World or International Drive please click the link below.
Driving Directions to WDW and International Drive