TAXI-BUS/SHUTTLE COMPARISON
ORLANDO SANFORD AIRPORT

  Ground transportation from the Sanford Orlando Airport is a difficult decision to make. Your decision will based on a number of factors.

     1. Number of persons in your group.
     2. When you want to arrive at your resort.
     3. How much the trip over has taken out of you.

  The number of persons in your group is important. Shuttle transportation rates are based on persons. The more people in your group the more you pay for your ride. One person traveling will always get by cheaper by shuttle if he has plenty of time to spare. In many cases if there are 3 or more persons in your party you will be better off in money and time by taking a taxi.

   Time is a big factor. The bus/shuttles will eventually get you to your destination. You will be able to board your bus about 1/2 to 1 1/2 hours after you depart customs. There is definitely a wait time if you ride shuttles. The taxi leaves immediately after you pick up your taxi or a driver "Meet and Greets" you across the street from customs.

     Once aboard the bus you begin your journey that could take  hours depending on where and how long it takes to off load at all the resorts assigned to the bus.

  

   If you are considering taking the airport shuttles keep this in mind. For less than 4 persons the shuttles prices become a factor. The prices are certainly less than a taxi ride but time involved in travel, in many cases, prove to be a deciding factor. Of course the taxi or car service is the fastest way to get to your destination from the Orlando Sanford Airport. The following tables should give you an idea of their price.

      Shuttle prices may vary slightly depending on the company you choose.

     If you are traveling to the cruise lines, Port Canaveral, from the Orlando Sanford Airport expect a price of $140.00 to the terminals. This would be for up to 7 passengers via demand taxi provided by Mears taxi transportation. There are no shuttles from this airport to Port Canaveral.

    This site provides you with a list of independent drivers, and their vehicles, who will be able to drive you to the same destinations the demand taxis drive. The big difference is that the independent drivers rates will vary from the taxi rates. In many cases you will find that the independent drivers rates are significantly lower than the taxi rates on the stand in Sanford. Many drivers will do a round trip figure for about 20% less than the taxi meter figure. Look for a driver in this site and e-mail or call him for his price to your destination. If you like the price than you can schedule him ahead of time and he will be waiting for you as you come down the escalators at the Sanford Airport. He is there to "meet and greet" you and than to continue your journey to your destination. All drivers on this site are knowledgeable of all the resorts and destinations you may want him to take you to. You can schedule him to come back by when you are ready to head home and transport you back to the Sanford Airport.

   You can schedule any taxi, town car or van to pick you up at your resort. Your driver will pick you up, for an international flight approximately three hours before flight time and a domestic flight two hours before flight time. Certain conditions vary on your departure time for the airport. 

    Shuttle departures have to be arranged five to six hours before your airline scheduled departure.  They are scheduled to pick up at a number of hotels so can't give you an accurate time when they will pick you up.

   In contrast the taxi will pick you up at the time scheduled and drop you off in Sanford one hour later. You will even have contact with the driver, via cell phone, so if you need a little extra time you can give him a ring . In other words you will have approximately 2-3 hours more before you have to leave for the Sanford airport.

    Now take the 2-3 hours of travel you save going to the resort and the 2-3 hours you save returning to the airport, a total of 4-6 hours you can spend at the resort resting. Is that worth the difference in the taxi price you pay compared to the shuttle price?

  One final tip I might pass on to visitors to Disney World. Why rent a car? I hear the rental cars are running something like $400.00 per week. Going to and returning from Disney by taxi would cost about $220.00. You don't need a car if you stay at Disney.  The Disney transportation system gets you anyplace you want to go on the property (43 square miles). So you can actually save money by taxiing to Disney.

   If you want to visit Sea World or Universal, just take a taxi. The ride to Universal will cost about $35.00 and Sea World about $25.00. Taxi stands are at all the parks and hotels.