Route guide
New York to Orlando: MCO, Sanford and family travel
A high-volume family route where most of the useful decisions are made on the ground: which airport, how early, and what you are carrying.
On this page
Orlando International or Sanford
- Orlando International (MCO) is the main airport, well connected to the theme parks, with the deepest schedule and every major carrier.
- Sanford (SFB) is considerably smaller and further out, used mainly by low-cost carriers. Fares can be lower; the drive is longer and rental car options are thinner.
For a theme park trip, MCO is usually the right answer unless the Sanford fare saving is substantial and you have a car booked.
Flying with children on this route
This is one of the most family-heavy routes in the country, and the things that go wrong are predictable:
- Do not book Basic Economy for a family. Seats are assigned at check-in, so you may be separated, and paying to fix that usually erases the saving. See Basic Economy explained.
- Strollers and car seats generally travel free and can be gate-checked on most US carriers.
- Children under 18 do not need ID for a domestic flight when accompanied, though the airline may want proof of age for an infant on a lap. See ID requirements.
- Book the earliest flight you can tolerate. Delays accumulate through the day, and a morning departure gives you options a late-afternoon one does not.
Season, and the group question
Demand tracks the school calendar exactly: spring break, summer and the Christmas period are the peaks, and fares reflect it. Booking early for those windows matters more here than on almost any other domestic route.
Extended families frequently travel together on this route, and once you are at ten or more passengers a group booking gives you held seats and deferred names rather than ten separate reservations that cannot be managed together.
At a glance
| Typical flight time | Around 3 hours nonstop |
|---|---|
| Time zones | None, both Eastern |
| Airports, Orlando | Orlando International (MCO) and Sanford (SFB) |
| Peaks | Spring break, summer, and the Christmas period |
| Watch | Basic Economy seat assignment when travelling as a family |
Getting a price for this route
We do not publish fares, on this route or any other. Airfares move constantly and depend on your exact dates and availability, and as a ticket agent we are required to advertise the full price including all taxes and mandatory charges wherever we show one. A number posted here would be wrong by the time you read it.
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are and we will come back with the realistic options and one total price per passenger. If the best answer is a fare you can book yourself in three minutes, we will tell you that too.
Common questions about this route
MCO or Sanford for Disney and Universal?
Orlando International in almost all cases. Sanford is further out with thinner service, and only worth it if the fare saving is large and you have transport sorted.
How long is the flight from New York to Orlando?
About three hours nonstop, with no time zone change.
Should I book Basic Economy for a family trip?
Generally no. Seats are assigned at check-in and you may be separated from your children. Paying to sit together usually cancels out the saving.
Do my children need photo ID?
Not for a domestic flight when travelling with an adult. The airline may ask for proof of age for an infant travelling on a lap.