Its about an hour drive if you take the 417 you will pay prob no more than $4-5 worth of tolls that is the quickest and easiest way. Signs to Disney will be visible. If you can find a way to I-4 it will take longer but no tolls just head west to Tampa

1. 

   Josh

   November 4, 2009 at 1:21 am

   Sanford is a great airport to arrive at (I’m assuming you are from the UK) – ok is is further from Disney than Orlando International but they are really quick at getting you through immigration and customs.
   The 417 Greeneway is the best road to take – it’s not as busy as the I4
   Follow the airport exit road until you hit the lights at the t junction then turn right.
   After you have left the airport you will go for around 2 miles on a road with industrial units either side and cross the railroad tracks
   At the first set of lights turn left for the 417 as signposted by the petrol station– (don’t worry if you miss the turn you get another chance to turn left under the bridge) this is the slip road for the 417 Greeneway which will take you to the Disney World area and International Drive or Highway 192 at Kissimmee. This is a toll road so have some small denomination bills ready (change is given by the green manned booths) it will cost about $6.00.
   (note: after about 10 miles the 417 forks with the 480 east/west expressway – make sure you stay on the 417 (right hand fork). Don’t be distracted by road signs for Kissimmee or Orlando, just follow the instructions you have been given by your tour operator.
   For Disney you need to get off at (I think) junction 3 towards the 535 (past the big pink Caribe Royale hotel and the south end of IDrive) then straight ahead at the lights.
   Any more questions – just ask …
2. 

   Bluecala

   November 4, 2009 at 2:51 am

   I live about 5 minutes from said airport, and in my experience, it is easier to take the 417, but quicker and cheaper to take I-4. (The 417 is a beltway that goes around Orlando, but I-4 cuts straight through.)
   The previous answer gave wonderful directions for getting to the 417, so I will give you directions for I-4, so you have options.
   When you exit the airport, you will be on the creatively named Airport Blvd. You can follow Airport Blvd until it ends on Route 46, then turn left (west) onto 46 till you get to the Shopping Mall and the I-4 overpass. You will want to be in the Leftmost lane. There are 2 turn lanes for I-4, and they merge together on the onramp.
   (Just a quirky note…I-4 runs north and south through Orlando, but it is labeled East and West….You want to go West, away from the Ocean.)
   Take I-4 west for about 45 minutes depending on traffic. When you get to Disney, you will know it —there are about 4 exits, all clearly marked with the name of each park. Make sure you know which park is closest to your hotel, that is the exit you will want to take.
   I believe the order is Downtown Disney Area, Epcot/ Studios area, Magic Kingdom area, & Animal Kingdom area (I may have the last 2 backwards)
   An alternative, slightly quicker, though more complicated way to get to I-4, is as follows:
   About a mile out from the Airport on Airport Blvd., you will get to a major intersection (just past the Bowling alley), of a road called 17-92. Make a left onto 17-92. It heads south. You will see signs for I-4 all along 17-92, before all major roads to the west. If you take the first major right (About 1/2 mile, just after the Burger King, called Lake Mary Blvd), it will take you right to I-4. The highway entrance on Lk Mary Blvd. is to the right, get in the lane to Orlando (West), not to Daytona (east).
   *by the way, the previous answers directions take you to Lake Mary Blvd as well (that is where the entrance to the 417 is, it just avoids the 17-92 bit). You can also follow those directions up till the part about the petrol station, and just stay on Lk. Mary Blvd. going west till you get to I-4.
   There are at least 20 restaurants and several large gas stations on 17-92 and Lk. Mary Blvd. between Airport Blvd. and I-4.
   If you go the other way (Airport Blvd. to 46) there is a Racetrack gas station (best price), and a Mcdonalds and a Denny’s for food on the right side of 46 just before the highway, but you will have to get across 4 lanes of traffic to make it to the turn lane for I-4. Going to the traffic lights at the intersections when you pull out will give you a better chance to get across in time.
   Either way, I would map it on the internet to be familiar with it before you go (we are 3D photographed on Google Maps, so you can even look at the intersections and “walk” the trip through and see what is around )
   Good luck, have fun at Disney, and wave to my house as you drive by!
   -Risa