You know that feeling when you're standing in a TSA line at Philadelphia International or Newark, looking at a sea of three hundred people and wondering if you'll actually make your flight? Yeah. It’s the worst. Honestly, it’s the main reason people in the 610 and 484 area codes have become almost cult-like fans of Lehigh Valley Airport to Orlando flights.
ABE is a weirdly charming place. It’s small. It’s quiet. Sometimes it feels like a library that just happens to have planes parked outside. But for anyone heading down to the land of Mickey Mouse or Universal, it’s basically a cheat code. You aren't just buying a plane ticket; you're buying your sanity back from the chaos of the major hubs.
The Reality of the Lehigh Valley Airport to Orlando Route
When we talk about flying from Allentown (ABE) to Orlando, we’re usually talking about two specific destinations: Orlando International (MCO) and Orlando Sanford (SFB). This is where people get tripped up. If you book Allegiant, you are going to Sanford. If you’re on Frontier or sometimes a seasonal charter, you might hit MCO.
Sanford is further away from the Disney parks. Like, significantly. It’s about a 45-minute to an hour drive depending on I-4 traffic, which, let's be real, is always a disaster. But here’s the trade-off: SFB is as tiny and manageable as ABE. You get off the plane, grab your bags in ten minutes, and you're in your rental car. If you fly into MCO? Good luck. You might spend forty minutes just riding the monorail and waiting for a suitcase that may or may not have made the trip with you.
Allegiant Air owns this route. They’ve basically built a fortress in Allentown. They know that people in Bethlehem, Easton, and even over the border in Phillipsburg, Jersey, would rather pay a few extra bucks for a "bundle" than drive two hours to a major airport. It’s convenience pricing at its finest.
Why ABE Beats PHL and EWR Every Single Time
Let’s look at the math. If you live in Whitehall or Emmaus, ABE is fifteen minutes away. You can show up an hour before your flight and still have time to grab a coffee at the snack bar. Security is usually a breeze. I’ve seen the line at ABE have exactly zero people in it on a Tuesday morning.
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Compare that to Newark. You have to account for the PA Turnpike or I-78. You have to account for the tunnel or the bridge. You have to pay $40 a day for parking that’s three miles from the terminal. By the time you actually sit down on the plane in Newark, you’ve already worked a full day of "stress-management."
Flying Lehigh Valley Airport to Orlando eliminates the "pre-travel travel." You park right across from the terminal. You walk in. You fly. It’s a straight shot. Most of these flights are non-stop, which is a massive deal when you’re traveling with kids who are already vibrating with excitement about seeing Elsa or a Minion.
The Allegiant "Gotcha" Factor
We have to be honest about the budget carriers. Allegiant is the king of Allentown, but they don't play by the same rules as Delta or United.
Everything costs money. You want to bring a carry-on? That’s a fee. You want to pick your seat so you aren't stuck in 22E while your spouse is in 4B? That’s a fee. You want a bottle of water on the plane? You guessed it.
I’ve seen people get really frustrated at the gate when their "personal item" is actually a massive North Face backpack that clearly won't fit under the seat. The gate agents at ABE have seen it all. They will charge you. If you’re planning this trip, you have to price out the total cost—bags, seats, and fees—before you decide it’s "cheaper" than a legacy carrier out of Philly. Often, it still is, but the gap isn't as wide as the base fare suggests.
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Logistics: Getting to the Mouse
So, you’ve landed. If you took the Lehigh Valley Airport to Orlando route via Sanford, you need a plan.
- Rental Cars: Most people rent. It’s the easiest way to bridge that 50-mile gap.
- Rideshare: An Uber from Sanford to Disney can be pricey. We’re talking $70 to $100 depending on the surge.
- Private Shuttles: There are companies like Mears, but they mostly focus on MCO.
If you’re flying into MCO (Orlando International) via Frontier, you have the Brightline train option now if you're heading toward Miami or other spots, but for Disney, you're still looking at a bus or a car.
One thing people forget is the weather. The Lehigh Valley gets hammered with snow in February. Orlando gets hammered with thunderstorms in August. ABE is actually pretty good at clearing runways, but remember: Allegiant has a smaller fleet. If a plane gets stuck in Allentown due to a blizzard, there isn't always a "spare" plane waiting in the hangar. Delays can ripple.
The Secret "Local" Perks of ABE
There is a certain camaraderie at Lehigh Valley International. You’ll probably see someone you know. You’ll definitely see someone wearing a Penn State or Eagles hoodie.
The airport has lean, mean operations. The "Wilbur" lounge is a decent spot if you have a long wait, but honestly, the whole airport is a lounge compared to the giants. There’s something to be said for the peace of mind that comes with knowing you won't get lost looking for Gate C124. At ABE, if you can see the door, you can find your gate.
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Is it worth the price difference?
Sometimes, a flight from PHL to MCO is $150 cheaper than ABE. For a family of four, that’s $600. Is it worth $600 to avoid Newark? Maybe not.
But usually, the difference is closer to $50 or $75. When you factor in the gas, the tolls on the Northeast Extension, and the exorbitant parking fees at the big airports, the Lehigh Valley Airport to Orlando flight often breaks even or wins.
Plus, there is the "time is money" argument. If you save four hours of travel time round-trip, what is that worth to you? On the way back, when you’re exhausted, sunburned, and tired of hearing "It's a Small World," landing at ABE and being in your own bed in twenty minutes is priceless.
Critical Steps for Your ABE-MCO Trip
Don't just wing it. Flying out of a regional airport requires a slightly different strategy than the big hubs.
- Check the Schedule: Flights from ABE to Florida aren't always daily. Allegiant often runs a Sunday/Thursday or Monday/Friday schedule. You have to build your vacation around the flight days, not the other way around.
- Download the App: Whether it's Allegiant or Frontier, do everything on the app. Checking in at the counter at ABE is a surefire way to get hit with a "convenience fee" that is anything but convenient.
- Pre-pay for Bags: If you think you might need a checked bag, buy it when you book the ticket. The price doubles if you wait until you get to the airport.
- Monitor the Sanford vs. MCO distinction: Double-check your arrival code. If your hotel reservation is at a "Disney Springs" hotel, SFB is a hike. Ensure your rental car booking is at the correct airport. There is nothing worse than landing in Sanford and realizing your car is waiting at MCO.
- Parking: ABE has a great long-term lot, but it can fill up during spring break. Check the airport’s website for live parking updates before you leave the house.
Choosing to fly from the Lehigh Valley is a lifestyle choice. It’s choosing ease over options. It’s choosing the local lane over the highway. For most of us in the Valley, once you go ABE, it's really hard to go back to the terminal-hopping nightmares of the big cities.
The next time you’re looking at flights, look at the total cost of your "time" and "stress." Usually, the path through Allentown is the one that actually feels like a vacation.
Next Steps for Your Trip:
Download the Allegiant or Frontier app immediately to track fare sales for your specific dates. Check the current parking rates at flyabe.com to compare against the cost of an Uber from your home. If you are staying at a Disney property, call their guest services to confirm if they have specific shuttle recommendations for Sanford (SFB) arrivals, as many standard packages only cover MCO. Finally, verify your luggage dimensions; budget carriers at ABE are notoriously strict with "personal item" sizing and will use the measuring bin at the gate.