Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Francisco to Orlando. Left side wins both takeoff and landing with the best views. During the cruise portion heading southeast, the left side also tracks closer to the Gulf Coast and eventually the Florida peninsula as you descend, offering more geographic interest than the right side which faces open ocean or featureless terrain for much of the flight.

During takeoff from San Francisco International (SFO), sit on the Left side for the best views. SFO typically departs south on runways 28L/28R heading west then turning southeast. A left window seat gives you San Francisco Bay, the city skyline, and the Bay Bridge as you climb out over the water. The peninsula and downtown SF are clearly visible to the north-left before the turn. Notable sights include: San Francisco Bay, Bay Bridge, SF downtown skyline, San Mateo Bridge.

When landing at Orlando International (MCO), sit on the Left side for the best views. MCO typically lands on runways 17L/17R heading south, approaching from the north over the Orlando metro area. A left window seat gives you a clear view of downtown Orlando, the chain of lakes, and Walt Disney World to the southwest as you descend. The right side faces mostly flat suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Downtown Orlando skyline, Walt Disney World resort area, Chain of Lakes (Lake Apopka visible to northwest), Lake Tohopekaliga to the south.

The flight from San Francisco International (SFO) to Orlando International (MCO) takes Approximately 5 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 45 minutes.

The flight path typically crosses the Sierra Nevada range shortly after departure, then tracks over the Mojave Desert and Arizona high desert. Over New Mexico and Texas the terrain flattens into the southern plains. The Mississippi River is crossed somewhere over Louisiana or Mississippi. The Gulf Coast of Florida and the Florida peninsula are visible during descent into MCO.