Driving from Miami to wdw

M

Mr dinosaur

Earning My Ears
Joined
May 28, 2015
This is the first time we have posted on the site but follow lots of posts to gain information/advice we need. We have been to Disney a few times and stay off site. We are currently planning and booking our 2016 summer holiday. The villa has been booked so the dates we fly are quite specific 31st July-21st Aug. I know it's too early to look for flights that go in direct (which will come in cheaper, I think) but we don't fancy flying in direct as our youngest will be 17 months. We have seen flights that we think are not too bad in price with thomas Cook. The flights are direct from Manchester (our nearest airport) to Miami. Has anyone ever done this route and then driven up to www? if so what is the drive like and how easy is it getting out of Miami? If anyone has got any suggestions as to what roads are best we would really appreciate and tips/advice.
 
Not flown with TC before but have driven up from Miami a couple of times.
1. Download USA maps to your Sat Nav or rent a car with one built in, it's one less thing to worry about.
2. I would suggest you overnight in Miami then drive up the following day, it's a four hour drive which I would not suggest you take on after a transatlantic flight.
3. Use the toll roads they are much quicker. Depending on who you rent your car from you may have to opt in for automatic toll payment.
4. Even on the toll roads its a long boring drive with not a lot to look at. Getting out of Miami can be interesting but you should be okay if you've stayed near the airport.
5. I assume that you'll be flying back from Miami as well so leave plenty of time for the drive & to drop the car off & also to get into the airport from where you drop the car off at.

If you have any more questions please feel free to PM me.
 
Firstly, :welcome: to the DIS.

You will find this is a great place to find information and ask questions when planning your upcoming trip.

We have done this drive a couple of times each way. Depending which car rental you were using, it might cost you quite a bit extra to be able to use the toll roads (Florida Turnpike) so I would avoid this and use the I95 - I happen to disagree with the above poster who says the toll roads are quicker, the I95 is just a direct route and just as fast (however, you need to refrain from using the express lanes as this would incur a toll). It is a slightly more interesting route in my opinion too. depending on what time your flight lands, you might be better off staying somewhere near Miami the first night and driving up to WDW the next day as it can be a good 4 hour drive and it can take at least a couple of hours to clear immigration and customs. We just flew into Miami airport in April, for a cruise, and it took us just over 2 hours from landing to leaving the airport in our rental car.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
 
We used to do this a lot back when we lived in New York. Now, I live a bit North of Miami. I'd recommend it. It's about a 3 and a half hour drive, and it's super simple. Just get on the turnpike north, and stay on it all the way up.
 


I haven't driven up from Miami but have used the airport and it took over two hours to clear customs so I wouldn't advise a four hour drive following that. I love Miami and think it's worth staying at least a night.
 
Welcome :) I haven't done the drive but I would do something inventive to save a bit more money with a little one that age and fly direct to Orlando unless you have a reason to actually be in Miami. Really. That drive on top of a lengthy flight sounds like a nightmare to me with an infant. Surely indirect flights would be better? Airports are far more interesting to a toddler than a mini road trip. Anyway, good luck with your planning.
 
Here is an idea to look into

Fly Manchester to Dublin ( Check arrival time in Dublin ) then Pre Clear Immigration & Customs at Dublin Airport

Then Fly Aer Lingus Direct to Orlando. ( Flight Leaves Dublin at 2pm & arrives in Orlando at 6pm )

Flights are Saturdays & Tuesdays .... But your dates are Sundays So Stay a night at either end.

Now if your villa is in Davenport area ( A Wide area ) you will be Near Hwy 27 & Junction with Hwy I 4

There are plenty of good Hotels / Motels at this junction

Save yourself the headache of Miami.

Your Villa is from Sunday afternoon to Sunday morning anyway (31st July & 21st August 2016 )
 


Personally, I would rather fly indirect than have a 9 hour flight and than a 4 hour drive.

On the indirect flight out you clear immigration and customs on your arrival at the first destination in the US meaning your exit at MCO will be quicker anyway.
 
Thanks for all your advice but we've bitten the bullet and booked the Miami flights. We are going to stay over in miami then drive up to our villa the next day. Unfortunately we had a Budget when booking this holiday and paying over £900 for flights pp wasn't doable. Flying into Miami has saved us £650 which will be our discovery cove trip.
 
Mr dinosaur said:
This is the first time we have posted on the site but follow lots of posts to gain information/advice we need. We have been to Disney a few times and stay off site. We are currently planning and booking our 2016 summer holiday. The villa has been booked so the dates we fly are quite specific 31st July-21st Aug. I know it's too early to look for flights that go in direct (which will come in cheaper, I think) but we don't fancy flying in direct as our youngest will be 17 months. We have seen flights that we think are not too bad in price with thomas Cook. The flights are direct from Manchester (our nearest airport) to Miami. Has anyone ever done this route and then driven up to www? if so what is the drive like and how easy is it getting out of Miami? If anyone has got any suggestions as to what roads are best we would really appreciate and tips/advice.
Click to expand...

We did this drive last year. we landed at 6.30 later than planned) we did not get out of the airport until 10pm. We then had the drive up to Orlando. arrived at the PFB hotel at 2.45am. Your definitely doing the right thing staying in Miami for the first night. Whilst we were told by disers to expect delays in MIA we did not expect the chaos we encountered. It took two hours just to get out of the plane and into the immigration hall. We will not fly to MIA again. Having said that the return journey was calm, organised and no lines. We used the toll roads for convenience. Stopped at the services regularly. Used sat nav! Have a great time!
 
We did this a few years ago, stayed at a ho Jo about an hour north of Miami. Worked really well for us, bed about 7pm and we were all up and showered ready to leave by 3am, we had planned to lose the morning travelling and get to parks lunchtime, as it was we dropped luggage at SSR and we re at mk for rd. Would deff do this again we saved a fortune!
 
We have also booked manchester to miami flights in may with TC staying in miami on night. We have saved around £800 our disney spends nearly. Not looking forward to the journey but im sure the excitement will help . Enjoy x
 
Agreed it does save money but also consider indirect flights to save you money also..We have done this route a couple of times and I'll be honest I would only consider to do it again with a overnight stay in Miami.. MIA is shocking for car hire wait times average 1 hour to collect car we have experienced 2 hour wait, then you have at least a 3 & 1/2 hour drive to WDW.. Not the best way to start your holiday IMO..
Most UK flights land in MIA around late afternoons/early evening so you always hit traffic at peak times around Miami.. Not sure we'd do it again .. Just being honest with you guys..
 
MIA is an airport I would avoid if I didn't have any business in the miami area

Lines at immigration are crazy
Car hire complex is somewhat off airport (monorail to complex) and picking up a car there takes more time than if you actually had built the car yourself ...


An indirect flight through a us airport takes less time than just clearing immigration and picking the car up at mia (and you still have a 4hrs drive)
Indirect fligbts also are cheaper than direct ( uk-mia is more expensive than uk-us-mco, and the funny thing is that a lgw-mia can be more expensive than a lgw-mia-mco on the same plane)

Clearing immigration at mia or at any other us airport is the same. No matter where you clear immigration, you'll eventually have to clear it, and the kid will always be there, that doesn't change a thing (except you get a comfortable bathroom break at ypur stopover airport)

Indirect is not as bad as it sounds, it's sometimes even better, even with kids
 
chmurf said:
MIA is an airport I would avoid if I didn't have any business in the miami area

Lines at immigration are crazy
Car hire complex is somewhat off airport (monorail to complex) and picking up a car there takes more time than if you actually had built the car yourself ...


So True !!! LOL :sad:
Click to expand...
 
I've been to Miami a few times to see a friend who lived there. The best advice she ever gave me... fly into Fort Lauderdale instead. She HATES Miami airport. Once when I went to see her she was flying in the same day from a different location. My plane landed at 6pm at Fort Lauderdale. I picked up a car and was at her apartment at 7.45pm after a one hour drive. Her plane landed in Miami at 4.30 and after a one hour drive she arrived home at 9.30! Good job she left some keys with the concierge
 
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