Anyone arrive in Tampa (TPA) and then drive to WDW?

[GoingtoWDWagain]

Hi, just wondering if this worked for anyone? Planning a Christmas trip and wondering how good or bad this idea is?

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide me with!

 

[goofy4tink]

We arrived in Orlando in May but drove to Tampa to visit family and then flew out of Tampa. The drive was really pretty easy. It can get congested though. Since we were staying at a hotel just past Tampa International, we were able to judge how easy it would be to do the reverse drive...Tampa Intnl isn't very far off the main drag. And I found the signage to be quite good...you should have no problems.

 

[boswellnakia]

We always consider Tampa as a flying in destination for Orlando. If we can get Tampa for very much cheaper, we will do it and use the savings for a rental. If we fly into MCO, we don't usually rent a car, but secretly want one. So a little savings at Tampa, makes it easier to justify the car and another WDW trip.

 

[boBQuincy]

Figure about 1-1/2 hours from TPA to WDW vs 1/2 hour from MCO.

Traffic on I-4 can be bad if you arrive or leave at rush hour.

If the savings in airfare is good enough I would do it but it better be really good to offset Disney's free Magical Express.

 

[lovingthemouse]

...and cost was the very reason we flew into Tampa last year. Their airport is convenient to highways (although it can be congested depending on day and time of arrival), and very well marked as the previous poster noted. It took us an hour to drive the distance to WDW - but for the amount we saved, it was well worth it. We stayed at a Sheraton Four Points Hotel the night before we departed for home, which was quite close to the airport.