Anyone driven to the parks from Tampa lately?? I-4??

[DizneyLizzy]

I posted this on the transportation board awhile ago, but no one had an answer for me. I figured I might find some people here who are relative locals and drive to the parks from the SW. I'll be in Sarasota visiting relatives for the week between Christmas and New Years. My sister and I each have 1 day left on old 10 day no-exp tickets. We planned on a day trip on Dec. 29th, mostly to see the Osborne Lights, but since we have the tickets and can spend the whole day playing around, we figured we'd get up around 4:30 and be at the MK by 7/7:30 for the 8 AM opening, hang there until the masses descend, and then head to Epcot until Osborne time. We've done day trips from Sarasota before during spring break and Easter.

Our biggest concern and possible reason for skipping our day trip altogether is the mess that is I-4. Last spring, we were in WDW before heading to Sarasota, and much of the trip between about Winter Haven and Tampa was miserable/at a standstill bc of the I-4 construction.

1. Has anyone driven that stretch lately? How is it?
2. We would be driving TO Disney around 5 AM and heading away from Disney towards Tampa probably around 8 or 9 at night...so hopefully missing rush hour, but if this is when the construction is being done, could that be WORSE than rush hour?

Any thoughts from any SW Florida peeps who have been driving to the parks lately??

Thanks!

 

[okilydokily]

Not that current, but 3 weeks ago I drove to Tamps at 5 pm on Friday. Traffic was bad by the parks, but once to Reunion, it was smooth all the way to Clearwater. About 10 or 11 pm on the way back, I had no issues. But like I said, that was in November.

 

[larryz]

I posted this on the transportation board awhile ago, but no one had an answer for me. I figured I might find some people here who are relative locals and drive to the parks from the SW. I'll be in Sarasota visiting relatives for the week between Christmas and New Years. My sister and I each have 1 day left on old 10 day no-exp tickets. We planned on a day trip on Dec. 29th, mostly to see the Osborne Lights, but since we have the tickets and can spend the whole day playing around, we figured we'd get up around 4:30 and be at the MK by 7/7:30 for the 8 AM opening, hang there until the masses descend, and then head to Epcot until Osborne time. We've done day trips from Sarasota before during spring break and Easter.

Our biggest concern and possible reason for skipping our day trip altogether is the mess that is I-4. Last spring, we were in WDW before heading to Sarasota, and much of the trip between about Winter Haven and Tampa was miserable/at a standstill bc of the I-4 construction.

1. Has anyone driven that stretch lately? How is it?
2. We would be driving TO Disney around 5 AM and heading away from Disney towards Tampa probably around 8 or 9 at night...so hopefully missing rush hour, but if this is when the construction is being done, could that be WORSE than rush hour?

Any thoughts from any SW Florida peeps who have been driving to the parks lately??

Thanks!

I've seen the jam start as far back as US 27.
Another option is to bail off I-4 at US 27 and shoot north to US 192, then go east either to FL 429 (toll) to Western Way, or stay on 192 to Maingate

 

[lovethattink]

There is construction at the Fantasy of Flight exit that's been causing back ups at times. Sometimes back ups at Haines City exit as mentioned above. Then usually back ups as you get closer to DTD. I suggest getting off I-4 at the 1st Disney/Celebration exit. In Tampa, seems always near the airport and zoo exits there's some slow down.

 

[Sytrace]

The road construction is much better right now on I-4 in general. Because you will more than likely be taking 75 to the I 4 interchange you will be bypassing ALOT of the mess at malfunction junction (where I 4 connect with 275) You will come out above that by taking 75 North to where you pick up I 4.

The times you are planning to travel are actually very good. Morning and evening before and after rush hour are ideal.
Just don't plan on going anywhere fast between 3 and 5 PM on weekdays.

 

[bdcp]

We just drove from Tampa to Shades of Green (so MK exit) on I-4 this past Thursday morning after a cruise. Took just over one hour, no issues at all/no traffic backups. It moved very well. We left Tampa around 9:00 am and were at SOG at 10 am or so. Gotta love 65+ mph speed limits.

 

[cmarsh31]

Yes, last Friday around 3 (left IRB at 2:30) to go to MVMCP. Traffic was horrible. Took basically 3 hours to get to the gate of MK. Drive back (at midnight) took only an hour and a half.

 

[lovethattink]

OP, I'm going to move this to the transportation board since you've gotten some responses.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

Thanks so much to all that replied. This is making me feel much better. Sometimes they can really beef up construction at off peak times (before 6 AM, after 10 PM) so I was a little worried that driving at off times might be just as bad as peak times...but your responses make me feel much better. I think I'll go for it. Thanks also for the reroute to 192 tips

 

[cmarsh31]

Malfunction junction. Yeah. That seems more than appropriately named. It sucked!

 

[Starshine]

We flew into Tampa two weeks ago, got in about 10:30am on Friday morning. It took us a little over an hour to the Magic Kingdom. Traffic was steady but not backed up.