Anyone flown into Tampa before?

[pktbMouse]

We are flying down to the Mouse in August from Houston but could not get flights into Orlando. This morning we scored amazing flights into Tampa which is only 20 mins longer drive to WDW. Has anyone ever flown into Tampa? how did you find it? TIA

 

[Stitch_Is_King]

We actually flew into Tampa in March since it was cheaper airfare wish and we got a better deal on our rental. We did land at Tampa around 10:30 in the evening so the airport was pretty quiet. Even so it looks like it is very easy to get around. Fairly easy to get onto I-4. Had a GPS that I brought but still asked the young lady at the rental car booth and her directions were very easy to follow.

 

[bookgirl]

Flew in to Tampa July of 2014 and as we were renting a car anyway it saved us a chunk of money, though the airport taxes on rentals is more expensive at TAMPA then MCO. AUU Nationals and the flights were crazy expensive or sold out at MCO.

The drive is pretty easy except for the exit to and from the airport. It's a little convoluted and even with a GPS I messed up both times. Other than that it is a straight Interstate Drive. There is a Toll Road right near there as well and I believe it is one of the ones without cash options, but it is more towards the city and bay area.

I might do it again if I already knew I was getting a car the whole time.

PS if you like to gamble you drive right by the Hard Rock Hotel Casino. We made a pit stop both ways. Parents gamble, step dad collects HR tshirts and we like their Cafes.

 

[HelenParr]

We've flown into Tampa, and although we prefer MCO, the drive felt much closer to WDW than I thought it would. The airport is much smaller than MCO. Have a good feel for which Disney exit you want to use once you get there. The signage is not very helpful and some of the exits were redone. We used free GPS app on our own iPhone. It worked great.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[GarrettJD]

I've flown into Tampa a few times for work and found it fairly easy and painless. Like others said, exiting the airport can be a bit tricky but once you hit I-4 it's pretty much a straight shot to WDW. It's just over an hour drive, give or take, once you get out of the airport/downtown area.

 

[kristenrice]

Just did it at the beginning of May...super easy! We weren't planning on renting a car, but we saved about $160 (total) on airfare and I somehow caught a "flash" deal on a rental car and got a full-size from Alamo for $23! We drove to WDW, stopped for lunch (our flight landed at 9:30am) and grabbed some groceries at Target. Then I dropped off DH and the kids at the resort (AKV) and I returned the car to the Car Care Center and they gave me a ride back to the resort (free). It was so simple and easy and honestly probably did not add a lot of time (landing to resort) than taking DME from MCO. If the price and flight times were right, I would not hesitate to fly in to TPA again.

 

[pktbMouse]

thank you all for the responses, Im so relieved we made the right choice...we will be trying to rent a car but Im sure we are still saving a ton of money flying to Tampa.. 4 round trip flights from Houston to MCO was $1800...we got the Houston to Tampa flights for just under $1200, saved a whopping 600 bucks! so we really dont mind if the car hire is slightly higher.

 

[Keacc]

We always fly into Tampa. The airfare and rental cars are always cheaper. Getting luggage and rental cars is faster. The best reason is when you are going home. Getting thru security at Orlando takes forever because of all of the families. Everything is quick and easy at Tampa.

 

[stormer]

We have flown into Tampa also. It is a very nice airport and definitely worth it to save the money.

 

[bumbershoot]

We took the opportunity to stop at Trader Joe's for supplies, since there isn't one in Orlando quite yet. (or there wasn't in October)

 

[Saimaeve]

I flew into Tampa one year. I like the airport. It's not as big as Orlando, and it's a pretty easy drive into Disney from there. Definitely worth it.

 

[ice cube]

When airline prices don't work out for MCO our go to airport is TPA...have done TPA many times in the past and its really a great alternative especially when it keeps money in your pocket.....well until you get to Disney..

 

[goofy4tink]

Just flew into TPA a week ago. I love this airport. And a big plus, for me anyway, is that there are usually a lot fewer children in the flights.....compared with flights into MCO.
It's an easy drive to WDW....takes about 70 or so mins.

 

[goobylal]

We prefer MCO but if TPA is significantly cheaper, like in your case, we do it. Never had a problem, it just adds a little more time.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

How is the construction at Tampa airport? I heard there was a big renovation project taking place.

 

[kristenrice]

Just flew into TPA a week ago. I love this airport. And a big plus, for me anyway, is that there are usually a lot fewer children in the flights.....compared with flights into MCO.
It's an easy drive to WDW....takes about 70 or so mins.

I have a question for you, since you have extensive experience with DME...

Would you say that landing-to-resort time using DME is almost equivalent to flying into TPA and renting a car, assuming you use a "bypass-the-counter" method?

We landed, got our car and drove to AKV and we were there in about 90 minutes. Maybe we haven't been too lucky with DME because we typically wait at least 30 minutes before we even leave the airport. Then another 20 minutes to the WDW property, and another 20 minutes before we get to AKV, which has always been the last stop.

For the right price, the extra time spent coming in from TPA is not as bad as it would seem, would you agree?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

KristineRice

TPA is better than MCO. The flight prices are usually pretty good for us compared to MCO. The drive to WDW is easy avoid Tampa rush hour if you can and you should be fine. Renting a car is a snap at TPA. The security lines are so much better at TPA. So to answer your question YES TPA is a great choice.

 

[nacho113]

How is the construction at Tampa airport? I heard there was a big renovation project taking place.

It's kind of a mess along I-275 through Tampa and it's not supposed to wrap-up until next year. Very slow moving if you are travelling during the rush hours. Actually very slow is probably an understatement, our flight landed at 4pm when we arrived in January and I-275 was more like a parking lot than an Interstate. It took almost an hour from the picking up the car at the airport until we merged onto I-4 and headed out of Tampa , this is usually about a 15 minute run at 60mph (I-275 to I-4 was total gridlock on this Friday rush hour). The outskirts of Tampa to WDW was about a 50 minute drive, lots of traffic but moving along at 65-70mph.

 

[goofy4tink]

How is the construction at Tampa airport? I heard there was a big renovation project taking place.

I guess it all depends on landing time. We landed on Sat night, at 7:00-7:15, on the road by 8. There was little traffic and no construction happening. When we drove back to Orlando on Sunday afternoon, around 3ish, we stayed on Hillsborough until we got to I4...just didn't want to mess with going around TPA. The construction was far worse a few years ago when we landed there last.

I have a question for you, since you have extensive experience with DME...

Would you say that landing-to-resort time using DME is almost equivalent to flying into TPA and renting a car, assuming you use a "bypass-the-counter" method?

We landed, got our car and drove to AKV and we were there in about 90 minutes. Maybe we haven't been too lucky with DME because we typically wait at least 30 minutes before we even leave the airport. Then another 20 minutes to the WDW property, and another 20 minutes before we get to AKV, which has always been the last stop.

For the right price, the extra time spent coming in from TPA is not as bad as it would seem, would you agree?

I landed at 7:15 and was on the road by 8. Using that time frame, I would have been in WDW around 9:15. So, a bit longer than 90 mins from landing. When using DME I'm usually at my resort about 75 mins after going through the gate. I find luggage claim to be faster at TPA than MCO. But if you're renting a car anyway, it might be worthwhile to fly into TPA.

 

[merina888]

We've flown into Tampa numerous times, although not to go to WDW. We have flown in when we are headed to my in-laws's house south of Ft. Myers. It's a nice airport.