Anyone whose flown into Tampa (TPA)?

[Brer boy]

We want to go to WDW at the end of October. All flights from Milwaukee to MCO (Orlando) are expensive for our dates. I checked TPA and they are about $100 cheaper. For four of us, that's $400 less. I see it's about 75 miles, but not sure if it is a nice drive. Any experience with this? Thanks.

 

[bigsis1970]

Hi I have driven it twice.. very easy .. flat highway straight line for the most part took me just over an hour each time ( cause you can go 80mph)

 

[rsschneck]

We flew into Tampa in October and are planning to fly in there again in August for the same reason, PRICE!

The drive is easy. Just avoid rush hour traffic if you can. We flew in around 5:00 pm and I think it took an extra 1/2 hour because of the traffic. Still not too bad though.

Rental cars seem a little less expensive than when flying into MCO.

I say if you save $400 then fly into Tampa and use that money for Disney!

 

[scootert]

We did this several years ago - we wanted to use frequent flyer awards, but none were available for MCO. Airline person suggested TPA. As other posters have said, the drive is not bad, just allow time for the "what if's"... in our case it was a major thunderstorm on the return trip. We had allowed some extra time and had no problems.

We also found the airport to be more sane than MCO... car rental was easy and the whole pace was less frantic. We would definitely do this again (especially if we could save $400!!!) Hope you have a great trip ..

 

[ksc37]

We always fly into Tampa. There are several car rental options available right in the terminal, and it seems that we never have to wait for a car, or our checked baggage (I can't say the same about Orlando). With those two advantages, even with the added distance, I don't think it takes much longer than flying into MCO.

And yes, as everyone has said, the drive is very easy (about an hour), especially now that lots of the construction on I-4 seems to be winding down.

 

[Brer boy]

Thanks everyone for your advice! Tampa it is.

 

[MouseLover]

We returned home 3/27.

The drive to Orlanco was in Friday afternoon rush hour and LOTS of construction. It took approx. 2 hours!! The return drive was EASY -- just over an hour. We too saved $100 per ticket, and will do this again at that savings. If you arrive in non-rush hour, you should be fine.

 

[orvilleair]

Construction on I-4 added a 1/2 hour to the trip as I drove on it last week.

It's a flat drive and pretty easy. Disney resort signs are well placed and had no trouble getting to the hotel.

 

[safetymom]

Construction is not winding down, there is a lot of it on I-4. Plan on allowing extra time. They are working on building extra lanes in each direction. At night there are lane closures.

 

[cudworth]

we flew into Tampa and the drive is about 2 hours we arrived in tampa at noon the drive through tampa was very slow down to 10mph at times after you are out of tampa the traffic was going between 80 and 85 we stopped at a super walmart in lakeland way less busy then the super walmart on 192 oh we got back on Apr 18th.