Drive from Tampa to WDW--worth saving some airfare cost?

[SSDonut]

Flying from Philly to WDW over Thanksgiving week next November (returning the Saturday after Tkg). Can't get fares yet for Airtran. Found decent fares for PHL to TPA and am wondering if anyone's flown to TPA rather than MCO and driven over to WDW. We'll be renting a car regardless. Would saving $100-200 on airfare be worth it?

Any opinions/suggestions welcomed!

Thanks

 

[snoopy5386]

we do this all the time since SIL lives in tampa. It is an easy 1.5 hour drive. We have also stayed in tampa and drove to disney every day.

 

[Brian Noble]

I had a similar situation: flying in to MCO but out from TPA saved my family about $200. For the extra hour drive time, that seemed well worth it, based on advice I got from others at the time. I'd say go for it.

 

[jakal]

I've done this with my family and it worked out great. Tampa is a smaller airport so I think the luggage and rental car goes much quicker there than at MCO. The drive is literally a "straight shot" and a quick drive. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Christine

 

[bigsis1970]

Hi count me in on the YES train.. I have done this a few times and will never hesitate again for saving $$ ... Michelle

 

[zurgswife]

We are doing this in March for our Easter trip...flying out of Philly I would wait and see what SW fares are...unless you have something less then $176 on something other then USAir.....The trip from tpa to orlando isn't bad at all..usually takes us about 70mins...

 

[safetymom]

Just keep in mind that I-4 is under construction with delays 24 hours a day. Just allow extra time and you will be fine.

 

[mochabean]

We've even once flown into Jacksonville, but I wouldn't recommend it since it's a 3 hour drive.

 

[MichDISer]

I would probably do it to save $200 but not to save $100. That is the TOTAL savings for your whole family, right?
It is really up to you personally and how much you feel your time is worth (to me, 3 or 4 hours of driving is not worth saving $100).
Now, don't get me wrong, we ARE doing this very thing next month. but part of the reason we are doing this is that we got a little cheaper airfare PLUS could get a flight in a day earlier so we have an extra day added onto our vacation, and that is priceless . I am very excited, because my entire life, I have never been on a vacation that lasted more that one week (we will be in Florida for almost 9 days, yes!
So, therefore, this made it worth it to fly into Tampa instead of Orlando.

 

[Doctor P]

Don't forget. Magical Express may make some difference in net cost between the two options if you can get away without a car going in to MCO but are forced to rent a car if you go into Tampa.

 

[bigsis1970]

I just found on the Delta Website tickets from PWM (portland maine) to TPA for $129.30 each !! that is unheard of out of my hometown !! Whoo Hoo ..
Michelle

 

[stephen99]

we are leaving out of philly and paid $49 each way through southwest. cant get much better than that!

 

[Michael623]

To save $200 it is worth it. It is about 70 miles. To save $100 I'd probably skip it. Also it would depend on length of trip. A long weekend I'd go MCO for 7 days+ I'd try TPA. TPA airport was also voted #1 by Conde Nast Travel Magazine.

 

[cokegal19]

I used to live in Clearwater (that's north of Tampa), and it would take about 2 hours to drive to Orlando. I didn't mind the drive, and in your case you could save money by doing it!!

Also, maybe you could stop by the beach or something before you go to Disney World, just do a little sight-seeing on the way there. The drive is mostly wilderness and swamp, but I live in Chicago now, so it was scenery that I haven't seen for a while!

 

[ksc37]

We always fly PHL to TPA. We rent a car no matter where we fly, so it's no big deal. On a typical day, it usually takes between 70-90 minutes to get to the Disney resorts. Our only bad experience with this drive was this past September, when we were driving from TPA to WDW at the same time a lot of Floridians were returning home after being evacuated due to hurricane Frances. It took about 2 1/2 hours.

Construction on I-4 does slow you down a bit, but I find Tampa a better airport to fly into. Our luggage is usually coming out as soon as we get down to the baggage carousel, and a lot of car rental agencies are right there, making for a quick getaway from the airport.