Flying into Tampa International

[Ann B]

Hi Everyone

I am beginning the planning for next years WDW trip

We will be flying from Edinburgh and had hoped to fly United Airlines via Newark but unless the prices come down dramatically we will have to think again!! At the moment I am looking at flying BA into Tampa but I have never done this route before - we usually go into MCO. Can anyone give me any advice about this or tell me about their experiences of flying in and out of Tampa?

Thanks

 

[wayneg]

Flown into or out of Tampa quite a few times now. Used it last month and also flying in and out of there next month. Only thing I can't help with is immigration, never flown in there from the UK only via another airport.

Its just like a smaller version of MCO with the little monorail to the gates.

For collecting cars they have a little car centre over in the garage with all the major rental companies.

Drive upto Disney takes 1 hour instead of 30 mins from MCO. I find it a very easy drive, just once came out the wrong way and ended up going towards St Petes, it was a few miles before I could turn around

Anything else?

 

[MrRomance]

Tampa is a little further out, like Wayne said, about an hour as opposed to 30 minutes but immigration is a lot less crowded than at MCO which makes for a quicker exit. If the price is right to fly into Tampa as opposed to MCO, for me it's a good option.

 

[Disneymad]

It's been a few years now since the one time I flew in to Tampa but I have no traumatic memories! In fact seem to recall everything went nice and very smoothly, from Immigration to car hire.

As it's a quieter airport than MCO it's a lot less hassle getting through it.

Yes it's a longer drive than from MCO but it's all pretty straightforward.

If the price was right I'd definitely use Tampa again.

 

[Ann B]

Thanks everyone for your replies - very helpful

I think I am going to go ahead and book flights to Tampa as the price is coming in on budget. It is about another £1000 to fly into MCO for the same dates. I had hoped to fly from Edinburgh using United but it is £2000 more than flying BA into Tampa so I think Tampa is a no brainer!!

Thanks again

 

[UK mum of 4]

Thanks everyone for your replies - very helpful

I think I am going to go ahead and book flights to Tampa as the price is coming in on budget. It is about another £1000 to fly into MCO for the same dates. I had hoped to fly from Edinburgh using United but it is £2000 more than flying BA into Tampa so I think Tampa is a no brainer!!

Thanks again

Is it a direct flight? In also looking at next year and hasn't considered Tampa but will look now.

 

[Ann B]

Is it a direct flight? In also looking at next year and hasn't considered Tampa but will look now.

It is from Gatwick.

 

[DCLMan]

We've booked BA from Gatwick to Tampa for next August because of the immigration at MCO is so unpleasant.

I'm glad to hear it is more pleasant at Tampa.

 

[btab]

We flew direct into Tampa at the beginning of this month, immigration was a breeze, less than half an hour. Pick your luggage up straight after, onto the train to the main terminal into the car lot which is just a walk across the road...

We were driving south to the Port Charlotte / Rotonda area, but its pretty easy to pick up the interstate that will take you east to Orlando.

In summary, you should have no worries at all about going through Tampa.

 

[DCLMan]

I've just upgraded our return flight to World Traveller Plus for £50 per person. Never flown anything but economy before so looking forward to it.

 

[cliveywolves]

Flown into out of Tampa with BA, Loved it to honest nice airport and easier immigration

 

[Rach78]

Flew into Tampa with BA last year. As other have said, nice airport, easy to navigate and pick car up. Only complaint was that our BA flight from Gatwick was delayed 6 hours which after flying from Edin left us with a 9 hour wait at Gatwick with 2 children, therefore we arrived in Tampa at night instead of afternoon so had to drive in the dark for first time after a looooog journey. Not the fault of the airport though!! Immigration quick. We have chosen to fly into Tampa again next year with US airways. Wouldn't hesitate to do it.

 

[merlin307]

Hi. It's been a while since i've been on the boards but i'm looking at Tampa vs Mco from Dublin. We stay outside edinburgh so can get to Dublin relatively cheaply and flew thus route 3 times last year.

For our dates the cheapest UK flights to orlando or tampa are around £750 each indirect, but from Dublin to Mco and returning from Tampa its around £420 each...so even adding on about £100 for flights to Dublin each its still saving £230 per person.......for the three of us the saving covers the cost of the condo for the holiday......

...even better when you consider that we're going for christmas this year!!!

Let me know what you're searching for and I'll have a looky

 

[wayneg]

Hi. It's been a while since i've been on the boards but i'm looking at Tampa vs Mco from Dublin.

Good to hear you're still planning the trips even if not posting much

 

[merlin307]

Once the "Mickeyflu" infects you there's no point fighting it.....lie back and give in to the power of the magic

 

[Disneymadhouse]

I am definitely considering TPA with BA for our 2015 trip. I have been looking at flight prices for next August to get an idea ( and yes they are a shock as it's the first time in the summer hols for us as DD is now at school!) and TPA is coming out around £100 pp cheaper than BA into MCO. As for VA, well all I can say at their prices are

Claire