Flying into Tampa

[Sheriff Woody]

By the time I got around to buying flights, all the cheap fares to Orlando were gone. So I'm flying into Tampa. Can anyone tell me the best way to get from Tampa to Disney? I think a limo is pretty expensive, but maybe better than renting a car in Tampa, dropping it at MCO, and getting from MCO to the resort that first day. Seems like a lot of hassle to save a few bucks, especially since I don't intend to keep the rental car all week.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

 

[NJDad18]

Renting the car is best. We just did this in Aug. The drive to WDW is approx 1 hour 15 min - 1.5 hours. We rented from Alamo. It's just outside of the airport. DW went and picked up the car and in about 25 min. she was back to pick us up at the baggage claim. If you don't want to keep the car with you for the whole trip, you can drop the car off at either the Swan or Dolphin. I forget which one has the Alamo/National place inside.

We just keep the car the whole time b/c we usually take a trip to Sea World when we go.

Security was a breeze in TPA. Could not have been easier. I would definately do that again.

Any other ?'s feel free to PM me.

 

[andriade]

We flew into TAMPA in 2003. I looked into shuttles and such and couldn't find anything. We rented a car and kept it for 5 days since it was almost the same price as a 2 day rental which we needed. That was back when we had to pay for transportation back to the MCO airport and it made more sense to keep the car. We never touched it the whole week.

Just a bit of advice. I got the cheapie car since we only really needed it to get to WDW and back to the airport. BIG MISTAKE. Make sure you get a car that will hold all of your luggage. My poor baby in the back seat had luggage all around him and the trunk was packed too!

Good luck!

 

[goofy4tink]

WE did the reverse last spring. Rented at the Dolphin through Alamo, drove to Tampa, and flew home from there. It was really easy. Will you be flying out of Tampa to go home as well? You may want to rent through either National or Alamo since you can return the car easily to the Dolphin. You do have to take a shuttle to their area at Tampa, but it's very quick.
Then, you can drive to WDW, go to your resort, drop everyone off, get settled. Then drive to the Dolphin and return the car. If you will be returning to Tampa to fly home, just rent a car and pick it up at the Dolphin and drive back.

 

[hercamore]

Hi,

Tampa airport is much easier to navigate thru than MCO. My advice, rent the car for the whole week and save yourself much hassle.

herc.

 

[DisDee]

We're flying to Tampa also but returning from Orlando. Our plans are to rent a car, do Busch Gardens and Sea World at the beginning of the week and return the rental car to the Dolphin. The balance of the week, we'll be at WDW and utilize their transportation, and ME for our trip to the Orlando airport. We did something similar to this last year and it went off without a hitch. We have the added bonus of family from Florida who will also be at WDW for the end of the week, so we can hitch a ride in their car if neccessary.