Flying into Tampa...

[staceyj2]

My family flew into Tampa (instead of MCO) for a Disney trip but it was years ago and I don't really remember the drive to WDW.

I had tickets booked on SW for our May trip flying into MCO. The flights were considerably more than I have ever paid before, left a day later than I really wanted to leave and had a stop and plane change on both the outbound and return flight. A couple of days ago, flight prices dropped for flying into Tampa. The Tampa flight left the day I wanted, both are non-stop and the price is $100 cheaper round trip saving me $400 total. I booked them but now I am having second thoughts.

I don't remember the drive being terrible, but the DVC cast member I talked to when I was changing my reservation dates said it would take me at least 2 hours to get to WDW from Tampa. My flight arrives late, around 10:30 pm so I didn't think traffic should be a huge issue. Does anyone have recent experience doing this? Mapquest says it will take around 1 hour and 20 minutes which I would be fine with if that is really correct.

FYI-I always rent a car even when flying into MCO, so there really isn't any additional rental car costs to consider.

 

[aaarcher86]

My family flew into Tampa (instead of MCO) for a Disney trip but it was years ago and I don't really remember the drive to WDW.

I had tickets booked on SW for our May trip flying into MCO. The flights were considerably more than I have ever paid before, left a day later than I really wanted to leave and had a stop and plane change on both the outbound and return flight. A couple of days ago, flight prices dropped for flying into Tampa. The Tampa flight left the day I wanted, both are non-stop and the price is $100 cheaper round trip saving me $400 total. I booked them but now I am having second thoughts.

I don't remember the drive being terrible, but the DVC cast member I talked to when I was changing my reservation dates said it would take me at least 2 hours to get to WDW from Tampa. My flight arrives late, around 10:30 pm so I didn't think traffic should be a huge issue. Does anyone have recent experience doing this? Mapquest says it will take around 1 hour and 20 minutes which I would be fine with if that is really correct.

FYI-I always rent a car even when flying into MCO, so there really isn't any additional rental car costs to consider.

Took us about an hour. Really easy drive.

 

[OKW Lover]

At that time of night there most likely will not be any issue with traffic. We live very, very close to WDW and drive to TPA regularly. It takes right at 75 minutes. Compare to about 30 minutes to get from MCO to WDW.

 

[tjmw2727]

It depends on the time of day really - its about 80 miles give or take so I would allow at least 1 1/2 hours driving time. The traffic around Tampa gets crazy and the traffic by Disney can be congested as well but at that time of night you shouldn't have any issues.

The Tampa airport is very nice, small and very easy to navigate but you will still have to wait for bags, get the rental and then make the drive. Having made the drive from Clearwater to Orlando a few times this spring it is an easy drive but definitely more like 90 minutes. If the person driving is a owl and or can sleep on the airplane definitely go for it - 400 is enough for me to take that drive!

 

[staceyj2]

At that time of night there most likely will not be any issue with traffic. We live very, very close to WDW and drive to TPA regularly. It takes right at 75 minutes. Compare to about 30 minutes to get from MCO to WDW.

Thanks for the information. That makes me feel better!

Any idea what time rush hour traffic tapers off? Our return flight leaves in the morning so we will drive to Tampa the night before and stay near the airport. I want to make sure I don't leave for Tampa too early and run into traffic.

 

[staceyj2]

It depends on the time of day really - its about 80 miles give or take so I would allow at least 1 1/2 hours driving time. The traffic around Tampa gets crazy and the traffic by Disney can be congested as well but at that time of night you shouldn't have any issues.

The Tampa airport is very nice, small and very easy to navigate but you will still have to wait for bags, get the rental and then make the drive. Having made the drive from Clearwater to Orlando a few times this spring it is an easy drive but definitely more like 90 minutes. If the person driving is a owl and or can sleep on the airplane definitely go for it - 400 is enough for me to take that drive!

Unfortunately, I am the driver. I am taking my teenage kids and one of their friends so they won't have any trouble staying awake with me driving to WDW. I agree that the $400 savings was hard to pass up as well as the non-stop flights and better outbound day. My original flights were over 4 hours total time since I had to switch planes where these are just over 2 1/2 hours so I guess the drive time evens out with the flights anyway.

 

[Robert P]

It's 72 miles from the airport entrance to the first WDW exit on I-4, if that helps.

 

[Mainemama]

I just booked Tampa, too. Different airline, party of 5. The car rental is also cheaper from Tampa. In fact, adding the 5 days of our Disney portion of the trip (we were going to skip the car rental until we continued offsite) was less expensive. I have only done the drive once, but it was easy. Closer to 1 than 2 hours. I land at 6:00 pm on a Monday. I had not considered rush our traffic, I wonder how that will be.