Flying into Tampa?

[Jacky]

Anyone ever fly into Tampa? How long did it take to get to WDW? Just wondering, I can get a much better fare if I fly into Tampa rather than MCO.

Thanks!!
Jacky

 

[mtdevine615]

When I lived in Tampa (by the airport) is use to take us about 1 1/2 hours to get to WDW. This was a few years ago, not sure how bad the traffic is now. I'm sure worse not better. Maine

 

[CarolA]

There is major construction where I-4 joins I-275 (or something like that)

I did it twice recently for work... It took me an hour just to get through that mess one day.

 

[gazeborob]

We did that when we were there in July. It took us just about an hour and 15 min to get to Disney. The traffic through the construction wasn't bad at all.

 

[2Xited4Disney]

Well to put it into perspective I got 4 tickets for january for 49 bucks each way to tampa.... while the MCO was 79 each..... .i think the 120 bucks is worth the gas

 

[BriarRosie]

I just did that October 15th. I believe I caught the Saturday day-tripper
traffic jam near Kissimmee, but that didn't last long. I left Tampa's airport
complex around 11am and arrived at Pop Century around 12:15pm.

Sunday traffic the following week was really good, considering that I was
trying to avoid Wilma! I had no traffic bottlenecks heading back to
the Tampa airport.

I can't say it'll be easy for you when you go, but at least you'll know what
weekend traffic inbound and outbound is like, I suppose.

 

[taimgxe]

We have flown into Tampa twice, once with American and once with Southwest. Both times because the price was fantastic versus Orlando. Since we rent a vehicle with unlimited miles, the savings from flying into Tampa is worth it. The trip is about an hour and 10-15 minutes depending on traffic. The plus side to all this is once you leave the airport it is all freeway. When you consider that an average trip from Orlando International is about 20-25 minutes assuming traffic is good, then the extra 40-45 minutes is not that bad. We are going again in March and I have already been searching Tampa and Orlando prices. Considering where I live, metro Houston, the drive is about the same as going from one end of the city limits to the other.

 

[Cookie55]

I've done it many times to save on airfare. For my December trip I will be flying into Tampa and out of Orlando as that was the cheapest for me on Delta (Song)!!

 

[my3princes]

We flew into Tampa on Oct 14 and Out on Oct 23. No problems, very user friendly airport. It took about 1 hour 15 minutes to get to Pop Century. I think I prefer Tampa to MCO.

Deb

 

[Michael623]

A bit off topic but where exactly did you get that 98% pot smoking teen stat?

 

[Jacky]

I'd like to thank everyone for their imput. In my case the difference for the times that I need to fly is between $350 per person(MCO) and $150 per person (tampa) (I am coming from the DC area). There are 3 of us flying so for $600 it sure sounds worth flying into Tampa!!

Thanks
Jacky

 

[Jacky]

Cookie,

Did you rent a car in Tampa and turn it into Orlando and did it cost a fortune for the different drop off spot?

And I am a breast cancer survivor too. March 2003. (MRM, chemo) You go girl!!

Jacky

 

[my3princes]

A bit off topic but where exactly did you get that 98% pot smoking teen stat?

I do not have an answer from you as I copied from someone else's signature. I am proud to say that neither my dh or myself have ever done any kind of illegal drugs. I hope to instill that in my children.

Deb

 

[Cookie55]

Cookie,

Did you rent a car in Tampa and turn it into Orlando and did it cost a fortune for the different drop off spot?

And I am a breast cancer survivor too. March 2003. (MRM, chemo) You go girl!!

Jacky

Hi Jacky,
Yes, I Have rented in Tampa with dropoff in MCO (and the reverse) and have found that there is little or no difference in the rental. In fact for my upcoming December trip I am flying into Tampa and out of MCO and my rental was cheaper than if I had flown in and out of MCO (National). I am flying out of Boston, into Tampa and driving to Atlanta. My son will be finishing his last final at Georgia Tech when I arrive. I plan to pick up supplies for him at Costco for next semester, etc. (I'm afraid some of the etc. may involve some laundry... ) We will then drive back to Orlando for MVMCP and CP...then out of Orlando back home to Boston...

You go girl as well! I am at six years and still going strong...

 

[jobes]

I booked phl to Tampa instead of orlando with southwest and saved $125/each. I have a family of 5 so it was a huge savings. I rented a van from tampa airport for one day and will drop it off at car care center. The cost of a one day rental was $49. There is a shuttle from car care center to all disney resorts. I have done it before and it is only about 30 minutes longer in travel than the orlando airport. Sure, there might be traffic but if i can save that much i will take the chance. If the cost are somewhat close fly into Orlando. But it makes no sense to spend that extra money for really 30 minutes and a little more effort in transport. Good luck

$125 savings was one way (phl to tampa was $59) (phl to mco was $182) for the dates and times I want