Last minute few hours in Disney from Tampa

[BanditsMommy]

So I'm flying in for an interview in Tampa and I have a later flight out so I was trying to see if it would at all be possible to drive over and spend a few hours at one of the parks. Thoughts? Anyone ever done this before? Which park would I have the best luck at?

 

[PSUGuy]

I can't imagine passing up even a few hours at WDW. We're big fans of Food&Wine, Friday evening can get crowded during this time but I'd hit WS anyway, maybe try for a ride or 2. As long as you're gone by 6 pm or so, in my experience, crowds won't be horrible until then and there's all that food!

Bill From PA

 

[FCDub]

You'll be driving for 3 hours round trip. Do you have the time for that?

I personally wouldn't want to, but everyone is different.

 

[BanditsMommy]

You'll be driving for 3 hours round trip. Do you have the time for that?

I personally wouldn't want to, but everyone is different.

Oh really? I put it in Waze and it said 1 hour each way.

 

[randumb0]

This would be more of a personal decision. Are you flying in and leaving on the same day?

 

[randumb0]

Oh really? I put it in Waze and it said 1 hour each way.

It depends on the time of day. Traffic on I4 hoorrrriiibblllee starting around 4

 

[mercydisney]

I live near Tampa, We often go for a few hrs. Depending on traffic you can be their in 45 minutes or 1 1/2 hrs. So, yes you can do this and what better way to enjoy your time!

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

Is it possible to change your return flight to depart out of MCO? If so you might be able to get a cheap one-way rental from Tampa and return it to MCO. My folks live in Tampa and I've ended a couple trips seeing them with a day in WDW. I'm not sure where your interview is, but I'd bank on 1h30m to be safe.

 

[FCDub]

Oh really? I put it in Waze and it said 1 hour each way.

I'd build in 90 each way, especially if you have to catch a flight on the backend.

 

[BanditsMommy]

I'd build in 90 each way, especially if you have to catch a flight on the backend.

Gotcha! Thanks for the heads up.

 

[BanditsMommy]

Is it possible to change your return flight to depart out of MCO? If so you might be able to get a cheap one-way rental from Tampa and return it to MCO. My folks live in Tampa and I've ended a couple trips seeing them with a day in WDW. I'm not sure where your interview is, but I'd bank on 1h30m to be safe.

Don't think so, the company is paying for it and they're already booked.

 

[MeridaAnn]

I'd be really careful about this. 1 hour travel time for that route is very optimistic and only for the very best of driving conditions. I'm in the Tampa area (St. Pete) and have an annual pass, so I make this drive all the time - sometimes it's just an hour and 15 minutes from when I pass the airport exit to when I go through the gates at Disney (keep in mind that you still have to build in time for parking, the tram up to the park, getting your ticket, etc, which can be another 15-30 minutes right up front), but sometimes, if there's been an accident anywhere along the route, the time can easily jump up to closer to 2 hours. And if you're going through Tampa during anything even close to rush hour on a weekday, additional time is essentially guaranteed. The roads can also get really backed up just trying to leave the parks in the late afternoon/evening. I would plan to be on the road no less than 4 hours before your flight time. Tampa's a fairly simple airport, but you still have to turn in the rental vehicle (including stopping to fill up the gas, typically), take the short train shuttle between the main building and the separate terminals, and you have to leave enough time for security and boarding, etc.

If your interview is the day before and you can leave early and be at the parks at Rope Drop, then you can still make a great morning out of it and head back when you need to. But if it's a morning interview that day and then you still have to change into park clothes, make the drive to the parks, spend only a couple hours in the park, drive back to the airport, get gas, turn in the rental vehicle, possibly change again into something more comfortable / less sweated on for the flight, check luggage, get through security, and get to your terminal before boarding starts 30 minutes prior to the flight time, you might not have as much time left to stay in the park as you would like.

I would suggest seeing how your plan would work with 2 hour drive times each way as a starting point, and see if it's worth it to you then.

 

[BanditsMommy]

I'd be really careful about this. 1 hour travel time for that route is very optimistic and only for the very best of driving conditions. I'm in the Tampa area (St. Pete) and have an annual pass, so I make this drive all the time - sometimes it's just an hour and 15 minutes from when I pass the airport exit to when I go through the gates at Disney (keep in mind that you still have to build in time for parking, the tram up to the park, getting your ticket, etc, which can be another 15-30 minutes right up front), but sometimes, if there's been an accident anywhere along the route, the time can easily jump up to closer to 2 hours. And if you're going through Tampa during anything even close to rush hour on a weekday, additional time is essentially guaranteed. The roads can also get really backed up just trying to leave the parks in the late afternoon/evening. I would plan to be on the road no less than 4 hours before your flight time. Tampa's a fairly simple airport, but you still have to turn in the rental vehicle (including stopping to fill up the gas, typically), take the short train shuttle between the main building and the separate terminals, and you have to leave enough time for security and boarding, etc.

If your interview is the day before and you can leave early and be at the parks at Rope Drop, then you can still make a great morning out of it and head back when you need to. But if it's a morning interview that day and then you still have to change into park clothes, make the drive to the parks, spend only a couple hours in the park, drive back to the airport, get gas, turn in the rental vehicle, possibly change again into something more comfortable / less sweated on for the flight, check luggage, get through security, and get to your terminal before boarding starts 30 minutes prior to the flight time, you might not have as much time left to stay in the park as you would like.

I would suggest seeing how your plan would work with 2 hour drive times each way as a starting point, and see if it's worth it to you then.

Thanks so much MeridaAnn! This is exactly what I was looking for. I will definitely keep all of this info in mind to see if I have enough time to actually make it worth it. I think at the moment I will leave it as a maybe and see what time I get out of the interview. Maybe my flight will be delayed or something! LOL