Newbie Mistake...Advice needed!

[July19]

Oooooh man.

So, I made a mistake. A big ol' giant mistake.

Here's the issue. We are staying with my grandparents for three days when we arrive in FL. We are flying in to Tampa because that was the airport my grandparents suggested. Then, we leave for Disney World for 6 nights/7 days.

But, we fly out of Tampa at 10 am. OUT OF TAMPA. At 10 am. Tampa.

Shoot. And I know they have ground support for Orlando airport, but not Tampa. Understandable since it's an hour and a half away!

Any advice on the cheapest way to get from Orlando to Tampa at like, 6 am on a Saturday? My grandparents will be gone on their own trip by that point (not to mention it's about a 2 hour drive one way from Sarasota to Orlando). Should we rent a car for one day? Take a taxi (and then faint at the bill)?

I really don't want to change our flights because they were costly to begin with. I'm so mad at myself right now. I've made sure that everything is planned out so well (first time going for my husband and son and it's his 5th birthday) and then I miss something THIS big?

 

[scm200]

Check to see if you can get a "service" to drive you from Orlando to the Tampa Airport - as in Car service, there are plenty in the area and that may be easier than renting a car, to get there. We use someone we like, email me if you want more info.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I am going to move this to the Transportation board.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

What airline are you flying on?
I would rent a car for one day. Also is there anyway to spend the night in Tampa before your flight home?

 

[TaraPA]

It might be cheaper to pay a change fee on your airline tickets (usually $50-$150 per ticket), to fly out of MCO, rather than hiring a car to take you to Tampa. Unless the flights out of Tampa suit you better & that's why you want to stick with that airport. I'm going to guess a car service or taxi will run you $200 minimum from Orlando to Tampa. A taxi from MCO to WDW is $65 plus tip, and that's about 1/3 the distance of Orlando to Tampa.

What airline are you on, and when are you flying? A lot of airlines change flight times, and if it's a significant time change, they will let you switch to another flight with no fees involved. On Airtran, even if they move your flight by 30 min. or so, you can change flights, flight days & even airports for free. This might work to your advantage, should your airline make a change.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Rent a car!

The car services aren't licensed for both airports so they are going to charge you for a round trip... (think lots of money)

I would also recommend driving over late the night before and getting a hotel near the airport. As you will see TPA is kind of in the middle of everything so you can (and will) hit rush hour traffic if you try in the morning which would increase the stress.

Try a car from National/Alamo where you can get it onsite.

I expect that change fees for the entire family are going to be more then the cost of the rental car and just because they change your time does not mean they will let you change airports. Those aren't really related options in most cases!

 

[Isaiah55.1]

Renting a car is probably going to be your best bet.

 

[telephoneman66]

Most car rental companies have a one way charge, if you drop it off in another city, it gets pricey.

You may want to consider hiring a private limo service to pick you up and drop you off.

 

[JennSaint]

Definitely look at renting a car first. Sometimes the one way drop fee charge isn't that much. I think getting a car service will be more expensive.

Where in Orlando are you staying? And what are your dates? Maybe we can help you find a cheap car rental for one day.

 

[Disneyhappy]

I would rent a car. I have flown into and out of a different airport in FL many, many times and never paid a one way fee on a car rental Good Luck!

 

[July19]

Thank you all for the wonderful responses!

We are flying with AirTran and leave on July 23rd 10 am. I inquired about changing the flights to Orlando and I couldn't pick my jaw up off the floor for 10 minutes at the fees. Should have chosen the insurance like I usually do. Pardon me as I kick myself repeatedly.

Renting a car will probably be the best bet. Note to self for next time...choose Orlando...=)

 

[DebbieB]

I agree with the suggestion to drive to Tampa the night before, find a hotel near the airport. Just looked at the calendar - July 23 is a Saturday so there probably would not be much traffic if you drive from WDW that morning.

Don't know if the insurance would have helped you. Most don't cover changing your mind.

Stonebridge Travel Protection protects you from certain unexpected risks associated with travel including delays due to adverse weather, unexpected sickness or injury, job loss and more. As with any travel plans, unexpected situations sometimes occur that affect even the best-planned trips.

 

[Traveliz]

Thank you all for the wonderful responses!

We are flying with AirTran and leave on July 23rd 10 am. I inquired about changing the flights to Orlando and I couldn't pick my jaw up off the floor for 10 minutes at the fees. Should have chosen the insurance like I usually do. Pardon me as I kick myself repeatedly.

Renting a car will probably be the best bet. Note to self for next time...choose Orlando...=)

But for Airtran you need to hope that the time of your flight changes - even by a minute...if it does at all you just need to call them and they will change your flights free of charge (different airport, different time, different day -- all no problem). The best bet is for you to pick a time each day to see if there has been a time change and if it happens, check the Orlando flights and know what you want and then give Airtran a call. They will change for free and are very nice about it.

If that fails I would do a back up car reservation but I think you might be better off $$$ to get the car in Tampa and take it to Orlando with you and then back again...sounds like maybe your grandparents were driving you to Orlando?

And I don't think the insurance would have helped you in this instance.

Good luck.
Liz

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

OT, but OP, please do not change the default font to post. The font you have chosen is very difficult to read.

 

[Pumba's Truth]

Thank you all for the wonderful responses!

We are flying with AirTran and leave on July 23rd 10 am. I inquired about changing the flights to Orlando and I couldn't pick my jaw up off the floor for 10 minutes at the fees. Should have chosen the insurance like I usually do. Pardon me as I kick myself repeatedly.

Renting a car will probably be the best bet. Note to self for next time...choose Orlando...=)

Looking at Hotwire - it looks like you can get a 2-day rental One-way MCO-TPA for about 42$ depending on the size of vehicle. So add to this fuel and you'll be all set.

**** NOTE: just chatted with Hotwire online chat service - the rates quoted include any one way drop off fees that might be incurred.

How you might be able to swing getting to MCO and what have you ... there are all sorts of options.

 

[NancyIL]

I am renting a car from Alamo at the Dolphin for drop-off at the Ft. Lauderdale airport the next day. Total with taxes is $39.85 for a compact. You would need to pick-up the car the day before, but it is doable if you leave WDW very early in the morning.

 

[Pumba's Truth]

Just checked National - renting a car on a Friday in Lake Buena Vista and returning Sat morning at TPA would come in at $40.34

I used May 6-7, 2011 & a compact car in my scenario but you might want to take a look.

 

[C&G'sMama]

Rent a car for the week from Tampa? See if you can get a good rate for the whole week you're at WDW.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

In Florida most rental car companies do NOT charge a drop off fee. I have picked up cars in one city and dropped off in anothe and never got charged.

Most car rental companies have a one way charge, if you drop it off in another city, it gets pricey.

You may want to consider hiring a private limo service to pick you up and drop you off.

 

[tjmw2727]

Agree with a PP - watch carefully for airtran to change flight times on one or both of your flights. If so they will usually make changes without a fee - keep your inbound flight to Tampa and change your outbound to Orlando so you can use DME for your return to the aiport.

Rental Car - FL is the exeption and doesn't usually have much of an extra charge for returing a rental to a different location within Florida. So look at a rental from Disney to Tampa.

Hotel - consider dropping a night at Disney and getting a room close to the Tampa airport the night before.

Good Luck