question on which airport to fly into

[kyomagi]

So we are going to disney in back to back years. In May of 2014.

if we fly from detroit to orlando, average delta flight is $325. However, someone mentioned to me if we flew to Tampa instead, we would be looking at cheaper fares. Which was correct, tickets would be $265 instead. There are three of us going and it would save me 120 on two tickets.

We are renting a car anyway so we can drive around and go to daytona.

The added driving time from Tampa to our resort is about an hour, compared to 25 minutes if we flew into MCO.


What do you think? worth the $120?

 

[sunkissed4]

What time of day are you flying in? Rush hour traffic or an accident will make that hour a lot longer. I live in Tampa and do the drive several times a month and after gas there and back, the savings isn't really worth the extra effort.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I have found Tampa car rentals to be slightly more than MCO. That may negate some of your savings.

What time is your return flight? as PP indicated, traffic will be more of a concern too

so hard to decide isn't it? maybe save money or go the easy route and pay a bit more

good luck!

 

[lwake]

Hi: I've done both Tampa and Orlando. I will never do Tampa again. As already stated, one hour can easily turn into more than that. Also, once you have the excitement of getting into Florida, do you really want to have to drive another hour to get to your hotel/resort and officially begin vacation? If the savings were more than $200 than I'd consider it, but for $120 minus gas, then nope, it's not worth it.

 

[michellejed]

We fly Spirit Air for less then $200 round trip from DTW to MCO, also check Southwest they run specials all the time.

For both airlines you need to just keep looking at their site not an off site. The prices change all the time.

Not sure what area you are coming from but Southwest now flies out of Grand Rapids to Orlando for less then $200.

Lansing has Allegiant air to Sanford/orlando, about an hour north of MCO. Not a fan of the airline but you can get some good deals if you can travel on certain days.

Hope this helps.

 

[brertoad]

I wouldn't fly into Tampa. We live south of Tampa, I wouldn't recommend it. We have driven to WDW hundreds of times. The traffic sometimes can be really awful. If you are landing anytime near rush hour, it will make your driving portion to Orlando pretty annoying. And, if there are any accidents, it gets a whole lot worse.

I think it would be worth it to just fly to Orlando Airport, it's a lot closer, it's going to save your time (budget on at least 1.5-2 hrs travel time each way) and gas (anywhere from $35-45 in gas depending on what type of rental car you get).

At Disney, you don't really need a car if staying on-site. Many people do that, and use the DME to get to and from the airport.

 

[ceecee]

Hi: I've done both Tampa and Orlando. I will never do Tampa again. As already stated, one hour can easily turn into more than that. Also, once you have the excitement of getting into Florida, do you really want to have to drive another hour to get to your hotel/resort and officially begin vacation? If the savings were more than $200 than I'd consider it, but for $120 minus gas, then nope, it's not worth it.

: We did this in June, we went to see family in Palm Harbor and were going to Clearwater for a few days. Otherwise, not worth it! Were you planning on renting a car anyway? Not as easy as Orlando or as cheap.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I prefer TPA.. It is a calmer airport. and if you think about it... it takes 30 to get from MCO to WDW and 1 hour and 15 minutes from TPA to WDW - on a good traffic day. So if you subtract the 30 minutes that it takes to get to WDW from MCO you are only spending an extra 40 minutes of your time to drive from TPA..

I don't fly into MCO anymore because TPA is cheaper and a quietier airport.

Plus you don't have to pay any tolls from TPA to MCO!

Once you get out of the city of Tampa it is such an easy drive to WDW.

If you need a grocery stop there is a Publix at Champions Gate exit off of I-4 its right off the highway and its only one exit from WDW.

 

[ceecee]

Depends on the time of day, it took us 1 1/2 hrs to get to Orlando. Renting our car in Tampa wasn't as easy either (we use Alamo so you just scan your paper, pick a car and leave at Orlando) Magical Express is even better and free if you don't need a car.

 

[stormer]

We flew into Tampa in Feb. Because it was a lot cheaper. It was a very nice airport and we didn't have any problems. We landed late at night so there wasn't any traffic driving to Disney. Coming home we had a flight that left Tampa at 7:00 pm on a Friday. We made it to about 6 miles before the airport and then we hit traffic. We planned for it so we still had plenty of time. If you can save a significant amount of money it is worth it

 

[brennanavery]

I don't know where in the metro Detroit area that you live but we are flying down to Orlando next month and got a great rate leaving out of Flint Bishop airport. Southwest flies out of Bishop. It is a much smaller airport than DTW. Flying nonstop right into MCO. If this would work for you, I would check it out.