Tampa airport instead of MCO, super cheap flights

[Ralph&Pam]

It may have changed in recent years, but I remember airline bag check desks at the rental car facility. At least there used to be for Delta.

Still there for SW. Located just prior to the entry to the train to the terminal.

 

[kristenrice]

I'm anxiously awaiting SW to release their flight schedule/prices for our October trip...
...but...

If I look at TPA instead of MCO right now, I am looking at the following scenario:

• TPA flight times are MUCH better, both to and from our home airport, with appropriate layovers (no 4-hour stop in Chicago)
• I have enough SW points to cover all (4) legs of our trip (it's just DD18 and myself so four, one-way tickets) to/from TPA; flying into MCO would mean I need to pay OOP for (1) one-way ticket, or buy the additional points to cover it.
• The cost of a rental car (via UnderCoverTourist) for the ENTIRE trip is only $244, which is just slightly more than the cost of the towncar service that I would book for us to get from MCO to WDW if we opted to fly into MCO, so the "added" transportation from TPA is a non-issue. A one-way rental from TPA to MCO is $184 so it would make more sense to just keep it for the whole trip. (*Our first night will be at the MCO Hyatt as of now)

We have flown IN to TPA once before (in 2015) and it was seamless, but we did a one-way rental car and we returned home via MCO. I do NOT like the idea of driving around WDW so I don't think the rental car would be used, however we are doing a split-stay so it would save us the cost of the Uber to move our luggage and groceries. Normally, I would NEVER rent a car because I do not like driving in unfamiliar areas, plus I am in a vehicle all day for work so I do not want to drive on vacation. The idea of saving money (or breaking even and adding the "convenience" of a rental car) is appealing to me, but I am not completely sure I am ready to commit to flying in to TPA yet. I guess I just have to wait until March 30 when SWA releases their October flight schedule.

 

[John De Young]

We have flown IN to TPA once before (in 2015) and it was seamless,

You actually did fly into TPA in 1975 and 1983, but maybe you don't remember.

 

[dvczerfs]

Great tip! As someone who lives in tampa, I can say it's a pretty easy trip to wdw from here. Just expect traffic to back up at exit 55.

enjoy your trip!

I recommend flying into MCO…. Screw up their traffic. Lol
( I live not too far off exit 55 lol )

 

[kristenrice]

You actually did fly into TPA in 1975 and 1983, but maybe you don't remember.

Well, I was only a year old, Dad…but I dont remember the airport portion of the 1983 trip, when I was a bit older.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We rent a car most trips, and have often used the TPA option over MCO. It usually takes us 45-60 minutes longer to drive to Disney from TPA than MCO, but most experiences have been great. Over the years, it even led to us adding a few Tampa days onto our trips - there's a lot of fun stuff to do around Tampa if you have some extra days! But TPA , in general, is a way better experience than MCO in recent years.

 

[mamamia2005]

We are from the UK and have booked to fly into Tampa in August. The flight prices for us to fly into MCO would require us to sell a kidney, so Tampa it is!
We don't drive while in Florida, so will be using a car service. Even allowing for the extra $ to get to LBV from TPA rather than MCO, we've still saved hundreds of £'s.

 

[HMcH]

I've flown into Tampa several times for Disney trips. Sometimes I round trip through TPA, others I fly into TPA and out from MCO. Really just depends on money savings. Rental cars prices vary, but I've gotten extremely cheap cars picking up in TPA and dropping off in MCO. I guess the rental companies needed the car moved lol.

Another advantage of TPA is you really don't have to worry about tolls. If you are simply driving to Disney, you just drive down I4. MCO and tolls can be a pain.

 

[MI_firefighter]

We are flying to TPA this April due to the fact that the prices were SUBSTANTIALLY cheaper. This plus we rent a car was a no brainer. We're looking at it like an adventure since it's a new airport for us.

 

[herdtoDisney]

I live in the Tampa Bay area and get the fear of I-4 LOL! I avoid it myself. If you are willing to try a different way, you can avoid I-4 and take 275 to 75 to sr 50 (then 27 to I drive, I believe) and go across that way. It would add maybe 20 minutes?

 

[seashoreCM]

If y ou shun I-4 I guess it will take you at least 40 minutes more, mainly waiting at traffic lights or following a Sunday driver or heavy truck..

 

[herdtoDisney]

If y ou shun I-4 I guess it will take you at least 40 minutes more, mainly waiting at traffic lights or following a Sunday driver or heavy truck..

It does add more miles. But a backup on I-4 is pretty much inevitable at some point or points. So you will lose time there. I never take I-4 to Orlando.

 

[sam_gordon]

It does add more miles. But a backup on I-4 is pretty much inevitable at some point or points. So you will lose time there. I never take I-4 to Orlando.

It's been a couple of years, but I went down to Florida when my dad was in Moffit. I drove my mom multiple days to/from her house in Poinciana to Tampa. In three round trips, we never had a significant (>5 minute) delay on I4. We went from I4/I75 to Champions Gate.

 

[Stratman50th]

Great tip! As someone who lives in tampa, I can say it's a pretty easy trip to wdw from here. Just expect traffic to back up at exit 55.

enjoy your trip!

I live off of I-4 almost in the middle between Tampa and Orlando. I do everything in my power to talk friends and family into flying into/out of Tampa. Especially if I'm doing the pickup/drop off. I hate I-4 around Orlando! It's usually horrible from Champions Gate to 417 heading to, and same going back. 75/275 isn't great and it does get congested but still seems to at least move.

 

[sarah4770]

Well southwest just changed my flight into Tampa. I had booked a non stop , but now all the flights show a stop . Now they have me coming in at 1 am.
it looks like Southwest changed a lot of their routes.

 

[dvczerfs]

I live off rt27, (exit 55 of I4) before I leave my driveway, I always punch in WDW. My GPS takes me the fastest way. 99 times out of 100 it takes me on I4. The traffic is slow but moving. Rarely do you come to a complete stop. Once you pass Champions Gate, things start rolling to exit 62.
Just checking now, it’s a 30 minute ride. That’s about 14 1/2 miles. Most of that time will be spent on rt27. Pending how you hit the traffic lights.
Usually, it’s worse heading back home. I4 backs up as far as you can see.
Sometimes I’ll take Ronald Reagan off of 27 to lake Wilson rd. to rt192. But, try 192 can become a parking lot.
Welcome to Central Florida. Lol

 

[sam_gordon]

Well southwest just changed my flight into Tampa. I had booked a non stop , but now all the flights show a stop . Now they have me coming in at 1 am.
it looks like Southwest changed a lot of their routes.

If you're renting a car, check and see what time the rentals close. We got in about 11:30P a couple of weeks ago, and I had checked. I thought they closed at 1am. I don't know if they wait until the last flight or not.

 

[sarah4770]

If you're renting a car, check and see what time the rentals close. We got in about 11:30P a couple of weeks ago, and I had checked. I thought they closed at 1am. I don't know if they wait until the last flight or not.

Thanks. I did not even think about that.

 

[Pooh's World]

Tampa is a nicer airport. Especially the new area of the airport.

There is a way to get downtown to get on the Flix Bus to Orlando but it's a little complicated and the bus station are sketchy.