Tampa airport....

[dopeyfanatic]

I've been checking threads but most seem to be old. We're looking at going next June (2008) and I've been comparing airfare. Very disappointed with the SW prices today. I checked and found a rate of $258 from SFO to TPA. This is at least $100 cheaper than going to Orlando. My question is, how is that drive? We're thinking of taking a redeye the night before, so we'd be landing around 8-9 am on a Friday. The flight back we'd leave around 5-7 pm on a Friday. I know it's over a year away, but is there still a lot of construction there? Is the drive worth the savings? We'll have three little kids and I don't want them to be too worn out. So how much LONGER of a drive is it than MCO? Thanks for your help! If these prices continue for next year, I'd book them as soon as I can as this is cheaper than anything we've seen, and I'd be happy knowing I have my airfare! Everything else can wait until the last minute!

 

[helenk]

MCO is about a half of an hour from Disney, Tampa is about an hour and a half away.
You would have to rent a car, so consider that in while deciding the amount your may be saving by landing in Tampa.

 

[dopeyfanatic]

We're staying offsite so we have to rent a car anyway. This is savings straight off the top.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Airfare information that far ahead is worthless unless you're buying your tickets now.....which you DON'T want to do! Don't even think of buying tickets any earlier than 6 months before your travel date and perhaps even closer than that. The airlines run their sales a few months ahead of the next set of travel dates; that's when you buy. Only then can you decide whether TPA is going to be cheaper than MCO. Sometimes it is, often the fares are the same. Tampa is an easy drive with a rental car but there is no reason whatsoever to make such a decision about a mid-2008 trip now.

BobK/Orlando

 

[KayR]

We did Tampa to Emerald Island Resort last November.

Was expecting an hour and half drive. Drive was just over an hour to the Walmart on the 27/192 junction (to stop for groceries). But that was leaving TPA at 1am after landing just after midnight. So not much traffic on the road. The new freeway is open now which I believe shaves a bit more time off the journey (Can't remember the number - I think it was the 429?).

I would fly into TPA again. It was an easy drive.

-Kay

 

[txvjc]

We flew into Tampa becuase we couldn't get a decent flight into MCO and drove to orlando. The drive is about 2 hours, but it was nice. There's not a whole lot to look at except trees and big bird nests on top of the power poles. I would recommed a side trip to Clearwater beach if you have the time. It's like 30 min from the airport, and it let DD get rid of the energy built up sitting on the plane, and she slept the whole way to Orlando.

 

[dopeyfanatic]

I'm not buying right now. However I have been pricing for OVER a year, and the prices have not changed. I could have booked last July for the same prices I'm saying now. I'm simply getting a price comparison and trying to decide if Tampa is worth considering. As soon as my dates come out, if I see a good price I'm booking it. I'm not waiting until super close to my dates because I have been comparing prices for this June and last June long enough to know if I see a decent fare. $258 is INSANE for CA to FL. Everything else we've been seeing has been between $350-$400. I'm unsure about when Airtran realeases their dates though because currently they're only going through October.

 

[Gdad]

we'd be landing around 8-9 am on a Friday. The flight back we'd leave around 5-7 pm on a Friday.

Friday traffic on I-4 would probably be fine after 9:00 am but the afternoon say 3:00 - 4:00 may be a little dicey. Definately plan on a little longer to get back than it took getting over there.

 

[nhpooh]

I have driven to Tampa from Orlando and it takes me about a hour. It's a nice and easy drive.

 

[dopeyfanatic]

Thanks guys! This is a definite possibility for us if prices stay the way they have been!

 

[NJDad18]

It took us about 1 hour and 20 min to get from TPA to WDW last Aug. We rented a mini van from Alamo which had a DVD player so the kids were occupied. As the OP said there really is not too much to look at on I-4.

Last year was the first time we have ever flown in and out of TPA, but I felt that the airport was less crowded than MCO and it was a breeze to go through security.

We're flying into TPA again this June. I just can't get a good rate into MCO.

 

[Hillbeans]

It took us about 1 hour and 20 min to get from TPA to WDW last Aug. We rented a mini van from Alamo which had a DVD player so the kids were occupied. As the OP said there really is not too much to look at on I-4.

Last year was the first time we have ever flown in and out of TPA, but I felt that the airport was less crowded than MCO and it was a breeze to go through security.

We're flying into TPA again this June. I just can't get a good rate into MCO.

Same with us. We're paying $99 each way to fly into Tampa from Newark. I guess the demand to fly from Newark to MCO is so high the airlines can get the prices they want for those seats. We don't mind the hour drive since we're renting a car. I hadn't been able to find a rate under $300 a ticket for our dates around Easter and with small children a stop-over was not an option. This will work well for us and the cost savings can't be beat.