Tampa airport

[Pluto80]

We've always flown into Orlando International Airport from the UK in the past, but have found and booked a really good rate to fly into Tampa this time. I was hoping someone could tell me a bit about the airport and how the drive to WDW is. Thanks

 

[writerguyfl]

Compared to Orlando International Airport (MCO), Tampa International Airport (TPA) is usually a breeze. Much of the difference is due to size. In 2017, MCO served 44 million passengers across 129 gates in four airside terminals. TPA had just under 20 million passengers that year across 59 gates in four airside terminals.

I've never flown into either airport from overseas, so I can't comment on that part of your trip. Hopefully, someone else will be able to help.

TPA just opened a centralized rental car center. Instead of waiting for a bus set up by your rental car company, you'll board an automated tram. The term "centralized" refers to the fact that most rental firms are in one place, not that the building is central to the airport. It's actually quite a ways away. This YouTube video clocks the trip at about 4 minutes 10 second.

As for the drive, it's pretty easy. It's basically a straight shot, all along multi-lane highways.

Link to Bing Maps: https://binged.it/2QbLKDA

According to Bing Maps, it's 121km between TPA and Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort (which is the arbitrary point I chose at Walt Disney World). Without traffic, it takes an hour and 14 minutes.

The only issues you may face would be if you flight arrives at a time when rush hour is happening. On the linked map, you can enter a date and time and get an approximation of the travel time based on past traffic history.

 

[Pluto80]

Thank you so much for your help. We’re considering staying in Tampa for a couple of days on arrival and visiting the beach as we’ve never done that before. Very useful to know about the car rental too, as we obviously won’t be able to get Magical Express

 

[jerseygal]

We also found a much better rate for our flight home this mid December from Tampa International. We saved $110 per person(3 of us flying, $330)! All the years visiting Orlando, never thought to price Tampa International, happy I did! We were renting a car anyway since this will be a Universal trip, so this is perfect for us. We are departing early evening on a Sunday, so we should not face any rush hour traffic. For our future trips, will check airline rates for both airports.

 

[jerseygal]

Thank you so much for your help. We’re considering staying in Tampa for a couple of days on arrival and visiting the beach as we’ve never done that before. Very useful to know about the car rental too, as we obviously won’t be able to get Magical Express

You may want to consider Clearwater Beach, which is lovely. I have been following other threads and travel boards and I hear that there is no Red Tide there now. Hopefully, it will stay that way!

 

[jerseygal]

Compared to Orlando International Airport (MCO), Tampa International Airport (TPA) is usually a breeze. Much of the difference is due to size. In 2017, MCO served 44 million passengers across 129 gates in four airside terminals. TPA had just under 20 million passengers that year across 59 gates in four airside terminals.


TPA just opened a centralized rental car center. Instead of waiting for a bus set up by your rental car company, you'll board an automated tram. The term "centralized" refers to the fact that most rental firms are in one place, not that the building is central to the airport. It's actually quite a ways away. This YouTube video clocks the trip at about 4 minutes 10 second.

THANK YOU for posting this. So interesting, a centralized rental car center served by a tram instead of taking a shuttle bus!

 

[kristenrice]

In 2015, we took a 7am non-stop flight into TPA and landed at 9:00am on a Thursday morning. We picked up our rental car and we pulled into the parking lot at AKL at 11:15am. Honestly? Even if we had flown into MCO and used DME, I don’t think it would have been too much faster.

For that trip, we only had the rental for a few hours. We picked it up at TPA, drove to the resort and dropped off our luggage. Then we made a Target run for groceries and grabbed some off-site fast-food for lunch. I dropped off DH and the kids back at the resort once our room was ready (noon!) and then I took the car to the Car Care Center to return it. They took me back to AKL on the shuttle (all by myself!) and it took less than an hour. I wouldn’t hesitant to fly into TPA again if the price was right.

 

[writerguyfl]

I dropped off DH and the kids back at the resort once our room was ready (noon!) and then I took the car to the Car Care Center to return it. They took me back to AKL on the shuttle (all by myself!) and it took less than an hour. I wouldn’t hesitant to fly into TPA again if the price was right.

You may know this, but other people reading might not. Alamo also have locations at the Walt Disney World Dolphin and the Hilton Buena Vista Palace.

The Walt Disney World Dolphin is perfect if you are going directly to Epcot or Disney's Hollywood Studios. Both theme parks are within walking distance. Or, you can take the boat.

The Hilton Buena Vista location is across the street from the Marketplace section of Disney Springs. So, it's perfect if you're happen to be going to Disney Springs. It's also a good location if you're doing an after hours drop-off in the evening. You can leave the car and then walk over to the Disney Springs' bus loop for a ride back to any Disney Resort. Buses run until 2am daily. (You can also do an after hours return the other on-site locations. But, you'd need to find our own transportation from the Car Care Center or the Walt Disney World Dolphin.)

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm not sure how international flights are handled, but for domestic, once you arrive, you take a short tram to the main terminal. Then you go down two levels to baggage claim. The next step is going back up three(?) levels to catch the tram to the rental car location.

I was REALLY impressed with TPA. I would definitely consider it an option to MCO.

 

[Pluto80]

You may want to consider Clearwater Beach, which is lovely. I have been following other threads and travel boards and I hear that there is no Red Tide there now. Hopefully, it will stay that way!

Yes, definitely going to visit there. What on earth is red tide?

 

[jerseygal]

Yes, definitely going to visit there. What on earth is red tide?

There have been discussions on Dis as well as the internet.Red Tide has affected the west coast of Florida beaches from Sarasota area north. Recent reports have said that Clearwater has not been effected. It lasted 10 months and residents, businesses, and tourism has been down. Supposedly bad for respiratory conditions.

 

[MrKnight]

There are 7+ airlines that fly between Europe and MCO, I would strongly recommend looking at all airline options direct to MCO prior to considering TPA. Keep in mind that there are some non-traditional budget-friendly airlines that fly between the UK and MCO such as Norwegian Air Shuttle and Thomas Cook.

The drive from TPA to WDW is doable but it adds nearly two hours of commute time when you factor in car pickup at TPA, traffic on I-4, road delays, weather, navigation, car return in Orlando, etc. especially for an overseas traveler that is not familiar with driving in the US. Just at thought..

 

[Pluto80]

It’s Nerweigan we booked with. We flew with them into MCO this summer and have booked to fly with them to Tampa. It’s was around £400 cheaper to do so, so well worth it for us

 

[nkereina]

We have flown in and out of Tampa before. I find Orlando's airport to be nicer, but Tampa's airport was just as easy (or easier) to navigate. I agree with PP that the area of the Tampa airport is usually congested with traffic, particularly during rush hours which is important to know depending on when you're arriving. Otherwise, we found the drive to be a straight shot and relatively easy, albeit a longer commute than from Orlando airport.

I also agree with PP that if you decide to stay to visit the beach, Clearwater Beach is my absolute favorite! Its an easy and a relatively quick drive from the Tampa airport. There are a few hotels right on the strip that would be in walking distance of everything. The beach is gorgeous and there's tons of shopping and dining on the main strip. Also, keep in mind that the beaches are the opposite direction of Orlando, so I would add maybe 45-60 minutes extra coming from Clearwater Beach or the surrounding area when driving to WDW.

 

[jerseygal]

I'm not sure how international flights are handled, but for domestic, once you arrive, you take a short tram to the main terminal. Then you go down two levels to baggage claim. The next step is going back up three(?) levels to catch the tram to the rental car location.

I was REALLY impressed with TPA. I would definitely consider it an option to MCO.

So if you want to grab something quick to eat(we are flying into Tampa later evening, about 8:30PM) want to grab say something like Burger 21 and be along our way..You pick up your bag, then where would places to eat like Burger 21 be? I assume Main terminal? Know what floor by any chance? Thanks!

 

[sam_gordon]

So if you want to grab something quick to eat(we are flying into Tampa later evening, about 8:30PM) want to grab say something like Burger 21 and be along our way..You pick up your bag, then where would places to eat like Burger 21 be? I assume Main terminal? Know what floor by any chance? Thanks!

If I remember correctly,
Level 1: Baggage Claim
Level 2: Ticketing
Level 3: Main Terminal
Level 4: Tram to Rental Car

 

[charmed59]

There is the International Plaza mall and Bay Street just outside the airport. I use the mall as my “cellphone lot” when picking up people, it’s 4 minutes from walking to the parking lot to arrivals. The food court is open until 9pm, the restauants on Bay Street are open much later.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just FYI, Clearwater is now in a tourism crisis situation due to Red Tide; it blew into Tampa Bay on Friday, and 17 tonnes of dead marine life has been removed from Pinellas in-shore waters in the past 4 days. You don't say when your trip is planned, but effects from red tide are likely to linger for several more weeks unless a major hurricane comes through near Florida's west coast and breaks up the bloom.

This kind of red tide is caused by Karenia brevis algae. Not only does it cause fish-kills, but it becomes airborne, and causes respiratory difficulty for humans in proximity to shore. My DS lives a mile from shore in St. Pete, and he says that the air quality has been nasty since last Friday.

At TPA, there are restaurants lining the corridors that lead in from the concourse shuttle trains, but the food court is upstairs overlooking the security area. If you are arriving after 7:30 pm on a weekday and heading east, I'd advise grabbing food in the terminal; most local restaurants begin to close their kitchens after 9 pm on weekdays, so you would be cutting it close after going through Customs & Immigration and retrieving your rental car. If you do decide to live dangerously and you are headed to the coast, there are some places on Rocky Point that stay open a bit later than most. (Rocky Point is the nearby island on US60 that you cross from the airport before starting over the (quite long) Courtney Campbell Causeway bridge in the direction of Clearwater.)

 

[Pluto80]

Oh my goodness, I had no idea, that sounds awful. Our trip isn’t until next July though.

Thanks for everyone’s help, I really do appreciate it

 

[jerseygal]

Just FYI, Clearwater is now in a tourism crisis situation due to Red Tide; it blew into Tampa Bay on Friday, and 17 tonnes of dead marine life has been removed from Pinellas in-shore waters in the past 4 days. You don't say when your trip is planned, but effects from red tide are likely to linger for several more weeks unless a major hurricane comes through near Florida's west coast and breaks up the bloom.

This kind of red tide is caused by Karenia brevis algae. Not only does it cause fish-kills, but it becomes airborne, and causes respiratory difficulty for humans in proximity to shore. My DS lives a mile from shore in St. Pete, and he says that the air quality has been nasty since last Friday.

At TPA, there are restaurants lining the corridors that lead in from the concourse shuttle trains, but the food court is upstairs overlooking the security area. If you are arriving after 7:30 pm on a weekday and heading east, I'd advise grabbing food in the terminal; most local restaurants begin to close their kitchens after 9 pm on weekdays, so you would be cutting it close after going through Customs & Immigration and retrieving your rental car. If you do decide to live dangerously and you are headed to the coast, there are some places on Rocky Point that stay open a bit later than most. (Rocky Point is the nearby island on US60 that you cross from the airport before starting over the (quite long) Courtney Campbell Causeway bridge in the direction of Clearwater.)

Thanks for update. Sure hope that the Red Tide Resolves Quickly; Such beautiful beaches on the West Coast.