Tampa Bay to Orlando

[SadieG]

I just saw a SWA flight from Raleigh to Tampa Bay for $44.00 one way. Is this crazy to take this and drive to DW? We will rent a car anyway. How far is it? Is the drive complicated? All the flights from RDU to MCO are much higher. What do you think?

 

[Robert P]

From Tampa airport to WDW exit 64B is @ 72 miles. About 2-3 miles to get from the airport to I-4, then head East to WDW. Easy route to follow.
I-4 traffic is fairly unpredictable (at any time of day) on that stretch, so the drive may be a real breeze (doubtful), or take 1.5 hours or longer, if you hit a traffic jam. If you could stay away from rush hour traffic (almost guaranteed to be slow going), I would say go for it (since you are renting a car anyway).

 

[Disneyjosh229]

If you can get that $44 dollars take it! Thats a great deal and the drive from Tampa is not bad, if you catch it on off hours (NOT rush hours). I beleive the construction has towned down a bit, so its a pretty nice sail...

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm a driving chicken, but made the drive from Orlando to Tampa last month. It was really easy. I found that the highways/roads in Florida (at least in this area) were incredibly well-marked. I never had a problem. Tampa Intnl. is easy to get out of and onto the highway. We left Orlando at about 8:30 on a Sat morning, and reached Tampa Intnl (stayed at a Doubletree Guest Suites just past the airport) about 10:00, driving about 65, since I wasn't familier with the roads. I'll do it again in a heatbeat if a good fare into Tampa comes along.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

I'm a driving chicken, but made the drive from Orlando to Tampa last month. It was really easy. I found that the highways/roads in Florida (at least in this area) were incredibly well-marked. I never had a problem. Tampa Intnl. is easy to get out of and onto the highway. We left Orlando at about 8:30 on a Sat morning, and reached Tampa Intnl (stayed at a Doubletree Guest Suites just past the airport) about 10:00, driving about 65, since I wasn't familier with the roads. I'll do it again in a heatbeat if a good fare into Tampa comes along.

Totally agree, the Tampa area is very large but roads are properly marked and I cant say enough about the excellence of Tampa Intl Airport, just a wonderful, easily accessable airport!!

 

[Imelda in TX]

We were planning to rent a car anyway. Our flight arrives at about 10pm so traffic shouldn't be a problem.

 

[gottagodisney]

Yee- Haw!!!

Found a $40 one way on SW from Austin, TX to Tampa this morning. Booked 4 roundtrips for my family -total $457!!!

I have been scouring the ding fares for Austin to MCO for months and nada squada. There was a very brief ding fare on Sunday evening although even that was going to be $950. It has been driving me nuts because it seems like there were other cities with good fares to Orlando, just not Austin.

I am going to be with you on that trek from Tampa. Just couldn't pass up the deal. I was considering renting a car anyway. Now I have the best of both worlds.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Yee- Haw!!!

Found a $40 one way on SW from Austin, TX to Tampa this morning. Booked 4 roundtrips for my family -total $457!!!

I have been scouring the ding fares for Austin to MCO for months and nada squada. There was a very brief ding fare on Sunday evening although even that was going to be $950. It has been driving me nuts because it seems like there were other cities with good fares to Orlando, just not Austin.

I am going to be with you on that trek from Tampa. Just couldn't pass up the deal. I was considering renting a car anyway. Now I have the best of both worlds.

Good for you! If you want an insiders tip, here it is. If you are arriving during "normal businness hours" into tampa, check car rental rates with Budget's location on Westshore Blvd (NOT the airport location). You avoid all of the taxes and fee's associated with renting at the airport and Budget will refund $5 of the $8 cab fare to get to the location. Also, if you are considering spending the night in Tampa before heading to orlando, try staying at either the Best Western Westshore (fairly cheap) or the Springhill Suites by Marriott. Both of the locations are right next door to the car rental facility....

Hope this helps!

 

[gottagodisney]

Thanks so much for the tips Disneyjosh!! We will be arriving a day early now around 7:30 and staying in Tampa. I have never been there so the hotel recommendations are great. I still need to get the car and hotel thing arranged. Thanks again for the assist!

 

[ms.ojo]

Great tips on Tampa and Disney! We flew in here once yrs ago when we were visiting w/ my parents first. It is a very nice airport and so easy to navigate.

Unfortunately it's no cheaper for us to fly there than to MCO this time around. Like some of you, I'm still waiting for a decent DING. At this point I have us flying into MCO...at an OK ding...not great. And I have nothing booked for our return yet! LOL. We may just have to stay there.

 

[Tink10]

We also got Dinged with Chicago to Tampa for $44 for our October trip......Needless to say, we grabbed it in a hurry.

We've made the drive several times & it's really not bad at all.....Just get on I4 and you'll be there before you know it

 

[c8k6k]

Bumping this thread for another DIS'er

 

[Sheriff Woody]

Are there any shuttles from TPA to DIS? How much would a limo or town car cost?

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Are there any shuttles from TPA to DIS? How much would a limo or town car cost?

Im unaware of any shuttles from TPA to DIS. My guess on a town car would probibly be around $150 plus tip one way, so your much better off renting a car...