Tampa to Orlando?

[DisneyMomJen]

We are trying to book a trip to Disney over Spring Break. The airfare keeps going higher and higher. We can fly into Tampa reasonably and then depart from MCO. Has anyone flown into Tampa? Is it worth flying into there? How far is it to the Disney Resorts?

Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

I believe a lot of people fly into Tampa and then rent a car for the drive to Orlando/WDW. It's about an hour or so drive. I'll be doing the reverse in May...leaving WDW, driving to Tampa to visit ds and then flying out of Tampa. It looks to be pretty easy.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have visited Tampa a number of times to visit friends while a have been at Disney, driving from WDW and back. I find it to be about 60-90 minutes, depending on time of day, etc.

 

[Alexander]

The biggest headache driving to or from Tampa is the construction that is never-ending! Plan to add 30 to 60 minutes to your drive for construction delays.

 

[Pembo]

We've done this. It was very easy. The drive to Orlando wasn't bad at all and took a little over an hour. I say go for it.

 

[ducklite]

If you hit no construction (unlikely) and no traffic (also unlikely, I've been jammed up on I-4 at midnight) it's about 70 minutes. I'd plan for at least 90, and on the way back to catch a plane minimum two.

Anne

 

[goofy4tink]

If you hit no construction (unlikely) and no traffic (also unlikely, I've been jammed up on I-4 at midnight) it's about 70 minutes. I'd plan for at least 90, and on the way back to catch a plane minimum two.

Anne

Hey Anne....so do you think it's 'unlikely' that I'll ever get to Tampa??? Dear God, I hope I don't get lost. Any hints on getting from WDW (POP) to the DoubleTree Suites on that causeway (below the airport)? I just know I'm going to end up seeing signs for Naples..I just know it!!

 

[jlovesee]

I would definitly do Tampa if its a significant difference in price. I've never done it personally, but my husband and my mom both have at different times. My mom flew in for our wedding through Tampa (she had only been to Florida twice before in her life), and she said it was very easy. My husband for our food testing before our wedding (I had to work!) and he also thought it was very easy. I agree with previous posters that you should consider about 1 1/2 to get there though. Sometimes it can be less.

Jennifer

 

[zurgswife]

We are trying to book a trip to Disney over Spring Break. The airfare keeps going higher and higher. We can fly into Tampa reasonably and then depart from MCO. Has anyone flown into Tampa? Is it worth flying into there? How far is it to the Disney Resorts?

Thanks!

This is exactly what I'm doing in 2 weeks...we fly into Tampa. get a rental car for 1 day and drive over to Orlando. Usually takes me about 70-80mins....Our departure flight the next week is out of MCO so we are taking ME to the airport....

 

[taimgxe]

We are flying in this Wednesday morning to go to Disney. We are flying out of Orlando the following Tuesday. We do it because we can usually get better prices to Tampa than Orlando from Houston during Spring Break. The trip is about 70 minutes assuming no problems. We got stuck in construction traffic after Lakeland which is about half way to Disney two years ago. What should have been about another 30 minutes ended up being about an hour and 20 minutes. However, that didn't sway us from doing it again and again. What helps is that the rental company doesn't charge a one-way fee to drop off at Orlando. Make sure you check that out!!!

Yeah, we are going in four days!!!!

 

[ducklite]

Hey Anne....so do you think it's 'unlikely' that I'll ever get to Tampa??? Dear God, I hope I don't get lost. Any hints on getting from WDW (POP) to the DoubleTree Suites on that causeway (below the airport)? I just know I'm going to end up seeing signs for Naples..I just know it!!

In all honesty, I'd need to look at a map to get to the airport, haven't flown in/out of there for a year now. Usually I get off long before that to go to Ybor. Now if you want to know where the hotspots are, that's a different story LOL! (Although my favorite Ybor club closed down without warning last week. )

Anne

 

[RenaissanceChef]

We have flown into Daytona and Drove into Orlando, 52 minutes from the time we got on the interstate till we got to the first exit for the Disney Theme Parks.In either direction east or west I-4 is like a like a shop-vac, it sucks!!.

 

[agnes!]

We are flying in this Wednesday morning to go to Disney. We are flying out of Orlando the following Tuesday. We do it because we can usually get better prices to Tampa than Orlando from Houston during Spring Break. The trip is about 70 minutes assuming no problems. We got stuck in construction traffic after Lakeland which is about half way to Disney two years ago. What should have been about another 30 minutes ended up being about an hour and 20 minutes. However, that didn't sway us from doing it again and again. What helps is that the rental company doesn't charge a one-way fee to drop off at Orlando. Make sure you check that out!!!

Yeah, we are going in four days!!!!

It is my understanding that it's against Florida state law for car rental companies to charge one-way/drop-off fees, so you should be able to do this using almost any major car rental place.

agnes!

 

[cranbiz]

A lot depends on where the location is and the company as far as drop charges. Most comanies in the "orlando area" do not charge a drop charge for another location in the Orlando area. Tampa is part of that area.

Now DB and I drove a car to Naples for one of his clients and Budget charged a drop charge from Naples to MCO for the car we needed to return to my house.

 

[ducklite]

It is my understanding that it's against Florida state law for car rental companies to charge one-way/drop-off fees, so you should be able to do this using almost any major car rental place.

agnes!

No, no law like that.

Most rental agencies consider Tampa and Orlando in the same zone, and don't charge a drop off fee when you return within the zone you rented in.

Anne

 

[DisneyMomJen]

Thanks everyone! I just booked Newark to Tampa one way for $119 a person vs. Newark to Orlando for $199 a person. For 6 people, that's a savings of $480. The airfare for this Tampa flight went up to $139 yesterday. When I saw it come down to $119 this morning I booked right away. Hopefully the drive goes smooth from Tampa to Orlando! Thanks again!

 

[taimgxe]

I will try to report on my driving experience when I come back from Disney. 2 Days Away!!!! We will be gone a week, so expect a report sometime next week. We fly in Wednesday around 11:00, so I expect a smoother drive than if I was driving in rush hour traffic.

You can also check the Florida 511 traffic site to help with your driving. http://www.fl511.com/