Worth savings to Fly to Tampa?

[pomcoach]

My husband was just saying last night that we could save $50 dollars if we'd fly into Tampa instead of Orlando. I told him "No", because I thought it was a 2 hr. drive. But I see someone timed it, and it was 65 min. We have 5 people going, so that would be a $250 savings. I don't know. We just get so eager to be at WDW!! Also, there's just something exciting about the Orlando airport! What do you all think? Thanks!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

you can get your rental car for the same price. Orlando is on the Southwest side of Orlando, towards Tampa. The drive from Tampa is not bad, Interstate, and the Tampa airport is really nice. If it meant $250.00 savings to me, I would not hesitate. I am sure that $250 could be well spent at WDW.

RweTHEREyet?

 

[Lewisc]

65 minutes is with no traffic, allow 2 hours. Be careful with your rental car and luggage, many rental cars have small trunks and small back seats. You may want a min-van or at least a full size car.

 

[Pat]

We have flown into Tampa and rented our minivan from there. We got there before noon and it only took us about an hour to get to WDW. The flight to Orlando was full the morning we wish to book, so took the Tampa one. We did fly out of Orlando on the way home. If $250 is important to your budget and you are renting a vehicle anyway, I would say go for it. If this is your first time to Florida, it is a nice way to see part of the country.

If you are flying in the morning and will arrive before noon, you can't get into most of the hotels until afternoon anyway.

Pat

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

2 weeks ago, I did the drive from the Disney to Tampa airport - only 48 minutes. The drive from Orlando airport to Disney usually takes me 20-30 minutes. So it really is not too bad to drive from Tampa

 

[jeffreyml]

It takes us about an hour to get from Tampa to Disney. There never seems to be as much traffic as there is coming from Orlando to Disney.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I have driven in 5pm traffic and never had it take more than 65-70 mins from Tampa. I refuse to be seen in a minivan or suv (hate them) and have always found the intermediate and full size cars to have more than enough room to accomodate luggage etc. Regardless of where you land, the rental car agencies have the same classes of cars, Tampa does not just have small ones.
If you can save that kind of money, I say, go for it, it is an easy drive.

Gail

Offsite - 88
CBR - 89 & 90
PO - 91
OKW-92,OKW-93,OKW-96, OKW-97 2X'S,OKW-98 2X's
OKW-99 2X'S,OKW-00 2X's
Jamaica-SandalsInn 98&00

 

[CapeCod95]

It's really not a bad drive from Tampa to Orlando. I've done it several times - a straight shot up the highway to Disney. The rental cars are on-site at the Tampa airport (no shuttle service required). We have a minivan reserved for us at Dollar at the Tampa Airport for $209/week, so we'll have plenty of room for the hour drive to Disney this April.

 

[tinkrbells]

Did you plan on renting a car?
If you did, then the savings pays for the rental.
However, if you did not plan on renting a car, then you aren't saving $250, but you are saving some.

"...when you wish upon a star"
'97 Offsite
'98 Offsite (never again)
Feb '99 WL
Jan 2000 ASMu & DxL
Feb 2001 ASMu & WL

 

[Dagny]

We always fly into Tampa for the savings. We have found that renting a car in Tampa is less of a hassle as well. We have done this the last three years and have foudn the drive -which is only about an hour - really enjoyable. We talk about how much fun we are goig to have and watching the anticipation build with the kids is kinda fun. If you can save $250 - do it!

<font color=red><font size=3.5>Dagny
<FONT size=3> <ITALICS> Co-Host, Budget Board &
One of the Beth's (the one incognito) moderating the Rewards Board
www.dreamstour.com
Want DIS Merchandise? Click Here

 

[MMCD]

We flew there for 2000 NYE because it was $220 to Orlando and $175 to Tampa.

The rental car was $50 cheaper at Tampa vs Orlando when I used National.

I was the one who timed it to be 65 minutes from National's gate to Crossroad Shopping center.

Save the money!!! I always think of my rental car being free.

MMCD