Flying into Tampa to go see Mickey

[slowbee]

Afternoon everyone...

I'm currently trying to plan our June trip and everything from chicago that we're willing to fly (something less than 1 stop between here and there) is pretty expensive... Our usual flights to see mickey is around 180.. but I'm seeing 280+ for the same flights we just took 3 weeks ago...

I'm thinking of having us fly into Tampa .... Has anyone done that before? What's the drive like back and forth... Is it worth is (silly questions if it means going to see Mickey)

Any thoughts would be helpful.

 

[WDW FAN 4 LIFE]

My family & I soart of do what you are planning. In the past we have flown to Tampa because we would 1st stay a week in Clearwater Beach, then drive to WDW. When it's time to go home we would fly back home from Orlando. What you should think of doing is called an Open Jaw trip, where you fly into one city, but fly home from another one.

 

[kal1484]

Have you tried Southwest and Airtran. They both have really good rates for getting down here. And instead of Tampa, Airtran has great rates going to SRQ which is only about an 1 1/2 ride to Orlando. They have non-stops from Midway too!

When are you comming down?

 

[I luv WDW]

Tampa trip

Flying to Tampa and driving to WDW is not a bad idea. We've done it (during spring break no less) and have had no problems. The drive to WDW is about an hour.

Last trip: May 2005, Port Orleans Riverside
Next trip: Nov. 23, 2006, Port Orleans French Quarter
Have been to WDW at least once a year since 1983!:king:

 

[tigsmom]

We've also flown into Tampa (stopped in Bradenton) and then gone on to Orlando. Its an easy ride on the highway. Tampa is a great airport and so much less crowded than Orlando.

Don't think you will have a problem.

 

[slowbee]

Have you tried Southwest and Airtran. They both have really good rates for getting down here. And instead of Tampa, Airtran has great rates going to SRQ which is only about an 1 1/2 ride to Orlando. They have non-stops from Midway too!

When are you comming down?

I've looked... I live up north along the Wisconsin / Illinois boarder... so MDW isn't the best option for us... But I've looked at just about everything... being a business traveler who is always looking for the best deals... I've been shot blocked this time so far...

We're planning on coming down the week of June 18th....

 

[Figment1986]

Have you tried Southwest and Airtran. They both have really good rates for getting down here. And instead of Tampa, Airtran has great rates going to SRQ which is only about an 1 1/2 ride to Orlando. They have non-stops from Midway too!

When are you comming down?

did you say hour half??


From Tampa to WDW.. hmm.. dpending on traffic you could get an hour 15 now that much of I-4 is completed.. just watch out for the speed traps in Polk county near the rest area...

if you drive the real limit you can get there in 45 mins in the afternoon...:lookaroun

TIA (tampa) is a great hometown airport.. nice secuirty.. the airsides are pretty good.. (I forget which are open.. but delta's is new.. and i fly out there usually.. lol Song is great)

there is minor problems with construction.. but just stay to the right on I-275.. that will change over to I-4 and then take it carefull till you see I-75 then the construction is over till lakeland.. after that it's 70MPH to disney...

 

[thrupaytonseyes]

Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by wdwprincess03
Have you tried Southwest and Airtran. They both have really good rates for getting down here. And instead of Tampa, Airtran has great rates going to SRQ which is only about an 1 1/2 ride to Orlando. They have non-stops from Midway too!

When are you comming down?
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

did you say hour half??


From Tampa to WDW.. hmm.. dpending on traffic you could get an hour 15 now that much of I-4 is completed.. just watch out for the speed traps in Polk county near the rest area...

if you drive the real limit you can get there in 45 mins in the afternoon...:lookaroun

TIA (tampa) is a great hometown airport.. nice secuirty.. the airsides are pretty good.. (I forget which are open.. but delta's is new.. and i fly out there usually.. lol Song is great)

there is minor problems with construction.. but just stay to the right on I-275.. that will change over to I-4 and then take it carefull till you see I-75 then the construction is over till lakeland.. after that it's 70MPH to disney...

They said hour and a half (1 1/2) from SRQ which is Bradenton/Sarasota.

Good to know about the speed traps. My bro & his fam live in Palm Harbor and my grandparents live in Largo so we always travel over that way for a day while we are on our WDW vacation. And DEFINATELY don't want a ticket while on vacation, that would absolutely ruin the magic!!!!

 

[nibblesandbits]

My dad and I were visiting in Tampa a few years ago and we decided to drive up to Disney for the day (He knows how much I love disney and since he loves me, he gave in). It took us like an hour and a half to drive up there and they were doing construction for a large chunk of it at the time. (I'm sure that's over by now...at least I'd hope it was, it's been like 2 years.) Then we drove back the next day for our flight out of Tampa. Your family should be fine.

 

[SpongeScott]

Given the construction currently going on in the Tampa interstate system and depedning on what time of day you are flying into Tampa, I would allow an hour from the airport to WDW. The construction does thin out, but then you will also hit some about 5 miles before the first WDW exit. That has also brought things to a standstill, depending on what time you hit it.

Tampa is a very nice airport. It's a very doable option.

 

[kal1484]

Depending on what day/time you get to WDW, I'd suggest getting of at 27, then go to 192 and go that way, I sat for over 45 minutes one Tuesday after hitting traffic right after that exit till right after the last disney exit.

 

[SarahBella82]

The only problem my mother and I encountered flying through Tampa was on the way home. The line for the security check point was veryyyy long, and we were worried we wouldn't have enough time to get through. Fortunately, they opened another lane, and the line moved more quickly from that point on. Just an FYI.

 

[WDWCP]

I always look at Orlando and Tampa and pick whichever one gives me the best rates.

Strangely enough, the last two trips (Feb 2005 & April 2004) the best deal for us was to fly into Tampa and fly home from Orlando.

Just keep this in mind: Some rental car companies charge and extra fee to return the car to a different place that where you got it from. Be sure to account for that when deciding which is the better deal...