[Val32]

Is it really worth it flying into Tampa airport to save some $$??

Here's the deal. Iam still researching airfares.
Iam leaning to Southwest Airlines, flying out of Philly (2hr drive for me) on Oct. 31st (Halloween), I can save some $$ by flying into Tampa airport instead. If not, I would have to fly out the nite before on the 30th and stay in a cheap hotel and pay another day on the car rental. Or I may not have another day fee on the car since Iam picking up the car in the morn. time and d/o off in afternoon, so they are charging me another day anyways.

THat is my other dilemma, I would have to p/u the car in TPA and then d/o at MCO on my way home.

Flying home I would go out of Orlando, it's no price or time difference.

I used map quest and TPA is 1hr 17mins to the CBR.

So being that I can fly out the day I want (and my pkg is booked for), I would have to leave early in the morn. on the 31st, I would just have to find out if there is an additional surcharge for the different p/u and d/o locations.

So does it sound worth it to fly out the day I want but into another airport?
or Fly out a nite earlier and pay for a cheap hotel nearby in Maingate area?
******************************************
The airfare going to Tpa on 10/31 is $79 ow
The airfare going to MCO on 10/31 is $139 ow

The airfare going to MCO on 10/30 is as low as $79 ow if I take last flt of evening
the flt before is $115

[PhilliesFan]

I like the idea of flying into Tampa on the date you are scheduled to checked in. Tampa is not that far of a drive from Orlando. If you stay at a cheapo hotel, it may not be that nice, and then you have to pick up your stuff the next day and move again.

[Dana]

You will have to see if it's worth it. Talley it up doing it both ways and see which one is cheaper. Cheaper isn't always easier however and you may find yourself running crazy. You are driving 2 hours to fly out of philly and adding another almost two hours from tampa to get to WDW...is it really worth all that? You are talking a total of almost 5 extra hours to get to WDW...cutting seriously into your park time. I am not including the 2 1/2 hours it takes to fly there...now we are at 7 hours of travel. You are then going to have to factor in the gas and tolls...meals on the road...Val, it really seems you are going around the block to many times in order to save a minimal amount. Have you tried the priceline naming your own price thing? Why not do that and fly out of the airports you want on the days you want. The only thing you have to gamble with at that point is the time you are flying. Seems like a lot less hassle then all this. I hate to think of you racing around trying to get to WDW.

[Val32]

Originally Posted by Dana

You will have to see if it's worth it. Talley it up doing it both ways and see which one is cheaper. Cheaper isn't always easier however and you may find yourself running crazy. You are driving 2 hours to fly out of philly and adding another almost two hours from tampa to get to WDW...is it really worth all that? You are talking a total of almost 5 extra hours to get to WDW...cutting seriously into your park time. I am not including the 2 1/2 hours it takes to fly there...now we are at 7 hours of travel. You are then going to have to factor in the gas and tolls...meals on the road...Val, it really seems you are going around the block to many times in order to save a minimal amount. Have you tried the priceline naming your own price thing? Why not do that and fly out of the airports you want on the days you want. The only thing you have to gamble with at that point is the time you are flying. Seems like a lot less hassle then all this. I hate to think of you racing around trying to get to WDW.

I did Tally it up last time when you mentioned it, and posted it on that thread I have here, dont know if you saw. And yeah SW IS Cheaper!

Well, I HATE early morning flights... I rather take a nite flight and be all fresh and ready to go for Halloween which I have tickets for MNSSHP. I want to be able to stay up late that nite w/o being dead tired!!!
I really want to do Southwest, because of all the "NO Extra Fees" policy they have. The other airlines are MORE $$ Plus all the extra fees.

AND If I fly in nite of 10/30, we can go to TL on 10/31. I just found this out.
TL closes for refurb 11/1 and that would be a chance to go to that park instead of BB, which we have absolutely zero interest in! We can go ck-in at CBR, get our tickets (room probably won't be ready but that's ok), go to TL early and leave early then head to MK for MNSSHP.


Last time I stayed in Maingate, I stayed at a really nice budget hotel (Ramada Maingate?) for $40, it was in the Maingate area, 1 mile from Disney's maingate, and there is a Bob Evans next door. It's on the Irlo Bronson Hwy, or whatever you call it 192.
Anyways, we did the same thing, arrived late, had dinner at Bob Evans, went to bed, checked out and drove over to the WL for ck-in in the morning. The hotel was well worth the $40 and I think it's available too (I checked hotels.com).

[Val32]

Originally Posted by PhilliesFan

I like the idea of flying into Tampa on the date you are scheduled to checked in. Tampa is not that far of a drive from Orlando. If you stay at a cheapo hotel, it may not be that nice, and then you have to pick up your stuff the next day and move again.

The cheap hotel I stayed at last time was very nice!!!
And the move in the morning is not bad, I just don't unpack anything from suitcase when I get there that 1 nite, and then move. It's a minor thing to deal with opposed to driving from Tampa where I have never been before nor rented a car from.

[brebre_51]

Are you planning on going outside WDW besides going to DTD? We drive down, park inside WDW & never move our vehicle until the day we leave.

The way I understand it, the Orlando airport has a Disney shuttle service to WDW. Tampa doesn't. WDW has it's own shuttle service around the parks & DTD so why rent a car? Unless you are going elsewhere in Orlando.

[Jennatrz]

Usually depending on the price of the airfare it is much more of a hassle. You may find it is about the same price by the time you add in the rental car etc. But I would still check it out!

[Val32]

Originally Posted by brebre_51

Are you planning on going outside WDW besides going to DTD? We drive down, park inside WDW & never move our vehicle until the day we leave.

The way I understand it, the Orlando airport has a Disney shuttle service to WDW. Tampa doesn't. WDW has it's own shuttle service around the parks & DTD so why rent a car? Unless you are going elsewhere in Orlando.

I most always rent a car, there is no question about that. The only time I did not rent a car is when we went and stayed at the Poly last year.
I like to be unlimited in what I can do and I think we might go to Univ this year. I dont like waiting for the busses, I despise them! lol I like to be free and not set on anyone else's schedule.

We have done DME last year and OW one other time, but I prefer to drive there within WDW myself!

So this topic has nothing to do with the car other than will I have to pay more for the car picking it up in one airport and dropping off at another.

[Val32]

Originally Posted by Jennatrz

Usually depending on the price of the airfare it is much more of a hassle. You may find it is about the same price by the time you add in the rental car etc. But I would still check it out!

Iam doing rental car no matter what!

If I had to fly out on 10/31, same day as my pkg, then flying into Tampa would be $60 cheaper!
If I go on 10/30, I will be paying an addtl $35-40 for hotel and difference in airfare depending on which flt I picked. I believe the last flt out, is same price as I was looking at as going to Tampa BUT, I arrive 11:30 at nite and car rental counter closes at midnite.

[brebre_51]

Rand McNally Get Mileage

Tampa to Orlando is 78 miles. Driving time is 1 hour & 23 minutes.

Orlando to Kissimmee is 23 miles. Driving time is 31 minutes.

Orlando is a bit higher. But, it's closer to WDW.
**So, less gas to get to WDW.
**Plus, mileage would be more from Tampa. Wouldn't that add up in spending more money to the rental car company? Plus, more gas used.
**Motels near WDW are usually pretty reasonable. On the Gulf side, I have found them to be more expensive.

Anyway, I would be looking into these three things before I made my final decision.

[Val32]

Originally Posted by brebre_51

Rand McNally Get Mileage

Tampa to Orlando is 78 miles. Driving time is 1 hour & 23 minutes.

Orlando to Kissimmee is 23 miles. Driving time is 31 minutes.

Orlando is a bit higher. But, it's closer to WDW.
**So, less gas to get to WDW.
**Plus, mileage would be more from Tampa. Wouldn't that add up in spending more money to the rental car company? Plus, more gas used.
**Motels near WDW are usually pretty reasonable. On the Gulf side, I have found them to be more expensive.

Anyway, I would be looking into these three things before I made my final decision.

I would have to pay extra for gas, yes. I doubt that hour 17 mins (I used mapquest to my resort) would eat up the $60 difference though.
Rental cars offer unlimited mileage so that is not an issue.

There are pros and cons to each, the gas and hour and something drive doesn't mean that much to me, shelling out the extra $$ now for the ticket does!
Also getting up early on 10/31 for that flight, that is a big CON for me. I would have to get up extra early for the 2hr drive to the airport! Flight is at 6:50am and its 2hr drive plus parking in a lot, and 2hr check in.
I wish it was as close as Tampa is to Orlando

If I go nite before, I wont be crazy tired and rushed getting to airport and we get to go to TL the next day before MNSSHP.

Very tough decision.

If I do decide to fly into Orlando nite before, I would have to call my Travel agent AGAIN for another change!!!
She just made my change to get the Fall Sale discount. Then I forgot to remind her to take off the last nite off pkg, so she went and made that change for me too. I dont think she has charge me any fees, although there is no charge when there is a discount offered.
I would be booking that hotel nite before and changing the car rental info to pick up nite before.

I need to go ahead and buy these tickets already by this weekend so I can get this off my back!

Iam just wanted to see if any more discounts came out on my flights. And flying home there weren't many choices availabe. Iam taking a connection coming home to avoid a 7am flight!

[mooneyda]

Actually in January I went down to the college bowl game in Tampa so i did the opposite flew in to Orlando rented a car and drove over to Tampa which is rather a pleasant drive pretty much a straight shot in to Tampa stayed at a hotel pretty much right next to airport not great but serviceable( days Inn) for a one night stay. Then after the game we drove the car back to WDW for the vacation lol dropped the car off at the car care center by the magic kingdom and they took us to the Caribbean beach.

[dancing4disney]

I think I would rather go the night before and stay in hotel the night before. Getting to go to TL before MNSSHP would work for me. It may be a little more money but I think you would find it more enjoyable. You just need to be sure you get there in time to pick up your car! That would be the only thing that would freak me out.

[MissDisney]

How about flying in the night before, staying in a cheap hotel, and kicking around DTD for th eevening, in preparation for an early start at the parks?

[Dawn]

We have done this several times and have never had a problem. From the time we got the car until we were sitting in DTD was 1 hour. Now it was about noon when we left TPA last time. I has always been an easy ride from TPA. Plus the rates can't be beat.