Family trip to Florida - which airport?

[9005rpm]

Hi all

I’m taking the family to Florida next Easter. Plan is to do the usual theme parks, water parks, Everglades etc. and we intend to travel about quite a bit. I’m trying to work out which airport we should fly into as there is quite a bit of price difference between them. Any views on whether it is better to fly into Miami, Orlando, Tampa or any of the other airports?

Thanks!

[AB]

Orlando is easiest, but busiest.

Rest are a bit of a drive.

Flew into Miami for a cruise earlier this year and drove up to Orlando after to do some parks. Traffic made it a 4 hour ball ache of a drive.

Tampa is about 1.5 hours, if you fly into there then stay a night or two as it's quite a nice place to visit and you have Busch Gardens.

[9005rpm]

Thank you. I will take a look at sorting out a plan from Orlando.

[LHRFlightman]

Factor in your accommodation in relation to MCO. Many tourist areas are to the south, the further south you go the closer you get to Tampa.

[bad company]

Try to avoid Miami. Last time we arrived there the queue for immigration was 2 hours which later extended to 3.

Horrible.

[Sheepshanks]

bad company said:

Try to avoid Miami. Last time we arrived there the queue for immigration was 2 hours which later extended to 3.

Horrible.

Can happen at Orlando (MCO). We’ve generally been lucky as the early VA flight from Manchester gets in first of all the UK flights but it might have changed since last time we went, although that time (2019) we had a couple of hours wait.

Melbourne (sp?) is supposed to work well but I think only TUI using it. Might work OK for a multi location stay.

[surveyor]

Melbourne (Tui) is superb. My best ever airport experience bar none.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

Mco is now the new terminal (c) for all except virgin and supposedly much better (back in Feb flying aerblingus this time)

Terminal b with virgin this year was fine through in about 30 minutes to baggage from the plane

We have had 2hour + but that was landing after a condor air flight and something else was queued right out the imagration hall


Melbourne is fine never used it but friends have a few times they said it's ok but very small no facilities and bugger all car hire

[belleair302]

Tampa, you have notices from LHR and Gatwick, decent arrival times, no other international flights at immigration and a very simple airport to navigate. Car hire is easy and the road network to leave is just epic. Lots to do if staying locally for a night and dining at the International Mall next to the airport allows a multitude of options. Voted#2 airport in the USA last yea I believe and is often #1.

[worsy]

Sanford likely to be the cheapest inbound (as it is serviced by First Choice/TUI etc) for Orlando.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

worsy said:

Sanford likely to be the cheapest inbound (as it is serviced by First Choice/TUI etc) for Orlando.

No Sanford isn't used anymore it's Melbourne.

[worsy]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

worsy said:

Sanford likely to be the cheapest inbound (as it is serviced by First Choice/TUI etc) for Orlando.

No Sanford isn't used anymore it's Melbourne.

Aye just read that. Same answer though, just substitute Melbourne

[Jonathan27]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

Mco is now the new terminal (c) for all except virgin and supposedly much better (back in Feb flying aerblingus this time)

Terminal b with virgin this year was fine through in about 30 minutes to baggage from the plane

We have had 2hour + but that was landing after a condor air flight and something else was queued right out the imagration hall


Melbourne is fine never used it but friends have a few times they said it's ok but very small no facilities and bugger all car hire

I flew in to Terminal C at MCO last week. Immigration was slow, but as you collect your luggage before immigration you cant do much to ensure that you get to the line quickly - unless you travel with just hand luggage. That being said, if your going to the theme parks, I don't see a very strong case for flying in to any other airport.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

If your Orlando theme park based then I would do the easy thing and do MCO if your flying tui you have no choice anyway

There are usually bargains to MCO less so for Tampa and honestly I wouldn't want to do the i4 from Tampa to Orlando after flying or trying to get back downg if before taking off.

If your doing a Disney package and your getting the bus then it's easy enough as it's taken care of for you

[Sheepshanks]

surveyor said:

Melbourne (Tui) is superb. My best ever airport experience bar none.

Did you drive to Orlando from there? It doesn't look far on a map but it's a chunky drive. The obvious road is the 192 which looks handy for the Disney area but that road (at least around Kissimmee) get very busy and could take forever if you catch it wrong which wouldn't be fun as the driver will be knackered after the flight and time difference.

At least from MCO there's a few route options, inc the 417 toll road which is generally fine. Sanford was good for that too (getting onto the 417).

[mrkipling]

Where are you staying? Last time we flew into Tampa with BA, had a night in Clearwater and then drove to our rental in Davenport which wa a breeze. Tampa was great, no queues, even for the car.

[surveyor]

Sheepshanks said:

surveyor said:

Melbourne (Tui) is superb. My best ever airport experience bar none.

Did you drive to Orlando from there? It doesn't look far on a map but it's a chunky drive. The obvious road is the 192 which looks handy for the Disney area but that road (at least around Kissimmee) get very busy and could take forever if you catch it wrong which wouldn't be fun as the driver will be knackered after the flight and time difference.

At least from MCO there's a few route options, inc the 417 toll road which is generally fine. Sanford was good for that too (getting onto the 417).

I did. Twice as we had to collect the wife 2 days later due to a major cockup with documentation. 90 minutes and quite simple.

192 was busy any time of day. Just had to get used to it.

[phil-sti]

Did Melbourne last year with TUI and yes you get through immigration quicker but unless you are making your own way to accomadation you still have to wait for the last person on the coach, it took about 1hr 20 to get everyone onto the transfer and then a 90 minute drive. This is why i'm going through MCO next time because even if it's 2 hours through immigration, it's only a 15 minute UBER to international drive.

[kev b]

I would not choose Miami if possible, Tampa is the best by far, with the caveat that if you are flying BA you are liable for a long wait on your return to Heathrow.

Miami is a horrible airport, in fact unless heading for the Keys, avoid Miami and district altogether in my opinion.

[Hol]

worsy said:

Trustmeimadoctor said:

worsy said:

Sanford likely to be the cheapest inbound (as it is serviced by First Choice/TUI etc) for Orlando.

No Sanford isn't used anymore it's Melbourne.

Aye just read that. Same answer though, just substitute Melbourne

It’s a shame as I liked Sanford and it was a relatively easy route to the area around the parks. The lounge also did some fantastic cheesy chips (it’s the small things).