Orlando airport or Tampa
 

Hi all:

What airport do you think is easier to get out of and get a rental car to take us to The villages? Both airports are convenient from where we live. We are hopefully taking a short trip first. I would move in tomorrow but have to convince my husband so want to get a feel of the Villages before we book a future Lifestyle visit.

Thank you

Always Orlando

Thank you very much. I thought so but my contact there said both are the same distance. That could be true but the car rental in the airport would be very convenient.

Check ticket prices also. Fares vary from airport to airport even though the airports in question may be geographically very close.

Orlando, just avoid Avelo airlines. We had a nonstop flight and they still managed to lose our luggage for 2 days. Don’t forget during holidays to not count on parking either. Always take the shuttles during those periods or you could be stuck with parking unavailability just before your flight. Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Years travel makes the “long term” lots fill fast.

One plus may be where you reside in the Villages, if you are South of 44 , Meggison will basically connect to the turnpike and reduce the drive time to Orlando by about 15 minutes! This should happen within the next 6 months.

Orlando airport

Also look at Sanford airport.

Tampa is about 20 minutes further than MCO
MCO car rentals are easy to get to, just cross the street. Not sure about Tampa.

Orlando is closer and generally the traffic driving to/from Tampa is worse. The worst part about Orlando is that it’s home to Disney. Be prepared for lots of screaming kids with mouse ears on the plane, hopefully not sitting behind you kicking the back of your seat the whole flight.

Many of the comments here could go either way.

We prefer Tampa, modern terminal, much easier to pick someone up and park.

No Disney crowd with many kids. Not much difference in travel times if you include time to gate.

Try both and decide for yourself.

I always choose Tampa over Orlando if possible.

1. Yes, Tampa is a bit further away but I never have traffic and there are no tolls.
2. The airport is 'in and out'. I have never had long lines going thru security.
3. Pickup and drop off is quick and easy.
4. There is no Disney traffic inside or outside the airport.

If you are flying into/out of MCO Terminal C, evidently they don't have the car return/rental areas open yet. This means there is quite a hike/time delay trying to pick up and drop off so please ensure you take that additional time into consideration. If I understand correctly, you have to take the rental car back to Terminal A & B area and then head over to C. Something to consider when allotting for arrival before your flight along with TSA. Seems a lot of folks were unaware and did not plan on the delay. Personally, we prefer Tampa.

Orlando MCO, bonus you can pick up a shuttle that brings you to the villages for $40 each. No need for a rental car if you are supplied a good cart with your rental. Bad news every family is going to mouse house.

Tampa, beautiful easy terminal. Rental cars reasonable, and no mouse house family to deal with. Bad news never fly into Tampa during high season the last few days of the month and the first week of each month. Made that mistake twice, sat parked on I75 for 4 hours in traffic. Normal 80 minute drive was close to 6 hours, both times.

If you choose Tampa avoid rush hour as the best route from airport to The Villages is through downtown and at rush hour very conjested.

I used to fly in and out of Tampa every month, for 12 years.

Since I moved to TV, I've used Orlando 6 times for me & 4-5 times to pickup/drop off friends.

There is absolutely no comparison. Tampa is lightyears more efficient and easier than Orlando. Orlando is full of "tourists", mostly with children ... & no one has a clue where they're going, how to get there or why they have to go there.

Flying into Orlando, is the only airport I've flown into in 30 years, where people "clap" when the airplane lands. If that's not a indication of novice flyers, nothing is.

Yesterday, it took me 25 minutes to get from the Orlando "Cell Phone Lot", back to Terminal B. The signage is atrocious.

Orland is amateur hour, use Tampa.

Thank you everyone for your reply. We are visiting for the first time and staying at the Brownwood hotel. Traveling from the airports with a rental car seems daunting so have decided to hire a car/limo service back and forth. Need now to find a car rental in or near the Villages and hopefully a place to rent a golf car for the week. Thanks again!!