Flying to Miami?

[duchy]

I do think if you are totally focused on Orlando and the parks the decisionmaking is different to others who maybe have no/older kids or just no interest outside the parks so the only impact is a longer drive rather than opportunities to see more of Florida .

[Princess Alison]

We are doing it in August and taking the opp to visit the west coast on the way up, which we’d never normally do

[Baymax31]

Don't do it! Stressful experience after a 9 hour flight😩

[jmo82]

For the past 2 years, and again this year we have used Miami.

We normally fly BA and arrive at 3pm. Fly through immigration etc and in our Avis car by 4:30pm. We use the automatic toll lane to avoid traffic and after stopping for a quick bite to eat and a loo break, arrive in Orlando by 9pm. For us the excitement and also some of the views watching the sunset over Florida more than makeup for it.

[sparkyweb]

We are coming in via Miami too this Summer. It saved us over £1000 as opposed to travelling via MCO. As we were due to be going to Europe this year, this final saving was the clincher for us to go to the states instead.
When I was doing the booking I was playing around with dates and managed to save another £500 by flying out on the Thursday rather than the Saturday. Even with 2 nights hotel we are still around £200 better off...

The drive up wouldn't bother me as I travel to Wisconsin twice a year and the easiest method to get to Madison is flying into Chicago and driving up which takes about the same time as the drive from MIA to Orlando. However as the whole family will be travelling its much better for us to spend a couple of nights in Fort Lauderdale which we are looking forward to.

[Deano]

We are trying this in August, we are on the flight from Heathrow that arrives at 15:00 and are then driving up to Vero Beach for a couple of nights before moving to Boardwalk.

We saved about £1500 for 3 based on flying into Orlando direct.

[radecoy]

We've done Miami a couple of times. Arrived evening, grabbed car and straight to a local hotel.
We always wake up stupid early on first morning in florida so up and in car by about 06.30-07.00 stop off a few places up the coast, breakfast about halfway up at a crackerbarrel and a swim in the sea somewhere and still usually make orlando just after lunch.
Makes for a nice road trip and chance to see a bit more of florida but we've only ever done it when the saving on the flights has been enough to make it worth while.

[gismo1554]

So we did this just last week. All I would say is we spent 45 mins on the way back in traffic travelling 10 miles to the airport (we had passed the 15 mile to MIA sign and then everything stopped). Definitely give yourselves that extra time to get to the airport. We were the last to check in - even had staff tell us we were cutting it fine - and then got to gate just as they started boarding after rushing through security. Not a calm relaxed end to the holiday.

That said the drive to Orlando was fine apart from the love bug cloud (it was like a plague and we had so many on the car that we had to go through a car wash). We did what others have suggested, flew in, night in hotel (Sheraton) and then drove up. We do this every year and it works so well next year my Dad wants to do one night on way back as well - especially as Virgin Flight is now earlier than in previous years both ways.

[darbs]

We've flown into Miami 3 times, huge cost savings for our family of 6. First time we drove straight up to Orlando, was ok but a very long day! Last 2 times we have stayed over near the airport then set off early the next morning, arriving in Orlando late morning. Would do it again if the price was right!

[Missin_Disney]

We are flying into MIA this year, arriving around 3.30pm

As others have said the driver was the lesser fair for the 4 of us compared to flying directly into MCO

We have booked a hotel at Pompano Beach, nr Fort Lauderdale which is about an hour out of MIA. Planning on getting there around 5.30pm, quick paddle as its on the beach and some dinner in the restaurant next door

Then leave around 5.30am for the drive up to Disney World, dropping the car off at the Dolphin, Bags at the Yacht Club and straight into Epcot by 10am... hopefully!