How much would a plane from Springfield, IL to Orlando, FL cost? And tips for traveling in Florida?

I'm going next summer to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (if they're open by then)


It will be a sixteen hour drive and 160 dollars one way..and taking a train will be far too much hassle. What about a plane? How much would that cost? And what are some tips you can give me for planning my trip? Any cool things I MUST see?





10 points to best/most detailed answer!





Thanks!|||AirTran flies out of Bloomington/Normal (about an hour from Springfield) and has fares as low as $74 one way. That's a great price for flying directly into MCO, a major airport. I would rent a car and then stay in one of the Universal hotels; my preference would be Loews Royal Pacific Resort. Not only are the resorts beautiful, and they offer TONS of fun amenities and activities, but your room key serves as an Express Pass for all the rides in both Universal Studios AND Islands of Adventure, meaning you can skip the long lines (that's absolutely invaluable during the summer tourist season). The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is not actually a theme park itself, it is a section of the Islands of Adventure theme park. Also, while you're in the area, you could check out Sea World, Wet 'n' Wild and Aquatica. There is actually a pass called the Orlando FlexTicket that will get you into ALL of those parks as many times as you want to go during a 14-day period. It's $234.95 per ticket, which is an unbelievable deal considering you will have unlimited access to three theme parks and two water parks for two whole weeks. I'll include some links for you to check out.|||I found from my times of going to Orlando to Disney World and Universal that the earlier you book the better. We used American Airlines once and they were super expensive and ruined our bags. But I checked on Southwest in advance and we got them for under half the price we did with American and it was nonstop! I would suggest looking now on Southwest and seeing what the rates are. The rates tend to change all the time. But the good thing with Southwest is that you can buy your ticket like we did which was still cheap and the prices went down and we changed to those and got credit towards another flight with the difference in the costs it was totally worth it!





In the summer it is super humid so be prepared to be hot! Also it rains a lot so you should bring your own Poncho because Disney and Universal ponchos are way expensive!





I am super excited for the Harry Potter Exhibit as well. I was there in November and this June and I got to see the construction of it, it looks amazing! There is also a new ride called Rip, Ride and Rock it that just opened at Universal it looks super intense if you like those rides.





I would say that Universal Studios and Island of Adventure are a must see and honestly so is DisneyWorld if you have the time to do both. We stay at DisneyWorld and then take a shuttle up to Universal it is really easy and fun. We also stay on property so that it makes it easier. It is more expensive to stay on property but when you add up the rental car or paying for taxi's to get there from off site it is totally worth it. At Disney they have their own buses to take you from hotel to parks and stuff like that.





It is a lot of walking so make sure that you take comfortable shoes and make sure to bring an extra pair just in case one gets wet and it is not dry for the next time.





So the longer you wait on the plane tickets the more expensive they will be. Southwest even usually has a package deal with Disney if you wanted to stay there and shuttle up to Universal. Which is what I would do if you are wanting to see both. If so plan more time at Disney, we went to Universal and Islands of Adventure and bought the VIP pass and we made it through both in one day with doing the rides twice if not more!





If have more questions or want more advice can email me on here.|||A plane from Springfield, IL to Orlando, FL cost - from $331 to total $379


Round-Trip Per Person (United Airlines).





Warner Bros. has teamed up with Universal Studios in order to create a Harry Potter “Theme Park within a Theme Park”. It is scheduled to open in 2010. The Harry Potter theme park will open around the same time as the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie. This 20 acre theme park located in Orlando, Florida will enable visitors to experience scenes from the books and movies.





The 20 acres of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter complete with the Hogwarts Castle, the village of Hogsmeade, and probably many other attractions, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter , which will be built in the Islands of Adventure, will not be a disappointment to most fans.





Tips for traveling in Florida





Tips for Orlando International Airport:


Security is a big concern in the post 9/11 world. Security is tight at this airport. You will need to arrive early to allow time for security procedures. Be sure to have two forms of identification with you. Pay for your tickets with a credit card and bring it with you to help avoid hassles on your trip and to ensure you have the proper identification.





Plan to be at the airport two hours before your flight departs. This allows you plenty of time to check your baggage, get through security and find your gate. Since this airport is very busy, lines can get long. This is especially true during busy travel times. Confirm the status of your flight before you leave home. This can be done on the Internet or by calling the airline prior to leaving home.





Airport officials offer tips for keeping your baggage safe at the airport. Keep your bags with you at all times. Never set your bag down and walk away from it when waiting in line or at the gate. Don’t accept any packages or items from anyone you don’t know. This will prevent anyone from tampering with your luggage. Unfortunately, in today’s world, these measures are necessary for your safety and the safety of your fellow passengers.





Renting a Car at Orlando International Airport:


Once you arrive at the airport, you may want to rent a vehicle. Many hotels and resorts offer shuttle services to the airport and to certain parks and attractions. If you plan to spend all of your time at the resort and parks, this may be sufficient. However, if you want to spend time outside the parks, you may want your own transportation.





There are six rental companies located at the airport for convenience in renting a car. In addition, there are seventeen companies located off the airport, but nearby. Courtesy shuttles are available to these airports. To get the best deal, compare prices from each company on the internet. Prices vary depending on the type of car you are renting and the time of year you will be visiting Orlando. Once you find the best deal, reserve your car online.|||For $213 you can fly roundtrip from Chicago Midway to Orlando International. I know it is a 3 hr drive, but the flight is through Southwest and flights through them are cheap.





As for planning your trip





Universal


- Get the Express pass. It's extra money but WWHP will be VERY busy and it WILL be open. I was there in July and they have almost all the outside structures complete and were working through whatever weather was there. You can check progress on http://www.mugglenet.com/app/category/sh… ...they post a whole bunch of blogs with pictures of the progress and stuff.


- If all you plan on doing is the Universal area, stay on property!! You get a free Express pass if you stay at one of their hotels.


- Eating at Universal is expensive. Citywalk is more reasonable - they have a Southern-Style fast food restaurant, Panda Express (I believe thats what it was), Starbucks, Burger King and lots of sit down restaurants.


-Like already mentioned, check out the Flexpass, it's really a great deal for all those parks! They are all located in the International Drive area which is a plus for you.





International Drive is awesome - Universal is right there so you'll have tons of chances to walk around and explore. They have some great outlet malls so be sure to go up to those. You can get there by taking the I-Drive Trolley.





Disney is a must see in my opinion. If your already going to Universal, head over to Epcot or Magic Kingdom for the day. Their water parks are great too - although Wet n Wild has some great water-slides !





Expect it to be HOT in the summer. And crowded. Then add a whole bunch more crowds to your crowded. The park is located at Islands of Adventure, but both parks will be busy. It also rains everyday, so pick up a poncho before you leave. They were $8 or $9 when I was there!





Start saving your money now. There will be tons of Potter-themed stuff there, that you will probably want to buy!





Anyways I hope this helps