Anybody who is aware of me is aware of I’m not afraid to drive right down to Orlando for my annual expedition to Walt Disney World. My poor Toyota Yaris is aware of this all too nicely.
Although, I’d be mendacity if I mentioned the 20+ hour drive was enjoyable. That’s why this journey now primarily contains the Orlando International Airport as a substitute. However, do you want a automotive in Orlando? I don’t assume so. There are quite a lot of different methods to get round in the event you’re planning on visiting primarily for the theme parks.
When you have got a metropolis like Orlando, whose inhabitants is simply over 300,000 however receives a mindboggling 70+ million visitors yearly, having a automotive or not is a crucial choice. In case you are making an attempt to get round Orlando with a level of independence (particularly with baggage), you’ll need a automotive.
This isn’t a metropolis with an enormous public transportation infrastructure like Chicago or New York Metropolis. It’s merely not constructed that approach.
It’s probably not constructed for strolling, both. That’s as a result of most folk visiting Orlando keep close to theme parks or in large resorts that don’t essentially name for leaving the bubble.
The excellent news is, that driving across the metropolis is fairly straightforward and pretty nice. Orlando is a handsome metropolis, and the site visitors isn’t horrible, which is a pleasant change of tempo for drivers who’re used to bumper-to-bumper site visitors patterns.
So, as somebody who spends an excessive amount of time in Orlando (Disney World principally), listed here are some key takeaways you need to know. Suffice it to say that yours really discovered a few of these ideas the exhausting approach.
Getting Round Orlando, Florida With or With out A Automobile
1. Renting A Automobile In Orlando
The very first thing I would like you to learn about automotive leases, basically, is that you could be not get the type of rental you’re asking for. For instance, we rented a automotive in Orlando a number of years again and particularly booked a sedan.
A sedan is a automotive my associate and I are snug driving. Our alternative was confirmed, however they didn’t have that type of automobile after we confirmed up on the lot.
Actually, they by no means had that type of automobile within the first place. They actually solely rented out Jeep Wranglers. So, whereas the automotive rental firm instructed us it was an improve, we didn’t view it as such.
Simply know that whereas the rental automobiles are a bit cheaper right here than elsewhere within the nation, you might not find yourself in a automobile you’re snug driving — with none possibility to alter due to non-refundable deposits.
Look Into the Rental Automobile Firms
Earlier than getting your rental automotive, do a little bit of due diligence. There are fairly a number of disreputable automotive rental firms on the market, and the very last thing you need is to fork over a ton of trip money to them. Follow respected firms with observe data.
We advocate reserving a significant model by means of Rentalcars.com, or utilizing an organization like Zipcar, Alamo, Enterprise, or Sixt. Additionally, keep away from reserving an airport rental automotive in the event you can keep away from it, as a result of they’re steadily dearer than off-site firms.
Tolls
Should you plan to drive your rental automotive out and in of the town, take into account the tollway. Orlando’s tollway isn’t terribly costly, however the charges shortly enhance.
When you’re getting your automotive rental, ask about these tolls. Typically, the automobiles can include a toll go, which can be robotically charged to you, or you should maintain observe to keep away from an unpaid toll payment.
Youngster Automobile Seats
Should you don’t deliver a automotive seat alongside in your journey to Orlando, you may at all times hire one. When renting a automotive, let the corporate know you want a automotive seat.
You should use the automotive seat in the course of your journey. In comparison with the price of really renting a automotive, the automotive seats are low cost.
Should you deliver your automotive seat alongside as a part of your baggage, be certain that the corporate is aware of you don’t must hire one. Greater than that, triple-check the automobile earlier than you depart to make sure you don’t go away the seat behind!
See Associated: Greatest Automobile Seat Journey Luggage
2. What to Know About Parking Charges
The draw back to having a automotive in Orlando is paying parking charges on the majority of space lodging. Like most touristy cities, Orlando space resorts virtually at all times cost per-night parking charges. Count on these prices to be a minimum of $20/evening.
Whenever you add up the prices of renting a automotive, related prices of a highway journey, and/or the parking expenses, generally it’s dearer than flying with most airways. That’s very true in the event you’re touring as a pair or a really small household with younger children who don’t want an airline ticket.
One main upside to creating a spot like Disney World your vacation spot is that resort parking on-site is free. There was a short interval when Disney added a parking price to resort visitor invoices, however they’ve since dropped that unpopular change.
3. Disney’s Magical Categorical is Kaput: What Else To Do
One of many perks of staying on the Walt Disney World Resort property was getting free Disney transportation. The Magical Categorical (ME) would decide you up from the Orlando airport and whisk you away to your Disney resort. Certain, it took a short time in the event you had horrible luck and arrived simply because the bus departed, but it surely was free.
Though the ME has gone away, attending to the resorts isn’t that tough from the airport. There are a number of choices to get you there. The best is to seize a taxi or rideshare, although that might price you upwards of $70 or extra.
With one exception (which I’ll tackle later), we advocate hopping aboard a Mears Join bus. This bus service will be reserved prematurely to get you from the airport to Disney World resorts.
Mears Join additionally goes to different theme parks as nicely. The service is obtainable for Universal Orlando, SeaWorld® Orlando, Legoland Florida Resort, and even Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. These shuttle tickets are a simple approach to save cash.
See Associated: Orlando CityPASS Assessment: Is It Value It?
As I discussed earlier, there isn’t an enormous public transportation system in Orlando. Nonetheless, the town isn’t with out its technique of getting round. When you go to Orlando and make use of the assorted buses and trains, you’ll get the dangle of it very quickly.
LYNX Bus Service
Orlando’s bus program goes everywhere in the metropolis. Greater than that, it is going to additionally take you thru varied components of Orange and the encircling counties.
LYMMO Downtown Circulator
Though it seems like some bizarre kitchen gadget, the LYMMO Downtown Circulator is downtown Orlando’s premiere transport possibility. This speedy bus will get you round shortly as a result of it has its personal precedence lane, which stops site visitors from impeding it.
SunRail
Not simply an Orlando-centric mode of transportation, SunRail is a commuter prepare that meanders by means of central Florida. This can be a terrific approach to see extra of the encircling space and a number of the non-theme park sights. Surprising that they exist, I do know.
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5. Theme Park Shuttles
You possibly can entry theme park shuttles in the event you’re visiting Disney World or Common Studios and staying on-site at both. These park transport choices are free for resort friends and enable you to keep away from each resort heaps in addition to parking heaps basically. In spite of everything, theme parks are identified for his or her extreme parking expenses.
Along with taking you to the assorted Disney parks, the Disney park shuttles may also take you to Disney Springs as nicely. You may as well entry different transportation choices from Disney World, relying on which resorts you keep at. These embody the Friendship Boats, a riverboat, ferries, the monorail, and the Skyliner.
6. Resort Shuttle Buses
Resort and resort choices off-theme park property will not be excluded from the shuttle bus recreation. Many Orlando lodging have free or low-cost shuttles to native sights like Disney or Common Parks.
You’ll save money and time by using these buses. It’s value noting that these buses often make journeys far much less steadily than their theme park resort counterparts. A few of these space resorts with shuttles embody:
Though liable to be on the spendier facet, there are many rideshare choices round Orlando. The airport sees quite a lot of prowling drivers from the standard go-tos like Uber and Lyft. You may as well use one thing like Curb to hail and pay for precise taxis in the event you want.
As for that rideshare “exception” I referred to earlier, Disney has their very own rideshare program by means of Lyft known as the Minnie Vans. These cute pink with white polka-dot bespeckled vans are an absolute delight!
See Associated: Greatest Bars in Orlando, Florida
8. Strolling and Biking Round Orlando
Outdoors of its main vacationer areas like Disney Springs or Worldwide Drive, Orlando isn’t essentially the most walkable or bikeable place. That is virtually felony, as quite a lot of Orlando is sort of fairly, complemented by Florida’s wonderful climate. One of many metropolis’s nicknames is definitely “The Metropolis Stunning”.
Fortunately, the Central Enterprise District (Downtown) and South Eola are the 2 most pedestrian-friendly areas of the town and among the many prettiest. The skyline is especially splendid, being further shades of beautiful at dawn, sundown, and when illuminated at evening.
Don’t anticipate to get round simply on foot until you’re staying in Downtown, South Eola, across the college, or the tremendous touristy theme park areas. Biking is somewhat bit simpler, however even then, quite a lot of the primary thoroughfares by means of the town aren’t tremendous bike-friendly. That mentioned, you may nonetheless discover the odd Orlando bike tour to see the town’s highlights.
FAQ
Do you want a automotive to vacation in Orlando?
You don’t really want a automotive to discover the town. Many lodging supply shuttles to space sights, and taxi or rideshare providers are additionally available in the event you want them. Should you need extra independence, get a automotive.
What’s the least expensive approach to get round Orlando?
For budget-focused vacationers, it must be a consolation to know you don’t essentially must hire a automotive in Orlando. That’s as a result of a number of public transit choices enable you to get round. Simply strive to not use issues just like the LYNX buses throughout peak instances, particularly when you have a big household and don’t like crowded transportation.
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Amanda is a Chicago-based queer journey, arts, and life-style author who’s captivated with exploring the world. Her work has been featured in Newcity Stage, The Chicago Reader, Huffington Post, and Yahoo, in addition to the November 2022 ebook, “Chicago Like a Native” and different journey journals obtainable on Amazon. Amanda’s favourite locations embody Costa Rica, Prague, Dublin, Hong Kong, and each Disney park she’s visited.
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