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Orlando travel guide

Orlando sits near the centre of the Florida peninsula, roughly an hour's drive from either coast, and its hotel geography is shaped by theme parks south-west of downtown. Universal is inside the city close to International Drive, while Walt Disney World is further south-west in Lake Buena Vista, so most stays are planned around a park rather than the city centre.

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Getting there and choosing your base

  • Orlando International Airport (MCO): The main airport, about 12 miles south-east of downtown and the nearest to the parks. It is also the terminus for Brightline trains from Miami, and Lynx buses run to International Drive and Disney World.
  • Orlando Sanford International (SFB): About 28 miles north-east of the city, used mainly by Allegiant, Flair and charter flights. A car is close to essential from here, so allow for the drive when picking a park-area hotel.
  • Amtrak and SunRail stations: Long-distance trains stop at the downtown Amtrak station, and the Auto Train from Virginia ends at Sanford. SunRail commuter trains do not run at weekends, so they suit downtown stays more than park trips.

Areas to consider

International Drive

Suits families splitting days between Universal and SeaWorld, and delegates at the Orange County Convention Center. The road runs for about 10 miles; Universal is near the northern stretch and SeaWorld further south, so check which end the hotel is on.

Lake Buena Vista

Suits Disney-focused trips, with many hotels close to the parks and Disney Springs. Ask whether the hotel's park shuttle is free, which parks it serves and when the first morning departure leaves.

Kissimmee

Suits larger groups and families renting villas or holiday homes with more space than a hotel room. Many rentals are in residential estates without useful public transport, so budget for a car and check the drive to your main park.

Downtown and Thornton Park

Suits travellers more interested in Lake Eola, bars and restaurants than in rides. Orange Avenue closes to cars most nights because of pedestrian crowds; light sleepers should pick a room off that street.

When to go

Demand peaks in the US school summer holidays (June to August) and the spring-break weeks of March and April, which are also the driest months. Summer brings heat, humidity and near-daily afternoon thunderstorms, and the Atlantic hurricane season spans summer and autumn, so flexible cancellation is worth having then.

Before choosing a room

  • Many park-area hotels add a resort fee and charge separately for parking, so compare totals for the whole stay, not nightly rates.
  • Suites and villas often advertise how many they sleep by counting sofa beds; check the actual number of beds and bedrooms.
  • If you rent a car, look at the route from the hotel to your main park: several expressways are cashless toll roads, and rental firms bill those tolls to your card.

Sources and planning resources

Facts checked on . Transport services, taxes and hotel offers can change. Confirm the details for your trip before booking.

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