Budget stays
I-Drive and the hotels by MCO cost less. A long daily drive to the parks can cancel out what you save.
from $35/night2,141 hotels compared
9.3Superb1 reviews
from
$35/night
compared on 2 sites
8820 South Orange Blossom Trail B
6.16.1652 reviews
from
$37/night
compared on 3 sites
4985 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy.
6.16.11,216 reviews
from
$38/night
compared on 6 sites
8750 East Colonial Drive
6.66.6206 reviews
from
$54/night
compared on 5 sites
5425 South Orange Blossom Trail
2.92.932 reviews
from
$47/night
compared on 6 sites
4944 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
8.4Very Good4,410 reviews
from
$73/night
compared on 5 sites
2,141 hotels compared
Orlando is several hotel districts, not one. Walt Disney World is southwest of the city. Universal and International Drive are farther north. Downtown sits around Lake Eola and the Dr. Phillips Center, away from all the parks.
For Walt Disney World, stay around Lake Buena Vista. Disney Springs is in this resort area, but Magic Kingdom and the other gates are spread across a large property. Check the hotel’s shuttle route and parking charge. A hotel with Orlando in its name can still be a long ride from the gates.
Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure are near the north end of International Drive. I-Drive also has the Orlando Eye at ICON Park, restaurants and a long chain of hotels. The Orange County Convention Center and SeaWorld are farther south. Epic Universe is on its own site near the convention corridor. A room near one gate can be several miles from the next.
Stay downtown for Lake Eola Park, the Kia Center and shows at Dr. Phillips Center, not for the theme parks. Thornton Park sits on the edge of the lake, and Mills 50 and Ivanhoe Village have restaurant and bar streets. Winter Park, north of downtown, has the Park Avenue shops and the Morse Museum. From any of these neighborhoods, the parks are a drive or a rideshare away.
June through September is hot and much wetter, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Spring and late fall have milder afternoons. Most visitors fly into Orlando International, where Brightline trains stop at the Terminal C complex. On a multi-park trip, map the drive from the hotel to each gate before you book.
This is the base for Walt Disney World and Disney Springs. Some hotels run shuttles to the parks. Others leave you driving and paying to park. Downtown Orlando is a long way off.
Around here: Walt Disney World, Disney Springs, Magic Kingdom
Hotels by the main Universal campus are closest to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk. Epic Universe is a separate site farther south. Check how the hotel gets you there before assuming one entrance covers every Universal park.
Around here: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Universal CityWalk
The north and middle stretches of I-Drive have restaurants, attractions and the Orlando Eye at ICON Park. The corridor is long, so pick a block near the stop you’ll use most. You can’t walk to every park from one room.
Around here: ICON Park, The Orlando Eye, International Drive
The Orange County Convention Center is on I-Drive, with Epic Universe nearby and SeaWorld, Aquatica and Discovery Cove farther south. Stay here for a convention or a SeaWorld day. Disney and the main Universal campus still need a car or shuttle.
Around here: Orange County Convention Center, Universal Epic Universe, SeaWorld Orlando
Lake Eola Park, the Kia Center and Dr. Phillips Center are all downtown. Thornton Park has restaurants by the lake, and SunRail runs through the center on weekdays. Stay here for concerts and city nights. The theme parks are a drive away.
Around here: Lake Eola Park, Kia Center, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Park Avenue has shops and restaurants beside Central Park, with the Morse Museum nearby. Winter Park is north of downtown and has a SunRail stop. It is a calmer city break, but a long ride from the resort corridors.
Around here: Park Avenue, Central Park, Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
March and April have warm afternoons with fewer rainy days than summer. November through February is milder for long park days. June through September is hot and humid, with frequent afternoon storms. Plan indoor breaks, and watch the forecast in hurricane season.
Most flights land at Orlando International Airport (MCO). Brightline stops at its Terminal C complex, and LYNX buses run to downtown and International Drive. For the theme parks, you’ll usually need a hotel shuttle, a rental car or a rideshare.
9 mi from downtown
LYNX routes 11 and 51 serve downtown, and route 42 reaches International Drive. Brightline is at Terminal C. Taxis, rideshares and rental cars reach the resort districts directly.
Start on I-Drive, north or south, and around MCO, then check Lake Buena Vista. The cheapest room can mean a longer drive to the park you visit most.
Some do, but routes and pickup times differ. Check the exact hotel’s service and whether it goes to Disney, Universal or both.
The cheapest Orlando room is $35. Parking and resort fees go on top, so check the full booking total.
Get real time price drop alerts, faster results and personalised experience along with exclusive deals.
