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Hotels in Orlando

The theme-park capital of the world

Orlando

LanguageEnglish
CurrencyUSD
TimezoneGMT-5
Temperature5-30 °C
Dial Code+1
Population335M
Area9,833,520 km²
SocketsType A / Type B
Tap waterDrinkable

Discover Orlando

Orlando is a city that exists because of theme parks. When Walt Disney opened Magic Kingdom on Florida swampland in 1971, this was a small town surrounded by orange groves; today more than seventy million people visit every year, and Orlando has more hotel rooms than almost any other American city. Walt Disney World alone is as large as San Francisco, with four theme parks, two water parks and dozens of hotels. Universal runs three parks, including Epic Universe, opened in 2025, with its Wizarding World of Harry Potter and a Nintendo world. On top of that there's SeaWorld, plus hundreds of mini-golf courses and outlet malls. Visiting Orlando is a logistics exercise — tickets, ride reservations, moving between parks, and above all the heat and the queues. Anyone who plans it well can enjoy it as an adult too. An hour east lies Kennedy Space Center, where rockets launch, and the Atlantic beaches.

What to see

The places worth your time in Orlando, and what to expect at each

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World

The most visited theme park in the world, with Cinderella Castle, a Main Street styled on an American small town, and six themed lands. Classic rides include Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, and the coasters Space Mountain and TRON, with fireworks over the castle each evening.

Tip: Be at the gate half an hour before opening and head straight for the most popular rides — daytime queues can run to ninety minutes. Crowds gather on Main Street an hour ahead for the fireworks, but a better view without the crush is from the Contemporary hotel. Disney resort guests get entry thirty minutes early.

Admission:
admission
Time needed:
full day
EPCOT

EPCOT

Walt Disney World

A park in two halves: a futuristic section with the silver sphere Spaceship Earth and rides about space and nature, and a World Showcase with pavilions from eleven countries around a lagoon — from Mexico to Germany's beer hall to Japan. The Guardians of the Galaxy coaster ranks among Orlando's best.

Tip: Guardians of the Galaxy requires a virtual queue or paid Lightning Lane, opening in the app at seven in the morning. A stroll around the lagoon lets you sample "food around the world" with a bite in every pavilion. EPCOT is the best park for adults without kids.

Admission:
admission
Time needed:
full day
Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Walt Disney World

A park dedicated to film, with the lands Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land. The ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is Disney's longest and most elaborate attraction, with sets built to the scale of a real starship.

Tip: Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog have the longest queues, so ride them right at opening. The park is smaller and can be covered by three in the afternoon. The evening show Fantasmic! by the lagoon is worth staying for.

Admission:
admission
Time needed:
full day
Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Walt Disney World

Part theme park, part zoo, with an African savanna crossed on safari among giraffes, elephants and lions. Pandora recreates the world of Avatar with the ride Flight of Passage, and a giant Tree of Life stands at its centre.

Tip: Ride the safari in the morning, when the animals are active until about ten. The park closes earlier than the others. Flight of Passage is one of Orlando's best rides but queues can run over an hour — get a Lightning Lane.

Admission:
admission
Time needed:
full day
Universal Studios Florida

Universal Studios Florida

Universal Orlando

A film-themed park with Diagon Alley from the world of Harry Potter, where a dragon breathes fire from the roof of Gringotts bank. Also home to The Simpsons, Minions, Men in Black, and the coaster Revenge of the Mummy.

Tip: The Hogwarts Express train runs to neighbouring Islands of Adventure from King's Cross station, but only with a park-to-park ticket. Butterbeer is non-alcoholic and best served frozen. Universal's premium hotel guests get a free Express Pass.

Admission:
admission
Time needed:
full day
Islands of Adventure

Islands of Adventure

Universal Orlando

The park with Orlando's best roller coasters: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, the Jurassic Park-themed VelociCoaster, and the Incredible Hulk. Also home to Hogsmeade and Hogwarts, and Marvel-themed rides.

Tip: Hagrid's ride has the longest queue in all of Universal, so go there first. VelociCoaster is intense — anyone unsure should try the Hulk first. Water rides soak you completely, so a poncho is worth having.

Admission:
admission
Time needed:
full day
Epic Universe

Epic Universe

Universal Orlando

Universal's newest park, opened in May 2025, with five worlds: Super Nintendo World with Mario, How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk, Classic Monsters, Harry Potter's Ministry of Magic in wizarding Paris, and the central Celestial Park.

Tip: Epic Universe tickets are sold for a specific day and sell out. The Ministry of Magic attraction has the longest queues. There's no walking between this park and Universal's others — shuttle buses run instead.

Admission:
admission
Time needed:
full day
SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld Orlando

International Drive

A marine park with an aquarium and dolphin and sea lion shows, plus some of Florida's fastest roller coasters — Mako, Ice Breaker and Pipeline. Orcas no longer perform jumps in shows but can still be seen.

Tip: SeaWorld is often half the price of Disney and queues are shorter. A multi-day ticket combined with Aquatica offers the best value. For coaster fans this is the best price-to-thrill ratio in town.

Admission:
admission
Time needed:
full day
Gatorland

Gatorland

Kissimmee

An old-school Florida alligator park opened in 1949, home to two thousand alligators and crocodiles, gator-wrestling shows and a zipline over the ponds. A contrast to the polished modern theme parks.

Tip: The park is small, doable in three hours, and noticeably cheaper. The Screamin' Gator Zip Line flies riders over alligators. Gator-wrestling shows run several times a day — catch the first one of the morning.

Admission:
admission
Time needed:
3 h

Photos: Magic Kingdom — TheWanderingTraders (CC BY-SA 4.0) · EPCOT — Jedi94 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Disney's Hollywood Studios — Jedi94 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Disney's Animal Kingdom — Jedi94 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Universal Studios Florida — NBCUniversal (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Islands of Adventure — Robert Linsdell (CC BY 2.0) · Epic Universe — Gfgbeach (CC0) · SeaWorld Orlando — Jeremy Thompson (CC BY 2.0) · Gatorland — The original uploader was Bobak at English Wikipedia. (CC BY-SA 2.5)

Where to stay

Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking

Walt Disney World

Best for: families and Disney

Disney resort hotels inside the property, with shuttle buses, boats or a gondola to the parks. Pricier, but with earlier park entry and no need to deal with a car.

Universal and International Drive

Best for: Universal and shopping

Hotels around the Universal parks and the long stretch of International Drive with restaurants, outlet malls and attractions like the Wheel at ICON Park.

Downtown Orlando

Best for: local life

The city's real downtown, with Lake Eola, bars and restaurants, but far from the parks. Less practical for tourists.

Kissimmee and Lake Buena Vista

Best for: cheaper stays

Hotels and pool villas south of Disney. Cheaper than staying inside the resort, but requiring a car or taxi to reach the parks. Pool villas suit families well.

Search hotels →

Getting around

From the airport

Orlando International Airport sits fifteen kilometres southeast of downtown and twenty-five from Disney. Flights from Prague connect via London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Madrid, with total travel time of fourteen to sixteen hours. A Brightline train runs from the airport to Miami. ESTA authorization is required before departure. Getting to the parks is done by Uber, Mears buses, or a rental car.

Orlando International (MCO) · 25 km

  • Uber / Lyft to Disney· 30 min· 40 USD
  • Mears Connect bus to Disney· 45–70 min· 20 USD
  • Taxi to Disney· 30 min· 70 USD
  • Brightline train to Miami· 3.5 h· 80 USD

Orlando Sanford (SFB) · 60 km

  • Uber / Lyft to Disney· 55 min· 80 USD

Around town

Orlando is a city built for cars. Inside Walt Disney World, free buses, boats, the Monorail and the Skyliner gondola connect parks and hotels. Getting between Universal, SeaWorld and Disney means Uber or a car. Public transit is slow. Parking at the parks costs thirty to fifty dollars a day.

Disney transportBuses, Monorail, boats and Skyliner, free between Disney parks and hotels. · free
Universal transportWalking or boat between hotels and parks, shuttle buses to Epic Universe. · free
I-Ride TrolleyA bus along International Drive to SeaWorld and other attractions. · 2 USD
Uber / LyftBest option between parks run by different operators. · 20 USD Disney–Universal
Rental carWorth it for a trip to the beach or Kennedy Space Center. · 50 USD/day

Useful apps: My Disney Experience, Universal Orlando, Uber, Lyft, Google Maps

When to go

The best time is from late January to early March and from mid-October to mid-November, when temperatures sit around twenty-five degrees, school holidays are over, and queues are shorter. Summer is hot and humid, over thirty-two degrees, with an afternoon thunderstorm most days and parks packed with families on vacation. Hurricane season runs from June to November. The most expensive and busiest weeks are around Christmas, Easter and American spring break in March. Winter mornings can drop below ten degrees.

Best time

late January to early March, mid-October to November

What to avoid

Christmas week, March spring break and July

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day22°24°26°29°31°33°33°33°32°29°26°23°
Night10°11°14°16°19°22°23°23°23°19°15°12°
Rainy days6675715171714756

Food & drink

In Orlando, most eating happens inside the parks and their restaurants, where food is overpriced and not particularly good — a park lunch runs to twenty dollars for a burger. Better restaurants are found at Disney Springs, Universal's CityWalk, and Restaurant Row on Sand Lake Road. Florida is known for excellent seafood and Cuban cooking. Sales tax of over six percent and a tip are added to the bill.

What to try

Dole Whip

A pineapple soft-serve from Adventureland in Magic Kingdom, a cult Disney snack.

Butterbeer

A non-alcoholic Harry Potter drink topped with a buttery foam, sold at Universal cold, frozen or hot.

Turkey leg

A giant smoked turkey drumstick eaten standing up around the parks. Costs about fifteen dollars and doubles as lunch.

Cuban sandwich

Roast pork, ham, cheese and pickles pressed in Cuban bread. Florida is full of Cuban eateries.

Grouper sandwich

A fried or grilled grouper fillet in a bun, a Florida classic.

Key lime pie

A pie made from small Florida limes and condensed milk on a graham-cracker crust.

Orange juice

Orlando was built on former orange groves, and fresh juice is everywhere.

What it costs

One-day Disney ticket

120–200 USD

One-day Universal ticket

120–190 USD

Lightning Lane Multi Pass, per day

15–40 USD

Lunch in a park

18–25 USD

Drink in a park

5–7 USD

Parking at a park

30–50 USD/day

Uber between parks

20–30 USD

Night at a 3-star hotel near Disney

150–280 USD + tax

Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.

Practical information

SocketsAtwo flat pins (US/JP)Btwo flat pins plus ground (US)
Voltage120V / 60Hz
Tap waterTap water is drinkable — Tap water is safe to drink across the United States, and restaurants give it out free with ice — just ask for "tap water". Buying bottled water is unnecessary and expensive: a bottle in a shop costs two to three dollars, five near an attraction. It's worth carrying a refillable bottle, since airports and parks have filling stations. Ice is everywhere, and drinks are served noticeably colder than in Europe.
TippingTipping isn't optional here — it's part of staff wages. At a table-service restaurant, leave eighteen to twenty percent of the pre-tax total; a dollar per drink at a bar; fifteen percent for taxi and rideshare drivers; three to five dollars per night for housekeeping; two dollars per bag for a porter. Card terminals usually offer preset percentage buttons — watch out, as these sometimes calculate from the total including tax. On top of prices, Orlando adds 6.5 percent sales tax, and hotels charge over twelve percent tax plus a daily resort fee.
Driving on theright
SafetyOrlando and its theme parks are safe. The main risks are heat and sun — walking fifteen to twenty kilometres a day inside the parks is normal, so drink water and don't skip sunscreen. Outdoor rides close during thunderstorms. Florida's lakes are home to alligators, and swimming in them is never a good idea. Healthcare is expensive, so insurance is essential. The emergency number is 911.
Opening hoursTheme parks open from eight or nine in the morning until nine or eleven at night, depending on the season; hours vary and are listed in the app. Shops and outlets open from ten until nine. Restaurants outside the parks close around ten.
Customs & etiquetteStaff friendliness is a professional standard, not an invitation to strike up a friendship. Queuing is taken seriously, and personal space expectations are larger than in Europe. Haggling only happens over cars and at flea markets, never elsewhere. Smoking is banned indoors almost everywhere and on many beaches. Questions about salary or politics aren't opened with strangers. In the parks, nobody cuts in even for friends who were already waiting — staff watch for it.
A few local wordsHi / good morning — Hi / Good morningThank you — Thank youThe bill, please — Check, pleaseJust browsing, thanks — Just looking, thanksHow much is it including tax? — How much is it with tax?Tap water, please — Tap water, please

How to plan your days

1 day

One day in Orlando

  1. 1One park chosen by interest — Magic Kingdom for families, Islands of Adventure for coasters.
  2. 2Arrive at the gate half an hour before opening.
  3. 3Ride the most popular attractions in the morning.
  4. 4Rest by the hotel pool in the afternoon.
  5. 5Head back into the park in the evening for the fireworks.

2 days

Two days in Orlando

  1. 1Day one: Magic Kingdom.
  2. 2Day two: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
  3. 3Ride the Hogwarts Express between the two parks.
  4. 4Dinner at CityWalk.
  5. 5An evening bar with a view.

3 days

Three days in Orlando

  1. 1Two days as in the plan above.
  2. 2Day three: Epic Universe or EPCOT.
  3. 3Sample food around the lagoon at EPCOT.
  4. 4Afternoon at Disney Springs.
  5. 5Evening fireworks over the lagoon.

Day trips

Kennedy Space Center

80 km · 1 h by car

The visitor complex at Cape Canaveral with the space shuttle Atlantis, a Saturn V rocket and a rocket garden. A bus tour goes out to the launch pads. When a SpaceX or NASA launch is scheduled, tickets go on sale for grandstand viewing.

Cocoa Beach

90 km · 1 h by car

The closest Atlantic beach to Orlando, with a long pier, the Ron Jon surf shop and beginner-friendly waves. Easy to combine with Kennedy Space Center.

Blue Spring State Park

55 km · 50 min by car

A park built around a spring with a constant temperature of twenty-two degrees, where hundreds of manatees gather in winter. From November to March they're watched from a boardwalk; in summer the spring is open for swimming and snorkelling.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do I need for Orlando?+

Four days for Disney's four parks, two to three days for Universal. Anyone wanting both needs a week. One free day to rest by the pool is worth building in.

Disney or Universal?+

Disney suits younger children and classic fairy tales better; Universal suits teenagers, roller coasters and Harry Potter. Epic Universe is now the most modern of the parks.

What is Lightning Lane?+

Disney's paid skip-the-line system, booked through the app. Multi Pass gives access to three attractions with a reserved time slot, while Single Pass for the most popular rides is bought separately.

How do I save money on tickets?+

Multi-day tickets work out significantly cheaper per day than single-day ones. Buy ahead, since prices vary by date. Weekdays outside school holidays are cheapest.

Do I need a car in Orlando?+

Not if you're staying inside Disney or Universal. It helps for trips to the beach, to Kennedy Space Center, and for moving between different parks.

Where should I stay in Orlando?+

If Disney is your main focus, stay at a Disney resort hotel for earlier park entry and transport. For Universal, stay at one of their hotels. Cheaper options are in Kissimmee and along International Drive.

How do I deal with the heat?+

Plan parks for the morning, rest at the hotel pool over midday, and go back in the evening. Drink plenty of water — every restaurant gives it out free.

When can I see a rocket launch?+

The launch schedule is on the Kennedy Space Center and SpaceX websites. Launches happen several times a month and can even be seen from Cocoa Beach.

Visa Requirements

Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.

Check visa requirements

Emergency Numbers

Police911Ambulance911Fire911

Language

English

Currency

USD

Timezone

GMT-5

Dial Code

+1

Population

335M

Area

9,833,520 km²

Voltage

120V / 60Hz

Driving Side

Right

Top Hotels in Orlando

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