Getting Around Orlando Without a Car

We all know the classic sequence for booking an Orlando holiday. It’s usually flights first, then accommodation, followed by tickets. Then you need to book a hire car.

That was before the likes of Uber and Lyft came along and partly changed the dynamic – and budgeting – for a typical two or three-week vacation.

Now, where it used to be a given that a hire car was an essential part of the booking process, there are genuine alternatives to the customary visit to the usual rental websites. Yes, having your own car is still favourite, but there are now alternatives.

But, before we get into the details, let’s revisit the standard advice for people staying in villas.

The Villa Difference When Staying in Orlando

Just as staying in a villa is the smart alternative to staying in a hotel, so that choice means a different approach to your holiday transport.

One of the keys to the various villa locations is that they are in more residential areas, where public transport isn’t plentiful, and getting to the theme parks usually needs a car or other types of private transport.

Historically, this has meant that those staying in a villa nearly always hired a car and took advantage of the lower rates for those coming for two or three weeks at a time.

Orlando is also the largest car hire business in the world, and as such has been extremely competitive, helping to keep rates lower than many other locations.

What Happened to Car Hire During Covid

Like much of the travel industry, the car rental business suffered badly during the initial onset of Covid-19 in 2020. In short, for a destination dependent on international visitation, business basically fell off a cliff.

In a bid to stop themselves haemorrhaging money, most rental companies hastily sold off a lot of their stock to keep themselves solvent, assuming they would be able to re-stock as soon as business started to come back, which it did in 2021.

Only, by then, many car manufacturers were struggling for the necessary computer chips to complete the software for their vehicles (and some still are), and they suddenly found themselves with significant order books but no way to complete them.

Hence the car rental firms had plenty of business once again but nowhere near the usual number of cars for their customers. In many cases, rates went up steeply as supply could no longer meet demand, while some companies were just out of stock.

Happily, the situation is slowly levelling out, but it definitely pays to book as early as possible these days if you’ve decided that a hire car is what you need. And be sure to check out our Car Hire when booking your package. We do a monthly price comparison to ensure we have competitive rates, and we can also offer car hire as part of a package.

The Non Car Hire Options

What the pandemic has done, of course, is make many people re-evaluate if a car even suits their style or holiday budget, or if they can do without one for at least some of their holiday.

The ride-sharing options of Uber and Lyft have done a roaring trade in the past few years, offering plenty of alternatives for trips between the villas and theme parks, and usually much cheaper than the taxi companies.

You obviously need to create an online account for either one (if you haven’t already) on this link for Uber or this link for Lyft, both of which are then widely available in the main tourist areas.

Once you’re set up, you can happily order an Uber to your villa front door in most cases, and they are well versed in knowing the best routes from the various villa communities to Disney and Co.

The savings should also be significant, not least the whopping car park fees that all the theme parks charge these days - $25 a day at Walt Disney World, $27 at Universal and $30 at SeaWorld.

An Uber from somewhere like Indian Ridge Oaks to Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios could actually be LESS than the normal theme park parking charge!

Lyft also operates a special transport service within Walt Disney World. Called the Minnie Vans, these bright polka-dotted SUVs seat up to 6 passengers and operate from 6.30-12.30am daily to all the main parks and resorts within the vast Disney resort area.

They are each equipped with two child seats, if needed, and there are also vehicles equipped for wheelchair access as well. Prices vary based on distance travelled from pick-up location to requested destination within Walt Disney World, but typically are around $25-$50 per ride (as compared to $15-$30 with Uber).

Talking of child seats, another key issue is that of disabled mobility and those guests who need a scooter, or ECV, to get around while they’re here. It is well worth knowing that Debbie’s Villas can also arrange mobility scooter hire (an excellent and popular way for people with mobility issues to get around the parks – see under our ‘Villa Extras’ section) as part of a a booking. Our foldable scooters are easy to assemble and fold down to fit into the boot of most hire cars (but always check with us first).

Take the Bus or Shuttle to Orlando Theme Parks

While buses are not an option for visitors staying in Polk or Lake counties, they remain a possibility for those in our Osceola County villas along much of Highway 192, communities like Mango Key or Regal Oaks, which are both close to this main routeway.

Here, the local Lynx bus system runs the full length of Kissimmee’s stretch of Highway 192 (the Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway), as far as the Walmart at the Four Corners intersection of Osceola, Orange, Lake and Polk counties, with Routes (called ‘Links’ locally) 55 and 56 offering buses along the way.

The number 56 buses offer a direct service into Walt Disney World, stopping at the Magic Kingdom’s Ticket & Transportation Center, from where you can access Disney’s own free bus system to get around to the other parks and key areas.

From the Old Town bus stop for Link 56, it is only about 15-20 minutes to Disney, while you can also use Link 55 to link up with the number 56. You can check out the full Lynx route map on this link.

Just be aware the Lynx buses aren’t the speediest on the planet (to say the least), but it is a reliable service, especially the one into Disney. The last bus from the Ticket & Transportation Center is usually around 11.15pm, and, with weekly passes at just $16/person, it represents a major saving on car rental and even Uber and Lyft.

The one other option is for guests staying at the grand Reunion Resort, which has its own daily shuttle service to Disney’s Ticket & transportation Center. It has to be booked in advance, but it is a reliable and free service.

If are planning on trying these options its worth trying the Moovit App on your phone - which offers route planning and up-to-date timetables for all local transport options in the Orlando area.

Great Options for Combining Car Hire and Taxis for Convenience...

While the hire car business is definitely back on its feet (or wheels!), it is worth knowing that larger vehicles – those taking eight or more passengers – are still in short supply, and it is often better to hire two smaller cars in this instance.

Alternatively, you can also use Uber of Lyft to get from the airport to your villa with all your luggage, and then make do with one car and/or Uber/Lyft as required, a kind of mix-and-match service.

A seven-seater hire car is also ideal for taking you to the theme parks, shops, etc, but it won’t fit seven people AND all your luggage from and to the airport. Feel free to talk to our booking staff for all your transport needs.

What tips have you discovered for getting around with a car? Tell us about them on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages… and don’t forget to interact with us on Pinterest, too!.

Note: transport information is accurate as of 26th October 2022