Where to stay · Orlando · United States
Where to stay in Orlando
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: NBCUniversal, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Walt Disney World Resort. On-site Disney hotels linked by buses, monorail, boats and the Skyliner. Best alternatives — budget: Lake Buena Vista; nightlife: Universal Orlando area.
Key facts
- First visit
- Walt Disney World Resort
- Families
- Walt Disney World Resort
- Budget
- Lake Buena Vista
- Nightlife
- Universal Orlando area
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Walt Disney World Resort | On-site Disney hotels linked by buses, monorail, boats and the Skyliner |
| Families | Walt Disney World Resort | On-site Disney hotels linked by buses, monorail, boats and the Skyliner |
| Couples | Downtown Orlando and Thornton Park | Lake Eola's fountain, bars on Orange Avenue and brick-paved streets |
| Budget | Lake Buena Vista | Hotel corridor beside Disney Springs, between Disney and Interstate 4 |
| Nightlife | Universal Orlando area | Universal's on-site hotels, CityWalk and walking paths to the parks |
| Food lovers | Winter Park | Park Avenue boutiques, chain-of-lakes boat tours and Tiffany glass |
| Solo travellers | Downtown Orlando and Thornton Park | Lake Eola's fountain, bars on Orange Avenue and brick-paved streets |
| Quiet stays | Winter Park | Park Avenue boutiques, chain-of-lakes boat tours and Tiffany glass |
Orlando neighbourhoods in detail
$$$$ · Best for families and first-timers
Walt Disney World Resort
Staying on Disney property puts you inside its transport network of buses, the monorail around the Seven Seas Lagoon, boats and the Skyliner gondola serving EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Disney hotels range from value resorts with themed pools to deluxe lakeside hotels near Magic Kingdom, and resort guests get early entry to the parks.
- Good
- Free Disney transport to every park; Early park entry for resort guests; Immersive themed hotels
- Watch out
- Expensive, especially the deluxe resorts; Far from Universal and Downtown; Dining mostly limited to Disney-run restaurants
- Nearby
- Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs
$$ · Best for families and budget
Lake Buena Vista
Just outside the Disney parks, Lake Buena Vista has many chain and suite hotels around Disney Springs and along Palm Parkway and Apopka-Vineland Road, often with free shuttles to the Disney parks. It is cheaper than staying on Disney property while keeping drives to the parks short.
- Good
- Close to Disney at lower prices; Suites with kitchens for families; Restaurants and shops at Disney Springs
- Watch out
- You need a car or a hotel shuttle; Chain-hotel feel
- Nearby
- Disney Springs, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets
$$$ · Best for families, first-timers and nightlife
Universal Orlando area
Universal Orlando's hotels, from value resorts to the Portofino Bay and Hard Rock Hotel, are linked to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk by walking paths, water taxis and shuttles, with buses to Epic Universe a few kilometres south. Some premium hotels include express queue access for the two original parks.
- Good
- Walk or take a boat to two parks; Express queue access with premium hotels; CityWalk restaurants and bars
- Watch out
- Far from the Disney parks; Premium hotels are expensive
- Nearby
- Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, CityWalk, Epic Universe
$$ · Best for budget, families and first-timers
International Drive
International Drive runs for about 18 km from near Universal past the Orange County Convention Center to SeaWorld, lined with hotels for every budget, chain restaurants and attractions such as ICON Park's observation wheel. It is central for both resort areas and the convention center.
- Good
- Central between Disney and Universal; Huge choice of hotels at every price; Plenty of restaurants open late
- Watch out
- Heavy traffic; Commercial, strip-mall feel
- Nearby
- ICON Park, Orange County Convention Center, SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando International Premium Outlets
$ · Best for families and budget
Kissimmee and Celebration
South-east of Disney, Kissimmee has thousands of vacation homes with private pools, budget motels along US 192 and the restaurants of its old downtown, while Celebration, the planned town Disney developed in the 1990s, has a lakeside centre. The Disney parks are about 15–25 minutes' drive away.
- Good
- Vacation homes with pools suit large groups; Lower prices; Close to Disney
- Watch out
- You need a car; Long drives to Universal and Downtown
- Nearby
- Celebration, Gatorland, Lake Tohopekaliga, Walt Disney World
$$ · Best for nightlife, couples, solo travellers and culture
Downtown Orlando and Thornton Park
Downtown Orlando centres on Lake Eola Park, with its fountain and swan boats, and the bars and restaurants of Orange Avenue and Church Street; Thornton Park's brick streets and cafés lie just east. The Dr. Phillips Center for the performing arts and the Kia Center arena are here, but the theme parks are 30–40 minutes away.
- Good
- Local restaurants and nightlife; Walkable around Lake Eola; SunRail commuter trains
- Watch out
- 30–40 minutes from the parks; Quiet away from the bar streets on weeknights
- Nearby
- Lake Eola Park, Dr. Phillips Center, Church Street, Thornton Park
$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays, culture and food lovers
Winter Park
Winter Park, just north of Orlando, is a leafy town of brick-lined Park Avenue shops and cafés, Central Park, Rollins College and the Morse Museum's Tiffany collection, with boat tours through canals linking its lakes. It is the calmest, most polished base in the area, with SunRail trains to Downtown.
- Good
- Walkable, attractive town centre; Good restaurants and museums; Calm and green
- Watch out
- About 40 minutes from the theme parks; Few hotels
- Nearby
- Park Avenue, Morse Museum, Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, Rollins College
$ · Best for food lovers, budget and nightlife
Mills 50
Around Mills Avenue and Colonial Drive (State Road 50), Mills 50 is Orlando's Vietnamese and pan-Asian food district, with pho and banh mi shops, bubble-tea cafés, painted murals and local bars. It is mainly a place to eat and drink rather than to stay.
- Good
- Some of the best-value food in Orlando; Local, creative atmosphere; Close to Downtown
- Watch out
- Very few hotels; Far from the parks
- Nearby
- Mills Avenue, Colonial Drive, Lake Eola Park, Harry P. Leu Gardens
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Walt Disney World Resort | $$$$ | Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs |
| Lake Buena Vista | $$ | Disney Springs, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets |
| Universal Orlando area | $$$ | Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, CityWalk, Epic Universe |
| International Drive | $$ | ICON Park, Orange County Convention Center, SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando International Premium Outlets |
| Kissimmee and Celebration | $ | Celebration, Gatorland, Lake Tohopekaliga, Walt Disney World |
| Downtown Orlando and Thornton Park | $$ | Lake Eola Park, Dr. Phillips Center, Church Street, Thornton Park |
| Winter Park | $$$ | Park Avenue, Morse Museum, Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, Rollins College |
| Mills 50 | $ | Mills Avenue, Colonial Drive, Lake Eola Park, Harry P. Leu Gardens |
Getting to your hotel
Orlando International (MCO) is about 15 km south-east of Downtown and 30–40 minutes by road from Disney and Universal. Options include rideshare, taxis, rental cars, shared shuttles and LYNX buses, and Brightline trains to South Florida leave from the airport's Terminal C. Orlando Sanford (SFB), about 50 km north-east, mainly handles low-cost and charter flights.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Orlando for first-time visitors?
Walt Disney World Resort. Staying on Disney property puts you inside its transport network of buses, the monorail around the Seven Seas Lagoon, boats and the Skyliner gondola serving EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.
+Where should families stay in Orlando?
Walt Disney World Resort: Free Disney transport to every park.
+Which area of Orlando is best for a budget stay?
Lake Buena Vista ($$): Hotel corridor beside Disney Springs, between Disney and Interstate 4.