Getting Around Orlando: Should You Rent a Car or Use Uber? (A Guide for Visitors)

If you're visiting Orlando, one of the most popular destinations for Brazilian and other international travelers, one of the first questions is how to get around: rent a car, or rely on Uber and Lyft? The short answer for most vacation-home guests is that a rental car is usually the easier, more cost-effective choice, with rideshare as a handy backup. Here's how to decide.

When does Uber or Lyft make sense?

Rideshare can be the better pick if you're staying close to one place and only need a ride to and from the parks each day. For a single daily round-trip, Uber/Lyft (roughly $15 to $35 each way to the parks, depending on distance) can beat the cost of a rental plus parking.

The catch is surge pricing: fares jump 1.5 to 2x exactly when everyone needs a ride, right before park opening, at rush hour, and at park closing. Those are the moments you'll most want a car of your own.

When does a rental car make sense?

If you're staying in a vacation home (rather than on-property at a park resort), a rental car is almost always worth it. Off-property guests don't have free park shuttles, and a vacation home like those at Windsor Cay gives you space, a full kitchen, and a private pool, all of which reward the freedom to come and go: grocery runs, dinners out, day trips, and early-morning park arrivals without waiting on a driver.

Budget roughly $40 to $80/day for a rental plus around $30/day for theme-park parking, and compare that against several surge-priced rideshares for a family.

Getting from the airport

From Orlando International Airport (MCO), an UberX (seats up to 4) to the Disney area typically runs about $35 to $50, and an UberXL (seats up to 6) about $55 to $80, a 25 to 35 minute trip. For larger families with luggage, picking up a rental car at the airport often makes the whole week simpler.

The bottom line for vacation-home guests

For a group staying at a Windsor Cay vacation home about 8 miles from Disney, a rental car gives you the most flexibility for parks, day trips, and dining. Keep a rideshare app installed for nights out or when you'd rather not drive. For big groups, a larger home plus a couple of rental vehicles keeps everyone mobile.

More planning tips are in our Things to Do guide.

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Ready to plan your stay? Check current availability at Windsor Cay Resort near Walt Disney World.