Orlando: know before you go

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the region's main gateway, about 10 miles southeast of downtown. A taxi or rideshare to the city center runs $38 to $50 and takes roughly 25 minutes without heavy traffic. Lynx bus routes 11 and 51 serve the airport for $2 a ride, reaching downtown in about 40 minutes. Brightline runs a high-speed train from the Terminal C station to downtown Orlando in about 25 minutes for around $20. Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), about 30 miles north, handles budget carriers and has fewer ground-transport options; a taxi or rideshare to downtown runs $50 to $70. If you are heading straight to the theme parks from either airport, check whether your hotel runs a free shuttle before you book anything else.

Downtown Orlando is compact and walkable, and the free LYMMO bus rapid transit circulator makes it even easier. LYMMO runs seven days a week in dedicated lanes with its own traffic-signal priority, connecting the central business district, Creative Village, and LYNX Central Station. For trips beyond downtown, Lynx buses cover Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties at $2 a ride, with an all-day pass at $4.50. SunRail, the commuter rail line, runs Monday through Friday with 16 stations across four counties; downtown stops are at Church Street and LYNX Central Station. Ride DTO offers on-demand shared rides within downtown for $1 per trip. Walking between neighborhoods like Thornton Park, Lake Eola, and Church Street is straightforward and takes 15 to 30 minutes. For the theme parks, a rental car or rideshare is nearly always faster than public transit.

Orange County levies a 6% Tourist Development Tax on hotel rooms, motels, and short-term rentals under six months. This is added to Florida's 6% state sales tax plus a local discretionary surtax of 0.5%, so your hotel bill carries roughly 12.5% in taxes. The TDT revenue funds Visit Orlando, the convention center, and arts and sports facilities around the county. Cards are accepted everywhere in Orlando; cash is rarely needed. The United States country guide covers tipping, the US dollar, and national money norms.

Orlando's resort corridors and theme parks are heavily policed, gated environments where visitor crime is rare. Downtown Orlando is generally safe during the day and in well-lit areas at night, though parts of Parramore and the area around the bus station carry higher risk after dark. The Downtown Ambassador program puts uniformed staff on the street seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; they offer free safety escorts to any location downtown through the Clean and Safe app. Hurricane season runs June through November. Orlando is inland, so the typical impact is rain and wind rather than a direct strike. Theme parks rarely close fully, and resort hotels stay operational through storms. Confirm hurricane cancellation cover with your travel insurer before booking. The national emergency number is 911; the United States country guide has further details.

The biggest health risk in Orlando is the summer heat. From June through September, the heat index routinely exceeds 100°F, and dehydration and heat exhaustion are common. Carry a refillable water bottle; Disney and Universal quick-service counters refill them for free. Tap water is safe everywhere. Apply sunscreen even on cloudy days: the Florida sun is strong year-round. Alligators and snakes are native to the area; keep a safe distance from the edges of lakes and canals, especially at dawn and dusk. Mosquitoes are active in warm months; repellent helps, particularly near standing water after rain.

Theme-park tickets and reservations are the non-negotiable book-ahead items in Orlando. Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando use timed-entry reservations, and same-day walk-up tickets are often unavailable, especially during school breaks and holidays. Book park passes and any sit-down restaurant reservations inside the parks weeks or months ahead. Outside the parks, popular downtown and Winter Park restaurants fill up on weekend evenings; a reservation the day before is usually enough. If you are visiting during a major event like the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival or Halloween Horror Nights, buy those tickets early. Hotels in the resort corridor and downtown fill during convention weeks; check the Orange County Convention Center calendar when picking your dates.

Orlando's theme parks set a high standard for accessibility, with detailed guides, wheelchair and ECV rentals, and trained staff at every attraction. Downtown Orlando's sidewalks are generally wide and well-maintained, and curb cuts are standard. SunRail stations and trains are ADA-compliant with level boarding and dedicated wheelchair spaces. Lynx buses are equipped with ramps and kneeling features. LYMMO buses are low-floor and accessible. For visitors with mobility needs, the flat terrain around Lake Eola and through the downtown core makes for easy walking or rolling.