Getting around Orlando

Disney runs complimentary transportation for its hotel guests: buses, the monorail and boats, and at some resorts the Disney Skyliner gondola. Disney's parking page advises hotel guests to use it because "parking may be limited" at Disney Springs.

If you drive to a Disney park instead, one $35 standard parking fee covers all four theme parks for the day, tax included. Courtesy trams run from the lots to each entrance. Parking at Disney Springs and the two water parks is free. See parking fees for preferred lots.

Universal's hotel guests get complimentary shuttle buses, and some hotels add water taxis or walking paths to the parks. Epic Universe has its own entrance and parking at 1001 Epic Boulevard, separate from the garages that serve Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk. Volcano Bay guests park in a dedicated section and ride a shuttle to the entrance.

Driving in, regular self-parking is $35 a day, tax included, and one payment is valid across all four parks. Self-parking at the main garages is free after 6 p.m., except on Halloween Horror Nights event nights and December 31; that offer does not apply at Epic Universe.

The I-Ride Trolley is the most visitor-friendly transit in Orlando. It runs daily from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on two lines:

• Red Line: about every 20 minutes, from Orlando International Premium Outlets at the north end, down International Drive past SeaWorld to Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets, and back.
• Green Line: about every 45 minutes, via Major Boulevard, Universal Boulevard and Westwood Boulevard, with free transfers to the Red Line at shared stops.

Fares: $2 a ride, $1 for children 3 to 9 riding with a paying adult, 25 cents for seniors 65 and over, free under 3. Unlimited passes cost $8 for 1 day, $10 for 3 days, $12 for 5 days, $18 for 7 days and $22 for 14 days. Four rides in a day and the pass has paid for itself. It is the best reason to base yourself on International Drive without a car, but it does not reach Disney.

Rideshare fills the gaps between the trolley and the parks. Neither Uber nor Lyft publishes fixed fares, and surge pricing applies when demand spikes, as it can at park closing, so compare with the taxi estimates on our getting to Orlando page and consider leaving a few minutes before the fireworks end.

SunRail is Central Florida's commuter train: 49 miles and 16 stations from DeLand through Winter Park and downtown Orlando to Poinciana. It runs Monday to Friday only; the southbound schedule starts at 5:06 a.m. and the last train leaves DeLand at 9:55 p.m. It does not serve the theme parks.

Fares are $2 one way within one county and $1 more for each county line crossed, up to $5; round trips cost $3.75 to $9.50. Youth, seniors and riders with disabilities pay half. It is a good way to reach Winter Park from downtown on a weekday.

There is no SunRail station at the airport. SunRail's "Train to Plane" connection uses Sand Lake Road station and LYNX buses 11, 42 and 311, which take 12 to 17 minutes to the airport, with a free LYNX transfer in the same county.

The Central Florida Expressway Authority's roads (SR 408, 414, 417, 429, 451, 453, 528, 538 and 551) use cashless tolling: no cash at all. Without a transponder you pay by plate at higher rates; CFX says E-PASS customers save up to 50% against those rates. SunPass and E-PASS are accepted on all Florida toll roads, and some out-of-state transponders work on most of them.

Rental companies bill tolls through their own programs, and the daily fee is the part to watch. SunPass lists:

• Enterprise, National, Alamo: enrolled automatically, $4.95 per day on days you use a toll road.
• Avis, Budget, Payless: $12.99 per day or $64.95 per week.
• Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty (PlatePass): $14.99 per day.

SunPass lists these as the programs' fees; assume the tolls themselves are billed on top unless your agreement says otherwise.

If you already have a SunPass or Florida prepaid account, you can add the rental's plate for your dates and pay tolls from your own balance. SunPass notes that post-paid Toll-By-Plate is not available in rental cars. Check your rental agreement: the company's fee terms are what you will be charged. Whether you need the car at all is answered in Do you need a rental car in Orlando?