If you’re visiting Orlando for the first time, you’ll most likely ask yourself the question, “Do I need a rental car?”. In most cases, the answer is a resounding “Yes”. Orlando simply does not have the public transportation infrastructure to support the tourist industry. There’s obviously no subway system (think mud), the Linx bus line is inefficient, and taxis are never around when you need them. Walking is also a poor option, as the roads are extremely busy and most destinations are miles apart.

For instance, if you’re staying in Kissimmee off US Highway 192, you’re at least 2 miles from any of the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks and nearly 10 miles from Universal Studios. You might be able to walk to a T-shirt / souvenir store next to your hotel, but that’s about it. I’ve personally never taken the bus system from this area, but with the amount of traffic on 192 and the number of stops the bus is bound to make along this stretch, you’d need to add a couple hours of travel time into your daily plan.

The only real case for not renting a car is when your entire trip is based around one resort. If you stay in a resort’s hotel and use the resort’s transportation to get to the resort’s attractions, shopping and dining areas, you’ll be just fine. Right now, this means you’re heading to Disney or Universal. Sea World doesn’t have the shopping or dining districts that these resorts have, nor does it have the multiple parks to keep you busy for a few days (at least until Aquatica opens up). You might be tempted by a hotel on International Drive that is only “minutes away” from Sea World, but you’d still need a car. Walking along International Drive all the way to Sea World is just about impossible and probably illegal in spots.

The reality is that when you’re in Orlando you’re almost always going to need a vehicle to get to all the places you want to see. Having lived in Orlando for over 20 years, I’ve seen way too many people sweating profusely as they try to walk from their hotel to a local restaurant or a shopping district. Driving in Orlando can often be frustratingly slow and contain overly confusing directions, but for now it’s the best option available.

With all of that said, there are a few places where walking is realistic …

If you’re on International Drive (either staying there or have been dropped off), walking up and down this road can often save a lot of time as traffic is terrible and there are many restaurants, shops, a movie theater, miniature golf courses, arcades, etc. where you can spend time.

If you’re in Downtown Orlando, walking is acceptable as long as you stay on the east side of I-4. This area contains all of the dining, shopping and sight-seeing that you’d want to take in on foot in the downtown area. Lake Eola is an especially pleasant walk on a weekend morning.

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