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Where to Stay in Orlando (2026): The Best Areas, 12 Hotels and the 12.5% to 13.5% Hotel Tax

By Casey, Gently Yonder editor

Disney, Universal, International Drive, Kissimmee and Downtown Orlando with Winter Park: 12 hotels, the 12.5% to 13.5% hotel tax by county, and airport links.

Last updated · 14 min read

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In this guide12 sections
  1. The short answer
  2. Orlando’s hotel tax and resort fees
  3. Getting in from the airport, and around
  4. Walt Disney World and Lake Buena Vista: the first-trip base
  5. Universal Orlando: the parks at the door
  6. International Drive: the visitor strip
  7. Kissimmee: resorts with room to spread out
  8. Downtown Orlando and Winter Park: a city break
  9. How to book Orlando
  10. All 12 at a glance
  11. Before you go
  12. Frequently asked questions

An Orlando hotel bill depends on which side of a county line you sleep. Hotels in Orange County, which holds Orlando, International Drive and Winter Park, add 12.5% in taxes to the room rate; hotels in Osceola County, which holds Kissimmee, add 13.5%. On a $200 room that is $25 or $27 a night before any resort fee, and one hotel in this guide publishes a taxable resort fee of $48 a night.

This guide covers five areas, from Walt Disney World to Winter Park, 12 hotels, the airport links and the tax. The hotels are researched picks, chosen for location, what each property publishes and consistent guest feedback, and each was checked as operating in October 2026. No hotel pays to appear here.

The short answer

If you want… Stay in Why
a first trip built around Disney Walt Disney World and Lake Buena Vista Disney’s own hotels carry 30-minute early theme park entry
Universal’s parks at the door Universal Orlando Universal’s hotels carry early park admission, up to an hour before opening
a strip of attractions and a convention centre International Drive ICON Park, Pointe Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center
a resort with a water park, a short drive from Disney Kissimmee Resort hotels in Osceola County
a city break, away from the theme parks Downtown Orlando and Winter Park Lake Eola, the Dr. Phillips Center, Winter Park’s lakes and Rollins College

Not sure which area? Rank these areas for your trip: pick what matters and see the reasons.

A pink and grey castle with blue and gold spires under a clear blue sky, with visitors walking on the street in front
Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World. Photo: Pat Myers / Pexels

Orlando’s hotel tax and resort fees

Three charges apply to a hotel room in Orlando, and the county decides two of them:

Charge Orange County Osceola County
Florida state sales tax 6% 6%
County discretionary sales surtax 0.5% 1.5%
Tourist Development Tax 6% 6%
Together (our arithmetic) 12.5% 13.5%

The Florida Department of Revenue lists the rental of living or sleeping accommodations, which it calls transient rentals, among the sales that carry the county surtax, and its county table shows the Tourist Development Tax in Orange and Osceola at 6%, in addition to the state’s 6%. Orange County describes its tax as 6% on hotel stays and short-term rentals of less than six months; the Osceola Tax Collector gives 6% for rentals of under 180 days. The Department’s surtax table shows Orange at 0.5%, extended from 1 January 2026, and Osceola at 1.5%, and lists no change to either rate for 2026.

The county follows the hotel’s address. Kissimmee is the seat of Osceola County, so its hotels are in the 13.5% column; Orlando and Winter Park are in Orange County. The oversight district that governs Walt Disney World’s land spans both counties, so check the tax lines on your confirmation. On a $200 room, our arithmetic gives $225 a night in Orange County and $227 in Osceola.

Resort fees are separate. We quote one only where the hotel publishes it: Margaritaville Resort Orlando states a taxable resort fee of $48 plus tax per room, per night, and the Drury Plaza, Rosen Centre and Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando say they charge none. We found no fee amount on the Marriott, Disney or Universal pages we read, so ask before you book. Since 12 May 2025 a federal rule has required a mandatory resort fee to be included in the total price shown, while taxes and other government charges may be left out of the upfront total. We make no judgement about any hotel’s compliance.

Getting in from the airport, and around

Orlando International Airport (MCO) publishes approximate rates for each area. The shuttle-van column shows the airport’s two figures per person; its own note says to check with the attendant for round-trip fares.

To Local bus Shuttle van, per person Taxi
Disney resorts area $4 $23 / $37 $52 to $68
Lake Buena Vista area $2 $23 / $37 $47 to $55
International Drive $2 $21 / $33 $38 to $45
Kissimmee hotels $2 $29 / $49 $45 to $75
Downtown Orlando $2 $20 / $32 $38 to $45
Winter Park and Maitland $2 $29 / $49 $45 to $55

Walt Disney World and Lake Buena Vista: the first-trip base

Disney says guests at its resort hotels, and at select other hotels, can enter its theme parks 30 minutes early every day of a stay, including check-in and check-out days. Valid admission is needed, not every attraction runs during early entry, and Disney’s page says the benefit continues through 2027.

Where to stay at Walt Disney World and Lake Buena Vista

How the hotel links work: a hotel’s name goes to its own website. “Check rates” opens it on Booking.com through our partner Stay22, which pays us a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.

Universal Orlando: the parks at the door

Universal says guests at its hotels can enter one of its four theme parks up to an hour before opening with Early Park Admission; valid theme park admission is required, and only select attractions run. It names three hotels, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort, as giving free Universal Express Unlimited.

A tall stone tower with a sign reading Islands of Adventure, beside green roller-coaster track and two glass hotel towers under an overcast sky
The Islands of Adventure tower, with Universal hotel towers behind. Photo: Dominik Gryzbon / Pexels

International Drive: the visitor strip

International Drive runs past ICON Park, Pointe Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center, so it suits conventions and a base with restaurants on the doorstep. It is not on the theme-park grounds: Rosen Centre puts Universal Orlando at 10 minutes (3.5 miles) and Walt Disney World at 14 minutes (6 miles).

A large Ferris wheel lit in purple, pink and orange against a dark night sky, seen past the edge of a concrete structure
The Ferris wheel at ICON Park, International Drive. Photo: Luis Daza / Pexels

Where to stay on International Drive

Kissimmee: resorts with room to spread out

Kissimmee, the seat of Osceola County, is where the 13.5% rate applies. Its resorts trade distance for facilities: Margaritaville says it is 10 to 15 minutes from Walt Disney World and 20 to 25 minutes from SeaWorld and Universal, and the airport’s table lists a taxi to the Kissimmee hotels at $45 to $75.

Where to stay in Kissimmee

Downtown Orlando and Winter Park: a city break

Downtown Orlando holds Lake Eola, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and the Kia Center. Winter Park lies three miles north of Orlando, in Orange County, with Rollins College and brick-paved streets. Neither is near the theme parks: the airport’s table lists a taxi to downtown at $38 to $45 and to Winter Park at $45 to $55, and you will need a car or an app to reach Disney or Universal.

A fountain with a green dome in a lake, with a tall glass apartment tower and office buildings behind and small boats near the shore
The fountain on Lake Eola, downtown Orlando. Photo: Sid Dalal / Pexels
A pale stone bell tower with arched openings against a deep blue sky, with tree branches in silhouette on the left
The tower of Knowles Memorial Chapel, Rollins College, Winter Park. Photo: Madison Santangelo / Pexels

Where to stay in Downtown Orlando and Winter Park

How to book Orlando

All 12 at a glance

Hotel Area Tier Best for Watch out for
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Walt Disney World Splurge The monorail to the Magic Kingdom Refurbishment notice
Disney’s Pop Century Resort Walt Disney World Good value Disney transport at a lower category Construction notice
Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando - Disney Springs Area Lake Buena Vista Good value Breakfast and shuttles included $28 parking
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel Universal Orlando Splurge The fullest Universal perks Select attractions only
Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort Universal Orlando Good value A themed resort at a lower tier No free Express
Rosen Centre Hotel International Drive Comfortable A big hotel at the convention centre $40 plus tax parking
Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando International Drive Budget A budget base on the strip Paid Disney transport
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center Kissimmee Splurge A resort you do not need to leave $40 to $55 parking
Margaritaville Resort Orlando Kissimmee Comfortable A pool resort near Disney $48 plus tax resort fee
The Alfond Inn Winter Park Comfortable Art and Winter Park’s streets House cars only in Winter Park
Hotel Beauden, Autograph Collection Downtown Orlando Comfortable The arts district $42 valet parking
Aloft Orlando Downtown Downtown Orlando Good value Downtown at a lower price Valet-only parking

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

What is the best area to stay in Orlando for a first trip?

For a first trip built around Disney, Walt Disney World and Lake Buena Vista: Disney says guests at its resort hotels, and at select other hotels, can enter its theme parks 30 minutes early every day of a stay, with valid admission. Universal Orlando suits Universal's parks, International Drive suits the convention centre and attractions, Kissimmee suits a resort with a water park, and Downtown Orlando or Winter Park suits a city break.

How much is the hotel tax in Orlando?

12.5% in Orange County, which holds Orlando, International Drive and Winter Park: 6% state sales tax, 0.5% county surtax and 6% Tourist Development Tax. In Osceola County, which holds Kissimmee, it is 13.5%, because the surtax is 1.5%. On a $200 room that is $225 or $227 a night, before any resort fee.

How do you get from Orlando airport to a Disney hotel?

Orlando International Airport lists approximate rates to the Disney resorts area: a local bus at $4, a shuttle van at $23 or $37 per person, and a taxi at $52 to $68. Ride-hailing pick-up is at the Arrivals curbs, Level 2 at Terminals A and B and Level 6 at Terminal C.

Do Disney and Universal hotels get early entry to the parks?

Yes, with valid admission. Disney says its resort hotels and select other hotels get 30-minute early entry every day of a stay. Universal says guests at its hotels can enter one of its four theme parks up to an hour before opening with Early Park Admission, for select attractions. Free Universal Express Unlimited goes with only three Universal hotels: Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock and Loews Royal Pacific.

Do Orlando hotels charge resort fees?

Some do. Of the 12 hotels in this guide, Margaritaville Resort Orlando states a taxable resort fee of $48 plus tax per room, per night, while Drury Plaza, Rosen Centre and Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando say they charge none. Since 12 May 2025 a federal rule has required a mandatory resort fee to be included in the total price shown.

How much is the bus from Orlando airport?

A LYNX single ride is $2.00 and an all-day pass is $4.50, which you ask the operator for when boarding. The airport's table lists $2 to most areas and $4 to the Disney resorts area. The bus stops at Terminal A, Level 1.

Sources & further reading

Prices, fares and hotel terms change. Every detail here was checked in October 2026; confirm rates, room types, fees and cancellation terms with the hotel before booking. These are researched picks, not reviews. This article contains affiliate links: hotel rates on Booking.com and other booking sites through Stay22, and tours, transfers and eSIMs through our partners; if you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. No hotel pays to be included.

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