Uber vs Lyft in Orlando – Which Is Best?
Uber and Lyft are both available in Orlando and can pick up and drop off at popular tourist attractions, including:
- Walt Disney World
- Universal Orlando
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Florida Mall
Uber and Lyft are very similar in the quality of service. Therefore, many drivers drive for both platforms. As such, the decision between taking an Uber or Lyft in Orlando comes down to two things:
- Cost
- Wait time
Both Uber and Lyft operate on a dynamic pricing model. This means that the exact same journey will often have a different price and duration. The dynamic pricing model depends on the following:
- Number of drivers available
- Demand from customers in the area
- Traffic
- Pick-up and drop-off location (surcharges for airports, etc.)
As such, it’s rare to find that one rideshare platform is consistently cheaper than the other. Instead, you’ll often find Uber is cheaper on one journey, Lyft the next, Uber the next and so on.
I therefore recommend downloading and setting up a profile on both Uber and Lyft before your vacation to Orlando.
Checking the price and duration of a journey on Uber or Lyft takes seconds. As such, it’s realistic to think you could compare the differences between the two platforms in real time as and when you need them.
Get $15 off your first Lyft ride by using code: CORA86601
Uber & Lyft in Orlando With Children Needing Car Seats
On my first visit to Orlando with a baby, I needed to find an Uber or Lyft with a car seat.
At the time of writing, Uber is the only service in Orlando that offers vehicles with car seats for children. Ubers with car seats are referenced as Uber Car Seat on the app and come in:
- UberX
- Uber Black
- Uber Black SUV
Uber’s with a car seat charge an extra $10 per fare. As such, if the UberX ride is $30, then the UberX Car Seat ride will be $40.
For an Uber to be registered as an Uber Car Seat vehicle, the car must have at least one forward-facing car seat for a 2-year-old at 22 pounds and 31 inches tall.
Uber Car Seat vehicles are not required to have a car seat designed for children under 2 years old. As such, if you’re travelling to Orlando with a child under the age of 2, you will either need to:
- Hire a car and bring your own car seat.
- Hire a car and a suitable car seat.
- Bring your own car seat to fit use in the Uber or Lyft.
Orlando Travel Planning Guide
🏥 Should I Buy Travel Insurance for a Trip to Orlando?
If you’re travelling to Orlando for vacation, then travel insurance is recommended. Basic travel insurance coverage with Safety Wing averages between $5 – $10 per day and offers peace of mind.
However, if a trip to Orlando isn’t part of a vacation. For example, you live locally. Then travel insurance isn’t likely to be necessary.
🚘 Do I Need to Rent a Car for a Trip to Orlando?
You don’t need to rent a car for a trip to Orlando (you can use rideshare services instead). However, a hire car will make your trip to Orlando significantly more convenient.
I personally use Discover Cars to find the best car rental deals when visiting Orlando. Discover Cars allows you to compare different companies and cars to find the best prices.
🏨 Where to Stay in Orlando?
Deciding where to stay in Orlando can be incredibly overwhelming. Having visited Orlando several times over the past decade, I’m going to try and make it as simple as possible.
- If you’re going to both Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World and don’t want to hire a car, then stay in an Orlando hotel with a shuttle to the theme parks.
- If you are travelling with kids and plan to do pool days, then book one of the many Orlando hotels with waterslides.
- If you are going to Walt Disney World on a budget, then stay in a hotel with both a free breakfast and theme park shuttle.
- If you are only visiting Universal Orlando, then spend a little extra for the perks of staying in a hotel onsite.
When booking accommodation in Orlando, I use either Booking.com or Hotels.com. However, for large families and groups, VRBO is my number one choice.
🎟️ Where To Buy Orlando Theme Park Tickets?
If you are visiting a theme park in Orlando, then you’ll need to purchase theme park tickets. If you’re based in the US or Canada, I recommend Klook for your Orlando theme park tickets.
Klook consistently has the most competitive prices. There’s also a range of different ticket options to suit all budgets and requirements.
Meanwhile, if you’re based in the United Kingdom. Then I recommend buying your Orlando theme park tickets from AttractionTix.
I personally use AttractionTix when purchasing theme park tickets. That’s because AttractionTix has the most competitive prices and incredible customer service.
Cora,
Thank you for your well-written article about ridesharing in Orlando.
Can you give me an estimate as to what it would cost 4 riders going from a hotel to a Disney park about 10 miles? Thanks.