Choosing where to stay in Orlando can make a huge difference to your holiday. With Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Epic Universe and other attractions spread across a large area, the best hotel isn’t always simply the cheapest one.

In this guide, we’ll compare the best areas to stay in Orlando for UK families, from Disney and Universal resort hotels to International Drive and more affordable options further out. We’ll look at location, transport, hotel costs and theme park access to help you decide where to base yourself in 2027.

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Where Is the Best Area to Stay in Orlando?

When deciding where to stay in Orlando, the best area for most UK families depends on which theme parks you plan to visit most. Staying at Walt Disney World can be ideal for a Disney-focused holiday, while a Universal Orlando hotel can offer valuable theme park benefits. International Drive is often a good choice if you want more flexibility, plenty of restaurants and easier access to several different attractions.

Quick answer: If your holiday includes both Disney and Universal, a split stay can be one of the best options — spending part of your trip near Disney before moving to a Universal hotel for the Universal parks and Epic Universe.

Best Areas to Stay in Orlando for Families

1. Walt Disney World Resort – Best for Disney-Focused Holidays

If you’re deciding where to stay in Orlando and Disney World is the main focus of your holiday, staying in or close to the Disney Resort area can make a huge difference

Staying at Walt Disney World puts you right at the heart of the Disney experience. Disney resort hotels range from more affordable Value Resorts through to Deluxe Resorts, so there are options for different budgets.

The biggest advantage is convenience. Depending on your resort, you can use Disney transport such as buses, boats, the Disney Skyliner or Monorail to reach the parks, reducing the need to drive and pay for parking during the Disney part of your holiday.

Our Disney Hotel Picks

Best value – Disney’s Pop Century Resort
A good option for families who want the benefits of staying at Disney without paying Deluxe Resort prices. It also has access to the Disney Skyliner, making trips to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios particularly convenient.

Check latest prices for Disney’s Pop Century Resort →

Best mid-range – Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
A great balance of resort atmosphere, location and transport. Caribbean Beach is the main hub of the Disney Skyliner, making it particularly convenient for EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.

Check latest prices for Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort →

Best premium – Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
A fantastic choice if the budget stretches further, particularly for families spending plenty of time at Magic Kingdom. Its location and transport options are a major part of the appeal.

Check latest prices for Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort →

2. Universal Orlando Resort – Best for Universal & Epic Universe

Staying at a Universal Orlando hotel can be a great choice for families planning several days at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe. Universal has hotels across different price levels, from more affordable options through to premium resorts.

One of the biggest reasons to consider an on-site hotel is the theme park benefits. Eligible Universal hotel guests can receive perks such as Early Park Admission, while selected Premier hotels include Universal Express Unlimited for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure for registered hotel guests. Always check the current benefits for your hotel and travel dates before booking.

If Universal is the main focus of your trip, deciding where to stay in Orlando becomes much easier.

For UK families visiting both Disney and Universal, this is why a split stay can work so well: stay closer to Disney for the first part of the holiday, then move to a Universal hotel for the Universal part of the trip.

Our Universal Orlando Hotel Picks

Check latest prices for Loews Royal Pacific Resort →

3. International Drive – Best for Flexibility & Off-Site Hotels

For families wondering where to stay in Orlando on a slightly tighter budget, International Drive is one of the most popular options.

International Drive — usually called I-Drive — is one of the most popular areas for UK families staying off-site in Orlando. It offers a huge choice of hotels, restaurants and attractions, with accommodation available across a wide range of budgets.

I-Drive can be particularly useful if your holiday isn’t centred entirely around Disney. Universal Orlando, Epic Universe and SeaWorld are all within relatively easy reach, while you’ll also have plenty of restaurants and entertainment nearby.

The trade-off is that you’ll usually need to think more carefully about transport. Some hotels offer theme park shuttles, but the schedules may not always suit your plans, so hiring a car or using Uber/Lyft can give you considerably more flexibility.

Our International Drive Hotel Picks

Best budget – Rosen Inn International
A popular choice for families looking to keep accommodation costs down while staying in a convenient location on International Drive. It’s a straightforward option if you plan to spend most of your days exploring the parks rather than at the hotel.

Check latest prices for Rosen Inn International →

Best for families – Avanti International Resort
A family-friendly option in the heart of International Drive, with a large pool area and plenty of restaurants and attractions nearby. It can work well for families wanting an off-site base without being too far from Orlando’s major theme parks.

Check latest prices for Avanti International Resort →

Best for a little more luxury – Hyatt Regency Orlando
A more upmarket option on International Drive with impressive pools and resort facilities. It’s a good choice if you want some proper hotel downtime between busy theme park days while remaining well positioned for Universal, Epic Universe and SeaWorld.

Check latest prices for Hyatt Regency Orlando →

Orlando Hotel Areas at a Glance

Not sure where to stay in Orlando? Here’s a quick comparison of the main options before we look at some of the other places you could stay.

4. Lake Buena Vista – Best for Staying Close to Disney Without Staying at Disney

Lake Buena Vista is a great middle ground for families who want to stay close to Walt Disney World without necessarily paying the price of an official Disney resort. There’s a large choice of hotels, restaurants and shops in the area, with Disney Springs particularly convenient from many properties.

Hotels here can sometimes offer more space or better value than Disney-owned resorts, while still keeping you within easy reach of the Disney parks. Some properties also provide scheduled theme park transport, although it’s worth checking exactly how often the shuttle runs before relying on it.

Best for: Families who expect to spend plenty of time at Disney but want more choice and potentially better hotel value than staying on-site.

Our Lake Buena Vista Hotel Picks

Best value – Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area
A strong option for families wanting to stay close to Disney while keeping an eye on the overall holiday budget. Added extras such as breakfast can make a noticeable difference to the cost of a two-week Orlando trip.

Check latest prices for Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando →

Best location – Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista – Disney Springs Area
A particularly convenient choice if you like the idea of having Disney Springs close by for restaurants, shopping and evening entertainment while still being well placed for the Disney parks.

Check latest prices for Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista →

Best for families – Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites – Waterpark
A family-focused option with suites and its own waterpark-style facilities, making it particularly appealing if you want some non-theme-park time built into the holiday.

Check latest prices for Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites – Waterpark →

Should You Split Your Stay Between Disney and Universal?

There isn’t one perfect answer to where to stay in Orlando, which is why a split stay can work so well for families visiting several different parks. For many UK families visiting Orlando for around two weeks, a split stay can be one of the smartest ways to organise the holiday. Rather than choosing one hotel for the entire trip, you could spend the first part of your holiday near Walt Disney World before moving to a Universal Orlando hotel for the Universal parks and Epic Universe.

This can reduce travelling between the major resort areas and allows you to take advantage of the benefits offered by each hotel. For example, you might choose a good-value hotel near Disney for the majority of your holiday, then finish with a shorter stay at a Universal hotel where eligible on-site benefits can make your park days easier.

Holiday Blueprint tip: Don’t automatically assume moving hotels will make the holiday more complicated. For a longer Orlando trip, one hotel change can actually make the second half of the holiday easier — particularly if you’re combining Disney, Universal and Epic Universe.

Do You Need a Hire Car in Orlando?

Whether you need a hire car depends heavily on where you stay and how many different parts of Orlando you plan to visit. If you’re staying entirely at Disney or Universal, resort transport combined with the occasional Uber or Lyft can make a car unnecessary.

For a two-week family holiday covering Disney, Universal, Epic Universe, SeaWorld and other Orlando attractions, however, having a car can offer much more freedom. It can also make supermarket trips, eating away from the theme parks and changing hotels during a split stay considerably easier.

Remember to compare the full cost rather than just the car hire price. Parking charges, fuel, tolls and any hotel parking fees can add up, while using Uber or Lyft regularly can become expensive too.

Holiday Blueprint tip: If you’re doing a split stay, you don’t necessarily need a car for the entire holiday. Some families may find it cheaper to hire one for only the part of the trip where it will be most useful.

How Much Should You Budget for an Orlando Hotel?

Orlando hotel prices vary enormously depending on where you stay, the time of year and the level of hotel you choose. A family staying off-site can often find significantly cheaper accommodation than at the major theme park resorts, while premium Disney and Universal hotels can cost considerably more.

For UK families, it’s better to compare the total cost of the stay rather than simply looking at the nightly room rate. A cheaper hotel can become less attractive once you add parking, resort fees, transport and breakfast, while a more expensive hotel may include benefits that save money elsewhere.

When comparing hotels, check: resort fees, parking charges, breakfast, theme park transport, room size, cancellation terms and any theme park benefits included with your stay.

Holiday Blueprint tip: Orlando hotel prices can change significantly between dates. Once you’ve narrowed your choice down to two or three hotels, compare the total price for your actual travel dates rather than relying on an advertised nightly rate.

Which Orlando Hotel Should You Choose?

There isn’t one Orlando hotel that’s best for every family. The right choice depends on your budget, which parks matter most and whether convenience or hotel facilities are your priority.

Best for a Disney-focused holiday: Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Best for Universal Express Unlimited: Loews Royal Pacific Resort
Best for Epic Universe: Universal Helios Grand Hotel
Best for keeping costs down: Rosen Inn International
Best off-site Disney option: Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area
Best for an I-Drive resort experience: Hyatt Regency Orlando
Best strategy for visiting everything: A split stay between the Disney and Universal areas

Holiday Blueprint recommendation: For a typical two-week UK family holiday covering both Disney and Universal, we’d seriously consider a split stay. Spend the majority of the holiday in a good-value hotel convenient for Disney, then move to a Universal hotel for the final few nights. It can reduce travelling and, depending on the Universal hotel you choose, give you valuable theme park benefits at exactly the point you need them.

Frequently Asked Questions About Where to Stay in Orlando

Is it better to stay at Disney or Universal Orlando?

It depends on which parks you’ll visit most. Staying at Disney is usually more convenient for a Disney-heavy holiday, while staying at Universal can offer useful benefits for Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe. If you’re visiting both resort areas over two weeks, a split stay can give you the best of both.

Is it cheaper to stay off-site in Orlando?

Often, yes. Off-site hotels around International Drive and Lake Buena Vista can offer lower room rates and more choice than staying at Disney or Universal. However, always compare the total cost. Resort fees, parking, car hire and transport to the theme parks can reduce the saving, while some on-site hotels include benefits that may be valuable to your family.

What is the best area to stay in Orlando without a car?

Staying at an official Disney or Universal hotel can be one of the easiest options without a car because you’ll have access to resort transport for their respective theme parks. International Drive can also work, particularly if your hotel offers useful shuttle services, although you may still want to use Uber or Lyft for some journeys.

How many nights should you stay at Universal Orlando?

For many families on a two-week Orlando holiday, around three or four nights at a Universal hotel can work well as part of a split stay. This gives you several days for Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe without needing to base your entire holiday at Universal. The ideal length will depend on your park tickets and how much downtime you want.

Is a split stay in Orlando worth it?

For many UK families visiting Orlando for around two weeks, yes. A split stay can reduce the amount of travelling between Disney and Universal and lets you choose hotels that suit each part of the holiday. The downside is having to pack and change hotels once, but for longer trips the extra convenience can make it worthwhile.

Final Thoughts: Where Should You Stay in Orlando?

Choosing where to stay in Orlando comes down to balancing location, budget and convenience. If Disney is the main focus of your holiday, staying on or close to Walt Disney World can make life much easier. If Universal and Epic Universe are high on your list, spending at least a few nights at a Universal hotel can be well worth considering.

For many UK families visiting for around two weeks, our favourite approach is a split stay. It gives you the freedom to choose a good-value base for the Disney part of your holiday before moving closer to Universal for the final few nights.

Whichever option you choose, compare the total cost rather than the room rate alone. Transport, parking, resort fees, breakfast and included theme park benefits can completely change which hotel offers the best value.

Ready to start planning the rest of your trip? Read our complete Orlando holiday planning guide for UK travellers →