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How much does an Orlando vacation cost? It comes down to a handful of lines: park tickets, your hotel, food, getting there and getting around. There is no honest single total, because ticket prices and hotel rates both move with your dates. What this guide gives you instead are the official prices that anchor each line, checked at the time of writing (October 2026), and a worksheet for adding up your own trip.
Prices change often, so treat every figure here as a snapshot and confirm it before you pay.
Quick answer: Your total is driven mostly by park tickets, your hotel’s nightly rate and food, multiplied by the number of people, nights and park days. At the time of writing (October 2026), a 1-day Walt Disney World ticket starts from $119 per person (ages 10 and up) before tax, and it costs more on busy dates. Hotel rooms carry 12.5% tax in Orange County (Disney, Universal, International Drive) or 13.5% in Osceola County (Kissimmee). Disney theme park parking is $35 a day, and many resorts add nightly resort and parking fees on top of the room rate.
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How much does an Orlando vacation cost? The main official prices
Each price below comes from the operator’s or the state’s own website at the time of writing (October 2026). Ticket prices are date-based, so the figure shown is the lowest available, not the typical one.
| Cost item | Official price (October 2026) | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Disney World 1-day ticket | From $119 per day, before tax | Ages 10 and up; price depends on the date |
| Universal 1-day ticket | From $124.99, Epic Universe from $139.99, plus tax | US prices at last check; vary by day |
| SeaWorld Orlando 1-day | From $59.99, plus taxes and fees | Ages 3 and up; online price for a selected date |
| Disney water park 1-day | $74 (ages 10+), $68 (ages 3–9) | Cheaper version with blockout dates |
| Disney theme park parking | $35 per day standard | Included for Disney Resort hotel guests |
| Hotel tax | 12.5% Orange, 13.5% Osceola | Added to the room rate |
| Mears Connect airport shuttle | $16 adult, $13 child, one way | Plus an arrival fee and a 6% fuel surcharge |
Theme park tickets: the biggest line in the budget
Tickets are usually the biggest single line on a theme park trip, and every major park now prices by date. Buying several days at once usually lowers the price per day.
Walt Disney World
At the time of writing, Disney’s ticket page lists 1-day theme park tickets from $119 per day for ages 10 and up, with Florida taxes not included. Disney’s child price applies to ages 3 to 9, and children under 3 don’t need a ticket. You can buy 1 to 10 days, and the Park Hopper option (more than one park on the same day) costs extra on top of the base ticket.
Disney’s line-skipping product, Lightning Lane, is sold separately. Disney says Lightning Lane prices vary by date and by park or attraction, can be higher at peak times such as holidays, and are shown in the My Disney Experience app. Check the app for your dates before you set the budget.
Universal Orlando and Epic Universe
Universal Orlando has three theme parks, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe, plus the Volcano Bay water park. At last check (Universal’s US ticket page, late September 2026), 1-day tickets started from $124.99 for Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure and from $139.99 for Epic Universe, plus tax, with prices varying by day. Universal Express, which shortens waits at participating rides, was listed from $119.99 to $319.99 per person plus tax for one park.
Multi-day deals depend on where you buy. The US page promoted two free days with a 3-day ticket, while the page shown to visitors browsing from Brazil offered a 3-day special from $99 per day ($297) plus tax, one park per day, with blockout dates. Neither showed an end date at the time of writing, so read the terms first.
Volcano Bay is scheduled to close for maintenance from October 26, 2026, and Universal plans to reopen it by spring 2027 (dates subject to change). Don’t budget a Volcano Bay day inside that window.
SeaWorld and the water parks
SeaWorld Orlando lists single-day tickets from $59.99 for ages 3 and up, plus taxes and fees, when you buy online for a selected date. Disney’s 1-day water park ticket costs $74 for ages 10 and up and $68 for ages 3 to 9, or $64 and $58 for a version with blockout dates. It covers Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon, whichever is open, so keep a water park day flexible.
Hotels: room rate, tax, resort fees and parking
The nightly rate you see first is rarely what you pay. Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book, so we don’t quote room prices here: price your own dates. On top of the rate come three extras that are easy to forget.
Hotel tax by county
Florida charges 6% state sales tax on rentals of six months or less. Counties then add a discretionary sales surtax and a local tourist development tax. Here is how the rates stack up in the areas most visitors stay, based on the Florida Department of Revenue’s rate tables at the time of writing.
| County | Typical areas | Sales tax | Tourist tax | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | Disney, Universal, I-Drive, downtown | 6.5% | 6% | 12.5% |
| Osceola | Kissimmee, Celebration | 7.5% | 6% | 13.5% |
| Seminole | Sanford, Lake Mary | 7% | 5% | 12% |
| Polk | LEGOLAND, Davenport | 7% | 5% | 12% |
Put simply, every $100 you spend on the room adds $12.50 of tax in Orange County and $13.50 in Osceola. These counties collect their own tourist tax, so check the final rate on your bill.
Resort fees and parking
Many Orlando resorts add a daily resort fee and charge separately for parking. For example, at the time of writing Caribe Royale Orlando lists a resort fee of $38 plus tax per room per night (it includes Wi-Fi and a scheduled Disney park shuttle) and hotel-guest self-parking at $36 plus tax per vehicle per night. Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando near Disney Springs charges $28 a night to park but has no resort fee. If you’re driving, compare the total cost per night, not the headline rate. Our list of Orlando hotels with no resort fees is a good place to start.
Disney’s own resorts work differently. Disney lists standard overnight self-parking as complimentary for Disney Resort hotel guests, and standard theme park parking is included for them too. Valet at the Deluxe resorts, the Deluxe Villas and Coronado Springs is $42 per night plus tax.
Getting there and getting around
Flights depend on where you start and when you book, so price your own route. Once you land at Orlando International Airport (MCO), these are the main options and the airport’s own approximate fares at the time of writing.
| Option | To Disney area | To International Drive | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi | About $52–$68 | About $38–$45 | Per vehicle, one way |
| Shared-ride van | About $23 / $37 | About $21 / $33 | Per person, one way / round trip |
| LYNX bus | $4 | $2 | Cheapest, but slowest |
| Mears Connect | $16 adult one way | Listed hotels only | Disney-area shuttle; extra fees |
Mears Connect lists $16 per adult and $13 per child aged 3 to 9 each way, with children under 3 free. The airport-to-resort leg adds a fee recovery charge ($1.60 per adult, $1.30 per child), and a 6% fuel surcharge applies to all reservations “until further notice.” Its Express service, round trip only and with fewer stops, is $250 for up to four people plus $55 for each extra person, before the fuel surcharge. Our guide to getting from Orlando airport to Disney World compares every option, including rideshare.
Car or no car?
At Disney, standard parking is $35 per day ($40 for large vehicles such as RVs), and preferred spots are $50, $55 or $60 per day depending on the date, sales tax included. One fee covers all four Disney theme parks for the day. Universal, Epic Universe and SeaWorld charge their own daily parking, so check their current rates. Then add the rental itself, your hotel’s nightly parking charge, gas and any tolls. Staying near one resort area with a free hotel shuttle is often cheaper.
Food and extras
Food is the line where you have the most control. Disney grades its restaurants by price per adult: $ means $14.99 or less, $$ means $15 to $34.99, $$$ means $35 to $59.99, and $$$$ means over $60. Mixing quick-service meals with the occasional table-service meal is your biggest food lever.
The easiest saving is breakfast. A hotel with a free hot breakfast removes one paid meal per person per day, every day of the trip. Our list of Orlando hotels with free breakfast shows which ones include it. Other extras to budget for are Lightning Lane or Universal Express, souvenirs, ponchos and stroller rental.
Build your own Orlando budget: a worksheet
Instead of an invented “average” total, fill in this worksheet for your own dates and group. Official prices are anchors at the time of writing (October 2026). Hotel rates and flights are yours to price, because they vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book.
| Cost line | How to work it out | Official anchor (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | Fare × travelers, plus bag fees | None: price your own route and dates |
| Hotel room | Your hotel’s nightly rate × nights | None: rates vary by season, availability and booking window |
| Hotel tax | Room total × county rate | 12.5% Orange, 13.5% Osceola, 12% Seminole and Polk |
| Resort fee and hotel parking | Nightly fees × nights, plus tax | Varies by hotel; check the final price page |
| Disney tickets | Price for your dates × people, plus tax | 1 day from $119 (ages 10+), before tax |
| Universal tickets | Price for your dates × people, plus tax | 1 day from $124.99; Epic Universe from $139.99 |
| SeaWorld or water parks | Ticket × people | SeaWorld from $59.99; Disney water park $74 / $68 |
| Line-skipping | Price per person × days you need it | Lightning Lane varies by date; Express from $119.99 |
| Airport transfers | Fare × people × 2, or taxi per vehicle | Mears $16 / $13 each way plus fees; taxi to Disney about $52–$68 |
| Car | Rental + gas + parking on park days | Disney parking $35 per day |
| Food | Daily budget × people × days | Disney bands: $14.99 or less up to over $60 per adult |
| Extras | A cap you set in advance | None: souvenirs, ponchos, stroller rental |
The method in one line: tickets for your dates × people, plus your hotel’s nightly rate × nights, plus county tax on the room, plus resort fee and parking × nights, plus flights and transfers (or a car), plus daily food × people × days, plus extras. The biggest line is where a change of dates, hotel or ticket length saves the most. If you’re unsure about trip length, our guide on how many days you need in Orlando helps you set the number of park days, which drives the ticket line.
Budget-friendly hotels that cut the hidden costs
For a value-focused trip, the best hotels are often the ones that remove extra costs: breakfast, parking, resort fees and park transport. These two hotels show what to look for. There are more in our guide to cheap hotels in Orlando near the parks.
Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area
This Official Walt Disney World Hotel sits about half a mile from Disney Springs on Hotel Plaza Boulevard. According to its website, it serves a free hot breakfast daily from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. Its free 5:30 Kickback runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with hot food and cold drinks. A complimentary shuttle runs every hour to all four Disney theme parks, and the hotel says it has no resort fee. Self-parking is $28 per night if you drive. Our full Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando review covers rooms and the shuttle in detail.
See prices and availability at Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area
Drury Inn and Suites near Universal Orlando Resort
On West Sand Lake Road, this Drury lists free parking during your stay, a free hot breakfast and the free 5:30 Kickback. It also offers a free scheduled shuttle to all of Universal’s theme parks, including Epic Universe, which you reserve at the Universal ticket center in the lobby. For a Universal trip without a car, that covers the three costs that most often inflate a budget. Confirm current fees and shuttle times with the hotel when you book.
Check your dates for Drury Inn and Suites near Universal Orlando Resort on Booking.com
How to lower your Orlando vacation cost
- Pick your dates first. Disney, Universal and SeaWorld all price by date, and hotels follow the same demand. Our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Orlando shows the quieter periods.
- Buy fewer, longer tickets. Multi-day tickets usually cost less per day than single days.
- Compare the total nightly cost. Add tax, resort fee and parking to every hotel before you compare.
- Skip the car if you stay in one area. Shuttles and shared airport transfers can cost less than a rental plus daily parking.
- Choose the right base. Staying close to the parks you’ll actually visit cuts transport time and cost. Our guide to where to stay in Orlando compares the main areas.
- Price Lightning Lane before you commit. Check the app for your dates and buy it only for the days that need it.
Spend less on fun: fill the gaps between park days with our list of free things to do in Orlando.
Hotel fees: see Orlando resort fees explained before you compare nightly rates.
Daily extras: see theme park parking and the car rental guide for the costs on top of tickets and rooms.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 5-day Orlando vacation cost for a family of four?
There’s no honest single figure, because tickets and hotel rates change with your dates. Build it from the lines instead: four tickets for your dates (Disney starts from $119 per person per day for ages 10 and up, before tax, at the time of writing), your hotel’s nightly rate × nights plus 12.5% to 13.5% tax, transfers or a car, and food. Our worksheet above walks you through each line.
How much is parking at Disney World and Universal?
At the time of writing, Disney charges $35 per day for standard theme park parking and $50 to $60 for preferred spots, sales tax included. One fee covers all four Disney theme parks that day, and standard parking is included for Disney Resort hotel guests. Universal, Epic Universe and SeaWorld set their own daily parking fees, so check their sites for current rates.
What is the hotel tax in Orlando?
It depends on the county. In Orange County, which includes Walt Disney World, Universal and International Drive, the combined rate is 12.5%: 6.5% sales tax plus a 6% tourist development tax. In Osceola County, which includes Kissimmee, it’s 13.5%. Seminole and Polk counties come to 12%. The tax is added on top of the nightly rate.
How much does it cost to get from Orlando airport to Disney World?
At the time of writing, the airport lists approximate taxi fares of $52 to $68 to the Disney resorts, and shared vans of about $23 one way. The LYNX bus is $4. Mears Connect charges $16 per adult and $13 per child each way, plus a fee on the arrival leg and a 6% fuel surcharge. Its Express service is $250 round trip for up to four people.
Do Orlando hotels charge resort fees?
Many do, especially larger resorts, and parking is often charged on top. Caribe Royale Orlando, for example, lists $38 plus tax per night at the time of writing. Fees vary by hotel and can change, so check the final price page before you book. Some hotels, including Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando near Disney Springs, say they charge no resort fee.
Bottom line
An Orlando vacation costs what your tickets, hotel and meals cost, plus the fees people forget: hotel tax of 12.5% to 13.5%, resort fees, and parking at both the hotel and the parks. Choose your dates first. Price tickets for those exact days, then compare hotels on their total nightly cost and run the numbers through the worksheet. A hotel with free breakfast, free parking and a park shuttle removes several daily costs at once.
Compare rates for Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area
Sources checked in October 2026: Walt Disney World theme park tickets, Walt Disney World parking, Universal Orlando park tickets, Florida Department of Revenue tourist development tax rates, Orlando International Airport ground transportation