Orlando without a car: rest days from I-Drive
Two weeks of parks is a lot. These days out cost little or nothing and work from International Drive without a hire car. Each one has how to get there, what it costs in £, and what to book.
Quick version
- I-RIDE Trolley up and down I-Drive: $2 a ride (≈ £1.50), or $8 for a 1-day pass (≈ £5.99).
- LYNX buses: $2 a ride (≈ £1.50), or $4.50 for an all-day pass (≈ £3.37), bought from the driver. Exact fare only.
- Universal CityWalk and Disney Springs are free to walk around.
- SunRail (to Winter Park) runs Monday to Friday only.
- Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour: $20 an adult (≈ £14.98), $10 a child aged 2–11, tax included.
£ figures are approximate, at the ECB rate on 20 Oct 2026 ($1 = £0.749) Frankfurter/ECB.
On I-Drive: Pointe Orlando, ICON Park & the hotel pool
Cost: free to wander. Attractions such as The Wheel, SEA LIFE and Madame Tussauds charge separately ICON Park.
Getting there: the I-RIDE Trolley runs along International Drive daily from 8am to 10:30pm. It's $2 a ride ($1 for children aged 3–9), with exact change. Passes run from $8 for 1 day to $22 for 14 days and aren't sold on board I-Drive official.
Free option: a pool afternoon. The Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando, for example, has three pools open 9am–10pm, weather permitting Rosen Inn.
Universal CityWalk
Cost: free to stroll, with no park ticket needed Universal.
Getting there: many I-Drive partner hotels run free buses. The Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando's shuttle to Universal and CityWalk leaves at 8:10, 9:50 and 11:50am and comes back at 5:00, 6:25, 8:00 and 9:25pm. Book in the lobby up to 24 hours ahead Rosen Inn. LYNX Link 38 (Universal / I-Drive Express) is another option LYNX.
Tip: the shuttle times suit an afternoon and evening there, with a late bus back.
Disney Springs
Cost: free to walk around, with shops, live music and lots of atmosphere at night Disney Springs.
Getting there: LYNX Link 311 runs from I-Drive at Destination Parkway (by the Convention Center) to the Disney Springs Transfer Center. It's $2 (≈ £1.50) LYNX.
Tip: mostly indoor shops, so it's a good back-up if it rains.
Lake Eola & downtown Orlando
Cost: free. There's a lake loop with swans and a fountain, plus the Orlando Farmers Market every Sunday, 10am–3pm City of Orlando.
Getting there: LYNX Link 8 (W. Oak Ridge Road / International Drive) runs between International Drive and LYNX Central Station downtown. Downtown, the LYMMO circulator is currently fare-free LYNX LYNX fares.
Cost for a family of 4 by bus: 4 all-day passes at $4.50 = $18 (≈ £13.48).
Winter Park (weekdays only)
Cost: the town is free to wander. The Scenic Boat Tour costs $20 an adult (≈ £14.98) and $10 a child aged 2–11 (≈ £7.49), tax included. Tours take about an hour, leave hourly from 10am to 4pm daily, and work on a first come, first served basis Scenic Boat Tours.
Getting there: take LYNX Link 311 from I-Drive to the Sand Lake Road SunRail station LYNX, then the SunRail train north to Winter Park. SunRail runs Monday to Friday only SunRail timetable. Both stations are in Orange County, so it's a one-zone fare: $2 one way or $3.75 return. Under-7s ride free with a paying adult (up to 3 per adult) SunRail fares.
Tip: check the last train back before you go.
Old Town Kissimmee
Cost: the car shows are free to watch. The Friday Muscle Car Show runs from 3pm and the Saturday Classic Car Show from 1pm, with the cruise at 8:30pm on both nights. Rides cost extra Old Town.
Getting there: we haven't found a simple bus from I-Drive, so use Uber or Lyft. Open both apps and compare quotes. Rideshare tips →
Rainy day ideas
- Disney Springs: free to browse, $2 each way on LYNX Link 311 (see above).
- Orlando Premium Outlets (International Drive and Vineland Avenue): free to browse, and both are on LYNX Link 8 LYNX.
- Orlando Science Center: online prices are $22 for ages 2–12 (≈ £16.48), $27 for teens and $29 for adults (≈ £21.72). It's $3 more on the door, so book online. It has no lockers or luggage storage Orlando Science Center.
- Your hotel: games room, laundry catch-up and a film. It's free, and you'll be glad of it in week two.
Prefer a guided trip?
For places that are hard to reach without a car (Kennedy Space Center, the springs, the beaches), compare guided day trips with pick-up from I-Drive. These are plain links. We don't earn from them.
More ideas: free & cheap things to do · watch a rocket launch for free · Epic Universe on a budget
Bus routes, fares and timetables change. Check the LYNX and SunRail timetables for your day, especially the last service back.
Last checked: 20 Oct 2026