Layover In Orlando: The Ultimate Guide 2024

It's no fantasy that Orlando International Airport is one of the busiest in North America. Whether you're flying into Orlando for a stopover or it's your final destination, you'll be just one of the fifty million plus passengers who pass through the facility every year. It's an airport which has been designed to cope with a large number of travelers and even though it has only one main terminal building divided into two sections, it operates efficiently.

Orlando Airport is approximately ten miles outside of the city's downtown area. While there's no metro service running between the airport and Orlando, there is a regular and very economical Lynx shuttle bus service running into Downtown Orlando as well as to some of the more popular sights like Seaworld and the Florida Mall. Buses depart from Level 1 in the A Section of the terminal building. Journey times depend on where you are going but are usually thirty minutes to an hour.

6 hour layover in Orlando

Drop your bags at an Orlando luggage locker facility and make the most of a six-hour Orlando layover by catching either the Lynx shuttle bus service 51 or 111. It'll be a cheap and quick sightseeing tour and definitely more fun than staying in the airport. The 51 service takes fifty minutes to complete its journey from the airport to the main Lynx station in Downtown. You might just squeeze in time for a quick coffee before you need to get back onboard and head back to the airport for your Orlando connection. Service 111 runs out to Seaworld and no, you won't have time to go in, but at least you'll have seen something of Orlando.

• It's cheaper to buy an all-day ticket for the Lynx bus than it is paying for individual journeys. Tickets can be purchased on boarding or from the automated machines in arrivals.
• Taxis and limousines are available at the airport but work out considerably more expensive. A comparative ride into Downtown which is $2 on the Lynx shuttle bus costs around $45 by cab and twice that amount by limo.

8 hour layover in Orlando

When you have an eight-hour layover in Orlando you'll be able to catch the Lynx 51 and get off at the Florida Mall. It's an enormous shopping complex covering almost two million square feet so use a map app to make sure you don't get lost inside. You'll be able to pick up some souvenirs of your visit from famous stores like Saks, Sears and Macy's as well as grab a bite to eat before it's time to catch the bus back to the airport.

• If you go shopping in the Florida Mall, don't forget to allow yourself an extra fifteen minutes or so to pick your luggage up from the suitcase storage service and be at the check-in for your Orlando connection at least two hours before take-off.
• To get a breath of fresh air and see how they live in Florida all you have to do is grab a cab from the airport to the Village Walk at Lake Nona. There are a few lakeside stores and coffee shops by the lakeside where you can sit and relax for a while after having a walk around. 

10 hour layover in Orlando

The great thing about having a ten-hour Orlando layover, especially if you're traveling with kids, is that you'll have enough time to visit one of the city's many theme parks. You won't want to miss any of the half day of fun you have so drop your bags at an airport luggage locker facility as quickly as you can, grab a cab and head for the Universal Orlando Resort. There you can let loose as you ride through Harry Potter's world or take the Jurassic Park River Adventure. There are special rides for younger children too as well as live performances,and interactive games plus eateries and stores.

• If you prefer to do cultural activities during your Orlando stopover then plan on paying a visit to the Orlando Museum of Art or the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art.
• Get amused by some very well-known faces at Madame Tussauds. You'll even be able to snap a souvenir selfie with your favorite artist.

12 hour layover in Orlando

With a twelve-hour layover in Orlando ahead of you, you'll have time to add some more relaxed activities to your visit to this buzzing Florida city. Chill out by taking a stroll through the Mead Botanical Garden which is an absolute oasis of calm greenery, boardwalked pond area and butterfly houses. The tranquility there will make a welcome change from the hyper-active streets of Orlando and the busy airport.

Get spooked out on an evening stopover by taking a guided ghost tour through Downtown. The tours take around two hours so you'll still have time leftover for a chophouse dinner.

The Downtown ghost tours also operate during the day, but don't expect it to be half as spooky as the nighttime one. It's a good insight into Orlando history though and still lots of fun.

24 hour layover in Orlando

One way to make a twenty-four hour layover in Orlando mega memorable is by spending it at Discovery Cove. Discovery Cove is an all-day deluxe resort where you can participate in exciting water-oriented activities so don't leave your swim things in the luggage locker at Orlando Airport. You won't need towels or snorkeling gear as they are provided by the resort. At the park, you'll be able to snorkel across a tropical reef, meet otters face to face in a rainforest pool and swim down a river where you can body raft over a waterfall. Add swimming with dolphins to that list and it's about as good a way to pass a stopover in Orlando as you can possibly get and all your food and drink are included too.

• It's recommended to reserve your day at Discovery Cove well in advance of arriving and preferably two months before if you can.
• There are many additional activities like underwater reef walking or ray feeding you can take part in if you upgrade the standard booking.