Transportation Options at and around Vista Cay Resort, Orlando

Vista Cay Resort’s premium location in Orlando offers easy access to the city’s top venues, making it a standout choice for vacationers. Vista Cay Resort is one of only two vacation home communities in Orlando. Vista Cay is positioned within walking distance of Universal’s Epic Universe theme park, the convention center, and the vibrant shops and restaurants at the adjacent Publix plaza. This location provides guests with superior convenience and flexibility to exploring Orlando’s offerings.

Do You Need a Car at Vista Cay in Orlando?

A common question we are asked is whether a car is needed during your stay at Vista Cay. The answer depends on your plans and preferences. One of the resort’s advantages is its walkability to venues and shops. Guests can walk to a nearby Publix grocery store, pharmacy, and a range of shops and restaurants in the plaza just in front of the resort. In addition, the renowned Shingle Creek Golf Course & Convention hotel, Universal’s Epic Universe (located directly across the street), and the Orange County Convention Center are all within walking distance. See our map tour below:

The key advantage of having a car when staying in Vista Cay is that there is free parking, and it offers you great flexibility in terms of where to go and when. 

Car Rental

If you need a car, you can rent one close by at the Rosen Center hotel, and if you cal,l they will pick you up and drop you off. CLICK here to see options.

Given Orlando’s heat and humidity, particularly in summer, walking is less appealing. The temperature gets extremely humid, and the heat index can exceed a hundred degrees. Rather than walking, rideshare services like Uber are a super-easy and often more cost-effective alternative. When providing your Uber driver with the resort’s gate code, they can pick you up in front of your building and drop you off precisely where you need to go, such as a specific convention center exhibit hall. This is especially convenient for shopping trips or visits to the variety of nearby attractions. Publix, the grocery store, also offers grocery delivery to Vista Cay, providing additional convenience for guests without a car.

Cost Savings with Rideshares like Lyft and Uber

Using Uber or Lyft is often more economical than driving, especially when factoring in parking fees. For example, at the Orange County Convention Center, which is just a quarter-mile from Vista Cay at its closest point parking can cost $35 oper day but an Uber depending on demand is $10+/- and avoids the convention center’s parking fees, and avoids having to walk the huge distance when you park your car at the convention center (can be up to a half mile as it isso big. With the convention center spanning a large area (up to 1.5 miles to its farthest point), services like Uber and Lyft allow you to be dropped off at the specific gate or exhibit hall you need, saving time and money. If you give your cab driver your gate code, they will pick you up in front of your building.

For visits to other attractions, such as Universal’s additional theme parks or Disney World (approximately 4-13 miles away), Uber and Lyft can still be a practical option. A trip to Disney is more expensive due to the distance, but it can still be cost-competitive when you consider Disney’s parking fees, which are approximately $35 per day (always check Disney’s official website for the latest pricing, as fees may increase).

Public Transportation

Guests often ask about public bus transportation options near Vista Cay. Currently, there are no direct bus stops at the resort, with the nearest bus routes operating along International Drive, just a short distance away. However, with the opening of Epic Universe, new bus routes are being set up, and we expect stops along Universal Boulevard. Check with the Local bus service CLICK HERE

Walking to the Convention Center

Many guests who don’t mind walking inquire about walking to the Orange County Convention Center. Amazingly, the closest part of the convention center is just a quarter-mile from Vista Cay, but the farthest areas can be up to 1.5 miles away (yes the convention center is huge and is spread out over International drive and Universal Boulevard so know which exhibit hall you are going to and wher irt is located. Walking can be feasible for shorter distances, but Orlando’s intense summer heat and humidity most of the year, combined with limited sidewalks, make it less practical and not recommended. Instead, we suggest just taking an Uber or Lyft as mentioned above for a quick, affordable trip. Your driver can then drop you off at the specific exhibit hall and pick you up from the same spot for the return trip to Vista Cay, making for a hassle-free experience.

Walking to Epic Universe

Epic Universe from Universal Studios is literally across the street and can be walked to. However, the new theme park does have a long driveway to get to the park, so again, we recommend that, rather than driving and paying the parking charges, just hop in a Lyft or Uber and have them take you there. 

Conclusion

Vista Cay Resort’s exceptional location and proximity to key attractions make it easy to navigate Orlando with or without a car. Whether you choose to walk, use rideshare services, or take advantage of grocery delivery, Vista Cay offers flexible and convenient transportation options to suit your needs, allowing you to focus on enjoying your Orlando vacation.