ORLANDO, Fla. – Two weeks after sweeping changes to downtown Orlando’s parking system took effect, residents, visitors and business owners say higher rates and a new payment process are making trips downtown more expensive and less convenient.
The changes include the removal of traditional parking meters, increased hourly rates for street parking and garages, and a shift to paying by phone or through a mobile app.
For some visitors heading downtown for a Friday night of entertainment, the cost of parking was already putting a damper on their plans.
“It’s been crazy. It’s a lot,” said one young woman who traveled downtown with her mother for a concert.
The pair said parking near the venue was so expensive that they decided it would be cheaper to park near the University of Central Florida and take an Uber downtown.
“The last one I checked was between $24 to $35,” the mother said, describing the parking prices she encountered.
Under the city’s new pricing structure, on-street parking costs $2 an hour for each of the first two hours, double the previous rate. The price increases to $3 for the third hour and $4 for the fourth.
City parking garages now charge $2 an hour for the first four hours, followed by $3 for each additional hour. The daily maximum has increased from $15 to $20.
Parking rates can climb even higher during special events, depending on the location.
For visitors already paying for accommodations, those additional expenses can add up quickly.
“A little discouraging when you have to pay for the hotel room, then you have to pay additional for the parking, especially at $30,” one visitor said.
The higher prices are also affecting people who regularly spend time downtown.
“I hate it, absolutely hate it. It’s unbearable,” said one woman who frequents the area.
She said the increased parking costs have changed how often she goes out.
“I used to come out a lot, but now I am paying more to park than I am to get in the club,” she said.
Beyond the higher rates, the removal of traditional parking meters has created another adjustment for drivers, who must now use an app or phone-based payment system.
That change is affecting not only people visiting downtown for entertainment but also those who travel into the area for work.
A couple associated with family-owned Infinite Air HVAC and AC said they, too, are paying more to park while conducting business downtown.
Other residents expressed frustration with the new system at a time when they say everyday expenses are already rising.
“It’s super annoying. We are locals here. We have earned our place to be here, and we already have the economy going up,” one resident said.
Two weeks into the transition, the reactions from drivers highlight concerns about both affordability and convenience as downtown Orlando adjusts to its new parking system.
For residents, workers and visitors, the question is no longer simply where to park — but how much it will cost and how to pay for it.
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