What's the best way to pay for things in Orlando — cash or card?
Reviewed by Jamie — A UK first-timer who did the homework so you don't have to. Last checked 2026-07-13.
The short answer
A fee-free UK debit or credit card for nearly everything, $100-200 cash for the whole trip (mainly housekeeping tips), and one iron rule: when a terminal offers to charge you in pounds, always choose dollars — the 'helpful' conversion costs 3-6% every single time.
Orlando is effectively cashless: parks, restaurants, parking, even market stalls take cards, and contactless UK cards work everywhere. The old ritual of carrying holiday dollars mostly just donates a spread to the bureau de change.
The two fees worth engineering away: your bank's foreign-transaction fee (get a fee-free card — takes a week, saves ~3% on everything) and dynamic currency conversion, the pounds-or-dollars question at the till. It's phrased as a convenience; it's a worse exchange rate. Dollars, every time, including at cash machines.
One practical note for the hire-car desk: the deposit hold wants a credit card in the lead driver's name — debit cards trigger extra checks or refusals with some suppliers. That one card decision prevents the worst queue in Orlando.
Now check it against your dates
Or see your whole trip in the right order — every deadline from one set of dates.