Last summer, I wrote about Waymo’s driverless cars testing in Orlando — the kind of story that feels equal parts “future” and “Florida.” At the time, it was interesting… but still theoretical for most of us.
Now it’s official: Waymo is live in Orlando.
But here’s the part that matters if you’re a traveler (or even a local): “Live” doesn’t mean “open to everyone” — and it definitely doesn’t mean you can land at MCO and grab a robotaxi to your hotel.
What “Waymo is live” actually means
Waymo started welcoming its first public riders in Orlando on February 24, 2026, according to local reporting. The initial service area covers about 60 square miles, and the cars are available 24/7. (WFTV)
However, this is still an early rollout. Waymo says that select riders who already downloaded the app will receive an invitation, and new riders will be invited on a rolling basis as the service scales up — with the plan to open to everyone later this year.
Where you can use Waymo in Orlando (and where you can’t)
Waymo’s Orlando service covers roughly 60 square miles, stretching from just north of downtown down toward the tourist corridor — and, according to Spectrum News 13, nearly all the way to Walt Disney World.
But there are two big limitations you should know about:
- No freeways (for now): The cars currently stick to surface streets — meaning no I-4 and no other freeway routing yet.
- No airport access (for now): That freeway limitation also means no access to Orlando International Airport (MCO) yet. WFTV reports Waymo says it’s working with the airport for future access.
Translation: if you’re visiting Orlando and your first thought is “Cool, I’ll take Waymo from the airport,” the answer is: not yet.
So… who can actually use it right now?
At the moment, Waymo is “live” in Orlando — but it’s mostly for:
- Locals (or long-stay visitors) who are already inside the service area and don’t mind joining a waitlist.
- People who downloaded the app early and were selected for an invitation as Waymo gradually expands access.
- Shorter trips that can be done on surface streets without freeway routing.
And it’s less useful (for now) if you’re:
- Flying into MCO and looking for a driverless ride from baggage claim (not available yet).
- Planning a lot of I-4 hopping between hotels, parks, and dining (surface streets only for now).
- On a typical “airport → hotel → parks → airport” Orlando trip, especially if you’re staying outside the initial coverage zone.
How to use Waymo (even if you’ve never tried it)
If you want to see whether you’re eligible (or get in line for access), the process is straightforward:
- Download the Waymo app and create an account.
- Join the waitlist/request access (Waymo says invitations are rolling out as they scale)
- Once you’re invited, you can hail a ride in the app, just like any other rideshare.
- The app lets you unlock the doors when the car arrives and start the ride from your phone or the in-car passenger screen.
If you want the official starting point, Waymo’s rider page is here: waymo.com/rides.
Who’s the target audience (and why Orlando makes sense)
Waymo launching in Orlando is fascinating because Orlando isn’t just “a city.” It’s also a tourism machine — airports, hotels, convention traffic, theme parks, and nonstop “I don’t know where I’m going” drivers.
So, who is this really for right now?
- Curious locals who want to try it because it’s new (and because Orlando is now one of the cities where you can).
- Tech-forward travelers who will go out of their way to take one ride just to say they did it.
- People who value predictability — no awkward small talk, no “can you cancel and rebook,” no guessing whether the driver is going to accept the ride.
But until airport access and freeway driving arrive, Waymo’s Orlando service is more “interesting new option” than “Uber replacement.” That will probably change over time — but this first phase is clearly a controlled rollout.
What happens next
Waymo says it plans to expand access as it scales, eventually opening the service to everyone later in 2026.
Local reporting also suggests Waymo is working toward airport access in the future — but that’s not part of the service today.
So for now: if you live in the coverage area (or you’re visiting and staying inside it), it’s worth downloading the app and seeing if you get invited. If you’re an out-of-town visitor expecting a robotaxi to solve Orlando’s airport/parking/rental-car chaos… you’ll want to keep using your usual options a bit longer.
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