Downtown Orlando parking changes draw frustration as higher rates take effect

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