When is the Best Time for Your Trip to Orlando?

It’s likely that you have a lot of questions about your upcoming trip to Orlando – and the first of those questions may be when the best time is to vacation in Orlando. There is no one-size fits all answer that will work for every family. However, there are some tips you can learn that can help ensure you’re choosing the time that’s right for you.

For families who need to visit during traditional vacation times

First we’ll look at the best times to visit Orlando for families who have children in school. Of course, not every state or school district is the same, but this section will assume that your children have the summer off, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the major holidays.

We don’t recommend visiting during Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Even unless you want to deal with heavy crowds and a lack of Orlando travel deals. Why? Because these are the busiest days of the year at Disney World and Universal. Many people assume that the holidays would be slow but the opposite is actually true. However, if this is the only time you can visit, there’s good news: The parks do some really incredible decorating and put on great shows during these busy times.

The next option is to go during the summer. We recommend going either right after your school lets out for the year or right before they go back. It’s likely that some other school districts across the country will be in school still so there will be lower crowds. May and early June are relatively low on crowds and the weather is pleasant. The middle and end of August are slow times at the parks but the temperature will be very hot.

To get the best Orlando packages, see the lowest crowds, and deal with the least amount of waiting, visit over Labor Day weekend. Most schools are in session but have just gone back. As a result, not as many families travel to Orlando for this three-day weekend as they do for others. Temperatures are high but if you keep yourself hydrated and take plenty of pool breaks, you should be fine.

For families who can visit any time during the year

If you’re lucky enough to have total flexibility, then the first thing to know is that you don’t want to travel to Walt Disney World or Universal Studios Orlando during the summer. The crowds will be high, you’ll pay more, and it will be hot.

Now, when you should go depends on what you’re most excited about. The absolute lowest crowds of the year are typically in the end of September and the second two weeks in January. September is very hot but January can be cold, gloomy, and rainy. That said, if you want low crowds and low prices then either of these options are likely the best time for your trip to Orlando.

If you want to see Halloween decorations or go to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, we recommend going the first week of the party. It’s not usually sold out, crowds are at their lowest, and it’s easier to see everything you want to see. If you want to see Thanksgiving decorations, we recommend going the week before or after Thanksgiving.

If you’re interested in the incredible Christmas decorations at Disney, then you’ll be happy to know that you have months to see them. To get both Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations, visit the last week in November and watch them change over. Otherwise, skip the Christmas and New Year’s season. Go in the middle of January and the decorations will still be up but the crowds will be gone.  

It's always a good time to take a trip to Orlando              

There is no consensus on when the best time to visit Orlando is because each option has huge advantages a few disadvantages. For example, visiting during the busiest times of year means that you’ll wait in line longer, but it also means that it’s more likely there won’t be long-term ride closures during those months, the parks will be open longer hours, and there will be restaurants open that aren’t usually open – not to mention more shows and even more fireworks on a daily basis.

The bottom line is that you should take a number of factors into consideration. Look at the Orlando vacation packages available during the time you’ll be there and you can make it work!