The Best Time to Go to Orlando, Florida

You're probably planning to come to Orlando to join the crowds at the theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. (We don’t blame you; they’re amazing.) But when is the best time to do that?

Overall, the best time to go to Orlando, Florida, is Mayor November for lighter crowds and more manageable heat. Beyond the rides and costumed characters, the city of Orlando has lovely, tree-lined neighborhoods and a rich performing arts scene.

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From high season to low, here’s our seasonal guide to what you can expect throughout the year in Orlando, including the best events at the theme parks and in the city.

Spring and summer are best for festivals

Weather in Orlando in spring and summer: It's hot and in the 80s°F (high 20s°C) in spring. As summer approaches, the temperature gets hotter and the weather more humid. Summer temperatures are often above 90°F (32°C) with a chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon.

Spring, March to April, is peak tourism season thanks to spring breakers. Following that, the summer months of June to August are one of the busiest times, with Orlando full of vacationing crowds, plus lots of festivals.

Throughout March to mid-April, American colleges release students for a one-week spring break. While mostly drawn to Florida's beaches, Orlando and its theme parks also fill up with visitors of the younger, rowdier variety. Also in April, in the upscale Orlando suburb of Winter Park, the Florida Film Festival celebrates independent films and is fast becoming one of the largest festivals in the southeast.

As the school year ends around the USA (and the northern hemisphere), the summer-vacation crowds flock to Florida. Plan on arriving early at the theme parks, and try to stay cool in the heat. The unofficial start to the summer season in Orlando is Gay Days, when some 170,000 people, largely from the LGBTQ+ community, descend on the Magic Kingdom and other Orlando theme parks, hotels and clubs for a week.

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On the 4th of July, fireworks and laser shows mark the USA’s birthday. The weather can be a challenge as peak summer sets in: Floridians crank the A/C while more foolhardy tourists swelter at theme parks (and shelter from afternoon thundershowers).

These months are best for avoiding crowds in Orlando

Weather in Orlando in fall: It may be the fall months from September to November, but the weather here in the tropics is still very warm, topping out in the high 80s°F (high 20s°C) and low 90°F (32°C). It's a little cooler overnight.

The best time to visit if you want to avoid a crowd is the months of May, September, October and November.

Crowds thin and prices drop in May after the spring break. Temperatures tick up as summer approaches, with highs around 88ºF (31ºC).

After summer, the masses diminish after Labor Day (the first Monday in September) – with Halloween festivities the exceptions. Early fall is also the peak of hurricane season, which runs from June through November. Travelers should take all hurricane alerts, warnings and evacuation orders seriously.

Lodging prices take a dip as the summer sizzle fades, so if you can hold out for after school goes back you might save yourself some cash after peak season ends. In September, other shoulder-season deals can pop up.

Theme parks start to run Halloween events from September, including Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party; look out for goblins, monsters and mummies all around. Tourism also hits a spike for a week around Thanksgiving.

Temperatures are better for hiking and camping at one of Florida’s many state parks. This is also the start of the region’s manatee season (November to March), when these gentle giants migrate into the warmer waters of Florida’s freshwater estuaries, rivers and springs.

Winter is best for mild weather

Weather in Orlando in winter: FromDecember to February temperatures are manageable for most travelers with the mercury around 75ºF (24ºC) and few rainy days.

This season switches between quiet weeks and periods of holiday crunch. The few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas mark a quiet period at the theme parks, but there are still plenty of special Christmas-themed events to plan a trip around like Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

Then, from Christmas through early January, Orlando draws theme-park crowds celebrating the holiday season. Beyond that, this is the low season with plenty of bargains to be had, including discounted accommodation.

Allow time to also head north to Blue Spring State Park, where manatees may be spotted in the winter months and into the early spring.