Best time to travel in Orlando?
→ The detailed month-by-month page, with 2015-2024 averages
Best time: February to May and October to November
Best avoided if possible: July to August (less pleasant weather or big crowds).
Temperatures and rainfall: 1991-2020 normals from the Orlando Airport station, NOAA data (public domain).
Humid subtropical: a mild, dry winter around 22°C by day, with sometimes cool nights, a hot, muggy summer at 33°C with a thunderstorm almost every afternoon from June to September, and a hurricane season from 1 June to 30 November. The best time to visit Orlando is February, March, April, May, October and November, with temperatures reaching 33°C (July-August). By contrast, January, June, July, August, September and December are generally less favourable (less pleasant weather or big crowds, depending on the destination), though a trip is still possible with a bit of planning. In high season, book early: prices and visitor numbers climb fast.
Go against the flow. To avoid the crowds without sacrificing too much on the weather, aim for January, June, September and December: the crowds thin out, prices drop too, and the climate stays pleasant.
Do these months appeal to you? See what's best elsewhere too: where to go in February · where to go in March · where to go in April · where to go in May · where to go in October · where to go in November.
At a glance
Why go to Orlando?
Orlando was born of Walt Disney's decision, in the mid-1960s, to secretly buy nearly 11,000 hectares of swamp and orange groves south of a mid-sized town in Central Florida. Walt Disney World opened in 1971, Universal followed in 1990, and the area became the leading tourist destination in the United States, with more than 70 million visitors a year. People come first for the parks: four at Disney, three at Universal, not counting SeaWorld and the water parks, enough to fill two weeks without repeating a ride.
These parks are like no others. The areas devoted to Harry Potter, Star Wars, Avatar or Nintendo recreate entire worlds, to the point that you can spend half a day there without getting on a ride. Epic Universe, opened in 2025, has revived the rivalry between the two groups, and every season brings new attractions. Adults and children alike have to accept the queues, the heat and the logistics of apps and reservations, but the level of detail and execution has no equivalent in Europe.
Finally, Orlando is a base for a Florida you would never suspect from the parks. Kennedy Space Center, where NASA and SpaceX rockets launch, is an hour to the east, with the surf beaches of Cocoa Beach next door. To the north, the springs of Blue Spring and Wekiwa offer clear water at 22°C all year round and, in winter, hundreds of manatees. Winter Park, north of downtown, recalls the resort town Orlando was before Disney, with its lakes and its oaks draped in Spanish moss.
Tourist map of Orlando: what's where?
The map below pinpoints the 6 places covered in this guide: a handy way to picture the distances between each stop and plan your route in Orlando.
- Magic Kingdom
- EPCOT
- Universal Orlando
- Epic Universe
- Kennedy Space Center
- Winter Park
How much does a trip to Orlando cost in 2026? Budget calculator
Estimate your budget for Orlando based on your travel style: accommodation, meals, activities and local transport included (flights excluded). Adjust the length and the number of travellers, and the totals update.
Totals for all travellers over the chosen length; the daily amount is per person. Flights extra, indicative amounts to adjust depending on the season.
Cards are accepted everywhere, contactless included, and the parks operate almost cash-free. Prices are shown before tax: 6.5% on purchases and meals in Orange County, home to Universal and most of Disney, 7.5% in Osceola County, and about 12.5 to 13.5% on rooms. Park ticket prices change according to the date: buy them in advance on the official websites, as unauthorised resellers sometimes sell invalid tickets.
Safety in Orlando: should you be worried?
Orlando is safe for visitors, and the heavily supervised parks check bags at the entrance. Theft from cars in hotel and shopping centre car parks is the most common crime: leave nothing visible. The real risks are heat and storms. From June to September, the humid heat exceeds 33°C, or a feels-like 40°C: drink often, protect children from the sun and take a break at the hotel in the middle of the day. Central Florida is one of the most lightning-struck regions in the United States: when thunder rumbles in the afternoon, outdoor rides close, so take shelter. Lakes and ponds, even in hotel resorts, can be home to alligators: never swim outside designated areas and keep children away from the water's edge. From June to November, follow the National Hurricane Center bulletins; the parks rarely close, but it does happen. Insurance covering medical care in the United States is essential.
Things to see and do in Orlando
Our first-hand favourites, and the great classics:
- Magic Kingdom
- EPCOT
- Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
- Epic Universe
- Kennedy Space Center
- Winter Park
What to book before you go to Orlando →
🧭 Discover the Orlando itinerary, day by dayMap, timings, budget and where to stay: free to access, to fit your dates. Create my tailor-made itinerary →Walt Disney World
The Disney resort covers an area the size of a city, 30 km south-west of downtown Orlando, with four theme parks, two water parks, some thirty hotels and Disney Springs, a free district of shops, restaurants and shows on a lakeshore. The monorail, boats, the Skyliner gondola and buses link the parks to the Disney hotels free of charge. Magic Kingdom is the park for families and fireworks, EPCOT the one for adults and food, Hollywood Studios the one for Star Wars, Animal Kingdom the one for animals and Pandora. Allow at least four days for all four.
Universal Orlando
The Universal resort, north-east of Disney and 15 minutes from downtown, brings together Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and, since 2025, Epic Universe, a little further south. The CityWalk district, between the first two parks, is packed with restaurants, bars and music venues open late. Universal's hotels are reached on foot, by boat or by shuttle; three of them include the Express Pass. The Volcano Bay water park, with its 60-metre volcano, completes the resort. Two to three days are enough for the three parks.
International Drive
Orlando's tourist boulevard, between Universal and SeaWorld, lines up hotels, chain restaurants, outlet malls and secondary attractions over some fifteen kilometres, including the ICON Park big wheel and waxworks museums. SeaWorld Orlando, to the south, mixes aquariums, shows and some of the tallest roller coasters in the country. It is the most convenient area for mid-priced accommodation between Disney and Universal, but it is hard to explore on foot: a car, ride-hailing or Lynx buses are needed.
Downtown Orlando and Winter Park
The real Orlando, 30 minutes from Disney, revolves around Lake Eola, its swans and its pedal boats, with a market on Sundays and restaurant districts such as Thornton Park and Mills 50, the hub of Vietnamese cooking. To the north, Winter Park lines up Park Avenue, the Morse Museum and its Tiffany glass, and the boat tour on the lakes. The SunRail commuter train links downtown to Winter Park on weekdays. Here you will find neighbourhood restaurants and bars that are not touristy in the slightest.
The Space Coast
An hour to the east, the Atlantic coast around Cape Canaveral brings together Kennedy Space Center, with the Space Shuttle Atlantis and the Saturn V rocket, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, where you can see alligators, manatees and waterbirds from Black Point Drive, and Cocoa Beach, the surf beach closest to Orlando, with its long pier. Rocket launches can be watched from the beaches and parks of Titusville, often several times a month. One day is enough, and a night there lets you see a night launch.
The springs of Central Florida
The region's limestone bedrock lets springs gush out with clear water at 22°C all year round. Blue Spring, 50 minutes to the north, welcomes hundreds of manatees in winter that come to warm up, which can be watched from a wooden boardwalk; swimming is then banned. Wekiwa Springs, 30 minutes north of downtown, offers swimming, kayaking and trails through the forest. These state parks fill up early at weekends and close their entrance once full: come at opening time.
How many days, and which itinerary in Orlando?
Allow one day per park: four days for Disney, two or three for Universal and Epic Universe. A week covers Disney and Universal with a rest day. Ten days add Kennedy Space Center, Winter Park and a spring, or a few beach days on the Gulf or the Atlantic.
🗺️ Day-by-day Orlando itinerary · 📓 Printable Orlando travel guide (PDF) · 🌍 Discover all of the American West
Disney and Universal (1 week)
Day 1: arrival, Disney Springs in the evening. Day 2: Magic Kingdom from opening time to the fireworks. Day 3: Animal Kingdom in the morning for the safari, Pandora after dark. Day 4: Hollywood Studios, then, with the Park Hopper option, the Skyliner to EPCOT for the World Showcase in the evening. Day 5: rest at the pool and Winter Park at the end of the day. Day 6: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure with a park-to-park ticket for the Hogwarts Express. Day 7: Epic Universe. Stay half the trip at Disney and the other half near Universal.
Parks and rockets (10 days)
The previous week, then a day at Kennedy Space Center, chosen if possible on a launch day, with a night in Cocoa Beach for the surf and the pier at sunrise, a day at Blue Spring in winter for the manatees or at Wekiwa Springs in summer for swimming, and a final free day to revisit a park or see SeaWorld. A car is essential for these three days.
A loop around Florida (2 weeks)
Six days in Orlando for Disney and Universal, a night on the Space Coast for Kennedy, then south down the Atlantic coast to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, three nights, across the Everglades on the Tamiami Trail to Naples, two nights on the Gulf, and back up via Sarasota and Tampa before returning the car in Orlando. Allow 1,300 km. Car-free alternative to Miami: the Brightline train leaves from Orlando airport.
How to get to Orlando and get around?
Non-stop flights link Europe to Orlando: Air France flies from Paris-Charles de Gaulle in about 10 hours, several times a week depending on the season. With a connection in New York, Atlanta, Miami or a European capital, allow 11 to 13 hours. Another option: a direct flight to Miami, about 10 hours from Paris with Air France, then the Brightline train to Orlando airport, in about 3 hours 30 minutes. Orlando International Airport is 15 km south-east of downtown, 25 minutes from Universal and 30 minutes from Disney.
A hire car is the simplest and often the cheapest option for a family, at €40-80 a day. The I-4 motorway, which links Disney, Universal and downtown, is jammed at rush hour, and the electronic tolls on the other expressways are billed by the rental company. The parks charge for parking by the day, and the hotels often by the night.
Without a car, you can stay at Disney: the monorail, the Skyliner gondola, boats and buses link hotels and parks free of charge, and the paid Mears Connect shuttle runs to the airport. At Universal, the hotels are linked to the parks on foot, by boat or by shuttle. Between Disney and Universal, allow $30-45, about €26-39, for a ride-hailing car.
Lynx buses serve downtown, International Drive and the parks, slowly. The SunRail commuter train links downtown to Winter Park on weekdays. For Kennedy, Cocoa Beach and the springs, a car is essential.
Where to stay in Orlando?
Disney's hotels, booked directly with Disney, range from giant "value" resorts at €150-250 a night to the grand monorail hotels, the Grand Floridian or the Polynesian, at €600-1,000. They offer entry to the parks 30 minutes early and free transport. The hotels in the Disney Springs area and the Swan and Dolphin, within walking distance of EPCOT, give similar perks at often lower prices.
At Universal, the hotels range from Stella Nova and Terra Luna, opened in 2025 opposite Epic Universe, and Endless Summer, at €120-180 a night, to the three upmarket hotels that include the Express Pass, Portofino Bay, Hard Rock and Royal Pacific, at €400-700. They are linked to the parks on foot, by boat or by shuttle.
International Drive and Lake Buena Vista have hundreds of chain hotels and apartment hotels with kitchens at €90-180 a night, 10 to 20 minutes from the parks, often with a shuttle. Kissimmee, to the south, offers houses and apartments with pools for large families, with a car essential.
Prices follow the American school calendar: they soar during the end-of-year holidays, spring break from March to April and the summer, and drop from late August to mid-November, except on festival weekends. Taxes add about 12.5% in Orange County and 13.5% in Osceola County, plus the resort fees of many hotels outside the parks.
Our picks stop by stop, in three price ranges →
What to eat in Orlando?
In the parks, allow $15-25, about €13-22, for a counter-service meal and $40-80, about €34-69, for a table-service restaurant, to be booked in advance in the Disney app, up to 60 days ahead. Character dining, very popular with families, goes first. Water and food brought in are allowed, except giant coolers on wheels and glass bottles.
EPCOT is the park for food lovers, with the national restaurants of the World Showcase and its festivals: food and wine in autumn, flowers in spring, with stands selling small plates at $6-10, about €5-9. Disney Springs and CityWalk bring together chef-led and chain restaurants open late, with no entry ticket.
Outside the parks, Orlando has a real neighbourhood food scene: Vietnamese cooking in Mills 50, Puerto Rican and Colombian in the east of the city, barbecue and seafood. The restaurants of Winter Park and Thornton Park serve finer food at gentler prices than on the edge of the parks.
In summer, drink plenty: free water is served on request at every counter in the parks. Tips of 18 to 22% apply in table-service restaurants, including in the parks, and prices are shown before tax. Tap water is safe to drink.
Which kind of traveller is it for?
Orlando lends itself to an active, relaxing and cultural trip. Whether you travel with family, with friends or even solo, everyone finds their own pace. For accommodation, you will mostly find resorts, classic hotels and apartments and rentals.
Entry requirements & practical info
UK, Australian and most EU passports need an ESTA, applied for online before departure, for stays of up to 90 days; a few EU countries sit outside the Visa Waiver Program and need a full visa. Canadians need neither, only a passport. Anyone who has been to Cuba since January 2021 cannot use an ESTA and must apply for a visa.
Rules change: before you leave, check your country's official travel advice.
Once there, to stay online without paying roaming charges, an Orlando eSIM activates in a few minutes and works as soon as you land (plans from €3.99). Remember suitable travel insurance too.
Frequently asked questions about Orlando
When is the best time to visit Orlando?
From February to May and from October to mid-November, with 25 to 30°C during the day and fewer storms than in summer. If possible, avoid the American school holidays, around Christmas, Easter and in July, when the parks are at their busiest and most expensive. Summer is hot with afternoon storms, and winter is mild but sometimes cool in the morning.
How much does a day at Disney or Universal cost?
A one-day ticket for a Disney park starts at $119, about €102, and for Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure at $124.99, about €107. Epic Universe starts at $139.99, about €120. Prices vary according to the date and fall per day with multi-day tickets. Add parking, meals and, if you want to wait less, Lightning Lane at Disney or Express Pass at Universal.
How many days should you plan?
One day per park: four for Disney, two for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, one for Epic Universe. A week lets you choose the essential parks with a rest day. Ten days add Kennedy Space Center, Winter Park and a natural spring.
Do you need to book the parks in advance?
At Disney, a dated ticket is now enough for most entries, without a separate park reservation. Table-service restaurants can be booked up to 60 days ahead in the app, and Lightning Lane passes a few days before your visit, depending on your hotel. At Universal, Epic Universe tickets sell fast for holiday dates: buy them as soon as your dates are fixed.
Do you need a car in Orlando?
For a Disney-only stay, no: internal transport is free and the Mears Connect shuttle links to the airport. To combine Disney, Universal, Kennedy Space Center and the springs, yes, it is simpler and often cheaper than ride-hailing for a family. Budget for paid parking at the parks.
Can you see a rocket launch from Orlando?
Yes, launches from Cape Canaveral, an hour to the east, have become very frequent. Kennedy Space Center publishes the schedule and sells viewing seats, and the beaches and parks of Titusville and Cocoa Beach offer free viewpoints. Night launches can sometimes be seen from Orlando itself, as a streak of light on the horizon.
Are there direct flights from Europe to Orlando?
Yes: Air France flies non-stop from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Orlando, in about 10 hours, several times a week depending on the season. Otherwise, allow 11 to 13 hours with a connection in New York, Atlanta, Miami or a European capital, or take a direct flight to Miami, then the Brightline train to Orlando airport, in about 3 hours 30 minutes.
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