Are you ready to book your dream vacation to Disney World? Perhaps you’re more of a Universal Studios family.
There’s a strong chance you’ll spend a lot of time outdoors. Whatever fun draws you to sunny Orlando, booking at the right time is crucial. Local weather can be unforgiving, and baking under the brutal Florida sun or getting soaked in a downpour are downers that even meeting Mickey and Minnie couldn’t fix.
The best month to visit Orlando is from mid-September to early November for an escape from the harsh winter weather and some of the lowest flight prices of the entire year.
Picking the right time of year is also the difference between dodging mobs of fellow tourists and hours spent waiting in line at attractions. Most Orlando attractions are family-centered, so it’s easy to assume that avoiding summer break means fewer crowds. However, if you pick the wrong month, you might end up canceling last minute due to hurricanes or storms.
You must be conscious of the weather and tourist seasons no matter what time of year you decide to visit Florida. This article assesses local weather patterns and tourism trends to determine the best month to visit Orlando.
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Average Temperature In Orlando
Florida no doubt earns its nickname as The Sunshine State. Sunny days are plentiful, and with them come high temperatures. Orlando is no exception to this pattern. When describing summers here, the words “oppressive” and “brutal” often come to mind.
Its hot season runs from mid-May to the end of September, during which the average daily high is 87°F. This peaks in July, where highs creep to 91°F and rarely drop below 75°F. Weather companies show that from noon until about 7 p.m., outdoors are considered “sweltering” and “uncomfortable.” These conditions are hardly conducive to walking around at an amusement park.
The short-lived “cool” season, as there is no “cold” one, lasts from December through February, seeing temperatures ranging from 52°F to 71°F in January, the coolest month. Unlike the hot season, these daily temperatures begin in the “cool” zone and peak at “comfortable.” Go in winter, and you don’t risk heat-borne health issues.
What about the rest of the year? The spring months experience a steady temperature increase until summer, and the fall months are the inverse. The heat becomes less comfortable as spring progresses into summer, then becomes more bearable towards the end of fall.
Daily Chance Of Precipitation In Orlando
Orlando is built on wetlands. Precipitation isn’t uncommon, so keep the wet season in mind if you want to see some baseball or a Disney parade. It spans four whole months, from the end of May through September. During this time, there is at least a 42% chance of any given day being rainy. It jumps up to 68% in early August. The whole month has an average of 20.2 wet days each year. June gets the most significant volume of rainfall, with 5.7 inches on average.
The likelihood of wet days drops significantly for the rest of the year. However, wet weather never stops completely. The chances of wet days are around 15-20% for the other eight months. Even November, the least rainy month, gets an average of 1.8 inches of precipitation.
Cloud cover can make or break your vacation, too. Summer’s wet season is the most overcast, but skies are relatively clear for the rest of the year. April has the clearest skies of any month, surprising those who expect spring showers.
During this month, the sky is clear or partly cloudy 68% of the time. It might be worthwhile to consider a month with minimal rainfall and more cloud coverage in late spring. Cloudy Orlando may not be the picturesque vacation you have in mind, but the temperatures will make walking around the city or parks more enjoyable.
Never let your guard down when booking an Orlando trip if rain is a problem for you. Though it’s always around the corner, there are months when you’re safer from downpours than others.
Humidity Comfort Levels In Orlando
Few enjoy spending a nasty, muggy day outdoors. Unfortunately, Orlando is in the center of a swamp and has the perfect conditions for humid weather. In fact, Orlando’s humid season lasts an average of 6.8 months, over half the year! From late April to mid-November, at least 30% of the time, the humidity level is considered “muggy, oppressive or miserable.”
These nasty conditions ease up in the late autumn and winter. February has the all-time low of muggy days, with only about 2.5 of them each year. If you want to avoid humid days in Orlando, your window is limited!
Best Time Of Year To Visit Orlando For Great Weather
To make your time in the Magic Kingdom (or any Orlando site) as magical as possible, you need the weather to cooperate. Rain, humidity, or even severe weather can quite literally rain on your parade.
Two factors are used to decide this: the “tourist score” and the “beach/pool score,” respectively. The first is used to determine how pleasurable outdoor activities like sightseeing tours are in a given month.
Clear skies and temperatures between 65°F and 80°F are the criteria here. Orlando scores best in this category from mid-March to mid-May and again from mid-October to the beginning of December. On average, one can find the best conditions for tourist activities towards the end of April.
The “beach/pool score” tells whether a particular month is good for spending time by the pool or beach. Like the “tourist score,” it also looks highly on clear days but seeks higher temperatures ranging from 75°F to 90°F.
Late April to early June and mid-September through October are the best times for outdoor water activities. Both scores tend to favor spring and some autumn months. Summer brings precipitation and high temperatures that are not favorable to either score.
Best Time Of Year To Visit Orlando For Low Prices
Orlando is a huge tourist hub, and premium prices come with the seemingly endless influx of people. Is Orlando expensive year-round? Definitely not. If your schedule is flexible, some booking hacks can save you money, depending on what time of year you go.
Orlando’s high season coincides with summer break from schools, but that’s not all. Any major holiday or long weekend sees the city fill up with vacationers. You can expect accommodation and flight prices to skyrocket around these periods. Attraction ticket prices also fluctuate according to the season, so the greater the crowd, the more you will spend getting in.
Most travel guides advise going in January or February for the lowest rates on everything. Flight prices are lower during this time, and there are no major holidays that would cause a mad dash to the city at this time.
If you’re booking a weekend trip to visit the city, be aware of any big events happening in the area. Baseball games, rodeos, Disney festivals, and more are sure to disrupt city life as thousands of people pour in from around the country.
Beyond these months, the city is relatively quiet (and cheaper) in the week leading up to and immediately following major holidays. One of these cheap periods falls in September, right after school starts. Though not easy to make, if you can take off work right before or after a break, then you will surely save.
Peak Travel Season In Orlando
With dozens of good reasons to visit, the city of Orlando never lacks tourists. Picking the time of year will determine not only the weather you will face but also the size of the crowds you will encounter! Here, we will determine the city’s three tourist seasons and what to expect from them.
As said previously, the peak season overlaps with summer break. Other major school holidays like spring break, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year also fill up the city with tourists. Expect lots of families and all-time high prices on travel costs. The weather for the shorter holidays is typically favorable, but you can depend on the summer to be hot, humid, and rainy!
Be aware of what’s going on in the city when you book. Though it may not look like peak season, a football game, convention, or marathon may cause hotel prices to blast off into peak season prices for the weekend. Don’t wait until the last minute to check hotel prices, as you will be in for an unpleasant surprise.
If you’re a traveling family, chances are these are your only available windows to book Orlando. That’s not a bad thing! If possible, book far in advance to secure your hotels and get reasonable rates on everything. If you can book other times of the year, then there are a few more months that you can consider.
Shoulder Travel Season In Orlando
The shoulder season, also short, has excellent travel conditions to offer. Lasting the month of February and mid-September through mid-October, they’re also just out of reach for families on the school year schedule. However, prices and weather are also ideal for those who can make it work.
Shoulder season’s weather can be a bit trickier than low season’s, though. February is perhaps the most favorable month for Orlando weather, being dry and not too hot. On the other hand, September and October fall in the middle of rain and muggy weather.
Moreover, extreme weather might shut your trip down as the shoulder overlaps with hurricane season. Though fleeting, Orlando’s low and shoulder seasons offer great rates and weather to its visitors. Whether it’s the Citrus Bowl or a Disney getaway, those who make a trip during one of these months will be pleasantly surprised by the money they save and the comfort of the city.
Low Travel Season In Orlando
Orlando has a brief low season in fall and spring. November to early December and the month of May see a decrease in tourist traffic right before Christmas and summer break. As a result, hotel and attraction rates become cheaper for those who can get away. Depending on when you book, flight prices often drop during these windows as well. You’re bound to save hundreds if visiting at this time.
The low season offers nicer weather conditions than the peak. Precipitation is lower than in summer, but raincoats are still a good idea just in case. Heat and humidity drop down to their lowest points of the year in winter, plus May is still lovely.
You can easily enjoy your day walking around Harry Potter world without getting soaked or sunburnt. A trip to Orlando in May will bring you more sunlight and longer days than in the winter.
Best Months To Visit Orlando
Several factors are at play to make your Orlando vacation the best it can be. The timing of your visit is everything. Getting the right balance of good weather, small crowds, and low prices in this city can be a challenge, but it’s doable!
For families, avoiding crowds is tough. Your travel opportunities are limited to when the kids are out of school. On top of that, most Orlando attractions are family-friendly, making it a hugely popular destination on school breaks.
Whether it’s summer, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, families flock there. However, you can still book for good weather! Avoid Florida’s swampy summer atmosphere and go during spring break, Easter, or Thanksgiving. The weather is much nicer around these times.
Traveling solo or as a couple, your options are wide open! Early spring, late autumn, and winter are your best bets for nice weather. You’ll stay dry and relatively cool. Book right before or after major holidays to secure lower rates on accommodations.
February has some of the lowest flight prices of the entire year. On top of this, the temperatures are slightly warm at their hottest, making February the best month to visit Orlando for an escape from the harsh winter weather that the rest of the country gets. Should you be able to stay in February, you’ll be treated by saving money and getting to wear shorts and t-shirts during the day.
