The Best time of year to Visit Orlando and Disney World

Orlando is one of the top family vacation spots in the world, but knowing when to go can make the difference between a great time and wishing you’d never headed down to Florida. At first glance, summer and spring break seem like the ideal times to visit, but as it turns out January through March are better options.

When it comes to the weather, fall and winter are the best times of year to visit Orlando, no matter what you plan to do. While summers and even spring can be hot and humid with daily rainstorms, winters are milder with average highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. It’s also much drier.

The second reason why many people opt to go to  Orlando between January and March is the fact that it’s far less crowded. For the most part, kids across the country are in school, which means fewer families waiting in line to ride the rides at theme parks and less waiting at the area’s restaurants.

In general, prices for everything from lodging to theme park tickets are cheaper during the winter once kids are back in school after their holiday break. You’ll pay much less for hotels and vacation homes close to Universal Studios and Disney World, and you may even pay less for other attractions.

Making reservations for dinner and events at the theme park and beyond is often done months in advance by people who plan to travel during the spring and summer. However, you can do things a little more last minute if you go during the wintertime. This can be a big deal for special attractions like a meal with the Disney Princesses at Cinderella’s Royal Table.

It’s easier to find a place to stay, too. Vacation-home management companies, condominiums and hotels have more readily available options for families, including Disney World-area vacation rentals. It’s easier to find on-campus Disney World rentals or places to stay near the park that aren’t booked up and have the features your family needs.

Some people assume the January through March period is a slow time for big events in Orlando, but there’s actually plenty do beyond the theme parks. There’s the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl, the Downtown Food and Wine Fest, the Disney Marathon and the Seven Seas Food Festival at SeaWorld Orlando.

Holidays tend to be busy in Orlando, especially if you’re going to Disney World. Christmas, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Spring Break, Easter, Thanksgiving, the 4th of July — these are the days when special events take place through the city and the parks. People often book their trips for the weeks before and after to participate, but there’s no need to worry about that.

That said, much of the holiday fun continues through January, even after most people have returned home and gone back to work and school. So, if you still want to partake in some Christmas and winter holiday fun, you can do so without worrying about big crowds.

If you’re planning to visit Disney, you’ll be happy to know that January through March can be one of the best times to take advantage of Extra Magic Hours. This is when guests are allowed to enter the park early or late for a little while. You’ll practically have the place to yourself.