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Orlando for less

For the broader urban area including suburbs and other nearby destinations, please see the Greater Orlando article. Orlando deserves its reputation as the theme park capital of the world, with an estimated 52 million visitors a year. The city is best known for its theme parks Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, but it holds a lot to offer besides those two amusement meccas. Countless hotels and restaurants cater to business conventions and other events hosted by organizations from all over the country. Outside the theme park districts and hotels, however, lies much more to be explored, including downtown, areas of untouched wilderness, world-class museums and theaters, and old towns with dining and nightlife. At the center of the state of Florida, in Orange County, Orlando is about an hour from each coast. The majority of the area attractions are southwest or north of the city, in Lake Buena Vista (where Disney World is), Kissimmee, Winter Park, and Mount Dora.

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Overview adapted from Wikivoyage, used under CC BY-SA.

Orlando's theme parks

Magic Kingdom
Live wait times, rides by land, and tickets.
Epcot
Live wait times, rides by land, and tickets.
Hollywood Studios
Live wait times, rides by land, and tickets.
Animal Kingdom
Live wait times, rides by land, and tickets.
Universal Studios Florida
Live wait times, rides by land, and tickets.
Islands of Adventure
Live wait times, rides by land, and tickets.
SeaWorld Orlando
Live wait times, rides by land, and tickets.

When Orlando costs least

Orlando prices follow school calendars. Flights and rooms tend to cost the most when children are out of school and the least when they aren't.

  • Janlowest
  • Febmixed
  • Marhigh
  • Aprhigh
  • Maylowest
  • Junhigh
  • Julhigh
  • Augmixed
  • Seplowest
  • Octmixed
  • Novmixed
  • Decmixed

A general pattern, not live pricing. Holidays and big events move things around inside each month.

The usual low points

  • January, once the New Year week is over. Skip the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, which is busy.
  • Early May, after spring break and before summer vacation starts.
  • September, when most schools are back in session.
  • Early December, before the holiday rush.

The usual high points

Spring break and Easter (March and April), most of June and July, Thanksgiving week, and Christmas through New Year's.

What you trade for a lower price

Summer is hot and humid, with thunderstorms most afternoons. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and September is near the peak, so choose flexible or refundable bookings. Winter nights can be cool enough that pools feel cold. Within any month, midweek stays and midweek park days are usually quieter and cheaper than weekends.

Getting there

Most visitors fly into Orlando International (MCO), the main airport. It has the most flights and the widest choice of airlines, which usually means the most competition on price.

Orlando Sanford (SFB) is a smaller airport north of the city, served mainly by low-cost airlines such as Allegiant. It can show cheaper fares, but it's farther from the theme parks, so count the extra drive time and transport cost.

Tampa (TPA) is roughly 90 minutes away by road. It's only worth a look if you're renting a car anyway and the saving is large.

Compare fares with bags included

Low-cost airlines often charge separately for carry-on and checked bags, so the cheapest fare can end up costing more than a fare from a bigger airline. Add your bags before you compare.

Combining Orlando with South Florida

Brightline trains connect Orlando International with Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, so a two-city trip doesn't need a car for the middle leg.

Search flights to Orlando

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Recent low fares

    Fares come from recent searches and can sell out. The price you see on the booking site is the one that counts.

    Where to stay

    Location decides how much you'll spend on getting around, so pick the area first and the hotel second.

    International Drive
    A wide choice of mid-priced hotels, restaurants and attractions on one strip. Close to Universal and a short drive from Disney.
    Lake Buena Vista and Disney Springs
    Closest to Walt Disney World's gates. Convenient, and priced for it. Some hotels here run park shuttles, so confirm before you book.
    Kissimmee and Celebration
    Often the best value for families and groups, with many vacation homes and condos. It's farther south, so plan on a car.
    Universal area and Sand Lake Road
    Handy for Universal Orlando, with plenty of restaurants along Sand Lake Road. Mostly mid-range and upscale hotels.
    Downtown Orlando and Winter Park
    Walkable dining, Lake Eola Park and a break from theme park crowds. Fewer discount hotels, and you'll drive to the parks.

    Read the fee line before you book

    Many Orlando hotels add a daily resort fee and charge for parking, even when the nightly rate looks low. Compare the total for your dates, including taxes. Vacation rentals usually add a cleaning fee instead.

    Compare Orlando hotels

    Filter by area, and check the total price for your dates.

    Search hotels

    Getting around

    Most visitors are better off with a car, especially when staying off Disney property or visiting more than one park. Rideshares add up quickly over a week.

    • Inside Walt Disney World, buses, boats, the monorail and the Skyliner gondola are free. If you stay at a Disney resort and only visit Disney, you may not need a car.
    • Tolls are common across Central Florida. Rental companies often offer a toll program that adds a daily fee on top of the tolls themselves, so read the terms before you accept it.
    • Public transport exists: the I-Ride Trolley runs along International Drive and LYNX runs local buses. Both cost less than driving but take longer, so check current routes.

    Compare rental cars

    Check the total with taxes, fees and any toll program.

    Search rental cars

    Tickets and free things to do

    Theme park tickets are the biggest single line in most Orlando budgets, so this is where small choices save the most. Each park above has its own page with live waits and a crowd forecast — check that before you pick a date to buy for.

    • Buy from the official site or an authorized seller. Heavily discounted tickets from unofficial sellers can be fake, already used, or non-transferable.
    • Multi-day tickets usually cost less per day than single-day tickets.
    • Check date-based pricing. Some parks charge less on lower-demand days.
    • Read the bag and outside-food rules before you go. Bringing your own water bottle and snacks, where allowed, cuts the daily food bill.
    • Budget for parking if you're driving to a park, and check whether your hotel status waives it.

    Free or cheap

    • Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk are free to walk around, though parking rules differ.
    • Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando, and the Saturday farmers' market in Winter Park.
    • Cocoa Beach, about an hour's drive east, for a beach day without a ticket.

    Beyond the theme parks

    Airboat rides, Kennedy Space Center and other day trips, with tickets you can book ahead.

    Browse tours and tickets

    Price the whole trip before you book

    A low headline price is only useful if it survives the extras. Add these up for each option you're comparing:

    • Airfare, with the bags you'll actually bring
    • Hotel total for your dates, with resort fee, parking and taxes
    • Rental car, tolls and fuel, or an honest estimate of rideshares
    • Park tickets, and parking at the parks
    • Food, and whether a kitchen or free breakfast changes it
    • Travel insurance that covers weather, if you're traveling from June to November

    Questions

    When is the cheapest time to visit Orlando?

    January after the New Year holiday week, early May, September and early December are usually the lowest-priced windows, because school is in session. Prices vary by year and by events, so check your exact dates.

    Is flying into Orlando Sanford worth it?

    Sometimes. Sanford is served mainly by low-cost airlines and can show cheaper fares, but it is farther from the theme parks than Orlando International. Add the extra ground transport cost, and any bag fees, before deciding.

    Do I need a rental car in Orlando?

    Most visitors are better off with a car, especially if they stay off Disney property or visit more than one park. If you stay at a Disney resort and only visit Disney, you may not need one.

    Is hurricane season a reason to skip Orlando?

    Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Orlando is inland, but storms can still disrupt flights and close attractions briefly. Choose flexible or refundable bookings and consider travel insurance that covers weather.

    How can I avoid resort fees?

    At hotels that charge them, resort fees are added on top of the room rate and are hard to avoid. Compare the total price for your dates, look for hotels that don't charge one, or consider a vacation rental, which usually adds a cleaning fee instead.