Orlando’s so popular that it receives a steady stream of guests all year round. However, there are times of the year that are busier than others. Here at Debbie’s Villas, we have plenty of experience in helping people plan their perfect Orlando adventure. If you’re hoping to avoid the worst of the crowds the next time you stay with us, check out our crowd calendar detailing what traffic you should expect each month and why.

January

One thing you’ll soon notice about Orlando is that it’s most busy around national holidays. If you’re only looking to visit when Orlando is less crowded, then you should certainly avoid any of these periods. One such peak is around the New Year’s celebrations, which makes the first few days of January one of the busiest times of the year! Beyond that first couple of days, January is a lower than average month for crowds at Orlando’s main attractions.

One thing to note is that Disney’s Epcot hosts its International Festival of the Arts from the middle of January until the middle of February. As a relatively new event (the first was held in 2019) this will likely make the park slightly busier than usual during this time.

February

If you’re looking to avoid the crowds, February is one of the best months to visit Orlando. The weather is mostly sunny in the day and averaging around 20 degrees Celsius, while there is considerably less rainfall than during the summer. All of Orlando’s major parks have a lull in their crowds during this month, particularly at the beginning of February, before President’s Day (third Monday in February) brings them back to normal levels.

In terms of events, the most notable is Universal’s Mardi Gras celebrations that run throughout the month. However, as this is only a night event, it doesn’t tend to affect the park’s attendance too much in the daytime.

March

After a slight lull following President’s Day on 17th March in 2020, the end of March tends to be one of the busiest times of the year for Orlando in general. The main reason for this is Spring Break, the holiday period for American schools and colleges, which usually begins in mid-March and runs into April. Spring Break has a particular effect on Universal Orlando who, combined with their Mardi Gras event, experiences one of their busiest times of the year. Depending on how the calendar falls, the Easter Holidays can also swell attendances in Orlando quite considerably.

On 4th March 2020, a new ride will open at Hollywood Studios: Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. This will be the first ride starring the iconic mouse at any Disney park, which will undoubtedly raise attendances when it opens.

There tends to be fewer events in Orlando’s theme parks during this time of year. Therefore, if you have other options and unless you want to get involved with Spring Break, we would suggest visiting at a different time.

April

Orlando’s crowds stay busy during the first half of April, as Spring Break continues along with the Easter Holidays. However, they do tend to thin out a little as the month progresses, returning to normal levels at the end of April. At Disney World, Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival runs from 4th March until 1st June in 2020, but this usually has minimal effect on crowds.

April is a good month regarding the weather in Orlando, with temperatures climbing without reaching the 30s. Therefore, a holiday in late-April could be a good choice.

May

May is a quieter month in Orlando, particularly during the early stages as April’s holidays come to an end. If you’re looking to experience Walt Disney World, May tends to be one of the park’s quietest months in the year. Universal is also quiet during the first half of the month, although Orlando’s crowds do slowly increase once again during late-May, leading into Memorial Day on the last Monday of the month.

June

As summer arrives in full-swing, Orlando’s crowds tend to be consistently busy during June. The region’s pleasant weather makes it a popular summer destination, meaning crowds will rarely be light during this month. However, with the wide array of activities available in Orlando, this can be an excellent time to visit for those with less interest in the theme parks!

In terms of events, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park hosts its H2O Glow Nights from the end of May until the end of August, which increases the popularity of the park. Meanwhile, in Summer 2020 a Ratatouille attraction is set to open at Disney’s Epcot, which will slightly raise attendance here for a few weeks. Keep an eye on our social channels to find out when it opens!

July

Independence Day in early July, combined with it being Orlando’s hottest month, makes this one of the busiest times of the year in Orlando. The biggest crowds tend to be felt at Universal, so if this is high on your list of priorities, it’s probably best to look at visiting at another time. Walt Disney World doesn’t get as busy, but even by their high standards, July tends to be a crowded month!

August

The first half of August usually follows the pattern of the previous months. However, as summer draws to a close, the latter half of this month tends to see below-average crowds. Disney becomes particularly quiet during this time, as it heads towards its least busy period of the year.

Stuck between holidays in July and September, fewer events are happening in the region and its parks during this month. Walt Disney’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party usually begins in mid-August, but this doesn’t tend to have a significant effect on attendance figures.

September

September is one of the quietest months in Orlando! The main reason for this is children going back to school, which notably lowers the crowds at places like Walt Disney World. The only time to keep an eye out for is Labour Day on the first Monday in September, which can experience larger crowds. Beyond that, however, this is an excellent month if you’re looking to avoid the queues!

Universal Studios will begin their hugely popular Halloween Horror Nights from mid-September which is very popular. However, as an evening activity aimed at older audiences, this doesn’t tend to impact daytime crowds. Epcot, meanwhile, hosts its International Food & Wine Festival from September until the end of November, but attendances generally remain low.

One thing to be wary of, however, is ride closures. During known quiet periods, some theme parks will close attractions to perform maintenance following the busy summer period. These works are usually planned well in advance and tend to only last a few days, so you should be able to plan around them, though.

October

Orlando’s crowds tend to remain low during early October before rising towards the end of the month, as people visit to celebrate Halloween. Again, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal is the main event in this regard, meaning that this park can become very popular during the evenings. However, for day-to-day adventures around Orlando, October is another month with fewer crowds and more time for fun!

November

The first half of November sees crowds return to relatively average levels following the lull of September and October. However, late November sees Orlando become busy once more, thanks in most part to Thanksgiving. Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month, this hugely popular holiday is often extended into a week by domestic holidaymakers, meaning local crowds experience a sharp increase during these seven days.

Most theme parks will also start their Christmas celebrations during November, including Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Christmas at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

December

There can be a slight let-up in Orlando’s crowds in early December, between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Therefore, if you want to enjoy a warm winter break in Orlando, the first week of December is often a good choice. As you begin to approach the Christmas holidays and schools close for the season, the crowds at Orlando’s attractions start to rise once more.

Christmas events are hugely popular at places like Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, which makes the theme parks particularly busy during this time of year. However, many other areas, including Old Town Kissimmee, also throw daily events, so there’s plenty of Christmas cheer to go around!

Of course, no crowd guide can be 100% accurate as we never know what might happen in the future! However, if you’re looking to plan your trip early, this will hopefully point you in the right direction. If you would like to know more about a specific month or season in Orlando, feel free to get in contact with our experienced team here at Debbie’s Villas! We offer a range of luxury holiday accommodation, including our villas near Disney World and other top attractions. Browse our properties today and start planning your dream break!