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Orlando

Most trips to Orlando center on Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando Resort, with full days of rides, shows and parades in Central Florida.

Find a room in Orlando Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Orlando

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Orlando is a city in Central Florida, USA, known mainly for its theme parks. Walt Disney World Resort sits southwest of the city in Lake Buena Vista and has four parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Universal Orlando Resort is a separate resort near International Drive, with its own theme parks and a water park. Each resort is large enough to fill several days, so most visitors choose one of them as the base for the trip.

Families with children tend to get the most from the parks, but the setup suits any visitor who wants rides, shows and parades. Lake Eola Park and downtown Orlando offer a quieter break from the parks. Summer is hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms common, while late winter and fall are milder. Plan several days for the parks, and more if you want to see both resorts without rushing.

Orlando in five

Decide Disney, Universal or both firstDisney lists four theme parks and Universal four, including Epic Universe and the Volcano Bay water park. Pick by the ages and thrill levels in your group, then count park days.Disney World vs Universal Orlando
Buy the ticket that matches your planUniversal's Park-to-Park tickets cover Epic Universe, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, and Disney sells a Park Hopper option. Prices vary by day, so compare dates on the official sites.
Know how skip-the-line passes workDisney Lightning Lane passes are bought in an app, 7 days ahead for Disney Resort guests or 3 days for others. Universal sells separate Express passes, and Express Unlimited is not valid at Epic Universe or Volcano Bay.Disney Lightning Lane
Use the Brightline station at MCOOrlando International has an on-airport Brightline station, with trains to Miami and South Florida. For a Florida add-on without a rental car, the rail link is worth pricing.Miami
Plan for storms and hurricane seasonThe Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. Pack ponchos, schedule indoor rides for the late afternoon and check cancellation terms before you book.Best time to visit Orlando

Things to do in Orlando

See all attractions in Orlando

a large ferris wheel sitting next to palm trees

Park · OrlandoThe Orlando EyeAim for sunset if you want to see the sky change over Orlando.

Museum · OrlandoOrlando Science CenterArrive early on a weekday for a quieter visit to the interactive displays.

Park · OrlandoSeaWorld OrlandoBuy tickets online to speed up entry.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to OrlandoPut the places you like in Orlando on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Orlando International (MCO), with an on-site Brightline station
Getting there: Fly into MCO; Brightline links the airport with Miami and South Florida
Getting around: Rental car, hotel shuttles, rideshare; each resort runs its own transport
Best base: Lake Buena Vista for Disney; Universal area for Universal; International Drive for both
Time needed: 4 to 6 days for two resorts; 3 for one

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Mild, busy holidays
FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh24°Low15°Mild, Presidents Day
MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Warm, spring break
AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Warm, easy
MayRain14 rainy daysHigh31°Low21°Hot, humid
JuneRain22 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low24°Hot, storms
JulyRain25 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low25°Hot, storms
AugustRain25 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low25°Hot, storms
SeptemberRain22 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Hot, hurricane risk
OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Warm, Halloween
NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°Mild, quieter early
DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Mild, holiday peak

Average daily high and low in Orlando, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Best time to visit Orlando

Right now in Orlando

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 25°
Humidity: 94%
Wind: 16 km/h
Chance of rain: 88%

Orlando

07:03 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today23°21°88%Monday: Rain. High 23°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 88%.
Tue26°21°33%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 33%.
Wed30°22°47%Wednesday: Rain. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 47%.
Thu32°23°9%Thursday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 9%.
Fri30°21°6%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 6%.
Sat27°18°6%Saturday: Clear. High 27°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 6%.
Sun26°17°7%Sunday: Clear. High 26°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 7%.

Updated 03:18 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Orlando

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Kia Center · concertOlivia Rodrigo The Unraveled TourNov 15 – 16, 2026 · Rooms near the venue

Day trips by train

Kennedy Space Centerabout 1 hour east by carRocket gardens and launch history on the Space Coast; check launch schedules before you go.
Miamiby Brightline from MCO; check travel timeA different Florida, with beaches and art deco, best as an overnight.Read the guide
Fort Lauderdaleby Brightline or about 3 hours by carA calmer beach and canal base on the same rail line.Read the guide

Before you go to Orlando

Hotels near the parksLake Buena Vista, I-Drive and UniversalCheck availability

Theme park ticketsPrices vary by day, so compare datesBook timed entry

eSIM for OrlandoPark apps and ride queues on mobile dataRead the guide

Insurance for a theme park tripStorm cancellations and medical coverRead the guide

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Rules for Orlando, checked

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Disney Lightning Lane passes: bought in the My Disney Experience app, 7 days ahead for Disney Resort and select hotel guests, 3 for others; admission required.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Universal Orlando has four parks: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe and Volcano Bay; Park-to-Park tickets cover the first three.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

All Orlando guides

When to goBest time to visit Orlando: heat, storms and crowds by monthChecked Oct 2, 2026

Head to headDisney World vs Universal Orlando: which resort fits your tripChecked Oct 2, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay in Orlando: five bases for theme park tripsChecked Oct 2, 2026

Plan around Orlando

Miami

Brightline south from the airport

Read the guide Fort Lauderdale

A calmer beach base on the same rail line

Read the guide Everglades National Park

Airboats and wetlands, a long drive south

Read the guide Walt Disney World

The four parks and how to plan them

Read the guide All of the USA

States, parks and cities in one planning hub

Read the guide

Orlando FAQ

How many days do you need in Orlando?

Four days covers one resort at a steady pace, and six days lets you add the second. Count one day per park for Disney's four parks and plan a rest day in the middle.

Is Disney World or Universal Orlando better?

Disney suits families with younger children and character fans, with more days to fill. Universal suits teens and thrill seekers, with a tighter layout and a shorter visit. Many trips combine both.

Where should I stay in Orlando?

Lake Buena Vista for Disney, the Universal area for Universal, and International Drive if you want to split days. Kissimmee suits large groups that need space and a kitchen.

Do you need a car in Orlando?

Not always. Disney and Universal resort hotels offer park transport, and rideshares cover short trips. A rental car helps if you stay off-site, split days between resorts or add a day trip.

What is the cheapest time to visit Orlando?

Dates outside school breaks and major holidays are usually cheaper, and ticket prices vary by day, so compare a few dates on the official sites. Summer heat and hurricane risk are the trade-offs.