So, you want to meet Mickey and hit the
Florida theme parks, but without the crowds? It’s a big ask but we have a wealth of experience to help you with. Using decades of experience as the UK’s No.1 Independent Florida Specialist, we’ve gathered crowd numbers, weather and seasonal events data, and curated the quietest and busiest times to visit Orlando for UK holidaymakers. Step this way for shorter queues and stress free-rides (until the huge drops, of course)…
The Quietest Months to Visit Orlando
If you’re not keen on crowds, November’s a great time to visit
Orlando’s theme parks. Lots of people will time their trip to coincide with December’s festivities, so things aren’t quite as busy. The weather’s cooled down to a more bearable 26°C. Plus, it’s the start of the dry season, so you won’t have as many rainy days, if any. The only thing to be wary of is Thanksgiving – just make sure to avoid the dates around then, as the crowds will almost certainly rocket. And as the month goes on, the crowd numbers are likely to creep up a little, too.
The second-best month to visit for low crowds is May. If you can time your visit between Spring Break and the start of the summer holidays, you’re in for a treat. Crowd numbers usually dip in this period, before the peak summer rush. Weather-wise, it’s springtime, so it’s not as hot, humid or wet as summer, either.
Other good months for crowds include December and September. But they’re not without their downsides. If you’re thinking of visiting Orlando’s theme parks in December, make sure to stick to the first two weeks. Otherwise you’ve been warned – the last few will be crowd-central, thanks to the run-up to Christmas and lots of events. Another option for fewer crowds is September. Schools are back in session, so visitor numbers drop. EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival is still taking visitors on a trip around the world via their taste buds. However, September is Florida’s wet season, so you’ll need to pack your poncho. But they say a rainy day at Disney is better than a sunny day at home, right?
The In-Between Months
You’ve also got some real mixed months, where the crowds are mid-level. March’s crowd numbers are moderate and not as high as July, but not as low as November. Plus, it’s got another thing going for it – the weather. Things are a little cooler in March, which is perfect for wandering around the theme parks. And Disney’s EPCOT is looking its best, with the International Flower & Garden Festival in full bloom.
October’s also an option if you can work around certain dates. It goes without saying that Halloween is best avoided if you don’t like crowds. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party attracts a lot of visitors, as does EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival. There are also some school breaks, so make sure to check your holiday dates around those, if possible. But if you can work around all of that, the crowds aren’t too bad and the weather is spot on.
January and February are also okay times to visit, crowd-wise. You’ll just need to avoid winter breaks and the Walt Disney World Marathon in January, and Mardi Gras in February.
The Busiest Months to Visit
As a general rule, you’re likely to see a surge in visitor numbers around school holidays, like Christmas, Easter and Summer.
Walt Disney World in August is a tale of two months. The first half is busy, the second half isn’t so bad. Overall, it’s actually one of the lowest crowd months of the entire year. It might seem strange considering it coincides with UK school summer holidays. But the weather in August isn’t Orlando’s finest – it’s hot, sticky and rainy.
July is similar, too. Florida’s summer is super hot and humid, especially by British standards. We’re talking averages of low to mid-30s. And there’s still a high chance of rain. Couple this with higher crowd numbers and it’s not the ideal time to go for the faint of heart. On the other side of the spectrum is April. It’s one of Florida’s sunniest months. But the crowds really surge around Spring Break time so you can expect longer queues.
Tips for Visiting at Peak Times
If you’ve got kids in school and you will be visiting Universal or Disney World in August or July, don’t fear. We know not everyone can travel out of season, so there are still ways to manage the crowds. Firstly, time your visit to the theme parks on weekdays, especially if you’re coming around Thanksgiving, Christmas or the spring and summer breaks. Then spend the weekends exploring Orlando’s other attractions, like International Drive, where the crowds aren’t as bad.
Secondly, invest in a queue-skipping pass. The Disney queue jumps are called Disney Lightning Lane, with Multi Pass or Single Pass options. They’ve now replaced the Disney Genie+ service. So you can skip the queue and join a shorter line for select attractions and experiences, ideal at busy times. You can book your passes in advance, too.
And when it comes to quiet days at Orlando theme parks, it’s much the same as Disney. So to avoid worrying about
Universal Orlando Resort queue times, you’ll want to invest in a Universal Express Pass, which lets you skip the regular queue at certain rides and attractions.
And here’s one more tip for good luck - If you stay at an on-site Universal Orlando Resort hotel, you’ll get Universal Express Unlimited, which means unlimited queue-skipping access on most rides – a great way to save time and avoid the crowds. Some of the hotels that offer this are Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Universal Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort. But, even if you’re not staying at a Premier Universal hotel, all the Universal Orlando Resort hotels offer Early Park Admission, so you can get in an hour before everyone else. We’d recommend using that time wisely – to go on the most popular rides and attractions.
Get ahead of the crowds and take a look at our 2025 and 2026 Walt Disney World Holidays today. 
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