Orlando, FL
Orlando travel guide
Theme-park capital of the world
- Airports
- MCO Orlando International Airport · SFB Orlando Sanford International Airport
- Region
- US Southeast
- Best time to visit
- January–February (after New Year's) and late August–September offer the shortest park lines and lowest fares.
- Shortest flight
- 1h 35m from Atlanta
- Round trips from
- $58 (live)
- Time zone
- America/New York
About Orlando
Orlando revolves around its parks, but there's more: the lakeside districts of Winter Park and Thornton Park, Kennedy Space Center an hour east, and gator-filled wetlands at Wekiwa Springs. Universal's Epic Universe, which opened in 2025, added a third full park and pushed Orlando's park capacity ahead of anywhere else on earth.
Getting in: Orlando International (MCO) is 15–25 minutes from Disney (rideshare $30–$45) and 20 minutes from Universal ($25–$35). Brightline trains run from the airport to Downtown Orlando area stations and on to Miami. Disney no longer runs its free Magical Express bus; Mears Connect ($16 one way) replaced it. Orlando Sanford (SFB), 40 minutes north, is Allegiant's base and can be much cheaper from smaller cities.
Stay on Disney or Universal property to skip the driving and use early park entry; otherwise Lake Buena Vista and International Drive have hundreds of hotels with shuttles. Budget $15–$25 per person for park meals; Disney Springs, CityWalk and Winter Park have better-value restaurants. Mid-January to early February and late August to September are the quietest park weeks.
Best time to visit
January–February (after New Year's) and late August–September offer the shortest park lines and lowest fares. October is pleasant; summer is hot, wet and crowded.
Where to stay
Neighborhoods our travelers like: Lake Buena Vista, International Drive, Winter Park, Downtown / Thornton Park, Celebration.
Flights to Orlando: typical round-trip fares
What economy round trips to MCO usually cost from major US cities, alongside the lowest live fare we can see in the next 90 days. Prices are per traveler and include taxes.
| From | Flight time | Typical fare | Lowest live fare | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York (JFK) | 2h 55m | $118 | $104 · Tue, Oct 6 | Search dates → |
| Chicago (ORD) | 2h 55m | $128 | $98 · Tue, Oct 6 | Search dates → |
| Dallas (DFW) | 2h 45m | $148 | $91 · Wed, Nov 4 | Search dates → |
| Atlanta (ATL) | 1h 35m | $88 | $58 · Tue, Oct 6 | Search dates → |
| Boston (BOS) | 3h 15m | $128 | $105 · Wed, Nov 11 | Search dates → |
| Denver (DEN) | 3h 45m | $158 | $128 · Wed, Dec 2 | Search dates → |
Typical fares are editorial estimates for economy round trips booked 3–8 weeks out. Live fares refresh several times a day and are shown for the cheapest departure date we found.
What to do in Orlando
The places our editors send first-time visitors.
- 1
Walt Disney World
Four parks, two water parks and Disney Springs across 40 square miles; Magic Kingdom and Epcot's World Showcase are the essentials.
- 2
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and the new Epic Universe — the Wizarding World spans two of them.
- 3
Kennedy Space Center
An hour east: the Atlantis orbiter, Saturn V rocket and launch viewing when a mission is scheduled.
- 4
Winter Park
Brick streets, the Morse Museum's Tiffany glass and a scenic boat tour through the chain of lakes.
- 5
Wekiwa Springs State Park
A 72°F spring-fed swimming hole and kayaking 30 minutes north of the parks.
Orlando weather by season
Average highs and lows in °F, with what each season means for fares and crowds.
Winter
72° / 50°
Mild and dry; short park lines in January.
Spring
82° / 60°
Warm; spring-break crowds in March.
Summer
92° / 74°
Hot, humid, daily storms — bring a poncho.
Fall
84° / 65°
Halloween events; quieter after Labor Day.
Travel tips for Orlando
- Buy park tickets and make Lightning Lane or Express Pass decisions before you fly — same-day options sell out in peak weeks.
- Check Sanford (SFB) fares on Allegiant from smaller Midwest and Northeast airports; the savings can pay for a rental car.
- Afternoon thunderstorms are daily in summer; plan indoor rides for 3–5pm and stay late when crowds thin.
- A rental car is cheaper than rideshares if you'll visit more than one resort area or Kennedy Space Center.
- Hotels on Disney property include free parking at the parks — a $30-per-day saving for drivers.
Orlando flights: frequently asked questions
How far is Orlando airport from Disney World?
About 20 miles. A rideshare takes 20–35 minutes and costs $30–$45; Mears Connect runs shared shuttles for around $16 per person each way.
Should I fly into Orlando (MCO) or Sanford (SFB)?
MCO is closer to the parks and has far more flights. SFB is Allegiant's base and can be much cheaper from small airports, but it's 40–50 minutes from Disney and Universal.
When are the parks least crowded?
Mid-January through early February, the last two weeks of August through September, and the first two weeks of December. Fares follow the same pattern.
More in US Southeast
FL · United States
Miami
Art Deco beaches and the gateway to Latin America
LA · United States
New Orleans
Jazz, Creole cooking and the French Quarter
TN · United States
Nashville
Honky-tonks, hot chicken and the Ryman
GA · United States
Atlanta
The world's busiest airport and a city worth the stop