Cheap trip to Orlando

When is the best time to visit Orlando?

October and November are the sweet spot for visiting Orlando. The extreme heat and daily afternoon showers of summer (averaging 34 to 36 degrees Celsius and roughly 150 mm of rain per month from June to August) are over; daytime temperatures settle around 25 to 30 degrees with little rain. Theme park queues are 30 to 50 percent shorter than during the summer holiday and Christmas period.

December to April is pleasant: 18 to 25 degrees during the day, almost no rain. Christmas (20 December to 1 January) and Easter holidays are extremely busy and expensive.

May is a good alternative: Epic Universe is newly open and the summer rush has not yet started. Summer (June to August) is lively due to the American school holiday, but rain, heat and queues of 60 to 90 minutes per ride are the norm.

Orlando's parks: what will you do?

• Walt Disney World The world's largest theme park resort, consisting of 4 parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Single-day tickets start around 109 dollars; multi-day bundles are more economical. Book park tickets and restaurants months in advance.
• Universal's Epic Universe (new, 2025) Universal's fourth park in Orlando opened on 22 May 2025, right next to Universal Studios Florida. Five themed worlds: Ministry of Magic (Harry Potter), Super Nintendo World, Isle of Biscay, How to Train Your Dragon and Celestial Park. The biggest park opening in decades. Tickets start around 119 dollars.
• Universal Studios Florida + Islands of Adventure Two adjacent parks with Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade), Jurassic World and Minion Land. The 2-Park 2-Day ticket is usually the best deal.
• SeaWorld Orlando Theme park featuring marine animals and rides. Notable attractions include Mako (one of the tallest coasters in the US), Pipeline (world's first stand-up wave coaster, 2023) and Orca Encounter. Tickets start around 79 to 99 dollars, cheaper than Disney and Universal.
• LEGOLAND Florida Recommended for children aged 2 to 12. Located in Winter Haven, about 45 minutes south-west of Orlando. Single-day tickets around 89 dollars; multi-day bundles including the water park are available.

Flights from the Netherlands to Orlando

KLM flies in the winter season (roughly October to April) direct from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Orlando International (MCO); flight time about 10 hours 30 minutes. Charter airlines such as TUI fly and Corendon also offer direct flights during school holidays. Return tickets when booked early start around 560 to 689 euro per person.

Outside the direct season: KLM/Delta codeshare via Atlanta (ATL), total travel time about 13 to 15 hours. Alternatives via London, Dublin or Frankfurt usually cost more. Book at least 3 months in advance for the best price; November (as travel date) is historically the cheapest time to fly.

On location, a rental car is essential: Orlando is extremely spread out. Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld are all 15 to 25 kilometres from the city centre. Disney resort guests can use shuttle buses, but for SeaWorld, Universal and LEGOLAND you need your own transport. International driving licences (including Dutch driving licences) are valid in the US.

What does an Orlando holiday cost?

Park tickets are the biggest expense. Disney World single-day tickets: 109 to 189 dollars per park, depending on date and predicted crowds. 5-day Disney bundle: about 400 to 550 dollars per person. Universal Studios + Islands of Adventure 2-day tickets: about 200 to 260 dollars. Epic Universe single-day tickets: about 119 dollars. Add the Genie+ service at Disney (about 15 to 35 dollars per day extra) to reduce queue times.

Hotels: Disney resorts (Value category such as Pop Century) start around 130 to 180 dollars per night; mid-range near Universal or on International Drive around 90 to 160 dollars. Accommodation in Kissimmee or on I-Drive is more affordable. Food is relatively expensive in the parks: about 15 to 20 dollars for a meal; consider a cool box and breakfast at your accommodation.