Let the Orlando Fall fun begin!
Visiting Orlando in summer is a bucket list item for most. For the few that can get away during late August and September, they find that these are great months to visit the area and theme parks due to low crowds and seasonal events like Halloween and fall festivals. A major reason for the low crowds is school is back in session. This slow down can cause wait times at the theme parks to decrease in half compared to the summer months. So expect to benefit from this from Labor Day until early October.
Flight Costs
Travel for 2021 will most likely not be the usual trend for the fall season but cost for tickets to Orlando should come down a bit during this time. Typically, the cheapest months to fly to Orlando International Airport are August and September averaging around $120 a ticket. You can usually book at least 1 week before departure (if you're daring) in order to get a below-average price.
Vacation Rentals Rates
For most accommodations, late August and September are low seasons which means lower rates and seasonal discounts. Due to back to school happening around this time, most families will not be traveling to the happiest place on earth. This means lots of deals for Florida and drives market residents. Take advantage of vacation home rentals and condos to level up your stay from a hotel at great rates starting from $90 a night. Most vacation rentals are located just minutes from the attractions. Search vacation rentals here!
Events
There is no shortage of events happening at the theme parks and in the Central Florida area during August and September. For 2021, there are some changes due to COVID-19 but still expect to have your seasonal offerings.
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival (July 15-November 20)
Take a taste tour across 6 continents with an irresistible selection of plates, live entertainment, and delightful activities for the whole family!
Disney After Hours Boo Bash (select nights from August 10-October 31)
A brand new Halloween-themed 3 hour event with character cavalcades, trick or treating, exclusive treats and shorter wait times at over 20 attractions at the Magic Kingdom!
Orlando’s Magical Dining Month (August 27-October 3)
Celebrating it’s 16th anniversary, this culinary event occurs at many of Orlando’s most popular restaurants for $37 per person which includes a three-course prix-fixe dinner.
Seaworld Howl-O-Scream (select nights from September 10-October 31)
Orlando’s newest Halloween event with haunted houses, scare zones, roaming haunts, and terrifying shows!
Universal's Halloween Horror Nights (select nights from September 3-October 31)
For the 30th year, this event offers scare zones, terrifying haunted houses, and live entertainment.
Theme Park Lines
It's safe to say you can expect low to standard crowd levels during these months. With less people in the parks, comes lower wait times. At the very least, it's always best to prepare for a longer time and possible crowds and be pleasantly surprised if it's much slower than expected!
Weather
Disney World in late August and September can actually get warm during the day but the humidity drops significantly compared to the summer months. The average high this time of year is 85 degrees and the average low at 72. The early mornings are cool and comfortable and a great way to start your day at the theme parks. The evenings are just as nice, making dining outside a great first option.
Note that it still is Florida so it's expected to see some rainfall during your visit in the afternoons. The good news is that the rain should clear up within a few hours.
Bonus Travel Tip:
Get to the parks early, have a game plan of what you want to do ahead of time and get the express passes anytime you can!