Hey Thrill Seekers,

If I had a Pound for every time I’d been asked; When is the quietest time to visit the Orlando theme parks? I’d have at least enough to buy some Mickey Ears, possibly even a Turkey Leg, so today’s post is dedicated to trying to give you an idea of the best times to visit Disney, Universal and SeaWorld in 2026

Overall Quietest Periods (Low Crowds + Good Weather)

Mid-January to mid-February
• After the holiday rush, parks are calm.
• Mild weather and shorter wait times.
• Some rides may close for annual refurbishments.

Late April to mid-May
• Spring break crowds are gone.
• Schools not yet out for summer.
• Parks look great (EPCOT’s Flower & Garden Festival is on).

Mid-September to mid-November
• Post-summer lull and before holiday crowds.
• Still warm weather but smaller crowds.
• Halloween events (like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Party and Halloween Horror Nights) add bonus entertainment.

Quietest Weeks (If You Want Practically No Lines)
1. The week after U.S. Thanksgiving (early December)
2. The second week of January
3. The first week of February
4. Mid to late September

These are considered “golden weeks” by Orlando locals — low crowd levels, good weather, and full park hours.

Times to Avoid (Peak Crowds)
• Christmas through New Year’s (Dec 20–Jan 2)
• Spring Break (mid-March through mid-April)
• Summer holidays (mid-June through mid-August)
• Holiday weekends (Presidents Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day)

Bonus Tip

If you can visit midweek (Tuesday–Thursday) during any of the quiet windows, crowds drop even more compared to weekends or Mondays.

Disney Specific

• Magic Kingdom: Tuesday or Wednesday
• EPCOT: Monday or Wednesday
• Hollywood Studios: Tuesday or Friday
• Animal Kingdom: Monday or Thursday

Special events that draw crowds:
• EPCOT Festival of the Arts: mid-Jan–Feb
• Flower & Garden Festival: Mar–May
• Food & Wine Festival: Aug–Nov
• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: select nights Aug–Oct from 4pm onward Magic Kingdom will be very busy
• Very Merry Christmas Party: mid-Nov–Dec from 4pm onward Magic Kingdom will be very busy
• Jollywood Nights : mid-Nov–Dec from 5.30 pm onward Hollywood Studios will be very busy

*Top Tip: Visit Magic Kingdom during the day of a Halloween or Christmas party (get there early as you will have to leave by 6pm) as there tends to be lower crowds during the day as guests with party tickets arrive from 4.

Universal Specific

• Universal Studios: Wednesday–Thursday
• Islands of Adventure: Tuesday–Thursday
• Lower crowd periods with bonuses:
• Late January–early February: Short lines and mild weather.
• Late April–mid-May: Cheaper hotel rates and smaller crowds.
• Mid-September: Great time to combine day visits with Halloween

Special events that draw crowds:

• Weekends during HHN (Sept–Oct) — they’re packed after 5 pm.
• Major movie releases — crowds spike for themed attractions.

SeaWorld Specific

• Tuesday–Thursday are typically the quietest.
• Saturday is the busiest (local visitors).
• Sunday can be moderately busy but less intense than Saturday.

Special events that draw crowds:

• Seven Seas Food Festival (Feb–May): Slight bump on weekends only.
• Summer Spectacular (June–Aug): Busy but great nighttime shows.
• Halloween Spooktacular (Sept–Oct weekends): Family-friendly and relatively calm.
• Christmas Celebration (Nov–Dec): Stunning decorations — busier weekends, quieter weekdays.

Do you have any tips on how to beat the crowds?

Smiles included…

Jamie