United States, North America

Orlando in August

Crowds fall off fast as Southern schools go back early in the month. The heat does not fall off at all.

TradeoffsSweltering, highs near 92F (33C)

Downtown Orlando from Lake Eola Park — OrlandoPhoto: Benoît Prieur, CC0

The straight answer

August is a month of real tradeoffs in Orlando. Crowds fall off fast as Southern schools go back early in the month. The heat does not fall off at all.

Weather: Sweltering, highs near 92F (33C)
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What August is like in Orlando

August is sweltering, with highs near 92F (33C), but crowds fall off fast as Southern schools go back early in the month. Prices ease a bit. EPCOT's Food and Wine Festival starts in late summer, and Halloween events begin mid-month. Storm chances stay high, and hurricane season is building. Afternoon thunderstorms still arrive most days.

Late August suits families whose schools start later and couples who can handle heat. It is still a hot month, so stick to early mornings and evenings. For the emptiest parks, look at September. For better weather, wait until November.

Make the most of August

What is especially good about Orlando this month.

EPCOT Food and Wine Festival

Tasting booths line World Showcase starting in late summer. Go midweek to avoid local crowds.

Halloween events begin

Disney's Halloween parties start in mid August, and Universal's Halloween Horror Nights usually opens around the end of the month. Horror Nights is intense and not for young kids.

Crowds thin late month

As schools go back, waits shorten noticeably.

What to pack for August

Rain ponchos
Cooling towels
Swimsuits
Sunscreen and hats

Our timing tip

Plan your trip for the second half of August, when most Southern schools are back.

Book Orlando for August.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Orlando
Opens a hotel search for Orlando in August, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for August
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Orlando
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Orlando
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Orlando for August. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in August

EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival

Late summer through mid November

Dozens of tasting booths around World Showcase. Weekends draw a heavy local crowd; go midweek.

Halloween season in the parks

Mid August through October

Disney's ticketed Halloween party nights and Universal's separately ticketed Halloween Horror Nights, which is intense and not for young kids.

Things to do in Orlando

Full guide

Magic Kingdom

The signature castle park. Arrive before official opening; the first two hours deliver more rides than the next six.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

EPCOT

The festival park: flowers in spring, food and wine through the fall. Adults' favorite, and the best eating on Disney property.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom

Home to the headline Star Wars and Avatar lands. Both are lighter half-day parks if you plan rides tightly.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios

The Wizarding World spans both parks via the Hogwarts Express, which requires a two-park ticket and is worth it.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Epic Universe

Universal's newest park, opened in 2025. Demand runs hot, so book this one further ahead than the others.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

A water park day

Build one into any warm-month trip as the recovery day. Go at opening; wave pools hit capacity by late morning in summer.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Pick the week before you pick anything else. The same budget buys triple the rides in late January or mid September versus March or late December.
Rope drop is the single biggest lever inside any week: arriving 45 minutes before park opening beats any paid line-skip product for the first two hours.
Ride the headliners first thing or in the final hour before close; use midday, when waits peak, for shows, meals, and the pool.
Weekdays beat weekends at every park, and locals with annual passes swell Saturday crowds even in slow season. Tuesday and Wednesday are reliably the lightest days.

Know before you go

Orlando has no off season in the closure sense: the parks are open 365 days a year, including Christmas, which is actually their busiest day. What varies is hours, which shrink in slow season and stretch past midnight in peak weeks.
Parks can hit capacity and pause entry on the very biggest days, most famously between Christmas and New Year's. In peak weeks, arrive early and check whether park reservations are required for your ticket type.
Individual rides close for refurbishment on rotating schedules, most heavily in the slow winter and early-fall windows. If one attraction is the whole reason for your trip, check the official refurbishment calendar before booking.
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. The parks close for direct threats only, which is rare, and typically reopen within a day or two. September and October trips deserve refundable bookings and trip insurance.

Orlando in August, quick answers

Is August a good time to visit Orlando?

August is a month of real tradeoffs in Orlando. Crowds fall off fast as Southern schools go back early in the month. The heat does not fall off at all.

What is the weather like in Orlando in August?

Sweltering, highs near 92F (33C).

Is Orlando crowded in August?

Crowds in Orlando are moderate in August; timed bookings still help at the biggest sights.

What is happening in Orlando in August?

EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival (late summer through mid november); Halloween season in the parks (mid august through october).