United States, North America

Orlando in September

The emptiest month in the parks. The tradeoff: this is the statistical heart of hurricane season, so book refundable.

BestHot easing late month, highs near 90F (32C), storm chances

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

The straight answer

September is one of the best months of the year to visit Orlando. The emptiest month in the parks. The tradeoff: this is the statistical heart of hurricane season, so book refundable.

Weather: Hot easing late month, highs near 90F (32C), storm chances
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What September is like in Orlando

September is the emptiest month in the parks. Highs near 90F (32C) ease a little late in the month, and storms remain likely. The tradeoff is hurricane season, which peaks now. The parks close only for direct threats, which is rare, and usually reopen within a day or two. Prices drop, and Food and Wine and Halloween events are running.

This month is perfect for homeschool families and adults who want short lines. Book refundable hotels and consider trip insurance. If you dislike heat or storm risk, November is a strong alternative.

Make the most of September

What is especially good about Orlando this month.

The shortest lines of the year

More rides per day than almost any other month.

Food and Wine Festival

EPCOT's tasting booths are easier to enjoy on quiet weekdays.

Halloween season

Disney's Halloween parties and Universal's Horror Nights are underway.

What to pack for September

Rain ponchos
Cooling towels
Quick-dry clothes
Sunscreen and hats

Our timing tip

Book everything refundable, and buy trip insurance, since this is peak hurricane season.

Book Orlando for September.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Orlando
Opens a hotel search for Orlando in September, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for September
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 September. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in September

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 September, quick answers

Is September a good time to visit Orlando?

September is one of the best months of the year to visit Orlando. The emptiest month in the parks. The tradeoff: this is the statistical heart of hurricane season, so book refundable.

What is the weather like in Orlando in September?

Hot easing late month, highs near 90F (32C), storm chances.

Is Orlando crowded in September?

September is one of the quieter months in Orlando; most sights can be done without long waits.

What is happening in Orlando in September?

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