When to Book Your Orlando Accommodations: Expert Tips for Peak Season Travel
When to Book Your Orlando Accommodations: Expert Tips for Peak Season Travel!
Have you ever wondered how family travel bloggers and IG influencers can afford their trips to Florida? It seems like they’re always staying in great places to experience the seasonal wonders at Disney, enjoying the latest events at Universal Studios, and taking in all the fun things to do in Orlando without blowing through their budget.
Here’s their secret: they know when to book Orlando accommodations to get the best deals on hotels and Orlando resorts.
Today, we’re filling you in on all the details of when to book a hotel in Orlando so you can take advantage of the best deals, too.
How Early Should I Book Accommodations in Orlando During Busy Seasons like Summer or Holidays?
Once you’ve made some of the basic decisions, like what kind of things you want to do and how many days to spend in Orlando, it’s time to start turning plans into action!
It’s best to book a hotel room in Orlando at least six months before a busy tourist season. Orlando’s busiest times of year are the holiday season (December-January) and summer months (June-August). So, you want to be proactive to ensure you’re not getting slammed with the higher rates during this time of year.
Booking early gives you the opportunity to find a more spacious room or better vacation package at a lower rate, even when you’re visiting during a busy period.
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Understanding Orlando’s Peak Seasons
Orlando has over 71 million tourists per year, and visitor traffic increases dramatically during holidays and the school vacation period in spring and summer. Fall and Christmas are especially busy due to the Halloween and holiday events at the theme parks.
In spring and summer, families take extended vacations because children are out of school, which means there is greater demand for rooms, causing prices to go up.
Major Holidays
There are four major holiday periods that see increased tourism in Orlando:
| Christmas | Christmas in Orlando is wildly popular due to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World. Universal Studios brings out its own unique holiday decorations and special events that also attract crowds. You’ll want to book at least six months in advance if you want to get the best Orlando hotel deals during the holidays.
| New Year’s Eve | Disney's Magic Kingdom New Year’s Celebration, SeaWorld’s New Year’s Party, Universal Studios, LEGOLAND, and ICON Park's New Year's Eve Celebration all draw large crowds. Orlando bars and restaurants also host events, which means more traffic from both out-of-towners and locals.
It’s recommended that you book your New Year’s Eve trip in late summer or early fall so you can guarantee a good room at a great price. You can also look for holiday deals in early October or November that offer exclusive perks and discounts at resorts.
| Spring Break | There’s nothing like hitting Orlando beaches during spring break! In Florida, spring break typically occurs between the second and third weeks of March, so there will be increased tourism through April. Tourism fluctuates due to local schools and other states having different spring breaks, but the peak tourism will take place from mid-March through late April.
| Fall Break | Fall is a fun time to visit Orlando with all the Halloween events happening, like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, and Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo’s Haunting of River Ranch.
Tourism drops slightly at the start of fall, but there are more people visiting to take part in these fun events. So, it’s a good idea to get a room or suite at the end of summer for your fall visit.
How Do School Vacation Periods Impact Tourism in Orlando?
The spring and summer breaks in Orlando mean more families are visiting the city, especially for its kid-friendly theme parks. School schedules can affect hotel pricing and availability due to an influx of tourists, meaning you may have a harder time getting a good deal during mid-March through April and late June through August.
Consider booking your trip early, at least 90 days in advance, to ensure you get the best selection and deals. If you’re planning your honeymoon in Orlando during the spring or summer, you may want to look for resorts that cater more toward an adult crowd to enjoy a more relaxing experience.
If you’re wondering when to book Orlando accommodations for maximum savings, try off-peak travel times. Orlando’s tourism drops the most in January, February, and September. This means there are fewer crowds and less competition for rooms. To make up for the reduced tourism, hotels and resorts tend to push great deals and discounts.
Visit Orlando during these off months to save money on accommodations and enjoy less crowded theme parks and attractions. Ticket prices for theme parks also tend to drop during the off-season.
How Far in Advance Should You Book?
If you’re visiting during peak travel time, it’s best to book six to eight months in advance. This is especially true if you are staying at a Disney or Universal resort as competition for these rooms is intense, and it will be more expensive the closer you wait to your travel date.
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For Christmas break: Book six months to a year in advance to ensure you have the best room and deal.
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For New Year’s Eve: Book at least six months in advance, but no later than 90 days before your NYE visit.
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For spring break: Book your accommodations six to eight months in advance.
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For fall break: Book 90 days to six months in advance.
Expect deals for seasonal rates to start popping up 30-60 days in advance. Subscribe to hotel or resort newsletters so you can be the first to know about offers. The earlier you book, the more flexibility you have in terms of accommodations and pricing.
Booking your room during an off-season month (January, February, or September) for the spring or summer can help you save big on your trip.
Pro Tip: Sign up for free loyalty programs at Orlando hotels and resorts so you can get exclusive offers, early deal access, and exclusive benefits on bookings, like late check-out, free upgrades, or guaranteed low rates.
Last-Minute vs. Early Bird Booking
Booking a hotel early can guarantee a lower rate and give you greater selection when it comes to the room types and suites available. But what about those amazing last-minute deals you always hear about? They’re real, too, and worth considering.
Here are the pros and cons of booking last-minute hotel deals:
Pros:
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Potential deals and discounts: Hotels in Orlando often lower prices when they want to fill unsold rooms that are close to your desired check-in date. This can help travelers save a significant amount of money.
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Greater flexibility: For travelers with open-ended travel plans, booking your hotel last-minute allows you to find accommodations that best suit your needs, preferences, and budget.
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Better knowledge of events and weather: Booking a hotel closer to your intended travel date means you can plan your trip more efficiently. You’ll have a better idea of what the weather will be like and any ongoing events taking place.
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Potential room upgrades: Some hotels may offer you a room upgrade if you book your hotel last-minute, especially if they need to fill any premium rooms.
Cons:
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Limited availability: Popular hotels, especially ones located near Disney and Universal, can easily sell out during peak seasons or limited-time events. This can heavily limit your choices.
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Higher prices during high demand: If the demand for a specific hotel is high, this can cause the price of the room to skyrocket.
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Fewer room options: Because it’s last-minute, the best rooms in the hotel you’re interested in may be booked already, leaving you with fewer options.
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Missed early-bird deals: Booking a hotel room last-minute means missing out on special early-bird deals and bundles.
The choice of booking your hotel in advance or last-minute is ultimately up to you. Opting for the latter can be a bit of a gamble, so it’s best to book last-minute only if your schedule is flexible. If you’re planning a family or business trip, however, you’ll want to book your hotel in advance.
Factors That Affect Hotel Prices
Because Orlando has so many different types of accommodations, it’s important to ensure you choose one that lines up with your budget and travel standards. Larger, inclusive resorts, like Westgate Lakes Resort and Spa, can give families on a budget excellent savings with amenities like pools, game rooms, and sports courts built into their hotel rate.
Standard hotels have fluctuating rates that can often be just as expensive as resorts, but they may not have as many amenities. It’s important to explore each hotel’s offerings and fee structure to ensure you aren’t roped into a good deal that actually has a lot of surcharges.
There are also vacation rentals that are more expensive but give you a private apartment or an entire home to enjoy during your stay.
Hotel prices in Orlando fluctuate based on several factors, including:
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Time of year: Spring and summer have the most expensive hotel and resort rates because there are more visitors vying for accommodations. This means there is a greater demand, and prices will rise. Booking early is the best way to prevent overspending or not being able to get the type of room you want or in the area you would like.
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Special events: Hotel demand always increases during the holidays or when theme parks hold special events like sports games, conventions, and concerts. So, don’t forget to consider how location and events may influence rates during your stay.
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Proximity to theme parks: Staying at a Disney World or Universal resort will be more expensive than staying 10-20 minutes away. Likewise, you can stay further out in a neighborhood like Winter Park for even greater savings.
Nearby shopping areas and tourist attractions: It’s understandable that you want to be where all the best shops and restaurants are, but this can also increase costs, especially if you’re staying at resorts close to CityWalk or International Drive. There are good accommodations at reasonable prices in these areas, but you should be mindful of the impact that attractions and entertainment can have on room rates.
Tips for Saving on Accommodations
There are several ways to save on hotel deals. All the travel bloggers and influencers know about these. They’re so obvious that they often go overlooked, and many people who book solely through travel sites or look for last-minute deals miss out on bigger savings.
Here are some of the top ways to get the best Orlando hotel deals and discounts at resorts:
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Check for deals during off-seasons: Hotels have limited incentive to promote rooms during popular travel times since bookings naturally flow in. So, if you want to find the best deals, start looking when tourism starts to wind down. Even if you book your stay in advance, you can often find lower rates. And if you’re looking for even better deals, limited-time offers during the slowest travel months can save you hundreds on your stay.
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Book directly through the hotel or resort: It may be easier to use travel sites, but they often charge extra fees and commission that results in slightly higher prices. By booking your accommodations directly, you can reduce your expenses and possibly receive a discounted rate.
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Check resort and hotel sites for discounts: Certain specials and discounts may not be promoted on travel booking sites like Hotels.com or Expedia.com. To save money, look at hotel sites directly to check what discounts they offer for veterans, AARP members, local residents, etc.
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Sign up for free loyalty programs: Join a membership program like the World of Westgate (WOW) Loyalty Progam for insider perks and discounts. You’ll be the first to know about deals and get access to special offers that aren’t shown to the public.
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Have flexible travel dates: Being flexible with your travel can help you save money. Since bookings tend to fall toward the end of the week, you can often get better deals by booking Orlando hotels on a Friday or Saturday. Mondays through Wednesdays are peak booking days, so avoid those if you can.
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It's Time to Start Planning Your Orlando Vacation
Now you know that getting the best deals in Orlando comes down to timing and some extra research. Booking directly through hotels, staying a little farther from the most popular areas, and traveling during the off-season are the best ways to visit Orlando on a budget. Happy Travels!
For more tips on visiting Orlando, visit our Westgate Resorts Travel Blog.
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* Westgate Resorts is in no way affiliated with the attractions featured in this article. Items or places listed are current as of the publishing date of this article. Please call or visit the respective website for the most up-to-date offerings and details.
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