Orlando in December: come early in the month, not at Christmas

Early December is the secret

The weeks after Thanksgiving and before school breaks are among the quietest of the year. The parks are fully decorated, holiday events are running and prices are moderate. Waits usually stay manageable until about the second or third weekend of December. Then the crowds climb fast. Early-month visitors also get easier dining reservations and cheaper rental cars.

The week between Christmas and New Year's is usually the busiest of the year. Parks can hit capacity, hotels charge their top rates and every reservation is hard to find. If those are your only dates, plan carefully and arrive at parks very early.

A middle path exists. The days just before Christmas, around the 18th to the 22nd, are busier than early December but usually calmer than the days right after Christmas. If school calendars force a holiday trip, aim for that window.

What the weather does

Highs usually run 70 to 77°F and lows 50 to 56°F. December is dry, with sunny days and cool nights. A cold front can drop temperatures into the 40s for a few days, and some years Christmas feels like summer. Sunset is around 5:30 p.m., so evenings are long.

That variety is the point. Locals bundle up when it hits 60, so a cool day keeps some of them home, while a warm spell brings them out to the parks and lakes. Either way, outdoor plans are rarely ruined by rain this month, which makes December one of the easiest months to schedule.

What's usually on

• Holiday decorations and holiday shows at Disney, Universal and SeaWorld usually run all month.
• EPCOT's holiday festival usually continues through December.
• Disney's Christmas party nights usually run on select nights until shortly before Christmas.
• Universal's holiday celebration usually runs through the end of the year.
• College bowl games usually play at Camping World Stadium in late December and around New Year's Day.
• New Year's Eve fireworks at the parks and downtown.

See Christmas in Orlando for the lights and shows worth your time.

Holidays without the big crowds

1. Spend an evening at Disney Springs, which is free to walk and fully decorated.
2. Walk around Lake Eola or Park Avenue in Winter Park, which usually light up for the season.
3. Drive to St. Augustine for its Nights of Lights, which usually runs from mid-November through January.
4. Book a holiday light show outside the parks for a night when the parks are packed.
5. Spend a morning at the Morse Museum in Winter Park, where the holiday hours are usually relaxed and the galleries stay quiet.

Packing for both seasons

December can feel like spring or like autumn. Bring long pants, a sweater and a jacket for cool evenings and early mornings, along with shorts and short sleeves for warm afternoons. Comfortable shoes are a must, and so is sunscreen. A hat helps on bright days. If you want to swim, check your hotel pool is heated. For holiday events at night, gloves are overkill, but a scarf or hoodie makes standing through a parade or fireworks show far more comfortable.

Price patterns and planning

Rates are usually moderate in early December and peak from about December 20 to January 1. Flights follow the same curve, with the highest fares around Christmas and New Year's. Book holiday-week hotels and flights months in advance, and reserve restaurants early, especially for Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Parks can also close to new visitors once full, so arrive before opening. Mid-December is a middle ground, with growing crowds but still reasonable prices.

Some deals hide in early December. Hotels near the parks often discount the first two weeks to fill rooms, and park ticket prices sit in lower tiers on weekdays. If your trip lands in the peak week, consider staying in a quieter area like Winter Park or Celebration and driving in. It costs a little time but often saves money and gives you a calmer place to come back to each night.