Orlando in February: the best weather of winter, if you dodge one weekend

The one weekend to plan around, and the weather around it

Presidents' Day falls on the third Monday of February. Many northern school districts take that whole week off, and Orlando fills up. Waits at the big parks can look like spring break, and hotel rates jump to match. The first two weeks of the month are usually the sweet spot: mild, uncrowded and cheaper.

Valentine's weekend adds pressure on restaurants rather than rides. Book dinner reservations early if your trip overlaps it, especially at the popular spots on Restaurant Row and in Winter Park.

Highs usually run 71 to 77°F and lows 50 to 56°F. A late cold front can still bring a couple of chilly nights, and the end of the month can already feel like early summer. Rain stays light because the dry season continues. Humidity is low, which makes long days on foot comfortable.

What's usually on this month

• EPCOT's Festival of the Arts usually continues through most of February.
• Universal's Mardi Gras celebration usually starts in early February, with a nightly parade and a concert series at Universal Studios on select nights.
• Spring training usually begins in the second half of February. The closest camps are about an hour away in Lakeland and Tampa. See spring training and sports for how to fit a game in.
• The Daytona 500 is usually held in mid-to-late February, and it fills hotels on the coast that weekend.
• The Zora Festival in Eatonville usually wraps up in early February.
• Manatees are usually still gathering at Blue Spring on cool mornings.

How to spend a February week

1. Do your two biggest park days early in the week, when locals are at work and waits run shortest.
2. Take a midweek day trip south to Bok Tower Gardens, where azaleas usually start to bloom late in the month.
3. Catch an afternoon spring training game if your dates fall after camps open.
4. Save an evening for the arts festival at EPCOT or the Mardi Gras parade at Universal.
5. End with an easy morning at Lake Eola or the Winter Park farmers market before your flight.

Off the ride lines

February is the month to be outside without suffering for it. Walk the loop at Lake Eola in the morning, then browse the shops and cafes on Park Avenue. Drive the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, which is usually open on weekends and busy with wading birds and alligators in the cool months. Paddle a spring run while the water feels warm compared with the air. Kennedy Space Center is comfortable now, and the open rocket garden and long bus tours are far easier than in summer.

For a slower evening, Disney Springs costs nothing to walk around, and the cool air makes outdoor tables a pleasure. Downtown and Mills 50 restaurants are less booked midweek, so this is a good month to eat your way through the city's Vietnamese and Asian spots without waiting.

Packing

Think spring in a northern city. A light jacket or sweater for mornings and evenings, short sleeves for afternoons, and comfortable shoes you can walk 10 miles in. Bring sunglasses and sunscreen; the UV index climbs quickly by late month. A swimsuit is worth packing now, because heated hotel pools become pleasant on warm afternoons.

Booking, and what catches people out

February rates follow the calendar closely. The cheapest nights are usually in the first week and the last few days, if those avoid the holiday. Prices climb for Presidents' Day and stay higher as March spring breaks approach. Park tickets are priced by date, so compare a few days before you commit. Our guide to not overpaying for park tickets covers the tricks.

Ride refurbishments and water park closures often continue into February, so check the schedules. Spring training tickets for popular teams sell out on weekends, so buy ahead. And remember that the beach is still cool; plan a coastal day for the views and a seafood lunch rather than a long swim.