Before booking a trip to the Orlando area many travelers ask, “What month is the best to travel to Orlando Florida?”

The best month to travel to Orlando Florida is when the weather and crowds suit your preferences. For those who want to turn their Orlando trip into a beach vacation, or need to schedule their vacation around summer break for their children, a visit during Orlando’s high season is often the best bet. The high season is March through April (spring break) June through August (summer break) and mid-December through early January (winter break).

The Orlando weather is at its most tropical during the steamy summer months. Mornings are sunny and hot, with clouds cropping up in the early afternoon and brief but powerful thunderstorms by the mid-afternoon. Fortunately, Orlando is home to four of the nation’s most popular water parks—Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach at Walt Disney World, and SeaWorld’s water park Aquatica. Cocoa Beach is a popular destination for Orlando residents and visitors and is only a few minutes away from Kennedy Space Center. Although the hurricane season is officially June 1 through November 30, the peak season for tropical weather in August and September.

If the heat or the crowds are a turnoff, low season in Orlando is traditionally the months of May, September, November through early December, and January after the holiday crowds have gone home. Temperatures are at their chilliest in December and January, which might be a big deal for Floridians, but northern visitors will find Florida’s winter weather to be comparatively balmy (but bring a jacket anyway).

In between the high and low seasons are the times of year that are known as the “shoulder seasons”—February, late May to mid-June, mid-to-late August, and October. October is a particularly fun time of year because Universal hosts its Halloween Horror Nights—which is definitely not for the little ones—and Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom hosts Mickey’s not so Scary Halloween — which is geared for young children. October weather in Florida is similar to mid-summer weather “Up North,” making it an ideal month to enjoy pleasant temperatures, fewer tropical disturbances, and lighter crowds. The only downside is the possibility of having to take the kids out of school for a few days to have a vacation.

No matter what month you choose to travel to Orlando Florida, you will always find excellent deals at affordable prices in Orlando hotels, any time of the year.