February is a great month to travel to Orlando, whether you’re going to Walt Disney World and the other theme parks or just exploring some off-the-beaten path attractions. Here are the top four reasons that February is a popular time for families to travel to Orlando.
1) The holiday rush is over. The period between Thanksgiving and New Years is typically crowded and crazy as people flock to Orlando to see the Christmas decorations and take part in holiday festivities. By February, things have quieted down and the theme park lines are back down to a manageable level. The next major event at Walt Disney World doesn’t start until March, when Epcot Center kicks of its annual Flower and Garden Festival.
Smaller crowds mean it’s easier to get reservations at character meals and other popular Disney restaurants. If you have a rental car, you won’t have to struggle with traffic on I-4 or the tourist strips as you travel between attractions.
2) The Orlando weather is beautiful. Orlando temperatures in February are typically in the low to mid-70s during the day, with a low chance of rain. The warmth is a welcome respite if your visiting from a northern state. Even if you come from a warm climate, you’ll appreciate the sunshine. It’s a much more comfortable time of year than summer, when you swelter in 90+ degree heat and get soaked by afternoon thunderstorms.
Not only is February weather perfect for the theme parks, but it’s also just right for other outdoor activities, like zip lining, horseback riding, ATV tours, and airboat rides.
Virtually every hotel in Orlando has a swimming pool, and you’ll have your own private pool if you rent a vacation home. They’re heated, which means you can enjoy the water even though you’re not sweltering in summer temperatures. Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach at Walt Disney World and other water parks, like SeaWorld’s Aquatica and Wet ‘N Wild near Universal Studios Orlando, also heat their water. That makes February a perfect time to hit the water parks without long lines.
3) You can take advantage of school holidays. Most schools have several holidays in February. The kids are off for Presidents Day and Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Depending on where you live, your children might also get a mid-winter break While holiday periods are usually more crowded in Orlando, the February holidays only bring out moderate crowds compared to Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Easter.
Visit Orlando for a long weekend that coincides with a February holiday or take the kids out of school during the holiday week to minimize the number of days they miss. Offer to have them do a special project to make up for the lost school time. For example, if you travel during Presidents Day week, ask their teachers if they can do a make-up assignment tied into the Hall of Presidents at the Magic Kingdom.
4) Adults can enjoy some romance. Sure, Orlando is geared to kids, but there’s no reason that parents can’t have some fun, too. February brings Valentine’s Day, and if it coincides with your vacation, plan a special parents’ night out.
Kid’s Night Out offers bonded, insured babysitters to watch the kids in your hotel room or vacation home. Walt Disney World has kids’ clubs at the Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Yacht and Beach Club that offer child care for potty-trained children. Space is limited for guests who aren’t staying at a Disney hotel, but February isn’t a peak time, so you’ve got a good chance of finding availability.
Once the kids are in good hands, enjoy a romantic dinner at a Walt Disney World signature restaurant like Jiko or Citrico’s. If you really want to go all out, book at meal at Victoria and Albert’s, a AAA Five Diamond restaurant at the Grand Floridian (formal attire is required). If you’d rather dine outside of the Disney resort, there are plenty of excellent restaurants on International Drive and Sand Lake Road, like Fogo de Chao, the Melting Pot, Morton’s, and Ruth’s Chris.
