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Orlando in October is warm but no longer steamy: average highs slide from about 88°F to 81°F over the month, rain days drop from about 14 in September to about 8, and Halloween events, EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend fill the calendar. It’s still hurricane season, though.
This guide covers the second half of October 2026 and early planning for October 2027, using NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals, the National Hurricane Center, official school calendars and the event dates published by October 14, 2026. Confirm dates before you book.
Quick answer: Expect highs in the mid-80s, lows in the mid-60s and about 3.5 inches of rain over roughly eight days. Halloween Horror Nights runs through November 1, Disney’s Halloween party is sold out, and Food & Wine runs through November 21. Of the school calendars we checked, October 20–22, 2026 overlaps the fewest breaks, before the Wine & Dine race weekend, half-term in Kent and Hampshire and Halloween. Volcano Bay closes from October 26, and Typhoon Lagoon is closed.
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Orlando weather in October
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for Orlando International Airport put the October average high at 84.7°F and the average low at 66.2°F, about five degrees cooler than September by day and six by night. A typical October 1 runs from about 70°F to 88°F, and a typical October 31 from about 62°F to 81°F.
| Measure | October normal | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Average high | 84.7°F | Warm park afternoons |
| Average low | 66.2°F | Mild nights, cooler late in the month |
| Rainfall | 3.46 in | Little more than half of September’s 6.37 in |
| Days with rain | 8.4 | Down from 14.2 in September |
| Days at 90°F or above | 4.4 | A few hot days remain |
| Nights at 60°F or below | 5.1 | Pack a layer for late October |
Rain eases faster than the heat: the daily chance of measurable rain falls from about 39% on October 1 to about 21% on October 31. The National Weather Service office in Melbourne puts the median start of Orlando’s dry season on October 15 and the median first temperature below 60°F on October 19; the first night below 50°F usually waits until November.
Sunset moves from about 7:12 p.m. to 6:42 p.m. over the month, and daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, pulling sunset back to about 5:41 p.m. Our Orlando weather by month guide compares the months, and our guide to the best time to visit Orlando adds crowds.
Is October still hurricane season in Orlando?
Yes. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) puts its peak on September 10, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. In NHC’s average season (1991–2020), the 11th, 12th and 13th named storms form around October 2, 11 and 25, so about three new named storms across the Atlantic basin is typical for October.
Most never reach inland Orlando, but some do: in October 2024, Hurricane Milton closed Walt Disney World for a day and halted commercial flights at Orlando International Airport. Check NHC’s seven-day outlook before you travel.
What it means for your booking: choose a free-cancellation rate and buy any travel insurance before a storm is named. A Booking.com stay follows the hotel’s own cancellation terms, not Disney’s or Universal’s hurricane policies. Our Orlando hurricane season guide explains what to do if a storm threatens.
Orlando crowds in October 2026, week by week
Disney and Universal don’t publish crowd forecasts, so this is our reading of official school calendars and holidays, not a prediction. The more breaks your dates overlap, the busier the parks are likely to be.
| Calendar | October 2026 | October 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus Day (US federal holiday) | Mon, Oct 12 | Mon, Oct 11 |
| Orange County (OCPS) schools | Student holiday Oct 12 | Check 2027–28 calendar |
| New York City public schools | Closed Oct 12 | Check 2027–28 calendar |
| Toronto schools (Canadian Thanksgiving) | Mon, Oct 12 | Check 2027–28 calendar |
| Gwinnett County, Georgia | Fall Break Oct 12–16 | Fall Break Oct 11–15 |
| City of Edinburgh Council, Scotland | Oct 12–19 | Oct 18–25 |
| Surrey council schools, England | Oct 19–30 (two weeks) | Oct 25–29 |
| Kent and Hampshire, England | Oct 26–30 | Oct 25–29 |
Academies and some other English schools set their own dates.
October 20–22: the quietest stretch on our list
Gwinnett’s break runs to October 16 and Edinburgh’s to October 19, so from Tuesday, October 20, Surrey’s half-term is the only break on our list until the Wine & Dine expo opens on October 22. Biketoberfest (October 15–18) and Orlando’s Pride celebration (October 17) draw crowds of their own the weekend before.
October 22 to November 1: races, half-term and Halloween
The Wine & Dine expo opens on October 22 and the races run October 23–25, Kent and Hampshire schools are off October 26–30, Surrey’s two weeks run through October 30, and Halloween falls on a Saturday. Halloween Horror Nights ends on Sunday, November 1.
Planning October 2027? Columbus Day is October 11, Gwinnett’s fall break is October 11–15, Edinburgh is off October 18–25, the English councils we checked October 25–29, and Halloween is a Sunday. Our Orlando in September guide covers the quieter weeks before, and our Orlando in November guide covers Thanksgiving and the holidays.
Events in Orlando in October 2026
Dates for the second half of October 2026, as published on official pages when we checked on October 14:
| Dates | Event | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Select nights to Nov 1 | Halloween Horror Nights, Universal | Separate ticket; not for under-13s |
| Oct 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 | Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party | Sold out at last check |
| Select nights to Oct 31 | Howl-O-Scream, SeaWorld | Separate ticket |
| Oct 16–18, 23–25, 30–31, Nov 1 | Brick or Treat, LEGOLAND Florida | With park admission |
| Through Nov 21 | EPCOT Food & Wine Festival | With EPCOT admission |
| Oct 15–18 | Biketoberfest, Daytona Beach | About 65 miles from Universal |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Come Out With Pride, Lake Eola Park | Parade 4–6 p.m. |
| Oct 22–25 | Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend | All races sold out |
Halloween season
Universal Orlando in October revolves around Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida: October 15–18, 21–25 and 28–31, plus November 1, from 6:30 p.m., with its own ticket; Monday, October 19, is the sold-out Premium Scream Night. Universal doesn’t recommend it for children under 13 and expects nights to sell out. Disney lists every 2026 night of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party as sold out.
For younger kids, SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular (select days through November 1), LEGOLAND’s Brick or Treat and Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts & Goblins (October 17–18 and 24–25) are included with admission. Our Halloween in Orlando guide has details and costume rules for each event.
EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
Disney lists the festival from August 27 to November 21, 2026, included with valid EPCOT admission, though a theme park reservation may be required depending on your ticket. Festival-only Global Marketplaces serve world-inspired dishes, and the Eat to the Beat Concert Series adds live music, with dining packages that guarantee concert seats.
October extras include Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, a hunt for hidden pumpkins, through November 2, and the Cheers to Cheese! exhibit at CommuniCore Hall through November 8.
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
runDisney’s weekend runs October 22–25: a 5K on Friday, a 10K on Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday. On October 14, all four races, including the Challenge, were sold out, but tickets for Sunday evening’s Post-Race Party at EPCOT were still on sale. Bibs are collected at the expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports, which opens October 22. runDisney lists road closures around EPCOT from about 3 to 10:30 a.m. on the 10K and half-marathon mornings.
Come Out With Pride and Biketoberfest
On Saturday, October 17, Come Out With Pride fills Lake Eola Park downtown with a free festival from noon to 10 p.m., a parade from 4 to 6 p.m. and a fireworks finale over the lake; organizers say more than 230,000 people attended in 2025. Lake Eola is about 10 miles by road from Universal’s parking garages and 17 to 19 from Disney Springs.
The 34th Biketoberfest, a four-day motorcycle rally across Volusia County, runs October 15–18, says the Daytona Beach area’s official tourism site; Main Street in Daytona Beach is about 65 miles by road from the Universal area.
Park hours, early closings and ride closures
- Magic Kingdom on party nights: on October 15, a Halloween party date, Disney listed park hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., against 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on October 20. Planning Disney World in October around evenings? Check the calendar for your date.
- Universal Studios Florida on event nights: on October 15, a Halloween Horror Nights date, Universal listed the park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., against 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on October 20, while Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe stayed open to 8 p.m. Free self-parking after 6 p.m. doesn’t apply on event nights.
- Universal Early Park Admission: Universal hotel guests get up to an hour early at select attractions with valid admission; in October that means Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe (and Volcano Bay, 30 minutes early, until October 25), not Universal Studios Florida.
- Disney perks: Disney Resort hotels and 15 other select hotels get 30 minutes of Early Theme Park Entry every day, which Disney says continues through 2027. Extended Evening Hours (Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resorts) and the 7-day Lightning Lane window (all Disney Resort hotels) also cover four other hotels on Disney property.
- Closures: Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress has been closed since July 6, 2026 (expected back in late spring 2027), and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure closes for refurbishment on November 2. At Universal, Jurassic Park River Adventure is closed through December 16, Po Live! since October 3, and Animal Actors On Location! closes permanently on November 3.
Water parks and pools in October 2026
- Universal Volcano Bay: open through October 25, then closed for maintenance from October 26, with a planned reopening on or before April 1, 2027. Universal says dates are subject to change.
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon: closed for refurbishment, with no reopening date on Disney’s calendar when we checked.
- Disney’s Blizzard Beach: open, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the October dates we checked, with pools and water areas heated to about 81°F, including the Melt-Away Bay wave pool.
- Aquatica and Island H2O: Aquatica showed 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at our last check, and Island H2O calls itself a seasonal park operating from March to October; check both calendars.
- Hotel pools: with lows near 62°F by month’s end, unheated pools feel cool in the morning, so trust only a hotel’s own statement about heating.
Our Orlando water parks guide covers every park’s season, heating and tickets.
Where to stay in Orlando in October
Three options sold on Booking.com, one each for Halloween Horror Nights, Food & Wine park days and pool days after Volcano Bay closes:
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel: a boat ride back from Halloween Horror Nights
Portofino Bay, at 5601 Universal Boulevard, recreates an Italian seaside village around a harbor, with 750 rooms and three themed pools, one with a Roman aqueduct slide. Free water taxis cross the bay to CityWalk, and the walking path back from the Universal Studios Florida gate is about 0.8 mile, roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Universal hotel guests get a dedicated Halloween Horror Nights entry gate until 7:30 p.m. (not on Premium Scream Night, October 19) and access to The Keyholder Bar. Our Loews Portofino Bay Hotel review covers the rooms.
- Good to know: every guest in the room gets Universal Express Unlimited at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure during regular park hours, but not at Volcano Bay, Epic Universe or separately ticketed events such as Halloween Horror Nights. At the time of writing, Loews listed self-parking at $36 and valet at $45 a night plus tax, a minimum booking age of 21 and $55 per extra adult. Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book.
See prices and availability at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa: Early Entry for Food & Wine days
The Renaissance, at 1905 Hotel Plaza Boulevard in the Disney Springs Resort Area, is on Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry list, so you can be inside EPCOT 30 minutes before regular opening. Its scheduled shuttle, complimentary per the hotel and a resort-fee inclusion per Marriott, serves all four theme parks and is timed around park openings, including Early Entry; you reserve seats by QR code after check-in. Disney Springs’ Marketplace end is about 0.7 mile on foot, and EPCOT’s parking toll plaza about 5 miles by road. Marriott lists complimentary lobby food and drinks at Evenings at Renaissance, Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. Our Renaissance Orlando Resort and Spa review has the room types.
- Good to know: at the time of writing, the hotel’s FAQ listed a resort fee of $39 per night plus tax and self-parking at $30 or valet at $45 a night plus tax, and Marriott gave a minimum check-in age of 21 at last check (May 2026). Wine & Dine runners need their own ride, because runDisney’s race-weekend buses serve only Disney Resorts Collection hotels and four other hotels on Disney property; race-morning parking at EPCOT is free before 7:30 a.m. Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book.
Check your October dates for Renaissance Orlando Resort & Spa on Booking.com
Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites – Waterpark: heated slides when Volcano Bay closes
This all-suite resort at 18000 International Drive South has its own Surf & Splash water park: the Triple Tide Tower slides, a FlowRider Double, a surf pool and Aqua Cove for small children. Its FAQ says the pools are heated year-round and the park opens year-round, weather permitting. Suites have one to three bedrooms with a kitchenette or full kitchen. A shuttle runs to Walt Disney World (ask the front desk for times), and EPCOT’s toll plaza is about 5.5 miles by road. Our Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites Waterpark review has the layouts.
- Good to know: the resort isn’t on Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry list. At the time of writing, its site cited a $54 nightly resort fee plus tax covering water park access for six guests, the Disney shuttle and Wi-Fi, and its FAQ listed self-parking at $31 a day. Rates vary by season, availability and how far ahead you book.
See available suites at Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites – Waterpark
What to pack for Orlando in October
- Light clothes and a layer: highs in the 80s, but lows near 62°F by the end of the month.
- A poncho: afternoon storms are likelier early in the month.
- Sun protection: sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
- Swimsuit: for heated hotel pools and Blizzard Beach.
- Costumes, with care: Disney doesn’t allow costumes for guests 14 and older on regular park days, and Halloween Horror Nights bans costumes and costume masks.
Frequently asked questions
Is October a good time to visit Orlando?
For most travelers, yes. Highs average 84.7°F, rain days drop to about eight from September’s 14, and Halloween events and Food & Wine fill the calendar. The trade-offs are hurricane season, which runs to November 30, and busy weeks around Columbus Day and the late-October school breaks. October 20–22, 2026 overlaps the fewest breaks we checked.
What is the weather like in Orlando in October?
Warm and drying out. NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals give October an average high of 84.7°F, a low of 66.2°F and 3.46 inches of rain over about 8.4 days. Daily normal highs fall from about 88°F on October 1 to 81°F on October 31, and the median start of the dry season is October 15.
Is October still hurricane season in Orlando?
Yes. The Atlantic season runs to November 30, and the National Hurricane Center says most activity falls between mid-August and mid-October. About three named storms form across the Atlantic basin in an average October, though most never reach Orlando. Hurricane Milton closed Walt Disney World for a day in October 2024, so book a refundable rate.
Is Disney World busy in October?
Some weeks more than others. In 2026, holidays and fall breaks cluster around October 12, Edinburgh’s break runs to October 19, and the Wine & Dine races, English half-term and Halloween fill October 22 to November 1. October 20–22 overlaps the fewest breaks we checked. On the party nights we checked, Magic Kingdom closed to day guests at 6 p.m.
Is Volcano Bay open in October 2026?
Only until October 25. Universal is closing Volcano Bay for maintenance from October 26, 2026 and plans to reopen it on or before April 1, 2027, though it says dates are subject to change. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is also closed for refurbishment, so Blizzard Beach, heated to about 81°F, is Disney’s open water park.
What events are in Orlando in October 2026?
Halloween Horror Nights runs on select nights through November 1, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (sold out) and Howl-O-Scream through October 31, and Food & Wine all month. Biketoberfest is October 15–18 in Daytona Beach, Come Out With Pride is October 17 at Lake Eola Park, and the Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend is October 22–25.
Bottom line
Orlando in October trades summer’s daily storms for drier, slightly cooler days, with Halloween, Food & Wine and a race weekend on the calendar. Keep a refundable room while hurricane season lasts, check park hours on event nights, and fit in Volcano Bay by October 25. If your dates are flexible, aim for October 20–22.
Compare rates for Loews Portofino Bay Hotel for your October dates
Sources checked in October 2026: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 climate normals, Orlando International Airport, National Hurricane Center: tropical cyclone climatology, Disney: EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, Universal Orlando: Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Orlando: park hours and closures