How to Avoid Being Part of the Crowd in Orlando, Florida

In cities like Orlando, Florida, it is almost impossible to avoid the crowds. People come from all over the world to see Walt Disney World, bask on our famous beaches, start adventurous cruise voyages and attend massive business conferences. The onslaught of people seems unending. But with some foresight, and some guidance from yours truly, an Orlando travel professional, we can try to avoid the most populous people-traps in the Orlando region.

The number one reason people come to Orlando is to see Walt Disney World. This makes Orlando crowds somewhat seasonal. We know that people visiting Disney are families. While parents are much more lax about taking their kids out of school for family vacations these days, it still stands that certain school breaks are the busiest time in Orlando. The best time of year to visit Orlando is mid-September through the Thanksgiving holiday. Nobody pulls their children out of school during the first few weeks of a new school year. There is another short lull in visitors between Thanksgiving and Christmasand then again from after New Years until spring break starts in mid-February. In summary, it's best to avoid Orlando crowds by avoiding spring break, summer vacation, Thanksgiving break, Christmas break and the New Year holiday. Read more about surviving Orlando International Airport here.

Choosing the right days of the week to travel to Orlando will also keep you sane. Again, knowing that is it predominantly families that come to Orlando and they are generally working around a school schedule, it is safe to assume they will be traveling on the weekends. Finding flights to Orlando that won't be populated by screaming children kicking the back of your seat is as easy as flying mid-week. Airfares are usually lower on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, too. Even though it's no guarantee, the chances of a flight going out with empty seats is much more likely in the middle of the week. And that will make your elbows and shoulders and legs very happy.

Orlando has the ninth worst traffic in the United States. Sure, some of that can't be avoided, but there are ways to keep from idling on the highway for ungodly amounts of time. Knowing when to travel to the Atlantic beachesor Cape Canaveral can help avoid traffic snarls immensely. Whether it's the space shuttle or a rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center, traffic will come to a standstill on the highways on the day of a launch. Space program aficionados and sightseers end up sitting bumper-to-bumper trying to get to the Space Coast and then if the launch gets scrubbed, all you-know-what breaks loose. Everyone who had been listening to the radio in their cars hears that the launch is a no go and it's a race for the first available off ramp. Do yourself a favor, check the launch schedule and make sure to either hit the road early or postpone the trip until another day.

Daytona Beach is another nearby destination that brings tourists through Orlando from far and wide. The airport, the highways and the Daytona Beach area become jam packed with people during the Daytona 500 in mid-February and Daytona Bike Week the first week of March. Plan accordingly, and be on the lookout for motorcyclists.