Orlando · Florida
Expect massive crowds, Florida heat, and long lines no matter when you go. The big parks are professionally run but exhausting; you'll walk 8-12 miles a day, stand in queues for popular rides, and pay premium prices for everything from food to parking. It's a full-day commitment that can be magical with good planning but frustrating if you're unprepared. Summers are brutally hot and wet while holidays bring insane crowds. The smartest windows are mid-January through early March or late August through November, when attendance dips and temperatures are more manageable.
Expect to pay around $130-220 per person per day for a single park ticket, or $160-300 for park-hopping access depending on how many days you buy. Multi-day tickets drop the per-day cost significantly if you're staying 4+ days. One honest tip: pick one main park per day rather than trying to hop unless you have at least 5 days. Another: skip the add-on lightning lane packages on your first visit unless money is no object; learning the ropes without them first saves cash and still gets you on most rides if you arrive early and use the standard queue strategy.