The No. 1 Way To Avoid Flight Delays at Orlando Airport

Disney4me · May 26, 2025

No one likes being delayed when they’re flying, especially if they’ve got a connection to make or are otherwise on a time crunch.

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Southwest Plane

Sometimes it’s not possible to plan ahead for flight delays or cancellations, but if you’re flying in or out of Orlando, there’s a specific time of day you’ll want to majorly avoid. While it won’t guarantee you won’t run into issues, if you want a better chance at avoiding any delays, this is one of the best ways to make it happen!

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We’re entering hurricane season in Orlando, but summertime in general also brings an influx of thunderstorms in the afternoon 0n many days. Storms and heavy rain can easily delay planes, even if the storm is only supposed to be around for half an hour.

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MCO Airport

The storms most commonly hit in late afternoon, as the heat of the day hits. Heat lightning can also be present without the accompaniment of thunder and rain, but can delay planes all the same. Orlando International Airport (MCO) saw 350 delays in ONE afternoon on May 25th, solely due to afternoon storms — and this is not uncommon.

Orlando International Airport

Therefore, if you’re looking for a way to avoid your flight being delayed by a common problem in the city during the summer, we suggest flying in/out of Orlando in the morning! While this does mean getting up earlier and spending less time in the parks/at home, it’s often very worth it if you’re aiming to get to your destination on time and want a lesser chance of the weather causing issues.

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Orlando International Airport

While we do also recommend morning flights during the winter and fall season as well, afternoon storms are less likely to affect flights during the cooler times of year. Again, this isn’t foolproof, as other storm systems can come through unexpectedly at any time of year, but this is a good way to cross at least one potential issue off your list!