Orlando in January 2027: Weather, Events and Things to Do

Orlando in January is cool and dry, with an average high of about 72°F, an average low of about 50°F and about 2.5 inches of rain for the month. Crowds drop after the first week, and it's peak season for manatees. Bring a jacket for the nights. Here's the weather and what's on in January 2027.

Orlando weather in January

From National Weather Service normals (1991 to 2020) for Orlando International Airport:

• Average high: about 72°F
• Average low: about 50°F
• Rain: about 2.5 inches for the month, mostly from passing cold fronts

Most days are sunny and in the upper 60s to mid 70s. A few times a month a cold front can push nights into the 30s or 40s, and the next day can stay in the 50s. Theme park water rides are cold in January.

What to pack: a warm jacket or fleece for nights, long pants, layers you can take off by noon, and sunscreen. The sun is still strong.

Events in January 2027

• Saturday, January 2: the Citrus Bowl (SEC vs. Big Ten) at Camping World Stadium downtown, noon on ABC. The stadium is mid-renovation, so capacity is reduced.
• Holiday events wrap up: ICE! at Gaylord Palms, Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens, LEGOLAND's Christmas Bricktacular and Universal's holidays all end January 3. SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration runs through January 4, with its Three Kings celebration January 3 to 6.
• Disney Jollywood Nights: for the first time, the Hollywood Studios party adds January dates, on January 3 and 5. Separate ticket.
• Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend: January 6 to 10, 2027. Expect road closures and busy parks that week.
• EPCOT International Festival of the Arts: January 15 to March 1, 2027, its 10th anniversary and longest run yet, with the Disney on Broadway Concert Series. Included with EPCOT admission.

Things to do in Orlando in January

January is the best time of year for things that are hard in summer heat:

• See manatees. Cold mornings bring hundreds of manatees to Blue Spring State Park. Where to see manatees near Orlando.
• Ride an airboat. Cool, dry mornings are perfect on the water. Airboat tours at Boggy Creek, 10% off through us. More in things to do in Kissimmee.
• Visit the highland cows. Mini Moo Land, 10% off. See where to bottle-feed baby highland cows near Orlando.
• Watch a launch. Kennedy Space Center is about an hour east, and January's clear skies are great for launches. How to watch a rocket launch.
• Try a spring. The water stays in the low 70s all year, though some springs close to swimming during manatee season. Springs near Orlando.

Orlando crowds and prices in January

The first week of January is still holiday-busy. After Marathon Weekend, crowds and hotel prices drop until Presidents' Day weekend in February, making mid to late January one of the best-value stretches of the year.

See every Orlando deal

Tours worth booking in January

• Swim with manatees in Crystal River or see them from a clear kayak. January is peak season.
• Blue Spring manatee kayak, the closest manatee tour to Orlando
• Kennedy Space Center from Orlando, with transportation and admission
• St. Augustine's Nights of Lights stay up until January 18, 2027. The tour from Orlando currently shows December dates only, so plan to drive in January.
• Cold night? Every Orlando dinner show is indoors.

Where to check January dates before you go

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex hours page lists 9 AM to 6 PM from December 31 to January 3, then 9 AM to 5 PM from January 4, 2027. Entry ends one hour before closing.

Harry P. Leu Gardens goes back to 9 AM to 5 PM daytime hours on January 4, the day after Dazzling Nights ends, and that Monday is also a free admission day.

Not every holiday event ends on January 3. The Central Florida Zoo lists its Asian Lantern Festival on select nights through January 17, from 6 to 10 PM.

For the Citrus Bowl, the bowl's game day page is where parking and shuttle details are posted. Check the National Weather Service forecast for east central Florida the week you travel.