Orlando from Des Moines, Oct 16–18: $1,119 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $105 per person below the typical fare on this route
- Free cancellation at Avanti International Resort
- Highs 76–92°F, a small chance of rain
The catch: Not nonstop: a stop on the way, 14h 54m in all.
Worth it with kids who are up for long days; skip it if you want quiet.
Round-trip flights from Des Moines to Orlando are $430 per person, or $860 for two, for Oct 16–18, 2026 (2 nights), on Frontier with 1 stop. The forecast shows 82°F on Saturday and 76°F on Sunday, with a chance of drizzle or showers. The best-value hotel, Avanti International Resort, is $259 for the stay.
The total, before you go
$1,119 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $860 |
| Avanti International Resort, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | $259 |
| The total, before you go | $1,119 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $240 |
$105 per person below the typical fare on this route.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $60 each way per bag on Frontier, $240 for two round trip); a resort fee, if the hotel has one, is collected at the desk. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
$430 per person, round trip
$860 for two, taxes and fees included · Frontier · 1 stop · 14h 54m
Out Fri, Oct 16, 8:25 PM – Sat, Oct 17, 12:19 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier | $430 | 1 stop | 14h 54m |
| G4 + F9 | $660 | 1 stop | 29h 43m |
| Frontier | $665 | 3 stops | 27h 13m |
Prices checked Oct 13, 2026, 11:06 AM CDT. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Tweak this trip
Why now
At $430 per person round trip ($860 for two), this fare is $105 below the typical fare on this route. That typical fare is $535, the median of 15 earlier checks, and the badge on this one reads 19% below typical. Across 12 offers we saw, fares ran from $430 to $797, and Frontier's fare was the lowest. October is also when Orlando runs the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival and its Halloween events, so a short weekend comes with a ready-made plan. The forecast cools as the weekend goes on: 82°F with a 19% chance of drizzle on Saturday, then 76°F with a 24% chance of showers on Sunday. Add $259 for two nights at Avanti International Resort and our budget comes to $1,639 for two, including $520 for spending. All prices include taxes and fees as we found them, and they can change.
The kind of trip this is
This is a theme-park weekend, quick and full. It suits a couple or two friends who want one big park day, an evening at the food festival or a Halloween event, and maybe some outlet shopping on International Drive. You fly overnight to get there and only have a short Sunday, so the move is to pick one park and take it easy rather than try to do everything.
Weather in Orlando, Oct 16–18
Highs 76–92°F, a small chance of rain
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 16 | 92 °F | 76 °F | 72% |
| Sat, Oct 17 | 82 °F | 73 °F | 19% |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 76 °F | 71 °F | 24% |
Where to stay in Orlando
Avanti International Resort is the best value: $259 for both nights ($130 a night) with a 7.6 review score from 8,790 reviews. You get a room with two queen beds and free cancellation. Westgate Town Center Resort is the top rated at 8.5 from 1,757 reviews. It's $272 for the stay ($136 a night) for a Deluxe Studio Villa in Celebration. Heads-up: it doesn't have free cancellation. Wyndham I-Drive Avanti Resort & Conference Center is our budget pick at $268 ($134 a night), with 7.4 from 11,416 reviews and free cancellation. Both Avanti hotels are in the Universal Orlando area, an easy walk to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe. That works well if Universal is your park this weekend. All three are room only.
Avanti International Resort
$259 for 2 nights, two guests · $130 a night
See roomsWestgate Town Center Resort
$272 for 2 nights, two guests · $136 a night
See roomsWyndham I-Drive Avanti Resort & Conference Center
$268 for 2 nights, two guests · $134 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Orlando for these dates
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Where in Orlando
- Walt Disney World Resort: On-site hotels with early park entry and free transport.
- Lake Buena Vista: Hotels a short shuttle from Disney with lower rates.
- Universal Orlando area: Walkable to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe.
- International Drive: Central strip with outlet malls, restaurants and attractions.
- Kissimmee: Vacation villas with private pools for larger families.
What to do in Orlando
- Spend a day at EPCOT's World Showcase while the Food & Wine Festival is running
- Watch the fireworks over Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom
- Ride Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal
- Explore the Epic Universe park, walkable from the Universal Orlando area hotels
- Take a kayak or airboat tour on the Wekiva River for a break from the parks
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
Getting there and around
| Airports in Des Moines | Des Moines International (DSM) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Orlando | Orlando International (MCO), Orlando Sanford International (SFB) |
| Flight time | 14h 54m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 1,137 miles each way |
| Time difference | +1 hour |
What 2 nights in Orlando costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $860 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Avanti International Resort) | $259 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | $520 |
| Total for two | $1,639 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Des Moines to Orlando
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $430 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $315 (Oct 13, 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | $535 |
| Price checks | 15 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travelers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Orlando.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- EPCOT Food & Wine Festival and Halloween events
- No passport needed, and the currency is the US dollar.
- Orlando is 1 hour ahead of Des Moines.
- The outbound Frontier flight has 1 stop and takes 14h 54m: it leaves Friday, Oct 16 at 8:25 PM and lands at Orlando International (MCO) Saturday, Oct 17 at 12:19 PM.
- In October, Orlando has the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival and Halloween events.
- All three hotels are room only, and Avanti International Resort and Wyndham I-Drive Avanti Resort & Conference Center offer free cancellation.
Questions readers ask
How much is the flight?
When we checked, it was $430 per person round trip on Frontier, or $860 for two, with taxes and fees included. That's $105 below the typical fare on this route. Prices can change before you book.
Do I need a passport?
No. This is a domestic trip, the currency is the US dollar, and Orlando is just 1 hour ahead of Des Moines.
What is the weather like?
The forecast for Saturday is a high of 82°F with a 19% chance of drizzle. Sunday cools to 76°F with a 24% chance of showers. Friday shows thunderstorms and 92°F, but you'll still be traveling then.
Is 2 nights enough?
It's enough for one full park day if you keep it simple. The outbound flight lands Saturday at 12:19 PM after 14h 54m with 1 stop, so plan on Saturday afternoon plus Sunday.
What does the whole weekend cost?
Our budget for two comes to $1,639: $860 for flights, $259 for two nights at Avanti International Resort, and $520 for spending.
Which hotel should I pick?
Avanti International Resort is the best value at $259 with free cancellation. If you want the highest review score, Westgate Town Center Resort has 8.5 at $272, but it has no free cancellation.
Also found for you
The newest finds from Des Moines.
Just found · from Des Moines26% below typicalNot worth it this week
Chicago
Oct 16–18, 2026 · 2 nights
- $504 per person, $185 below the typical fare on this route
- United and American nonstops at $587 per person, 96 to 101 minutes
- Club Quarters in The Loop, rated 8.2 from 5,335 reviews
$1,928 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights $1,008 + hotel $794 + resort fee $126, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $240
Frontier · with a stop · 27h 59m
The catch: The $504 Frontier fare has one stop and takes 27h 59m, landing at 12:24 AM on Sunday, Oct 18, the day the trip ends.
Worth it if you switch to a $587 nonstop and want a walkable Loop weekend; skip the Frontier fare entirely.
Tweak this trip
Just found · from Des MoinesWorth it, if
Mexico City
Nov 14–21, 2026 · 7 nights
- $655 per person, $55 below the typical fare on this route
- Suites Capri Reforma Ángel 380: 8.8 from 4,090 reviews, free cancellation
- Mid-November highs of 75–77°F, with one drizzle day in the normals
$1,810 for two · 7 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights $1,309 + hotel $501, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $200
G4 + F9 + Y4 · with a stop · 63h 48m
The catch: With 2 stops, the round trip takes 63h 48m of travel, so you don't land until Sunday, Nov 15 at 4:50 PM.
Worth it if a $72-a-night base and a week of food and museums matter more than travel time; skip it if long connections wear you out.
Tweak this trip
Just found · from Des MoinesLowest in 30 daysWorth it, if
Asheville
Oct 16–18, 2026 · 2 nights
- Fare $479 per person, $140 below the typical fare on this route
- Breakfast and free cancellation at the $498 Brookstone Lodge
- Sunday forecast clear, 60°F, 0% rain, for Parkway foliage
$1,456 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
Flights $958 + hotel $498, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $160
United. Operated by SkyWest DBA United Express · with a stop · 4h 48m
The catch: The outbound has one stop and takes 4h 48m, it's peak-foliage weekend, and a checked bag, about $160 for two, isn't in the total.
Worth it if you want fall color, Biltmore and breweries in two nights; skip it if you need a nonstop or quiet trails.
Tweak this trip
More trips
Next weekend · from Des MoinesWorth it, if
Sedona
Oct 23–25, 2026 · 2 nights
- $482 per person, $82 below the typical fare on this route
- Clear forecast, highs of 61–70°F, rain chances of 9–17%
- Hotel scores 8.4 from 648 reviews, with breakfast and free cancellation
$1,597 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights $964 + hotel $596 + resort fee $37, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $240
Frontier · with a stop · 5h 23m
The catch: The flight has one stop and takes 5h 23m, landing at 11:48 PM, and checked bags run about $240 for two on top of the total.
Worth it if you want red-rock hikes in mild weather for a weekend; skip it if a late Friday flight with a stop wears you out.
The weekend after · from Des MoinesLowest in 30 days
Nashville
Oct 30–Nov 1, 2026 · 2 nights
- Nonstop on Allegiant, 1h 34m, leaving Friday at 2:48 PM
- $154 per person below the typical fare on this route
- Holiday Inn rated 8.1 from 332 reviews, with free cancellation
$707 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights $402 + hotel $267 + resort fee $38, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $200
Allegiant · nonstop · 1h 34m
The catch: A checked bag is about $200 for two and isn't in the $707, and the best-value hotel is by the airport, not downtown.
Worth it if you want a quick music-and-food weekend for two; skip it if you need warm weather or a hotel you can walk to Broadway from at this price.
A week away · from Des MoinesLowest in 30 daysWorth it, if
New York City
Nov 14–21, 2026 · 7 nights
- $349 per person round trip, $324 below the typical fare on this route
- Pod 51 scores 8.2 from 9,508 reviews and has free cancellation
- Seven nights for Broadway, the Met and the High Line
$2,526 for two · 7 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
Flights $698 + hotel $1,601 + resort fee $227, taxes in · a checked bag each adds about $160
United · with a stop · 5h
The catch: One stop on United makes it 5h out, the Pod 51 room is a bunk pod with a shared bathroom, and a checked bag is about $160 for two.
Worth it if you'll spend your days out and only need the hotel for sleep; skip it if you want a private bathroom or a nonstop.
All trips from Des Moines · Orlando from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in October 2026 · Home
Orlando in pictures
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. We use AI tools to draft the text of each page from the data on it; code checks every number in the draft against that data and rejects what does not match, and the team reviews pages and fixes or removes what readers report. How we pick · Report a mistake.
Image credits
- Photo: Simon Steiner / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Connor Scott McManus / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Duren Williams / Pexels, Pexels License