Are you planning a visit to Walt Disney World in May? You’ve picked a great time to take the trip! May is the sweet spot between spring break and summer vacation when the crowds aren’t too hectic. It’s also your last chance to enjoy some warm weather without the worst of the summer humidity (though you may start to feel that mugginess creep in).
If you’re heading to Walt Disney World in May, there are also a lot of limited time offerings you’ll want to check out to make your visit extra special. Keep reading to understand what’s happening at Walt Disney World in May, plus tips on how to have a great time in the parks this month.
What’s happening at Walt Disney World in May
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Disney World celebrates by serving limited-time treats inspired by Asian American and Pacific Islander stories and culture. These treats can be found around the Walt Disney World theme parks and resort hotels. Be on the lookout around late April for a full Foodie Guide from Disney explaining each treat and where you can find them. These savory and sweet treats are usually available throughout the month of May.
May the Fourth
If you love Star Wars and puns, then you probably know why May Fourth is the perfect time to celebrate the franchise. Inspired by the iconic phrase “May the force be with you,” May the Fourth has turned into a worldwide celebration of all things Star Wars, and Disney World has gotten in on the action over the past several years. On May Fourth, expect Star Wars fans to be out in full force at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You might even find limited-time treats, merchandise, and meet-and-greets just for this one day celebration.
Mother’s Day
Hopefully you have the second Sunday in May highlighted, circled in red ink, and with arrows pointing to it — it’s time for Mother’s Day, a day to celebrate all of the wonderful women figures in your life. If you happen to be at Walt Disney World around Mother’s Day, you can typically find limited-time food and beverage items served at the parks and resort hotels in celebration. These treats will usually arrive in early May and remain through Mother’s Day.
Memorial Day Weekend
For most American travelers, the month of May signals the unofficial arrival of the summer season with Memorial Day Weekend. While there’s usually nothing specific happening at the parks for this weekend (aside from a more heavily-attended flag retreat, which happens daily at Magic Kingdom), it’s good to point out this weekend in case you’re hoping to dodge crowds. With businesses closed and kids out from school this weekend, it’s a reliably busy few days.
Flower and Garden Festival Continues at EPCOT
May is the last full month of the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival, usually ending around the first of June. In May the festival continues daily with its specialty food and beverage items, Garden Rocks Concert Series, and character topiaries found throughout EPCOT.
READ MORE: WHAT TO DO ON YOUR FIRST DAY AT WALT DISNEY WORLD
Disney After Hours continue and Disney H2O Glow After Hours returns to Typhoon Lagoon
If you want to enjoy some bonus time in the parks, Disney After Hours is a great way to do so. The hard-ticketed events continue at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios in the month of May.
Also starting in May, Disney H2O Glow After Hours returns for the summer season at Typhoon Lagoon.
Disney H2O Glow After Hours is another hard-ticketed event, meaning you need to buy separate admission to attend. Like other Disney After Hours events, this after-hours party at Typhoon Lagoon features reduced wait times for attractions, live music, specialty food and beverage items, and more. And, of course, you get to enjoy the Walt Disney World water parks after dark!
Walt Disney World in May weather
The month of May is usually when you start to notice the weather turn from spring to summer. This doesn’t mean you will feel the worst of Florida’s heat and humidity, but it should be noticeably warmer than March or April. According to Weather Spark, the average high in Orlando for the month of May is 87, and the average low is 69. For context, the average high in May is five degrees warmer than the April average high of 82, and 10 degrees warmer than the March average high of 77.
You may also notice an uptick in the number of rainy days in the month of May. While you could reasonably get through a week in Walt Disney World in the spring without seeing much precipitation, the odds of making it through a week without any rain diminishes. Orlando sees an average of 9.5 days of rain in May. This is a far cry from the summer peak, which ranges from 17 to 20 days of rain on average.
READ MORE: SHOULD YOU VISIT WALT DISNEY WORLD IN THE SUMMER?
Tips for visiting Walt Disney World in May
Be mindful of Memorial Day Weekend crowds
May can generally be a great time to visit Walt Disney World if you want to avoid crowds, as it sits comfortably between spring break and the summer vacation season. Most schools are still in session, though you may notice colleges get out for the summer and therefore a slight uptick in crowds as the month progresses. While the beginning of May generally has lower crowds, Memorial Day Weekend, however, is a different story.
Expect busy crowds ranging from the Thursday or Friday before Memorial Day to the day or two following the holiday. If your budget allows, consider buying Lightning Lane Multi Pass to bypass the regular standby queues at parks like Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios where you’ll likely feel the crowding the worst.
READ MORE: AN ULTIMATE GUIDE TO DISNEY WORLD’S LIGHTNING LANE SYSTEM
Pack and prepare for summer weather
May is the first month of the year where you can reasonably assume the days will be hotter than they will be cooler. As far as Florida weather is concerned, summer starts now — though you probably won’t feel that thick, soupy air you’re more prone to experience if you visit in August or September.
These tips are important all year, but they really tick up in importance come summer: stay hydrated, apply and re-apply your sunscreen, take frequent indoor breaks, and consider taking a longer midday break at the hotel.
READ MORE: WAYS TO SAVE ON YOUR NEXT DISNEY WORLD VACATION
Walt Disney World in May was originally published on The World of Spark.
