In the wise words of Justin Timberlake, “It’s gonna be May!” It’s hard to believe we are already four months into 2024, but time marches on. At Walt Disney World, fans are anticipating a month filled with exciting events and limited-time treats that celebrate the season. With spring in full swing, there are plenty of reasons to plan a trip to Disney World in the coming weeks.
If you have a trip planned, you will want to catch up on exactly what’s going on around the parks and resorts. There are several opportunities to grab some unique food and beverage items, but you’ll want to note the dates so you don’t miss out on anything! Here now are all of the major events happening around Walt Disney World in the month of May.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Celebrate 35 Years
Disney’s Hollywood Studios opened on May 1, 1989 (back then, it was Disney-MGM Studios). That means this year will mark the park’s 35th anniversary! To celebrate, fans can purchase limited-time merchandise in the park to commemorate the milestone. The collection includes t-shirts, baseball hats, Loungefly backpacks, pins, and more.
If you want to purchase anniversary merchandise, you will need to have your phones fully charged. Disney has announced that it will use a virtual queue system when the merchandise launches on May 1. The virtual queue will open at 7:00 a.m. EST and the merchandise will be available at Stage 1 Company Store at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In addition to the merchandise, there will be a special ceremony taking place at 11:00 a.m. at the Theater of the Stars.
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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Treats
The month of May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. In observance of this month-long celebration, Disney has released limited-time food and drink items at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. A Foodie Guide on Disney Parks Blog outlines where you’ll find the items.
At Walt Disney World, you’ll be able to find specialty food items at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, select resort hotels, and Disney Springs. Most of the AAPI food and beverage items will be available for the entire month of May.
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May The Fourth
Star Wars fans look forward to May each and every year—specifically May 4, a.k.a. May the Fourth! This fun play on words has turned the date into an unofficial Star Wars holiday, and Disney’s theme parks have gotten in on the action over the past few years with limited-time merchandise and other day-of offerings.
You may spot May the Fourth merchandise in Walt Disney World. Can’t make it to the parks in time for the holiday? A select number of limited-time Star Wars merchandise will also be available at the online Disney Store.
CLICK HERE FOR A 10-STEP GUIDE TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR NEXT DISNEY WORLD VACATION.
Mother’s Day Treats
Mother’s Day is just a few weeks away! If you’re visiting the theme parks in early May, you’ll be able to celebrate the holiday with limited-time treats found around Walt Disney World.
Keep your eyes peeled for sweet treats and specialty sips starting on May 5, though you may see some items start to appear sooner. The majority of these limited-time items will be available through May 18.
WHICH SEASON SHOULD YOU PLAN YOUR NEXT DISNEY WORLD VACATION AROUND? CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT!
Disney After Hours Continue at Hollywood Studios
After a brief hiatus, Disney After Hours will return to Hollywood Studios in May. The second wave of events will take place on select nights from May 22 through August 29. Each event runs from 9:30 PM to 12:30 AM.
Disney After Hour events will continue through the summer at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT as well. These are great opportunities to ride your favorite rides after park operating hours with lower wait times! Note that Disney After Hours are separate ticket events. The May through August dates at Hollywood Studios range in price from $145 to $175 per adult and $115 to $145 per child.
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New Drone Show Debuts at Disney Springs
Perhaps the most exciting thing happening at Walt Disney World in May is happening at Disney Springs! A brand new nighttime drone show called Disney Dreams That Soar will debut on May 24. This is a “summertime experience,” and the show will run nightly from May 24 through September 2.
Few details are known about Disney Dreams That Soar, though Disney has shared that the show will feature “state-of-the-art drones choreographed to create designs in the sky and paired with a ‘soaring’ musical score and memorable movie quotes.” Fingers crossed that this drone show will usher in more innovative nighttime shows to the Disney theme parks in the months and years to come!
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT WHAT’S COMING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD THIS SUMMER.
Disney H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Begins
Want to spend some extra time at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon this month? Starting on May 25, the water park will once again begin to host its Disney H2O Glow After Hours events. These events will take place on select evenings through August 31 from 8:00 PM to 11:30 PM.
At Disney H2O Glow After Hours, you can enjoy Disney World’s water parks after dark with lower wait times, complimentary snacks, a DJ dance party, and more. Tickets for the events are on sale now!
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT HOW THE WATER PARKS WILL PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN SOME 2025 DISNEY WORLD VACATIONS.
Flower and Garden Festival Concludes at EPCOT
We will also see this year’s Flower and Garden Festival wrap up in the month of May at EPCOT. The last day to enjoy the springtime food and drink items around the park will be May 27. This is an earlier end to the festival than what we’ve seen in recent years, as it appears EPCOT is moving back to its pre-2020 festival schedule.
The next festival, EPCOT’s flagship Food and Wine Festival, will not start until August 29. That means that EPCOT will not have a festival for most of the summer season – a first since 2019.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT EPCOT’S 2025 FESTIVAL LINEUP.
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