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 and the weather is warm but not oppressive.
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 important 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. Keep your eyes peeled for a full Foodie Guide from Disney as the holiday approaches.
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. In 2025, the festival officially concludes on June 2. In May the festival continues daily with its specialty food and beverage items, Garden Rocks Concert Series, and character topiaries found throughout EPCOT.
Here is the May 2025 lineup if you’re looking to attend the Garden Rocks Concert Series (I’ll throw in June for good measure since it ends on the 2nd):
- May 2, 3, 4, and 5: Plain White T’s
- May 9 and 10: Jon Secada
- May 11 and 12: Maverick City Music (NEW for 2025)
- May 16 and 17: The Spinners
- May 18 and 19: The Pointer Sisters
- May 23 and 24: The Outlaws (NEW for 2025)
- May 25 and 26: Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles
- May 30 and 31: The Cat Empire (NEW for 2025)
- June 1 and 2: We The Kingdom
READ MORE: FULL GUIDE TO THE EPCOT FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL
Both Disney World Water Parks Will Be Open
For the first time since 2019, both Walt Disney World water parks — Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach — will be open for the same time this May. Specifically, both parks will be available to guests starting on May 21. Both parks will be open daily through September 7, at which point Disney World should resume its one water park at a time operations.
To prepare for the dual water park summer season, Disney’s Blizzard Beach will still close for its previously scheduled refurbishment at the end of the day on April 30 and will reopen on May 21. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon opens on May 1. Don’t forget: if you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel in 2025, you and the guests on your reservation have complimentary water park access on your arrival and check in day.
READ MORE: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT 2025 WALT DISNEY WORLD VACATIONS
Disney H2O Glow After Hours Returns to Typhoon Lagoon
On May 23, Disney H2O Glow After Hours returns for the summer season at Typhoon Lagoon. The after-hours event will also take place this month on May 31.
Disney H2O Glow After Hours is a hard-ticketed event, meaning you need to buy separate admission to attend. The 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!
Two New Shows Debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney World is debuting two brand-new stage shows on the same day at the same park. May 27 will be the first day guests can experience Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After and The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After brings all of your favorite Disney villains center stage as each one makes their case for who among them is the most misunderstood. Ultimately, it will be up to the audience to decide! Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After will be located on Sunset Boulevard.
The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure brings to life the 1989 animated classic The Little Mermaid. More than just a refreshed version of The Voyage of the Little Mermaid — the live stage show that played for nearly 30 years in Hollywood Studios — this new show brings employs methods of theatrical magic, from puppetry to video projections.
READ MORE: WHAT TO PACK FOR A SPRING VACATION TO WALT DISNEY WORLD
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: HOW TO STAY COOL AND COMFORTABLE IN WALT DISNEY WORLD
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. 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: WHAT’S COMING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD THIS SUMMER
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: NEW TIPS FOR PLANNING A WALT DISNEY WORLD VACATION IN 2025
