Disney World in May: Weather, Crowds, Events & What to Expect in 2026

Visiting Disney World in May can make for an amazing vacation. With most schools still in session, weekday crowds tend to be lighter, especially earlier in the month. EPCOT’s International Flower & Garden Festival is still in full swing, adding beautiful blooms and outdoor kitchens throughout the park. And while it’s definitely warming up, the heat isn’t quite as intense as it will be once summer arrives. (That said, you’ll definitely notice temperatures climbing as May gets closer to June!)

The first couple of weeks of May are actually one of my favorite times to visit Walt Disney World. Refurbishments are usually minimal compared to the winter months, the weather is hot but typically manageable, and crowd levels are often lower than what we see in the summer.

Of course, like any time of year at Disney, a little planning goes a long way — but Disney World in May can be a fantastic choice if you time it right.

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Planning a Disney World vacation in 2026? Be sure to check out our guide to all that the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer this year!

In This Post

News and Updates for 2026

May At-a-Glance

May Events

May Refurbishments & Closures

May Disney World Crowd Calendar

Ready to start planning your visit to Walt Disney World in May?

News and Updates for 2026

2026 Vacation Packages are now available to book through December 2026.
Free Kids Dining Plan Offer: In 2026, guests staying at a Disney World Resort can receive a free Disney Dining Plan for kids (ages 3–9) when purchasing a dining plan for the adults in their vacation package.
Ticket Discount: Disney+ Subscribers can purchase a 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket with admission to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom (not valid for Magic Kingdom) with Disney+ Perks. Tickets start at $109 per day, plus tax. These are date-based tickets with start dates from January 12 through May 22, 2026.
Annual Passholders: Save up to 35% on rooms for select stays January 4–April 30, 2026, and up to 40% for most stays May 1–July 29, 2026.
Room-Only Discounts: Save up to 25% this spring (January 4–April 30, 2026) or up to 30% this summer (May 1–July 29, 2026), with higher savings on longer stays.
U.S. Military Members: Special room savings available most nights January 1–December 18, 2026 (book by December 18, 2026).
Water Park: Purchase a Water Park Seasonal Pass for just $89 plus tax. Valid through May 9, 2026, except on blockout dates from March 28-April 5.

May At-a-Glance

May temperatures, as well as the afternoon sun, are beginning to feel a bit “summer-like,” so don’t forget to pack your sunscreen! Temperatures in May are definitely not quite as hot as in June or July, but it is definitely beginning to heat up.
Expect crowds for Memorial Day Weekend! This three-day weekend does bring its fair share of crowds, but many schools are not out yet for summer, so the rest of May shouldn’t be as busy.
Major refurbishments are not typically common in May. Disney tends to schedule their refurbishments during less busy months (such as January or February), but that doesn’t mean closures can’t or won’t happen in May.
The first two weeks of May are an amazing time to visit Walt Disney World. Warmer weather, lower crowds, and fewer refurbishments make the first two weeks of May one of our favorite times to visit the parks!

May Events

The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival will begin March 4 and last through June 1, 2026. This beloved festival transforms Epcot into a breathtaking springtime wonderland. Visitors can enjoy a stunning display of flowers and topiaries, indulge in delicious outdoor food, and listen to live music at the Garden Rocks Concert Series. Exclusive festival merchandise and scavenger hunts (including the popular Egg-stravaganza Easter Egg Hunt) add to the experience, making it a must-see event for flower and nature enthusiasts.

*Epcot festivals tend to bring more local crowds on evenings and weekends, so plan on visiting Epcot during the week if crowds are a concern.

Walt Disney World (as well as ESPN Wide World of Sports) typically hosts several athletic events each month. These events don’t usually have a major impact on crowds in the parks, but they will likely affect resort availability and crowds at Disney’s value resorts. Here are the events scheduled so far in May:

The Summit-Varsity All-Stars Cheerleading and Dance Championship – April 30-May 3, 2026
The D2 Summit – May 8-10, 2026
AAU Basketball Memorial Day Classic – May 23-25, 2026
Disney Memorial Day Soccer Tournament – May 23-25, 2026
Banana Ball – May 29-30, 2026

You may also want to take Memorial Day weekend into account when selecting vacation dates. This particular weekend almost always sees a spike in crowds as it marks the beginning of the summer season for Disney World. Also, Hollywood Studios may see an increase in crowds on May 4th, a.k.a. “Star Wars Day.” So if you want to avoid crowds, consider visiting a different park on that particular day of your visit.

May Refurbishments & Closures

*We’ve included all current refurbishments here on this list… even ones that may be open in time for May 2026. (Please note that this list could change at a moment’s notice.)

Magic Kingdom

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be closed until Spring 2026.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will be closing for enhancements from August 2025 until Spring 2026.
Carousel of Progress will be closing at some point for reimagining sometime in 2026 or 2027.
Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island are permanently closed.
Walt Disney World Railroad will be operating in shuttle mode for the next few years due to ongoing construction.

EPCOT

Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along will be closed for refurbishment starting February 22, 2026.
Impressions de France will be closed for refurbishment starting February 22, 2026.
Soarin’ Around the World will become “Soarin’ Across America” this summer in honor of America’s 250th birthday celebration. It will likely debut by Memorial Day, and it is unclear if the current ride will need to be closed for a short time during the transition.

Hollywood Studios

Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! will debut in Summer 2026.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith will be permanently closing on March 2, 2026, for reimagining. A new theme starring the Muppets will debut in Summer 2026.
Star Wars Launch Bay is permanently closed and will open in late Summer 2026 as “The Magic of Disney Animation.”
The Walt Disney Studios Lot will open in Summer 2026.

Animal Kingdom

Zootopia: Better Zoogether is now open!
DINOSAUR, Primeval Whirl, TriceraTop Spin, and The Boneyard are permanently closed.
- Dinoland USA, as a whole, has officially closed to make way for a major expansion. Disney has announced that the replacement will be “Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom.” Concepts include Encanto and Indiana Jones, and DINOSAUR will be converted into an Indiana Jones attraction.
Affection Section, Conservation Station, and the Wildlife Express Train will temporarily close starting February 23 to prepare for the all-new Bluey Experience opening summer 2026
Animation Experience will permanently close starting February 23

Other

Disney Skyliner will be closed January 24 through January 30, 2027, for routine maintenance.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will close for refurbishment from February 15 to May 11, 2026. Starting on May 12, both Disney water parks will be open for the summer.

May Weather

Overall, the weather in Orlando is quite warm in May. It’s not quite as intense as July or August, but you’ll definitely start to feel summer creeping in. The average high is around 88 degrees, with lows typically near 66 degrees.

Rainfall does begin to increase compared to January through April, but it’s usually not as frequent or heavy as the peak summer months during hurricane season. You may see a passing afternoon shower, but they’re often brief.

If you don’t mind warmer temperatures, Disney World in May can still be a wonderful time to visit when it comes to weather — especially earlier in the month before summer officially kicks off.

May Disney World Crowd Calendar

Crowd calendars are very popular, but they can also be a bit unpredictable. It’s best not to completely rely on them when making your Disney World vacation plans.

While crowd calendars can be a big help in knowing what to expect, keep in mind that they are predictions at best. When designing our calendars, we take a look at events, school calendars, ticket prices, park hours, holidays, and typical monthly patterns. But unfortunately, our crowd calendars cannot predict other things such as weather, travel advisories, pandemics, or last-minute openings or closings of shows and attractions.

On top of that, many are choosing to travel differently. Quiet months have become popular due to runDisney events as well as other Disney events and promotions, while busier seasons have seen a downward trend in the last couple of years.

One thing that will be certain for May, however, is the Memorial Day weekend crowds. So if crowds are an issue for you, I would steer clear of that weekend.