What Will Disney Be Like in May 2023?
The trick to visiting Walt Disney World is finding the perfect time of year.
You want a few days when the weather is nice but not too hot. Also, a government holiday would help. And the end of the school year would be nice, too.
For these reasons, many people favor May vacations as the ideal time to head to Walt Disney World.
So, what will Disney be like in May 2023? Read on to find out!
Let’s Talk about May Visits
Planning a vacation often comes down to free time. You need availability before you can worry about Disney’s options at the time.
When are you most likely to have time? The answers are when you have work vacation days and when schools are closed.
Sadly, most kindergarten-12th grade schools remain open throughout May. However, colleges start to wind down at the start of the month.
Most major American universities have finished their spring semesters by mid-May. Also, Memorial Day works as a kind of super holiday for tourism.
Then, there are the other Disney vacationers, the ones who enjoy more leeway with their travel dates. They can pick and choose a bit more.
These Disney fans know that May is an exceptional time to visit for the reason I just discussed.
With kids still in school, most families cannot travel to Walt Disney World. So, everyone else discovers less crowded parks.
May is sneakily one of the four months on the annual calendar with lower attendance. It joins January, February, and September as the “off-season.”
Let’s Talk about the Weather
The smaller crowds do come with a bit of a sticking point, though. And that sticking point is that you may be sticky.
I speak from experience on this point. My wife’s birthday and our anniversary occur in mid-May. So, we have frequently spent this part of the year at Walt Disney World.
During one memorable week, the temperature reached 100 degrees every day. I was going through bottles of sunscreen on a daily basis.
According to Weatherspark, we were unlucky that year. This site has tracked Central Florida weather trends and suggests that the average temperature in May is in the mid-80s.
According to their data, the average high temperature rarely drops below 78 degrees. Conversely, it rarely exceeds 93 degrees.
I can assure you as a lifelong southerner that you can and do feel a difference between 93 and 100 degrees. In fact, it’s a stark contrast.
Meanwhile, a high of 78 degrees in May is downright pleasant for this part of the country.
As for the low temperatures, the average daily low is 72 degrees. Notably, it rarely crosses 75 degrees, though. On the other hand, it could drop as low as 59 degrees.
In the south, 59 degrees in May is medium-sized jacket weather. So, given all these variables, you should pay careful attention to the weather report before you pack.
Also, just to be safe, buy two more tubes of sunscreen. I highly recommend the spray-on variety due to its convenience.
Let’s Talk about Disney Events in May 2023
When you visit Walt Disney World in May, you’re all but certain to visit one event. It’s the oldest festival at Walt Disney World.
Yes, the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival usually runs throughout May.
While Disney hasn’t announced 2023 dates yet, the 2022 event started in early March and ran through July 4th.
You can safely expect similar dates in 2023, meaning that you’ll want to spend at least an extra day at EPCOT.
The Flower & Garden Festival is exceptional due to its horticultural marvels. I know that people don’t think, “I gotta see that shrubbery!” often.
However, if the average shrub looked like what EPCOT offers, more people would. Imagineers carve bushes into recreations of beloved Disney characters.
You’ll find remarkable recreations of Lightning McQueen, Beauty and the Beast, and even full scenes from Fantasia.
Plus, the Outdoor Kitchens serve the best cuisine in Central Florida (no hyperbole) for a fraction of the price of what many Disney meals cost.
Finally, the Garden Rocks concert series provides plenty of musical entertainment for fans of bands who had a hit single back when Casey Kasem was still alive.
Let’s Talk about Central Florida Events in May 2023
Sadly, May isn’t the ideal time for sports fans to visit the area. Orlando hosts two professional sports teams.
Alas, the Orlando Magic will already be thinking about the NBA Draft by the time May rolls around.
On the plus side, Orlando City SC hosted three home matches in 2022. You can safely expect roughly the same total next year.
Orlando also hosts several Broadway plays each year, and they’re usually the national touring companies. So, these are excellent performances.
Next May, My Fair Lady runs at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts from May 9th through the 13th.
As for concerts, we’re still a bit early for major 2023 touring announcements.
There’s likely some Taylor Swift news here, but it’s probably a sore spot for many of you.
Generally, what we know at this point is that House of Blues Orlando has some excellent gigs lined up.
You’ll find this place at Disney Springs, and some of the shows are free. The ones that aren’t like Tesla are usually in the $20-40 range to start.
However, the building sometimes hosts talents like Dermot Kennedy, and those tickets often begin at $120.
Obviously, the kind of music you like will determine your price at House of Blues. Of course, the Garden Rocks concerts are free and at EPCOT. So, they’re better in my opinion.
Final Thoughts
There’s an X-factor with Memorial Day Weekend vacations. Lately, Disney has debuted new attractions in or around this part of May.
For this reason, guests who arrive earlier in the month may miss out on the new hotness.
Conversely, tourists who wait until Memorial Day Weekend will face much larger crowds.
In short, you must determine what matters most to you. Either way, you’ll have a terrific time at Walt Disney World during a May visit.
I’ve done about six of them over the past decade, and they’ve all been terrific. Just keep an eye on the weather before you go, though!