What is it like during the month of May?

[sweetp267]

My wife and I are planning our next visit and narrowed it down to the first week of May. My question is how crowded is it during that time? We just came back from the first week of Oct. and had no problems with dinner ressies and basically walked on 80% of the rides. How does that compare to May? Are there any major yearly events going on at that time? One last thing, how fast does availability go at the DVC for a 2BR at the resorts in general?

Thanks

Jon T

 

[DebbieB]

We were there the first week this year. Crowds were low to moderate, not bad. Weather was record heat - around 95. The big event this time of year is the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot. We got a 1 bedroom at OKW at the 7 month mark with no problem.

 

[wdwnut]

hi: the first 2 weeks of may are one of our favorite times to go. fairly low crowds and not unbearable humidity for the most part. since 93, we've gone at least half a dozen times during that time frame. have a great time.

 

[eva]

We went the second and third week of May this year and really loved it. The crowds weren't bad at all. We didn't have to wait very often for rides. A number of them we walked right on. The weather must have cooled down a bit from the first week. Temps were in the upper 80s to the lower 90s most days and it only rained a bit a couple of the days.

 

[sandieb]

Hi - We were there the last two weeks in May - scant rain, temp was high 80's with low to moderate humidity. The crowds weren't bad at all until Memorial Day. We loved the Flower and Garden exhibits.
We plan to return again this May. Sandie

 

[PamOKW]

No. May, especially the first week is a bad time to go. I sacrifice and try to go that week as often as possible just so the rest of you won't have to do it.

Just trying to keep the secret.....yes, the first week of May is usually a pretty darn good choice. Epcot is at it's finest with the Flower Festival, crowds are low and the weather is usually pretty darn perfect. Only one year did we hit rainy weather. Every other year temps are in the 80-90 range and thunderstorms are the only rain.

 

[sheryl0521]

Early - Mid May is our favorite time of year to go. We went many times until our older son started school, now that we have to take him out of school to go, we have limited it to every other year.

We will be there on May 10 - 16, can't wait! (2003 is our "other" year to go!)

 

[RoutemanDan]

Listen to Pam,don't go,don't go!!!!

We have been going the first two weeks of may for a few years now and I can only echo the sentiments above.A great time to enjoy what the "World" has to offer.

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

Hi! we also love the begining of May. We have gone then for about 4 yrs in a row. This yr we are going in the second week in May ( hope I like it as well) because we will purchase new annual passes and go the first week in May in 2004.

We love this time of yr because it is warm enough to enjoy the pools and water parks, but not so hot that the theme parks are miserable.

so, another YES vote!

 

[Pumbaa_]

So glad this question was asked. I am always missing Disney after our January trip and have always wanted to go in May. I just may have to go to the Flower and Garden show this year.

 

[goofy4dvc]

We went last few days of April and first few days of May. Unseasonably warm, but it never rained--not even a sprinkle. (This was a "first" for us at WDW.) Crowd size was very tolerable. I think the longest we waited for a ride is 20 minutes. Most were alot less. We had a 1BR that we reserved 7 months ahead. I think this is one of the very best times to go to WDW. I was surprised at the number of kids though. I guess their parents took them out for a week just like we did! You'll likely encounter more construction anytime from September-May as they try to get "prettied up" for the summer tourist season.

 

[kda]

We've been there at the end of Sept. three times and early May three times. Sept. has always been hotter, more humid, rainy, but very low crowds.
May was busier, but not bad; little rain, and (with the exception of the "unseasonably hot" , over 90 degree weather this May), more comfortable. We have reservations for next May.

 

[MJS]

We were there in May this year, and WOW was it hot!!! Several days were 95 degrees (that was quite a shock coming from MN ) According to the CMs that we spoke with at the AK, the temperature in that park on the day of our visit hit 102. They said that the AK is warmer than the other theme parks.

The crowds were light; in fact, it was a little eerie in Epcot. We were there for 2 weeks, and the crowds started building by the time we left.

 

[NJmouse]

we were there in May from the 11th to the 18th. Weather was unseasonably warmer this year. It is usually warm in the sun and cooler in the shade but not this past May it was warm every where. We are booked for April 30th to May 9th for 2003 at BWV studio pv hopeful a bwview.

 

[SimbaSue]

The last few days of April and first few days of May 2002 were INCREDIBLY hot! And we're from Texas! We were there the first week of May 2001 and it was perfect, but 2002 has really scared me. I cannot imagine going in July or August after being there this past May. It did not rain and the air was quite still, no breeze, and very humid. We always go in Spring or Fall, and definitely will continue to do so. I am looking at our spring trip for 2003, and probably would have already booked for early May, if I wasn't afraid of the heat. But normally, I would say it's a good time. Birnbaum says it is one of the best times crowd-wise and that the ave temp is high 88 and low 66 with ave rainfall of 3.6 in. Have fun!Sus

 

[DeeP]

Crowd wise May is a very good time to go since the crowds are low. But weather wise with FL you can never tell at any time of the year. I was at WDW this past May and it was Hot, I have been to WDW during other Mays and the temperature was very nice. I just returned from WDW late Sept and it was even hotter than it was in May yet I have been there in other Sept and the temperature has been fantastic to a little chilly. I have been in Dec and had the temperature go from low 50s to high 80s in 2 days! I have given up with trying to predict FL weather, just figure on everyday being "hot & humid with a chance of thunderstorms" and then just adjust to the actual weather accordingly! LOL!

 

[prncssjas]

DH and I went during the third week in May (last year) and it was very nice! The weather was warm but not horribly so. The crowds were decent--not bad at all. We stayed at the Boardwalk. This is the funny part--although not typical, we made our room ressies with member services 4 weeks before we left!! We started out only planning a trip to VERO but then decided we wanted to stop in Orlando. So we called, got put on the waitlist for 3 days and then got all the nights we wanted (it was for a studio though...don't know about 2 bedrooms, etc...). The waitlist works great if you don't get what you want on the first try. Have fun!!

 

[Debs Hill]

What time do the parks typically close in May?

 

[jjohns]

Here's what I've got from our past two May trips:

May 2001, May 13-21 (Sunday-Monday)
MK: 9-8 Sun-Thu, 9-10 Fri, 9-11 Sat
EP: 9-9 (WS opened @ 11)
DS: 9-9 Mon-Fri, 9-10:30 Sat-Sun
AK: 8-5

May 2002, May 5-12 (Sunday-Sunday)
MK: 9-7 Sun-Thu, 9-8 Fri, 9-10 Sat
EP: 9-9 (WS opened @ 11)
DS: 9-9
AK: 9-5

HTH, Jeff

 

[Laurabearz]

Another vote for the first couple of weeks in May...... it is a great time to go......