Low crowds
Animal Kingdom in May
Low crowds and shaded trails make May a strong window for Animal Kingdom, though the exposed savanna areas heat up fast once the sun climbs and afternoon storms roll in.
Updated Reviewed by ParkSwiz research
- Crowd level
- Low
- Avg high
- 89°F
- Avg low
- 69°F
- Rain days
- 9 days
Pros
Reasons to visit in May
- Kilimanjaro Safaris runs with shorter waits, and animals tend to be more active during the cooler early morning hours before the heat sets in.
- Avatar Flight of Passage sees more manageable lines than during busier months, making a single Lightning Lane Single Pass purchase go further.
- Discovery Island Trails and the shaded Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail are pleasant to walk without the peak-season shuffle of crowds.
- Wilderness Explorers can be tackled at a relaxed pace across Africa and Asia without long waits at each badge station.
- Kali River Rapids offers a genuinely refreshing break once the afternoon heat builds, without an all-day line to get on it.
Cons
Things to watch out for
- Asia and Africa have almost no shade along the walking paths, and by midday the heat becomes genuinely uncomfortable.
- Afternoon storms are common enough that outdoor shows like Feathered Friends in Flight! can be delayed or called off with little notice.
- Kali River Rapids will soak you, and there's nowhere quick to dry off before the next humid, sweaty stretch of walking.
- Mother's Day and Memorial Day weekends bring a noticeable crowd bump to Kilimanjaro Safaris and Pandora that the rest of May doesn't have.
- Pandora's Na'vi River Journey queue has minimal shade, so a slow-moving line there feels much longer in the afternoon heat.
Special events
Events in May
No Animal Kingdom-specific events in May. Park hours and crowds follow the resort-wide calendar below. See what is running elsewhere at Walt Disney World.
Resort-wideMother's Day weekendMemorial Day weekend
Must-do rides
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Day plan
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Attractions
Attractions at Animal Kingdom
With no festival crowds to compete with this May, you can move through Animal Kingdom's lineup, from Pandora's Avatar Flight of Passage to the animal trails of Africa and Asia, at an easy pace.
Lightning LaneSingle PassMulti Pass (no tiers at Animal Kingdom)31 shown
- Festival of the Lion KingAfrica
- Gorilla Falls Exploration TrailAfrica
- Harambe Village Street Band – BurudikaAfrica
- Kilimanjaro SafarisAfrica
- Kora Tinga TingaAfrica
- Tam Tam Drummers of HarambeAfrica
- Wildlife Express TrainAfrica
- Expedition EverestAsia44 in or taller
- Feathered Friends in Flight!Asia
- Kali River RapidsAsia38 in or tallerMust-do
- Maharajah Jungle TrekAsia
- Animal Care at Conservation StationConservation Station
- Bluey's Wild WorldConservation Station
- Butterflies – Disney AnimalsConservation Station
- Jumping JunctionConservation Station
- Animal Encounters: Winged Encounters – The Kingdom Takes FlightDiscovery Island
- Discovery Island TrailsDiscovery Island
- Eco-RhythmicsDiscovery Island
- Merry MenagerieDiscovery Island
- The Oasis ExhibitsDiscovery Island
- Tree of LifeDiscovery Island
- Viva Gaia Street Band!Discovery Island
- Wilderness ExplorersDiscovery Island
- Zootopia: Better ZoogetherDiscovery Island
- Avatar Flight of PassagePandora – The World of Avatar44 in or tallerMust-do
- Na'vi River JourneyPandora – The World of AvatarMust-do
- Beats and Strings
- DiVine
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!
- Tree of Life Awakenings
- Zoogether Day Gathering Spot
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