So, you’ve got your Disney World hotel stay booked…now what? It’s time to plan your park days!
Currently, Disney requires that all guests have a valid park ticket AND a Park Pass Reservation for the park that they plan to visit each day of their trip (even if you plan to park hop!). And, with park passes booking up sometimes months in advance for particularly busy times of the year it’s more important than ever before to nail down your vacation details early. So, to help you get planning, we’ve got a look at the Disney World Park hours for the FULL MONTH of May 2023!
Magic Kingdom
Starting off with Magic Kingdom, you’ll be able to spend a lot of time riding rides — including the NEW roller coaster in Tomorrowland, TRON Lightcycle / Run, which opened just last month!
- Mondays: 9AM-10PM
- Tuesdays: 9AM-10PM
- Wednesdays: 9AM-10PM, Extended Evening Hours from 10PM-12AM
- Thursdays: 9AM-10PM
- Fridays: 9AM-10PM
- Saturdays: 9AM-10PM
- Sundays: 9AM-10PM
Keep in mind too that guests staying at any Disney World Resort hotel can take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry, so really the hours are 8:30AM to close for you! And, there are also Extended Evening Hours available for guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts and Villas every Wednesday from 10PM to 12AM. Don’t forget that you can there’s an EXTRA virtual queue opportunity for TRON starting at 6PM for these guests!
EPCOT
If you’re planning a visit to EPCOT the first week of May, you can soak up a full 12 hours every day! EPCOT will open from 9AM to 9PM daily giving you plenty of time to enjoy all of the food booths and entertainment that are part of the Flower & Garden Festival.
Plus, Extended Evening Theme Park hours give guests staying at qualifying resorts an extra 2 hours in the park on Mondays! Just be sure that you have a Park Pass Reservation for EPCOT or have a valid park hopper ticket and have already visited the park that you had a reservation for earlier in the day.
- Mondays: 9AM-9PM, Extended Evening Theme Park Hours from 9PM-11PM
- Tuesdays: 9AM-9PM
- Wednesdays: 9AM-9PM
- Thursdays: 9AM-9PM
- Fridays: 9AM-9PM
- Saturdays: 9AM-9PM
- Sundays: 9AM-9PM
And, just like Magic Kingdom, Disney Resort hotel guests can take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry every day of the month, allowing you to enter the park 30 minutes prior to the park opening.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Now over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Park hours are easy to remember here — it’s 8:30AM-9PM all month long! But, there are a few special events that could mean you get more park time (for an extra cost).
If you want more even more time to explore Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, try the new Toy Story-themed restaurant, Roundup Rodeo BBQ, and more, you can purchase Disney After Hours tickets on May 3rd, 17th, 24th, and 31st to get an extra 3 HOURS in the park.
Of course, like other parks, Disney World Resort hotel guests can enter 30 minutes early throughout the entire month with Early Theme Park Entry!
- Mondays: 8:30AM-9PM
- Tuesdays: 8:30AM-9PM
- Wednesdays: 8:30AM-9PM, Disney After Hours Events on May 3rd, 17th, 24th, and 31st from 9PM-12AM
- Thursdays: 8:30AM-9PM
- Fridays: 8:30AM-9PM
- Saturdays: 8:30AM-9PM
- Sundays: 8:30AM-9PM
Keep in mind that Star Wars Day is May 4th (a.k.a. May The 4th). Disney’s Hollywood Studios is usually home to the biggest celebration of the fan holiday, so be sure to get your Park Pass Reservations early and plan for heavy crowds.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Because Disney’s Animal Kingdom is so heavily focused on the ability to see animals in their natural habitat throughout the day, the park usually opens and closes the earliest of all four theme parks in Disney World. So, while most parks are open past 9PM in May, Disney’s Animal Kindom has shorter hours, opening from 9AM-7PM May 1st to 27th, and then 8AM to 8PM May 28th to 31st.
Of course, if you want to squeeze in some extra time at the park, don’t forget about Early Theme Park Entry if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel!
- Mondays: 9AM-7PM
- Tuesdays: 9AM-7PM
- Wednesdays: 9AM-7PM
- Thursdays: 9AM-7PM
- Fridays: 9AM-7PM
- Saturdays: 9AM-7PM
- Sundays: 9AM-7PM
Note that there is ONE WEEK where these hours are different in May! From May 28th to 31st, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will actually be open even longer from 8AM to 8PM.
Disney Springs
If you want to get in some extra shopping and dining during your trip, Disney Springs is the place to go! Here’s when Disney Springs will open throughout the month of April:
- Sundays: 10AM-11PM
- Mondays: 10AM-11PM
- Tuesdays: 10AM-11PM
- Wednesdays: 10AM-11PM
- Thursdays: 10AM-11PM
- Fridays: 10AM-11:30PM
- Saturdays: 10AM-11:30PM
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
It’s starting to get hot and humid in Florida, so why not take a break and check out a water park? If you’re planning a visit to Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon now that is has reopened after a LONG refurbishment period, the water park will open the following hours for majority of the month (with a few exceptions noted below):
- Mondays: 10AM-5PM
- Tuesdays: 10AM-5PM
- Wednesdays: 10AM-5PM
- Thursdays: 10AM-5PM
- Fridays: 10AM-5PM
- Saturdays: 10AM-5PM, Disney H2O Glow After Hours on May 20th and 27th from 8PM-11PM
- Sundays: 10AM-5PM
Here’s where hours are a little different — Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will open from 10AM to 8PM on May 26th, 27th, and 28th and then open from 10AM to 6PM on May 29th.
Keep in mind that Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park is currently closed for refurbishment, so Typhoon Lagoon will be your only water park option in May.
And, that’s a wrap on Disney World’s park hours in May! Note that all four Disney Parks have park hopping available for guests who have purchased a park hopper ticket beginning at 2PM to park close. If you are park hopping, be sure that you’ve scanned into your first park of the day where you have a park pass reservation for — otherwise, you won’t be able to get into the other parks!
The only exception to the park pass rules? Disney World Annual Passholders!
Annual Passholders are now able to visit ANY Disney Park after 2PM without needing to make a park reservation. Just note that Disney does still require that Annual Passholders make a Park Pass Reservation for Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays.
Be sure to stay tuned to The VacationEAR for more of the latest Disney hotel news and planning updates!