Animal Kingdom in May 2027: Crowds, Hours & Best Days
May is a high-crowd month at Animal Kingdom. Across 62 tracked days (2025 and 2026) the average posted standby wait was 34.1 minutes, ranking it 10 of 10 months we have measured (1 = quietest; the park's across-months average is 28.4 min). Wednesdays run quietest and Saturdays busiest.
Data updated · Posted standby waits logged every few minutes, park-local days; crowd levels use the crowd calendar's thresholds
Animal Kingdom in May: High crowds — 34.1 min average posted wait, 10 of 10 months (1 = quietest). Quietest weekday Wednesday (29.6 min), busiest Saturday (38.2 min). Usual hours 8:00 AM–7:00 PM.
Data updated · Source: RopeDrop wait-time logs, 62 tracked May days
May 2027 day by day
Typical crowd score, 1 (lightest) to 10 (heaviest): the park's recent weekday pattern adjusted for the seasonal calendar, the same method the crowd calendar uses beyond its live forecast window.
Lightest: Wed May 5 (4/10) · Heaviest: Sat May 1 (6/10). Within 14 days of a date the crowd calendar shows the live forecast instead.
What moves the crowds in May
| Period | Days in May | Effect in our model |
|---|---|---|
| Memorial Day | 9 | 15% busier than the weekday baseline |
Quietest and busiest days of the week in May
| Day | Avg wait | vs. May average | Tracked days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 34.8 min | +2% | 8 |
| Tuesday | 31.1 min | -9% | 8 |
| Wednesday · quietest | 29.6 min | -13% | 8 |
| Thursday | 34.1 min | 0% | 9 |
| Friday | 35.3 min | +4% | 10 |
| Saturday · busiest | 38.2 min | +12% | 10 |
| Sunday | 34.3 min | +1% | 9 |
Measured May days only (2025 and 2026). For the all-months picture see crowds by day of the week.
Animal Kingdom hours in May
From Disney's published calendar for May (2026). Day-by-day times for the next 30 days: Animal Kingdom hours.
Longest waits in May
| Ride | Avg | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Avatar Flight of Passage | 63 min | 180 |
| Na'vi River Journey | 41 min | 90 |
| Kali River Rapids | 37 min | 120 |
| Kilimanjaro Safaris | 28 min | 95 |
| Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain | 26 min | 105 |
| Zootopia: Better Zoogether! | 13 min | 45 |
| Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail | 5 min | 5 |
| Maharajah Jungle Trek | 5 min | 5 |
Shortest waits in May
| Ride | Avg |
|---|---|
| Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail | 5 min |
| Maharajah Jungle Trek | 5 min |
| Zootopia: Better Zoogether! | 13 min |
| Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain | 26 min |
| Kilimanjaro Safaris | 28 min |
| Kali River Rapids | 37 min |
Average posted standby per ride over every tracked May day (2025 and 2026); rides need 7+ tracked days to appear. Closed attractions are excluded.
May weather at Animal Kingdom
NOAA 1991–2020 normals for Orlando International Airport (MCO), not a forecast. Rain and ride closures: which rides close in the rain.
Keep planning Animal Kingdom in May
Explore Walt Disney World — Animal Kingdom data
Frequently asked questions
Is May a good time to visit Animal Kingdom?
May is a high-crowd month at Animal Kingdom: the average posted standby wait was 34.1 minutes across 62 tracked days (2025 and 2026), 10 of 10 months we have tracked (1 = quietest). The park's across-months average is 28.4 minutes.
What is the quietest day of the week at Animal Kingdom in May?
In our May data Wednesdays averaged 29.6 minutes of posted wait, the lowest of the week, and Saturdays the highest at 38.2 minutes (8 and 10 tracked days).
What are Animal Kingdom park hours in May?
Across the 5 May days on Disney's published calendar (2026), Animal Kingdom most often opened at 8:00 AM and closed at 7:00 PM, with closing times ranging from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Early entry ran on 5 of those days.
Which rides have the longest waits at Animal Kingdom in May?
In May the longest average posted waits at Animal Kingdom were Avatar Flight of Passage, Na'vi River Journey, Kali River Rapids (63, 41, 37 minutes on average). The shortest were Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Zootopia: Better Zoogether!.
What is the best day to visit Animal Kingdom in May 2027?
By our typical-crowd model (the park's recent weekday pattern adjusted for the season), the lightest day of May 2027 is Wed May 5 (score 4/10) and the heaviest Sat May 1 (6/10). The 14-day crowd calendar replaces these with a live forecast as the date approaches.
What is the weather like at Animal Kingdom in May?
May normals at Orlando International Airport (MCO) (1991–2020): average high 88.4°F (31°C), average low 66.3°F (19°C), 4.02 inches of rain over about 8.4 rainy days. Normals, not a forecast.