What is Orlando like in May?

May sits in the gap between spring break and summer vacation. The heat is already summer level, the rainy season usually arrives only in the last week, and schools in Florida, Georgia and New York are in session for nearly the whole month.

What is the weather like in Orlando in May?

Hot, and still fairly dry for most of the month. Based on NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Orlando International Airport, the average May high is 88 °F (31 °C) and the average low is 66 °F (19 °C). Day and night together average 77 °F (25 °C).

The month heats up as it goes. The National Weather Service office in Melbourne, which covers Orlando, lists a normal high of 86 °F and low of 63 °F on May 1. By May 31 the normals are 90 °F and 69 °F.

Month	Average high	Average low	Monthly rain	Rainy days	Days at 90 °F or above
April	84 °F (29 °C)	61 °F (16 °C)	2.6 in (66 mm)	4	4
May	88 °F (31 °C)	66 °F (19 °C)	4.0 in (102 mm)	6	14
June	91 °F (33 °C)	72 °F (22 °C)	8.1 in (204 mm)	12	20

Source: NOAA (NCEI) 1991 to 2020 climate normals, Orlando International Airport. Rainy days are days with at least a tenth of an inch.

In a typical May, almost every day tops 80 °F (27 °C), and only about 3 nights drop below 60 °F (16 °C).

Most of the rain falls late in the month

In the National Weather Service daily normals, the expected rain per day more than doubles between May 1 and May 31, and nearly two thirds of the month’s 4 inches falls in the second half.

Totals swing a lot. Orlando’s wettest May on record, in 2009, brought 14.56 inches. The driest, in 2021, brought only 0.17 inch. The two warmest Mays in a record that starts in 1892 were 2024 and 2026.

Per the U.S. Naval Observatory, the sun sets in Orlando around 8:01 p.m. on May 1, 2027, and around 8:18 p.m. on May 31. For the full year, see Orlando weather by month.

When does the rainy season start in Orlando?

On average, at the end of May. According to the National Weather Service in Melbourne, the median start of the wet season in Orlando is May 27, and the median end is October 15, based on records since 1950. Half of the years started earlier, half later.

The NWS study behind those dates describes the signal: humidity returns, overnight lows climb into the 67 °F to 70 °F range, and within a few days showers and thunderstorms become frequent. Some years the start slips into June. In 1998 it did not arrive until early July.

In summer, the Gulf and Atlantic sea breezes collide over the middle of the state and build storms with frequent lightning. That is why, per the NWS, the inland stretch between Tampa and Cape Canaveral, which includes Orlando, is often called the Lightning Capital of the United States. The advice: when thunder roars, go indoors, and wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before heading back to the pool.

Hurricane season is not a May issue. The National Hurricane Center lists the Atlantic season as June 1 to November 30. We cover the real risk in Orlando hurricane season.

Is May a good time to visit Orlando?

If you handle heat well, yes. May brings long days, light rain for the first three weeks, and schools from Orlando to New York still in session until late in the month.

Two things to keep in mind:

• Midday heat. A typical May has 14 days at 90 °F or above. Plan a midday break at the house and go back to the park in the late afternoon.
• A less settled last week. Rain and lightning pick up toward the end of the month. Have an indoor plan for the afternoon and pack a thin poncho.

How crowded is Disney World in May?

It depends on the week. For the first three weeks, the school calendars below are all still in session. The last week stacks up the end of the school year across the South, Memorial Day weekend and long weekends in the UK and Canada.

When school lets out

Orange County Public Schools, the district that includes Orlando, has its last day on Wednesday, May 26, 2027. Gwinnett County Public Schools in metro Atlanta also finishes on May 26, so families driving down from Georgia can arrive right after. New York City public schools do not finish until June 28.

Memorial Day weekend: May 29 to 31, 2027

Memorial Day is a federal holiday that falls on Monday, May 31, 2027, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Orlando and New York City public schools are closed that day, and Saturday the 29th through Monday the 31st make a three-day weekend for many families.

Mother’s Day: Sunday, May 9, 2027

Federal law sets Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May, which is May 9 in 2027. It is a regular weekend on the school calendar, with no day off attached.

British and Canadian visitors

In England and Wales, GOV.UK lists the early May bank holiday on Monday, May 3, 2027, and the spring bank holiday on Monday, May 31, the same day as Memorial Day. Late May half-term dates vary by area, so check your local council’s website. In Canada, Victoria Day falls on the Monday before May 25, which is May 24 in 2027.

Date (2027)	What is happening
Mar 10 to May 31	EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival
May 3	Early May bank holiday (England and Wales)
May 5	Cinco de Mayo at SeaWorld Orlando
May 9	Mother’s Day
May 24	Victoria Day (Canada)
May 26	Last day of school in Orange County, FL, and Gwinnett County, GA
May 27	Median start of Orlando’s wet season
May 29 to 31	Memorial Day weekend; UK spring bank holiday on the 31st

Sources: Disney, SeaWorld, OPM, NWS Melbourne, GOV.UK, Government of Canada and official school calendars.

For the calmest stretches of the year, see the least crowded times at the Orlando parks.

In practice: if your dates are flexible, the first three weeks of May give you long days, lighter rain and US schools still in session. If Memorial Day weekend is your only option, arrive midweek, do your must-do park on Wednesday the 26th or Thursday the 27th, and keep Saturday the 29th through Monday the 31st for the pool, the outlets and a slower park day.

Things to do in Orlando in May

EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival. Disney runs it from March 10 to May 31, 2027, and it is included with EPCOT admission. The 2026 edition had gardens, living sculptures of Disney characters and the Garden Rocks concert series. Disney says 2027 offerings may change.

SeaWorld Orlando. SeaWorld’s 2027 calendar lists the Seven Seas Food Festival through May, with Cinco de Mayo on May 5 and Viva La Música, a Latin music celebration, on dates in May. Electric Ocean, an after-dark event with lights and music, starts in May and runs through September.

Epic Universe. Universal’s newest park opened on May 22, 2025, so May 22, 2027, marks its second anniversary. As of October 2026, we found no official announcement of special anniversary programming.

Pool time at the house. With afternoons near 90 °F, a private pool is the best break between a morning at the park and the evening. Browse homes with a private pool.

Are Orlando water parks open in May?

They are expected to be, but check each one before you buy. Universal says Volcano Bay begins a maintenance closure on October 26, 2026, with a planned reopening on or before April 1, 2027, dates subject to change. At Disney, the official calendar in October 2026 showed Typhoon Lagoon closed for refurbishment through December 16, the last date posted, and Blizzard Beach open. May 2027 hours had not been released yet.

For the full rundown, see Orlando water parks.

Is May a cheap month to rent a vacation home in Orlando?

It changes from year to year, which is why this page shows live data. The table here has the median nightly rate of Orlando Best Place homes for each of the next 12 months, with May highlighted. For context, the median nightly rate across the next 12 months, before cleaning and taxes, is $162. The cheapest month in that period is October 2026, at a median of $104, and the most expensive is June 2027, at $192.

On the demand side, schools in Orlando, Georgia and New York are all in session until May 26, and the last nights of May overlap with Florida’s summer break and Memorial Day weekend. For how the seasons compare, read Orlando peak and off season.

When you book direct, the final price with cleaning and taxes is shown before payment, with no platform fee. Payments are processed by Stripe. If you are still choosing an area, see our homes near Disney.