In this post, we’re going to take a look at what you can expect if you’re planning to spend Mother’s Day at Walt Disney World. From looking at the crowd predictions to our top picks for the best dining experiences to tips for making the day special, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s get into it…
Will it be busy?
Probably the most popular question we get about Mother’s Day at Walt Disney World is, “Will it be crowded?”
While it is true that holidays (especially when they fall on a weekend!) do tend to be busier than your regular old non-holiday days, Mother’s Day at Disney World doesn’t often correlate to ‘days off school,’ which is what usually draws larger than average crowds to Disney World.
Typically, the crowds at the parks over Mother’s Day weekend are comparable to any other weekend in May, so you can expect to see moderate attendance.
But while it won’t be overly crowded, the parks won’t be empty either, and we do expect that locals will use the opportunity to spend some time in the parks celebrating the day.
Having a well-thought-out touring plan will greatly enhance your experience, making it much easier to enjoy all the attractions and activities you’re interested in
Curious to see exactly what we think the crowds will be like for Mother’s Day this year? We track it all on our Crowd Calendar.
Our Favorite Ways to Celebrate Mom at Disney World
Ok, now that we’ve got the crowds out of the way, let’s get into the important part: how to make Mother’s Day special at Walt Disney World. Here are our top picks:
Treat your mom to a snack
Disney churns out seasonal snacks like a machine, and thankfully, that includes festive Mother’s Day snacks, too.
During the days around Mother’s Day, you’ll be able to purchase seasonal snacks all designed to put a smile on any mom’s face:
Animal Kingdom Lodge
The Mara (Available May 5 through 18; mobile order available)
- Sunflower Cake: Marbled chocolate and vanilla cake, vanilla buttercream, and mini chocolate chips (New)
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Beach Club Marketplace (Available May 5 through 18; mobile order available)
- Mother’s Day Croissant filled with raspberry jam topped with raspberry crunchies (New)
Disney’s BoardWalk
BoardWalk Deli and Carousel Coffee (Available May 5 through 18; mobile order available at BoardWalk Deli only)
- Mother’s Day Croissant: Croissant dough filled with raspberry jam topped with raspberry crunchies (New)
Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Good’s Food to Go and The Artist’s Palette (Available May 5 through 18)
- Bouquet of Roses Cupcake: Chocolate Cupcake, strawberry pastry cream, chocolate mousse, and buttercream
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Pineapple Lanai (Available May 5 through 18)
- Makuahine DOLE Whip Float: DOLE Whip with Banfi Rosa Regale Sparkling Red topped with shimmering edible flowers
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
The Market at Ale & Compass (Available May 5 through 18; mobile order available)
- Mother’s Day Croissant: Croissant dough filled with raspberry jam topped with raspberry crunchies (New)
Disney Springs
Amorette’s Patisserie (Available May 5 through 12; mobile order available)
- Mother’s Day Éclair: Lemon and lavender éclair (New)
The Ganachery (Available May 1 through 12)
- Mother’s Day Chocolate Flower Box: Ganache with flavors of hibiscus-strawberry and jasmine tea (New)
Available at Various Table-Service Restaurants and Lounges at Disney Resort Hotels
- Strawberry-Orange Mimosa: Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut, orange juice, and strawberry purée topped with a strawberry (New) (Available May 5 through 18)
Treat your mom to brunch
If you’re looking for something more than a snack, a Disney brunch is a lovely way to spend the day. Here are our top picks for Mother’s Day Brunch at Walt Disney World:
Steakhouse 71
Steakhouse 71 replaced The Wave and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s a casual steakhouse with a range of options, including plant-based menu items and an amazing 15-layer chocolate cake representing the floors of Contemporary.
Location type: Casual dining
Type of food: American
Seating Available: Indoor
On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 table service credit
Mother’s Day Brunch Served from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Menu highlights:
- Walt’s Prime Rib Hash: Seared Prime Rib, Fried Potatoes, Caramelized Onions and Peppers, topped with a Fried Egg
- Floridian Eggs Benedict: Two Poached Eggs and a Crab Cake with Hollandaise atop Toasted English Muffins served with Breakfast Potatoes
- Bacon & Eggs: Maple-Lacquered Pork Belly, Smoked Cheese Grits and a Perfect Egg
- French Onion Soup: Rich Beef Broth, Crouton and Gratinée Cheese
Note: The regular breakfast and lunch menus will not be available during the holiday brunch.
Ale & Compass Restaurant
Location type: Table Service
Type of food: American
Seating Available: Indoor
On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 table service credit
Mother’s Day Brunch Served from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Menu highlights:
- Crab Cake Benedict, featuring Poached Egg, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes and Arugula with Lemon-Herb Hollandaise
- Bacon and Vermont Cheddar Burger with Caramelized Onion on a Parker House Bun with Applewood-Smoked Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Herbed Mayonnaise
Note: The regular breakfast and lunch menus will not be available during the holiday brunch.
Honorable Mentions
The following brunch favorites don’t have a special Mother’s Day menu, but they are still absolutely delicious and a great option for a memorable Mother’s Day Brunch:
Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’
Location type: Table Service
Type of food: American
Seating Available: Indoor and outdoor
On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 table service credit
Wine Bar George
Location type: Table Service
Type of food: American
Seating Available: Indoor and outdoor
On the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, 1 table service credit
Splurge for something special
If you prefer a special experience over a special meal, Disney has several ways you can add a little something extra to a trip. Here are some of our favorite ways to make a day extra special:
- Book a dessert party at Magic Kingdom
- Buy the moms in your life a unique souvenir
- Get some family photos taken with a Capture Your Moment photo session
- Head to Disney Springs for some time perusing the shops
- Book some time at the Grand Floridan Spa
- Hit the golf course (or miniature golf course)
- Spend some time at Typhoon Lagoon
- Book a tour
- Spend some time just enjoying the atmosphere in the parks
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There you have it! Some of our favorite ways to celebrate Mother’s Day at Walt Disney World. What would YOUR idea day look like? Let us know in the comments!