Disney World vs. Universal Orlando: Which is Better for Your Florida Vacation?
Wondering about the pros & cons of Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando? This post compares and contrasts the two most popular Florida theme park complexes, with a look at the strengths and weaknesses each to help you determine which is the “better” option for your vacation. (Updated January 25, 2024.)
Walt Disney World versus Universal Orlando. Mickey Mouse. Harry Potter. The debate has raged since both entered the theme park scene in Florida, and is hotter than ever with Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida adding thrilling rides that capture the attention of theme park fans and vacationers. In this battle royale, TWO THEME PARK COMPLEXES ENTER, ONLY ONE WILL LEAVE.
Okay, actually, not really. This does not engage in the typical fanboy arguing over which is better. If you already have a favorite, nothing I write is going to change that (probably) passionate opinion. I will say that any supposed rivalry is mostly an artificial creation of theme park fans, and not something that actually exists between the parks themselves. Rather, this post is for those who are not diehard fans of either, but rather, are simply trying to determine how to allocate their limited vacation time between the Central Florida theme parks.
For us, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom are all like children. Sure, we might have preferences and personal favorites, but we ultimately love them all. To that point, we’re Annual Passholders at both Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World, but we’ll be the first to admit that we spend far more time at the latter.
However, that might start to change next year when Epic Universe opens and the new Super Nintendo World debuts. As a huge fan of Mario, Yoshi, and Donkey Kong, I’m anxiously awaiting this new land and know that it’ll be a huge hit with guests. (We’ve already experienced the Mario Kart attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood, and the Yoshi ride at Universal Studios Japan.)
This new park has also led some Walt Disney World fans to openly ask: Is Universal Beating Disney? It’s not just the new park–Universal has been doing a lot in the last decade to position itself as a bona fide ‘destination’ resort and not just diversions from Disney. There’s also the new Minions mini-land and an upcoming DreamWorks Animation Land Opening in 2024 at Universal Studios Florida.
When it comes to Universal opening blockbuster additions, Disney’s public position has been that “that a rising tide lifts all boats” and that a stronger Universal is beneficial to Disney. In other words, if you’ve ever thought that a visit to Universal Orlando would be tantamount to “betraying” Walt Disney World, banish the idea from your mind. Besides, these are for-profit, publicly-traded companies and not actually family members. You can’t “betray” them.
Anyway, this is written to compare and contrast Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, to give those of you who haven’t recently visited both an idea of how you might want to allocate your vacation time in Central Florida. Hopefully it’s reasonably fair in doing that. Ultimately, I think the two resort complexes are better as complementary destinations rather than competitive ones, so I don’t have much interest in that “battle,” anyway.
We receive a number of questions about whether Universal is “worth it?” That’s an incredibly loaded and subjective question, but I feel like this type of comparison post is the best way to answer it. The fact is, each brings a lot to the table, and has its strengths and weaknesses.
For many of you, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando might work well in tandem, and it might make a lot of sense for you to spend some time at each resort complex. For others, only one may hold any appeal due to your party’s demographics, advantages of staying on-site at one or the other, cost, or for a variety of other reasons.
As preliminary info, Walt Disney World Resort includes four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom, plus Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks, over two-dozen on-site resort hotels, and the Disney Springs shopping area.
Universal Orlando Resort has two theme parks: Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay water park, 8 on-site resort hotels, and the CityWalk shopping area. Although it’s often mis-portrayed as a theme park, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is not one of the parks at Universal Orlando–it’s two lands within the above-mentioned parks.
We will cover all of that in this post, as we take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resorts…
Rides
According to some, Walt Disney World is for families with kids and Universal Orlando Resort is for teens and young adults. At least, this is what has been perpetuated. The reality is a bit more nuanced.
It’s a statement that you can take at face value and more or less know what is meant by it, even if it’s incomplete. Universal Orlando does skew more towards teens and adults. A total of 24 attractions at Universal Orlando have height requirements, for an average of 12 per park. At Walt Disney World, there are 22 attractions with height requirements, for an average of 5.5 per park.
This is compounded by the fact that most of Universal Orlando’s best attractions–Revenge of the Mummy, Men in Black Alien Attack, Transformers, Amazing Adventures of Spiderman, Jurassic World VelociCoaster, and Incredible Hulk Coaster–have height requirements. Oh, and don’t forget the three flagship Harry Potter attractions: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.
A lot of rides are eliminated for families with by virtue of this height requirement alone. While there are still plenty of attractions that kids can do in the Universal parks, these attractions are not Universal’s strong suit, whereas many of Walt Disney World’s classic attractions are aimed squarely at kids.
If you have small children and are contemplating a trip to Universal Orlando, you will definitely want to consult height requirement charts to make sure that they are tall enough for at least a chunk of them. The good news is that Universal is making a concerted effort to improve its family-friendly offerings.
Universal’s newest attraction, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast, is for almost everyone (aside from infants). Universal now has more kid-friendly characters, a new daytime parade is likely coming in 2024, and there’s other entertainment aimed at families. Then there’s the new DreamWorks Animation Land, which is aimed squarely at kids. Next up, Super Nintendo World and other additions in Epic Universe. To be sure, there’s still room for improvement, but Universal is adding more for families with kids.
Even if you don’t have small children, you might find many of Universal’s headliners simply too intense. Motion sickness is only an issue with a handful of attractions at Walt Disney World–things like Expedition Everest, Star Tours, and Cosmic Rewind. Pretty much every thrill ride and/or simulator at Universal can present problems for guests with motion sickness.
The flip side of this is that Walt Disney World is weak when it comes to thrill rides. Sure, there are some options but most of Disney’s rollercoasters are tame by normal standards, and there are fewer of them (hence fewer height requirements).
Exciting, well-themed attractions are squarely in Universal Orlando’s wheelhouse. With the exception of coasters, almost all of these attractions are brilliantly executed, and are not just cheap, amusement park thrills. Transformers, Spiderman, Revenge of the Mummy, and the Harry Potter attractions, among others, are some of the best attractions in Orlando.
These attractions are not too intense for average guests–to the contrary, they command lengthy wait times, so they’re clearly appropriate for most people. If you can handle Expedition Everest or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, you can probably handle anything at Universal Orlando.
In addition to that, they wonderfully fuse thrills with thematic delivery. These action-packed attractions are Universal Orlando’s definite strong suit, and if this is your style, you will be particularly impressed with what they have to offer. Many of these fast-paced, action-packed attractions are unlike anything that exists at Walt Disney World.
One myth that exists about Universal Orlando is that it leans entirely on screen-based attractions. There are definitely several instances of screens being used (and more than at Walt Disney World), but in nearly every such case, screens are used in lieu of animated figures (Audio-Animatronics in Disney parlance) because the situation simply dictated as much.
In fairness, recent highly-popular Walt Disney World attractions are also trending in that same direction. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and TRON Lightcycle Run have a combined total of 0 Audio Animatronics but tons of screens. In both cases, screens are used purposefully and as appropriate. In fast-paced, action-heavy thrill rides (among other scenarios), animated figures simply wouldn’t be pragmatic.
Transformers wouldn’t be possible with huge Autobots scaling buildings and bouncing all around a city leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Same goes for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and the Amazing Adventures of Spiderman, among others. Also to Universal’s credit, but the attractions that do utilize screens don’t utilize only screens. They are all mixed-media, and there’s enough variety that I don’t think you ever really feel that you’re just “watching a video.”
It’s worth pointing out that the gap has been closing between Universal and Disney in the last decade. Walt Disney World has seemingly followed Universal’s lead and placed a greater emphasis on thrilling attractions. If you look at some of the biggest recent additions–both rides in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Avatar Flight of Passage, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, TRON Lightcycle Run, and Slinky Dog Dash–all have height requirements and offer varying degrees of thrills. And as discussed above, Universal is doing more to cater towards kids.
Walt Disney World does have more variety and classics than Universal Orlando, with the latter placing a stronger emphasis on contemporary movies and what’s popular now. Disney’s attraction lineup has been refined over the last 4 decades, and many of the world’s most iconic and classic theme park attractions exist at Walt Disney World.
Depending upon your perspective, this could be a good or bad thing. These classics will appeal to your sense of nostalgia along with the youngest and oldest members of your traveling party. Many have absolutely stood the test of time, but the teens and young adults in your group may find them lame or dated.
Covering the attraction roster at Walt Disney World is beyond the scope of this post (and you probably know it, anyway), but if you’re unfamiliar with Walt Disney World’s ride lineup, we cover it park-by-park in our Walt Disney World Ride Guides. Suffice to say, Walt Disney World has a lot of ‘Fantasyland’ style attractions that will appeal to kids, and a lot of slow-paced attractions that will appeal to an older crowd looking for leisurely things to do.
Entertainment
Historically, Walt Disney World has offered more and better entertainment. Stage shows, atmospheric performers, character meet & greets, and nighttime spectaculars have all been superior at Walt Disney World. Production values are usually higher and Disney has access to more beloved characters along with a deep well of nostalgia.
To that last point, Disney intellectual property is a lot stronger than Universal’s. While the latter does have Harry Potter and will soon have Nintendo, Walt Disney World otherwise has a near-monopoly on beloved animated characters from the last half-century. Characters from Frozen, Encanto, Moana, Toy Story, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, etc.
By contrast, Universal’s big name characters that appeal to children are the Minions and Spongebob. That’s not everyone–other characters include Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron; The Simpsons; Shrek, Donkey and Princess Fiona; Scooby-Doo & Shaggy; Trolls; Blue the Velociraptor; Kung Fu Panda; and Marvel Comics characters. It’s a long list, but the sheer volume of popular characters in the Disney vault dwarfs Universal.
Additionally, Walt Disney World has an incredibly robust lineup of scheduled entertainment with purpose-built venues. Here, we’re referring largely to stage shows with live performers, such as Finding Nemo: The Big Blue & Beyond, Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire, Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, Frozen Sing-Along, Festival of the Lion King, just to name a few.
In addition to this, there are more tech-driven productions. These include Country Bear Jamboree, Hall of Presidents, Carousel of Progress, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, PhilharMagic, and a number of other 3D films.
Then there are daytime and evening entertainment and spectaculars. Universal has nothing like the Festival of Fantasy Parade in Magic Kingdom, and even smaller-scale cavalcades are quite popular with families–a good way of seeing favorite characters without committing much time to it.
Then there are the nighttime spectaculars, which are currently the Happily Ever After fireworks at Magic Kingdom, Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT Forever. (Sadly, there’s nothing at Animal Kingdom.) Fantasmic and Happily Ever After are truly iconic, and both have been recently refreshed.
Where Universal Orlando really excels is with streetmosphere. You can’t walk more than a few hundred feet without stumbling upon an entertainment act of some sort—musicians, stage shows, characters, or atmospheric performers.
Whether it’s the Blues Brothers, Scooby Doo Mystery Machine, Bart Simpson, Marilyn Monroe, or Mardi Gras bands, you can’t go far in either of the Universal parks without seeing something. Universal also has access to more Marvel characters, albeit the comic book versions.
On-Site Benefits
Right from its opening in 1971, Walt Disney World positioned itself as a vacation destination rather than a day-trip theme park. Disney has strengthened its position in this regard, not just with the opening of 3 additional theme parks and all of that other stuff, but with perks and packages that make it an all-inclusive vacation.
For many people, this has been the ultimate hurdle in visiting Universal Orlando. Even those with interest in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter might favor being in the “Walt Disney World Bubble” on vacation. For many diehard WDW fans, that’s an intangible that has been very difficult to overcome.
This is another area where the tables have turned “thanks” to the end of free FastPass+ and Disney’s Magical Express, plus the ongoing suspension of the Disney Dining Plan. While on-site perks have improved at Walt Disney World as of 2024, there are still fewer incentives to stay on-site at Walt Disney World than there were 4 years ago, and more to stay on-site at Universal Orlando.
In the latest updates to our Off-Site v. On-Site at Walt Disney World article, we’ve covered this shift in detail. That also covers recent additions at Walt Disney World, including Lightning Lane priority booking windows, Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours, and more.
All Universal hotels offer Early Park Admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Volcano Bay water park one hour before the theme parks open to the general public. Guests staying at Universal’s Premier Hotels get free Unlimited Express Pass to skip the regular lines at most popular attractions in Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.
Express Pass is Universal’s equivalent of FastPass (retired) or Lightning Lanes (current), but better—and it normally costs money. We absolutely love Express Pass, and would strongly recommend a split stay between Walt Disney World and Universal’s hotels if you’re planning a visit to both solely for the sake of “free” Express Pass. (See Universal’s Express Pass v. Lightning Lanes & Genie+ at Walt Disney World for more info and a comprehensive comparison.)
While beyond the scope of this article, Universal Orlando resorts offer many of the same advantages of Walt Disney World hotels. Universal’s hotels also feature great themed design, transportation to the parks, and a great location—most are within walking distance of Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. (See Universal Orlando v. Disney World Hotels for more on the pros & cons of each complex’s resorts.)
Another benefit to staying on-site at Universal Orlando is the layout. Universal Orlando can be likened to Disneyland Resort in California. Much like Disneyland, the Universal Orlando parks are situated adjacent to one another and CityWalk is also close by. As is the case with the Disneyland Resort hotels, almost all on-site hotels at Universal Orlando are all within walking distance of the two theme parks and CityWalk.
Each of these hotels and CityWalk offer various forms of entertainment, shopping, and dining, and Universal Orlando has been aggressively expanding these non-theme park offerings within the last few years, with an eye towards making Universal Orlando similarly viewed as a vacation destination. This has been aided by resort entertainment options, like the lazy river and bowling alley in Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
While Walt Disney World still has more to offer beyond the parks, Universal Orlando is gaining ground, and is showing no signs of slowing down. Additions at Walt Disney World have been coming at a snail’s pace, whereas Universal Orlando is building at a break-neck pace.
In terms of vacation type, they really both could be viewed as catering to similar demographics. Still, if you are looking for a single-site destination for a longer vacation, Walt Disney World has the advantage. Universal Orlando has the edge if you want to do a variety of things, and only want to spend a couple of days at theme parks.
If you are considering a theme park-centric trip to Florida with multiple destinations, the best idea is allocating some time at each and doing a split-stay between an official Universal Orlando hotel and an on-site Walt Disney World hotel.
Theme & Atmosphere
One department in which Walt Disney World has a clear advantage is theme and atmosphere. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands (Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade) are brilliant examples of themed design that you do not have to be a Harry Potter fan to appreciate. Both of these lands blow me away, and I know many of the Harry Potter references were lost on me. These lands aren’t just on par with the best of Orlando, they are Tokyo DisneySea caliber. Likewise, Port of Entry is a very well done land.
Unfortunately, once you get past these three lands, the wheels sort of fall off. Universal Studios Florida gets a bit of a pass on this, as it’s a studios park, and even Disney sort of punts on theming on its studios parks, letting them function largely as collections of attractions that don’t fit elsewhere. In terms of theme, both Universal Orlando parks fall short of Walt Disney World’s parks. This is not to say every land at Walt Disney World is a thematic masterpiece (I’m looking at you, Dino-Rama), but overall, its lands are superior.
As someone who loves being in immersive theme park environments, Universal’s thematic missteps are a letdown for me. Again, Wizarding World of Harry Potter does a lot to excuse this–Hogsmeade is a great land and Diagon Alley is next-level. There are also flashes of brilliance in Jurassic Park, San Francisco, New York, Hollywood, Springfield, Lost Continent, Seuss Landing, and other areas. However, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure are not as consistently strong thematically.
Which is fine–they’re different kinds of parks. The Walt Disney World parks are generally more enjoyable places to ‘be’ in and soak up the atmosphere, whereas the Universal parks do action-packed attractions better. My personal opinion is that both resort complexes fill attraction line-up gaps not fully served by the other, and if all of the attractions mentioned above appeal to you, a great vacation strategy would be to spend time at each.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Universal Orlando is not going to be for everyone, just as Walt Disney World is not for everyone. If you have a trio of 4 year olds and are also bringing grandma and grandpa on the vacation, your party is probably going to prefer Walt Disney World by a wide margin. If you’re taking your 13 and 16 year olds, Universal Orlando should definitely be on your radar. That’s doubly true if they’re Potterheads or fans of other franchises featured at Universal.
Moreover, this really just scratches the surface of the similarities and differences of the parks, and what you might want to know if you’re considering venturing to Universal Orlando Resort. Another one is food, which is dominated by Disney. Transportation is yet another; it’s very location-dependent at Walt Disney World, but great across the board at Universal.
The final one is cost. Due to incremental price increases, doing both Universal and Disney will cost more than doing one or the other for the same amount of time. With that said, Universal is less expensive than Walt Disney World in most ways. Park tickets and food prices are not particularly noticeable, but the big one is hotel rates.
Not only is Universal (usually) cheaper, but its resorts include perks that would cost additional money at Walt Disney World. However, even that is not consistent. There are certain times when Walt Disney World offers aggressive resort discounts for the general public, and Universal only has deals available for Annual Passholders and Florida residents. In general, we pay less to visit Universal, but that’s highly variable–and definitely not always true. As with so much of this comparison, your mileage may vary even as to which costs more.
Need trip planning tips and comprehensive advice for your visit to Central Florida? Make sure to read our Universal Orlando Planning Guide for everything about Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. Also check out our Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide for everything about those parks, resorts, restaurants, and so much more. For regular updates, news & rumors, a heads up when discounts are released, and much more, sign up for our FREE email newsletter!
Your Thoughts?
If you have visited Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure recently, what did you think? Where does Universal surpass Disney, and vice-versa? Is there anything we missed or you think is inaccurate? Do you prefer Universal or Disney hotels? What about rides, entertainment, and food? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Tom, great blog as usual. A couple of things to consider if you are doing a Universal trip: At least one person should get the season pass and maybe consider the premiere pass as you get free valet parking and this saves steps plus you get a free Halloween night ticket, and great discounts on hotels. I am going to stay at Cabana Bay in 2 weeks for $69 a night.
Areas I thought Universal does better: pass holder perks, thrill rides, water rides (I hate water rides but love ripshaw falls and Popeye barges), Harry Potter immersion experience (from restraunts, food, buildings, rides, shows, etc) quality merchandise, ride variety even with all the screen rides. Universal’s big flaw to me is that several attractions have not held up over the test of time like ET, Disaster, Poseidon’s Adventure, Sinbad, Terminator.
Walt Disney does better: parades, character meets, rides for whole family, fireworks, week long park stay, theming, and food. My biggest wish (outside Star Wars land) is that WDW would bring in new ride technology and quit relying on boats and spinners. They can have them because kids love them but they need to look to new tech that can accommodate large crowds.
You had me until saying ET Adventure, Disaster, and Terminator haven’t stood the test of time. Can’t say I agree with that at all.
ET Adventure is like Peter Pan’s Flight, except with a fluid ride system and visuals that don’t look like they’re from 1960.
Disaster is clever, uses cool ‘musion’ tech, and has a great finale. Plus, did I mention it’s clever? No other attraction like it.
Terminator 2: 3D is the best 3D show I’ve seen anywhere. Rather than relying on typical 3D gimmicks, it goes for things no other show does.
Otherwise, I think you are pretty much right on the money. I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree on those three attractions!
I am so excited that you’re doing some Universal posts! We’re planning on at least one Orlando trip in 2015, and as a huge HP fan, I know Universal has to be a stop this time. I’ve been to Universal once, but it was back in 2006 and I was only there for one day. Plus it was just me and my parents, who aren’t huge on thrill rides, so I didn’t go on many rides. And Spiderman, which we were most looking forward to, was closed for refurbishment. I still enjoyed it though, so I’m looking forward to a return visit!
A lot has definitely changed since 2006. It’s crazy how much Universal has essentially revamped these parks in the last few years!
We’re spending three days at Universal and five days at Disney when we go in October! I have not been to Universal since the Hulk opened many years ago, and as HUGE Harry Potter fans, my boyfriend and I cannot wait to get lost in that world…we actually plan on spending 2 of our three Universal days doing mostly Harry Potter related things. I loved the tip about transportation between WDW and Universal, seeing as that is our current debate in the planning process! Thank you for all that you do to make that planning process easier for your readers!
I think ideas for transportation are a really important subject, and I’d love to delve into this further…or hear more from others who have tested the various options. Have fun on your trip!
I am very keen on transportation options at the moment as they relate to Disney Cruise Line. I don’t know if I want to take Disney’s transfers & arrive en mass with so many others. Do you have a blog post that could offer suggestions for a one way transfer from WDW (Swan) to the Port Canaveral cruise terminal, and then at the end of the cruise we’re going to Cabana Bay at Universal. Don’t really want to rent a car as we’re staying 3 nights & just want to see the parks there & relax in the lazy river. Of course then we have to get back to the airport… Any suggestions anyone can offer for this scenario will be greatly appreciated! And keep up the great work Tom!
We are planning a trip in Oct with our 11 year old, we feel like Universal is where we want to be, but also torn about being so close to Disney (we’re from Vermont) and not experiencing it. thinking maybe we could squeeze both into a week, but not sure if we should stay half the week at one resort, and the other half at the other resort, or stay at one and just commute back and forth for the 2 or three days that we’d go to the other. I see that you are planning to visit both parks, are you staying at the Universal resort for 3 days and then switching over to Disney for the remaining 5?
I definitely enjoy doing Universal from time to time. It has some great attractions that you won’t find anywhere else. As you said it has way more in ways of typical “thrill rides”. And it even does some rides of the same type better than Disney (mostly referring to Bilge Rat Barges over the always disappointing Kali River Rapids). However when you look at Splash Mountain and Tower of Terror compared to Dudley Do Right and Dr Doom Fear Fall i’d definitely take Disney overall when comparing similar ride types.
Overall I would say I probably throw in one Universal trip for every 3 or 4 Disney Trips. For me, Disney trips are a whole vacation by themselves. I could be at Disney for 10 days straight and still feel like I wasn’t able to do everything I wanted to do. For Universal I usually try to grab a 2 day pass as a getaway while visiting Florida for a different primary reason other than theme parks (I usually try to get to Busch Gardens in Tampa on these trips as well). But I can’t really see myself flying to Florida just to spend a couple days at Universal then come home.
For me, Universal is fun to go for the rides but all of the things that I love most about being in a theme park Disney simply does better. I will take a well done slow moving dark ride to a simple thrill ride any day of the week (plus I need variety). This is not to say that Universal doesn’t theme rides well, they just don’t theme as well as Disney in my opinion (admittedly with the exception of the Harry Potter Lands).
So for me, the themeing and variety is and what most likely always will set Disney apart from all others.
As of right now, I’d say I have to agree with you about not doing Universal Orlando every trip. I’ll probably do it on our next trip, but that’s because I didn’t get everything done, and Sarah wasn’t with me on this trip. Once the novelty wears off, it will be a less-often experience.
I think there are several Universal attractions that are ‘simple’ thrill attractions, but there are several that I think you’re selling short if you lump them into that category. Transformers, Spiderman, and Mummy (among others) are thrilling, but they are brilliantly done and I think they rival the best of Disney’s themed attractions, and even exceed many of Disney’s themed thrill rides. I’d give any of those the nod over Space Mountain, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Big Thunder, and a few others. I think it’s generally tough to combine theme and thrill, and Universal has several attractions that do so expertly.
I would agree with that. I was speaking more in general terms, however the way I didn’t word it the best way. I actually am a big fan of Universal as well. I live near Six Flags Great Adventure here in NJ and its full of huge, fast and fun roller coasters. Yet I am far from a big fan of it. They throw up a few trees or signs and try to pass it off at theming and what you are left with is Roller Coasters, trees and signs on a big parking lot. Plus the lack of variety has me sick to my stomach after 5 coasters back to back in a 2 hour period. At that point I would do pretty much anything for a 10 minute ride on the TTA!
Universal is light years ahead of that. And they definitely have a few rides that are right up there with the best at any park. Spiderman is one of my favorite rides anywhere. Every time I try to describe it to somebody who has not experienced it, I find it difficult to do because it is super unique. The Mummy coaster as well. I have not been there since transformers opened but I am sure its very well done as well.
I just don’t get the same feeling of leaving reality behind when at Universal as I do at any of the Disney parks. I still have tons of fun when I go. It’s just that I get an almost constant sense of awe when at Disney parks that I just don’t get from any other parks.
So enjoying all your reports and any info you can provide. It’s really nice to hear your opinions, since I almost always agree with your assessments of Disney. Can’t wait for that trip report on Travel Caffeine!
Can I just say that I love your little asides about Dino-Rama? I really hate that part of Animal Kingdom (we have not set foot in that area in a LONG time…my husband doesn’t even know what’s there because I won’t let him). I’m so glad I’m not alone in really despising that place. It just cracks me up whenever you mention it. 🙂
I hate Dino-Rama with a passion. Any chance I get to knock it, I will take. I really ought to do an entire article on why it’s awful and anyone who likes it probably also likes cheesy reality TV. (Too far?) 😉
I hated Dino-Rama for years – for exactly the reasons you have mentioned. It looks cheesy and doesn’t fit in the with the rest of the awesome AK theme-ing. However, on our last visit the kids really wanted to ride the Mousetrap ride, and it ended up being one of our very favorite rides – ever! The four of us could all ride together – facing each other – and at every unexpected dip and turn we were all laughing and having a great time. Give it a go – you won’t be sorry.
Dinoland does feel like you’re in a two-bit small town county fair, but is worth going into just for the Dinosaur ride. My daughter was brave enough to try it this trip (last week) as she is now 10, and loved it. Everthing else is blech and doesn’t even feel like Disney at all.
Having visited all Orlando attractions (except holy land) many many times, I can agree with most of your assessment.
That being said…
As much as I enjoy the Universal parks, the insistence of using lockers there (free or not) is what really turns me sour to the trips there. I, as I am sure many of your readers, tend to carry around a camera and other various things and don’t entirely “trust” them (its actually scary easy to get access to the ride lockers before each attraction, which I won’t get into details of on here). It’s also a hassle. No disney attraction (except Sum of all thrills) requires you to leave your belongings before you enter.
The only other gripe I have is with citywalk. Forcing guests to walk through a shopping district isn’t a huge issues, until it gets crowded. Its a huge bottleneck and more than once I have found myself almost knocked over by over zealous teenagers with strollers. This can of course happen anywhere, but when you are being lead through a narrow pathway, the chances greatly increase.
Does this mean I don’t ENJOY the universal parks? Not at all. I love them. I am a huge potter fan as well as a thrill ride nerd, and some of their food offerings are off the charts good. However, I only see myself visiting once per year (and I’m semi-local), due to the constraints given with regards to personal belongings. Lockers should remain OPTIONAL.
Whoa whoa whoa. First of all, you’ve never experienced Florida treasure, Holy Land?! NOT EVEN ON FREE DAY?! 😉
I understand what you mean about the lockers, and I’m not a fan either, although I do get it. We remarked on having two Nikon D810s, 2 Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8s, a Nikon D610, and a Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 all in one locker on a couple of occasions. It would have been beyond tragic had something happened.
I actually like walking through CityWalk (or Downtown Disney at Disneyland). Don’t know why, but I just like the atmosphere…except late at night around last call.
If I lived close, I think I’d likely buy a smaller cargo-shorts sized camera just to take to Universal. Cory Disbrow was able to take his Sony A7 on every attraction with him that way. I wouldn’t blow that much money on a “Universal-only” camera, but it might push me into the mirrorless camp sooner than I otherwise would take the plunge.
Been a universal AP holder since the month WWOHP opened. The first year I took my Sony and took thousands of pictures. Now I only bring it with me when a new attraction opens or during the holidays. The other times I just use my iPhone! Saves so much time not having to use the lockers!
My boyfriend and I spent one day at Universal last November since I was dying to check out Harry Potter World after just having read the books. We were incredibly impressed with the theming of Harry Potter world, but found the rest of Universal to be highly lacking. It certainly doesn’t possess what you might call “the Disney Difference”. It’s a money pit that doesn’t deliver the same high level of customer service and experience (i.e. The magic of Disney). Anyone can deliver thrills, but those will never live up to the magic and childlike wonder that Disney consistently conjures!
Just 2.5 weeks until our next trip! Halloween party, Food and Wine, and Be Our Guest dinner all in one trip!!
I understand that a lot of Disney fans have biases towards Disney, but I can’t say I agree with the ‘money pit’ thing or that the rest of the parks are really lacking. Yeah, they are lacking in theme in some areas, but a lot of the attractions outside of Harry Potter are flat out brilliant, and surpass what Disney is doing.
As for it being a money pit, I mostly noticed the parks being cheaper than Disney. With all of Disney’s recent upcharge experiences, I don’t think we can really be ones to judge as Disney fans… 😉
I can kind of see where she is coming from. Busch Gardens delivers much more thrill rides than Uni and is MUCH cheaper. I think she means that Uni doesn’t do enough themeing to justify the difference in cost above Busch Gardens in Tampa or Six Flags parks. Those are parks for just thrill rides with basically no themeing done. Uni is kind of in the middle between Busch Gardens and Disney but costs the same as Disney.
I wholheartedly agree. Just returned yesterday from a WDW trip where we took one day to visit Universal wih the main purpose of visiting Harry Potter. We did the one day park hopper and it bankrupted us. After some wallet shell shock we made our way first to Diagon Alley. Mind blown. The Gringotts ride was like nothing experienced at Diisney. Same for Forbidden Journey on the Hogsmeade side. Best. Ride ever. Completely immersive. You forget you’re a muggle. I was also crazy about Minions and the Mummy rides Supremely imoressive and I couldn’t help thinking Disney needs to step uo their game on the rides. On the other hand, it is noticeable how little Universal cares for their guests. Their staff numbers are low so if you’re looking for help you’re hard pressed. Overflowing trash cans, rude employees, (very rude) and a general lack of knowledge from staff. One that stands out is that one staffer didn’t know what time the park closed. It was our third trip to Disney, and I must say that Disney staff are forever pleasant and bend over backwards to please you. It was a shock ti see the lack of magic at Universal. There are things to recommend both, however.
Since Harry Potter opened, I usually do one day at Universal and the rest of my vacation at Disney. I too share your love of not driving on vacation, but it is convenient to rent a car for Universal. Usually I fly into MCO at night, so I rent a car at the airport for 1 day for return at one of the Disney hotels. I drive from the airport to the Universal hotel, do Universal the next day, and then drive to Disney to drop off the car. It’s more convenient than relying on the shuttles and isn’t expensive, especially if you have multiple people.
As for all those who said your a Disney traitor for posting Universal stuff, that’s crazy! Thanks for your informative and entertaining blog 🙂
This is a great approach! We’re driving down from Tennessee this time, but if we ever want to do both parks and fly, I think we’ll do that.
Where do you drop off the rental car at Walt Disney World? I know you can rent from the Swan/Dolphin, but do they do 1-way airport rentals, or is there another option for hotel rental car pickup? Thanks!
Pretty much any of the rental companies will let you pick-up/drop-off at different locations. I’ve always booked it this way in advance on the web site (just check the option that says Return to Same Location), but I’m sure you can do it in person
Last year I rented from Avis and picked up from the airport and dropped off at the Hilton Hotel and Disney World (they were on the Disney shuttle line, so we took the shuttle to the TTC and then took a shuttle to our hotel, AOA). It was only $25 (though I had a slight discount through work) + $4 of gas because we flew in at night and returned the car around 5 or 6pm the next day.
This year we’re renting from Alamo so we can pick up at the airport and return it to the Dolphin. Not going through Avis for me was more expensive (~$39/day), but it’s more convenient to return the car to Dolphin and be able to walk to Epcot (based on our plans for this trip).
And then we reserve the Disney airport shuttle for the way back only.
If you’re doing it on a budget, this works best if you’re only at Universal for one day (and Disney is the main part of the trip) and you fly in at night the day before.
The other thing to consider is if you rent a car you have to pay for parking at Universal. Last year we stayed off-site, but within walking distance, so we didn’t have to pay for parking (we were on a serious budget!!)
This is one of the few fair comparisons I’ve read by a Disney fan that acknowledges Universal’s pluses. As our kids have gotten older we’ve found Universal more and more enjoyable. My view may be skewed by being a Florida resident. I can get an annual pass at Universal for $150 cheaper than Disney and we only need one Preferred pass to get free parking at CityWalk and good discounts on hotels and dining. You left out the dining advantage of Universal, that I don’t have to decide 6 months earlier where I want to have lunch and dinner. Disney restaurants are great but it’s so annoying how fast and far out reservations fill up. With only a few days notice we got Open Table reservations at Emeril’s and at the new very good Antijitos restaurant at CityWalk and they were at prime dinner times.
And again this is probably because our kids are hitting tween and teen years, but they love the concerts like Weezer, Daughtry and Robin Thicke during Universal’s Mardis Gras series and their summer concert series always brings really good acts. Having endured Disney hotel stays where it took an hour to go from hotel bus stop, to monorail, to entrance line before even seeing a park, it was really nice to roll out of bed and walk right up to the Islands of Adventure entrance.
With people waiting 3 hours for a picture with a Frozen princess, nearly impossible to get dinner reservations at Be Our Guest, and the way special features fill up with lightning speed, I’m feeling like Yogi Berra, grumbling that no one goes there anymore, it’s too crowded
With few exceptions, I think the new $10 ‘hold’ for ADRs has really eliminated the difficulty of finding places to eat at the last minute in Walt Disney World. Thankfully.
I’ve heard a lot of great things about Universal’s Mardi Gras and other concert series, so I’m excited to hear those in the future.
LOL at your Frozen and Yogi Berra comments. I think with things like the Frozen meet & greet and all of the upcharge events, the thing to remember is that they are so low-capacity is that all it takes is a limited number of fanatics with disposable income or time, (or in the case of Frozen, really passionate kids!) and you have a sell-out. Doesn’t mean the general public is really going crazy for these upcharge experiences. At least I hope not!
Just a thought on demographics: It’s not just age-related. As an adult who has never been able to do thrill rides with any amount of pleasure, what I find is that Universal has too many of these and the ones that are not thrill rides tend to be “kiddy rides” and not interesting at all (at least at Islands of Adventure, which I have been to more recently). When we went a few years ago I enjoyed Hogsmeade (Diagon Alley wasn’t open yet) but my husband and I spent most of the day just waiting around for those in our party who wanted to do/could do the drops and the coasters. At WDW there are loads of rides and attractions I can enjoy and even walking around or waiting, it seems to me a more attractive place to be. I’m sure I am not alone in not tolerating coasters.
No, you’re probably not alone. I don’t know if it’s Universal wanting to carve out their own segment of the theme park scene in Orlando and not wanting to compete head to head against Walt Disney World (I don’t think that’s it), but I definitely think they could use better balance. With Wizarding World of Harry Potter, they are now definitely attracting a new type of audience, and those lands set the bar for new additions to be similarly themed and maybe a little more inclusive.
Pam, I’m glad I read your comment.we are considering doing a day at Uni, but in looking at the rides, I too feel they are too wild for me. That is a lot of money to spend on a park that I won’t be able to enjoy. I wasn’t sure if I was reading it right, so I’m glad I saw your post. I’ll keep my days at Disney!
We spent only one day at Universal on our last trip primarily to see Hogsmeade and will do the same next year to see Diagon Alley. The Alamo car rental company on site at wdw car care center sent a van to pick us up at our resort – made it very easy to rent a car for only one day. One thing you didn’t mention was Disney cast members vs. Universal – when I’m at a Disney park the cast members greatly contribute to the magical experience and I really didn’t feel that at Universal.
I found the same about the cast members and the level of customer service. Much better at WDW.
Interesting, I didn’t feel that at all. I found Universal team members, especially in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, to be proud of what they were doing, and happy to help. There was perhaps a little less overt ‘have a magical day…’ type of attitude, but I don’t consider that the sole hallmark of good service.
It’s a little blasphemy, but I think WDW can handle the comparison! We debate this every trip to WDW. Universal or no Universal. We travel with 5 kids ranging in age from 4-13. I’m just not sure it’s worth the expense for the youngest kids. But some day we will do it. I grew up going to Disneyland and Universal in California. But I think Universal Florida is in a totally different league when compared to California.
Thanks for your report. I’ve been going to WDW since I was little and never dreamed of going to Universal. Thrill rides aren’t really my thing. However, I’m a huge HP fan. So naturally I’m more interested in visiting Universal now. I love your pictures of Diagonal Alley. I love being immersed in new worlds. But my family’s visit to Universal will have to wait several years. Our boys are quite little still. I feel like we would not get as much out of the parks as we will in years to come.
I am a little disappointed in the slow building pace of Disney. We don’t get to go very often. I always expect to see a bunch of new things. There doesn’t seem to be much change…well until the new Fantasy land expansion. But I wonder how long til the next change/expansion? Im sure I’d know if I did hours of research.
New Fantasyland is nice, but it was built at a snail’s pace. As of right now, AVATAR Land is the next big thing, and it’s not slated to open until around 2017…which is ages after its announcement. Hopefully Universal’s continued expansion wakes Disney from its slumber…
That would be nice! They are way too slow bringing in the new.
I wanted a new country at EPCOT for years and that never/will never happen.
We are heading to Orlando in December and want to hit both parks. We are planning on staying onsite for both, hitting Universal first. I have looked into it a bit, but I would love some advice from an expert! How should we travel? Disney Magical Express to go back to the airport, but what is the best way to get to Universal and then between Universal and Port Orleans Riverside with our luggage? Any ideas would be very appreciated! I don’t really want to rent a vehicle, because we don’t really want to go anywhere else…
We stayed at POR last year and took a cab from there to our Universal hotel and then a cab to the airport. All told it was probably $50-60 for both cabs for our party of 2. You can ask for a flat rate to both Universal and the airport. I found it to be very easy.
Thanks Rebecca 🙂 I wasn’t sure if a cab was the way to go or the shuttle, which I think was $60 one way.
That’s good to know. So you’re saying the 2 cab rides were around $25-30 each? That really isn’t bad at all…
Yes- the cabs were about $30 each. Very easy!
Took cab from WDW to Universal, was $35 there and $30 back. So $65 total. About the same price as a next-day rental w/ dropped off at WDW.
Another bonus, the drop-off was really close at the base of city walk. No long walk to/from the car.
Great post Tom, don’t fully agree with the theme assessment, but the general ideas of trying it and it’s worth your time I agree with.
I’d be curious to know why you don’t agree with the assessment. Besides WWoHP and Port of Entry, how do you think Universal is excelling in terms of themed environments?
Great read! You’re right, Cabana Bay is actually changing the way that we are vacationing in Orlando this year. 4 nights at Uni & 3 nights at WDW at the end of this month! My travel mates are in their twenties & thirties (no kids). Always used to only stay at WDW and just take Mears to Uni for a day to get out of the Disney bubble for a bit. But with Cabana Bay’s lower onsite rates & amenities (I’m looking at you lazy river) with early entry? Too good to pass up. I’m totally with you on not wanting to rent a car in Orlando. I’ve even checked Uber for travel rates to our All Stars resort from Cabana Bay! In the midst of all of this expansion. The next logical step for Uni would be to provide their own “free” hotel express bus to and from MCO. That’ll really change things.
If Universal had a hotel shuttle, I think Cabana Bay would get a lot of our business. Actually, it probably will regardless.
As it stands, its rates are typically cheaper than ANY Walt Disney World Value Resort for the same dates, and from what I’ve seen, none of the Values can touch Cabana Bay in terms of quality.
Cheaper? I’m not seeing it.
I just checked out Cabana Bay booking for two queen beds from September 20th to October 1st 2015 (when we have our next Disney vacation planned.) It’s averaging $135 a night.
Pop Century is averaging $100 a night at that time, while the Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation are averaging $110 a night.
Of course, we’re booked at Coronado Springs, which is averaging $190 a night, so yeah, it’s definitely cheaper than a moderate — although that’s likely to include “Free Dining” for four (with both kids being considered “adults”), so there’s a fair big of added value there.
This December will be the first time we’ve tried doing them both in one trip. I definitely didn’t realize Diagon Alley was in the other park! Dang. We were going just for that, so I guess we’ll have to get park to park to enjoy both lands.
No shame, I actually teared up the first time I walked through the gates into Hogsmeade. I just read the books at the end of last year, after resisting since they came out. I ended up being completely immersed in the story, and seeing it come to life around me was just beyond anything I could have imagined. I’m thinking about reading them again before we go this year 🙂
I definitely agree with the strengths and weaknesses! We are young adults and we actually still prefer WDW, though we thoroughly enjoy both.
If you teared up in Hogsmeade, you’ll be sobbing uncontrollably in Diagon Alley. Okay…maybe not, but I definitely found it to be the better of the two lands! 🙂
Interesting that you did this post today as I was just wondering if any of your universal experiences would end up on your blog! We visited Disney, Universal Studios and IOA, and Seaworld during a 7 day trip a few years ago. I had just read all the Harry Potter books and was really looking forward to visiting. I have to say that I really enjoyed the Wizarding World and the caliber of several attractions such as Spiderman and the mummy (okay, and ET too). We appreciated our time in the park but we vowed to never cut out any WDW in the future to visit Universal. Universal (aside from the Wizarding World) still felt too much like a collection of attractions based on commercial properties I lacked an emotional connection with. I think of Universal Studios as a shopping mall and movie theater with great rides- a cool place to visit but not a vacation destination that I would travel a great distance for exclusively. In fairness the themeing of the Harry Potter lands is incredible, but it’s hard to draw a comparison to a park as heavily themed as Magic Kingdom or Disneyland. At WDW I feel a sense of escapism while visiting places like the boardwalk, or watching fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian. I have an emotional connection with shows like Wishes and enjoy the uniqueness of attractions like “living with the land.” I think about the park’s history, charm, and beauty. At universal I pretty much just think about what I can get in line for next. Dr. Seuss, loony tunes, despicable me, and transformers just don’t resonate with me like characters from Pixar, classic Disney animation, or Lucasfilm. I thoroughly enjoyed the Harry Potter books but possibly because I read them as an adult I don’t get as excited to see these lands take shape as I am even to visit a place like cars land. Basically- the rides at universal are great, the themeing is awesome in some places, but I have true joy and excitement visiting WDW and Universal is just okay (need to see Diagon Alley though- perhaps my opinion will change).
As for Seaworld? Once was more than enough. =)
Oh and as for renting a car- at least it’s cheap and convenient! I just rented from Hertz on Priceline for all of $7 per day for a mid-size car at MCO. It’s LAX to Disneyland that needs magical express because renting a car there and driving it to DL is a nightmare.
I can agree with you about the lack of an emotional resonance with Universal’s attractions. I actually felt more of that as a kid, when many of its attractions were based on timeless properties like Jaws, Back to the Future, and Kong. I do understand that ‘the kids these days’ don’t appreciate the classics (dang kids), but basing everything on the hot new intellectual property seems like a neverending chase. Despicable Me (for example) might be popular today, but I don’t see it aging as well as most of Disney’s animated films. Also agree that Universal needs more variety, and ‘peaceful’ attractions that just allow guests to slow down and relax.
I have no interest in SeaWorld. Highly unlikely that we will ever visit there. Just not my cup of tea…
Thank you so much! I have lots of questions for you about Harry Potter, are you going to write a trip report or some FAQ? Do you think one-day is enough time if you just want to do the Wizarding World, both sections? As is the site I definitely prefer Disney but am a huge Harry Potter fan and am so excited to go.
I do think one day is enough for all of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter things, but consider the price of tickets. It’s $135+ for a one day park-to-park ticket, and not that much more for a 2 day ticket. I’d try to do at least 2 days if you can. Universal has some truly excellent attractions outside of WWoHP.
The tickets are pricey. But for a five night, four and a half day trip, I just can’t give up two days to Universal when I would rather be in Disney. If there was more HP I would do two days, but for having only two (Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade) draws I just can’t. When do you think you’ll get some of the other Universal posts up, in the next month? Two? Three?
Tough to say when additional posts will be up. I should be working on editing photos right now, but I wanted to respond to some of these comments! 🙂
YOU AREN”T A TRUE DISNEY FAN….oh wait you said to be respectful.
Thanks for posting this, I think it’s going to be very beneficial to some folks who are on the fence about heading to Universal Orlando. Do you think you’ll do an actual report from there? Would love to see that.
I was thrilled to see you posting some photos from Universal and Islands recently as I’m just as big of a fan of those guys as I am WDW(If not more so lately)
As to your point about the different islands not matching up to the standards set by the two HP lands and POE, I think that might change as they continue to build. Supposedly Toon Lagoon is on the chopping block and my guess is eventually we will get more in Jurassic Park if the new movie is a success. And Kong is coming which will hopefully be fun.
Did you ever actually tell us what your favorite attractions were? I remember a Twitter post teasing it a bit, but don’t remember an actual answer.
Haven’t been able to hit Diagon Alley yet, I’ve been waiting for the crowds to die down and plan on going soon.
Thanks again, always love your posts and love to tell people about the blog.
I do plan on doing a trip report, but not on here. As I shared some Universal photos on our Facebook page, the overall reaction was positive, but there were some very negative comments that we were not ‘true Disney fans’ by posting the photos. While I think that’s ludicrous (hence my comments about being respectful and it being ridiculous that you can ‘betray’ a company), I am mindful of the fact that this is DisneyTouristBlog.com, and not OrlandoTouristBlog.com.
We have had a companion site to this one for a while, and while I haven’t really posted on it much as of late, I think this trip report (and whatever other content I decide to do) would be the perfect way to kick-start it. Here’s the initial post on UOR: http://www.travelcaffeine.com/universal-orlando-resort-preview-center/
I haven’t closely followed Universal rumors until the past few days, but all of the things that are rumored to be coming are pretty exciting. I’m especially excited for Kong. It sounds like it will be a more balanced attraction, and not non-stop action, which is also good. I’d love to see more balance from Universal. Regardless, though, it’s good to see that Comcast is committed to really expanding those parks and competing with Disney. It would be nice if Disney saw Universal as an actual threat at reciprocated the construction…
Most of the questions you ask will eventually be answered there… 🙂
Good to know, I’ll check out the post on the other site.
Rumor has it that Imagineering took a tour of Diagon Alley and went back to Iger and said we need more money for Star Wars…so fingers crossed. Don’t know what I’ll do if they mess that up.
Yeah, the Kong stuff seems pretty awesome if what they are saying is true. And I’d love to see Universal really tackle some classic dark ride type attractions. The thrills are great, but I do love relaxing a bit as well.
Thanks again for betraying Disney…wait that’s not right.