Confused about the difference between Disney and Universal
How do you plan a vacation to a theme park? There are so many options that it can be easily overwhelming to someone who either hasn't been multiple times or invested hundreds of hours in research. The first question should be what type of trip do I want. Here are some things to consider:
Disney:
Disney focuses on being family and customer service oriented.
Pros:
- Many rides and entertainment have no height or age limits
- Various types of rides from moderate thrills to child friendly
- 4 theme parks with different experiences- Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom that immerse you into different lands
- 2 Water Parks with immersive theming, 2 themed mini-golf courses, ESPN sports complex, and Disney Springs (an outdoor mall with varied dining, shopping, and entertainment options)
- 31 themed hotels with free transportation around the "Disney Bubble"
- 50+ themed restaurants amongst the theme parks, resorts, and Disney Springs
- Professional photographers that add "magic shots" to enhance your experience
- 90% is easily accessible for EVs, wheelchairs, etc.
Cons:
- Lightning Lanes can be challenging to navigate
- Options and add-ons can vary widely by date, price, and experience
- Disney Play app recently retired and there's no longer interactive experiences in every park
- Even though there are several after hours events throughout the year, the add-on can be difficult to determine the value added
- Even on less crowded days, it's impossible to do everything available to experience
- For those looking for intense thrills, Disney has few options
Universal Studios in Orlando:
Pros:
- More thrilling rides
- 3 theme parks with varied theming- Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe
- Interactive wand and Power Up band experiences
- 1 themed water park with a wider assortment of rides, including more thrilling water options
- 11 themed hotels
- 25+ themed restaurants
Cons:
- Easier to use Express Pass, but it's more expensive
- Besides the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the portals in Epic Universe, Universal isn't as immersive as Disney
- Accessibility is more challenging
- Also, the magnetic tracks make guests go through metal detectors on the larger coasters, which makes it more challenging for those who enjoy thrill rides but have some medical issues with metal detectors.
My family has always been huge Disney fans, so we try to keep an open mind when we visit Universal in Orlando. Overall, we still enjoy Disney more, but there are specific things that we must do while visiting Universal Studios, including riding Hagrid's, drinking frozen Butterbeer, and performing wand magic.
Because we've been to Disney more than 20 times, we no longer have priorities on the classic rides and snacks. When we go, we focus on all the new updates and we are delighted by any of the classics that we get to enjoy. Each time we go, we have different groupings and mindsets, so it's important when planning to keep the focus in mind. When it's a weekend trip for 2 to enjoy an Epcot festival; it's a completely different vibe than when planning for 4 generations, including an EV and stroller.
As I embark on a 2 week Orlando vacation, I plan to bring you along to determine what are the core differences and highlight the best of everything Disney and Universal have to offer.
