When faced with the question, “should I vacation exclusively at Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando,” you cannot answer incorrectly. Both are top-rated vacation destinations in Orlando offering fun for families, couples and friends. Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando both allow you to escape the worries of everyday life through nostalgic rides, cutting-edge technological attractions and spectacular nighttime entertainment. If your schedule and budget allows, there’s nothing wrong with making a day trip to Universal when you’re focused on Disney, or vice versa. But sometimes you want to go all in!
On today’s blog, we’re going to help you make an informed decision by tackling key differences between Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. Other than the number of parks each destination counts among its umbrella (Universal Orlando has two theme parks and one water park, while Walt Disney World has four theme parks and two water parks), what are the major differences? Read more to find out!
Accelerated Attraction Lines
Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando are popular places to vacation. There doesn’t exist a “slow season” anymore. Crowds and long wait times go hand in hand. Disney and Universal offer different systems in which to avoid spending the majority of your vacation in a queue.
Walt Disney World allows guests the opportunity to book FastPass+ selections in advance of a trip. FastPass+ allows you to bypass the standby line and enter an accelerated line for select attractions and entertainment at all four theme parks - Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Animal Kingdom Park. No matter the length of your ticket duration or whether you stay at a Disney hotel or not, every visitor can utilize the FastPass+ system at NO COST. Yes, something free at Disney World! If you stay on-property, you can book 60 days in advance of your visit, while off-property guests can book 30 days in advance. To read more about FastPass+, check out our previous blog post on the subject.
Slinky Dog Dash - great use of a Walt Disney World FastPass+ selection, if you can get one of these hot commodities
Universal has two ways that guests can beat the long lines. As a free service to visitors, Universal offers a “Virtual Line” at two new popular attractions, Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon and Fast & Furious – Supercharged. When inside the parks, guests reserve a time via the Universal Orlando Resort app or at kiosks located at the entrance of these rides. When it’s time to return, you’ll scan your mobile phone or present a paper pass at the main entrance, and the fun can begin. Universal’s immersive water park, Volcano Bay, takes the Virtual Line to another stratosphere. At the park entrance, all guests receive a free wearable device that allows guests to “tap” into the virtual line. The “Tapu Tapu” will buzz on your wrist, informing you that it’s time to head back to the attraction for your turn. To read more about Tapu Tapu, check out our previous blog post on Volcano Bay.
Virtual Line kiosks outside of Universal Orlando’s Fast and Furious attraction
To take advantage of even shorter wait times, Universal Orlando visitors can add on an Express Pass to their park ticket purchase or hotel/ticket package. Express Passes can be used at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay. There are three varieties of Express Pass - the Universal Express Pass allows you to bypass the regular lines one time per participating attraction; the Universal Express Unlimited Pass allows you to bypass the regular lines an unlimited number of times per participating attraction; and the Volcano Bay Express Pass allows you to bypass the virtual lines one time per attraction. You can purchase Express Pass the day of your visit, but supply is limited with Express Passes often selling out. For this reason, it is recommended to purchase in advance of your trip.
Avoid this 60-minute wait with Universal’s Express Pass
Guests staying at a Universal Premier category hotel receive Universal Express Unlimited Pass at no additional cost. Staying at one of these higher-end hotels - Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel or Loews Portofino Bay Hotel - can actually save you money in the long-run considering the price of Express Pass Unlimited starts at $79.99 per person plus tax for use at only one park.
Hotel Landscape
As of the publication of this blog post, Walt Disney World has more than 25 on-property hotels to accommodate its visitors wishing to stay in the Disney bubble. Universal Orlando Resort, on the other hand, has only six on-site hotels for guests to consider. Naturally, the decision of where to stay at Universal is a bit easier.
Although the categories have different names, the three tiers are comparable. Disney’s Deluxe resorts - think the Contemporary and Grand Floridian - are similar to Universal’s Premier hotels, listed above. Disney’s Moderate resorts - like Port Orleans and Coronado Springs - are akin to Universal’s single Preferred hotel, Loews Sapphire Falls. And Disney’s Value resorts - Pop Century and the All Stars - can be compared to Universal’s Prime Value hotels, which are Cabana Bay and the newly opened Aventura.
The gorgeous lobby at Loews Sapphire Falls at Univeral Orlando Resort
Both Walt Disney World and Universal are adding to their hotel rosters as the popularity of both destinations continues to rise among all vacationers.
Thrill Factor
Although Walt Disney World has some thrill rides like Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom Park and Rock ‘n Roller Coaster in Hollywood Studios, people connotate Disney with slow-moving, indoor rides that are nostalgic, like Peter Pan’s Flight and it’s a small world. Nothing gets the adrenaline going like the intense, heart-stoppers at Universal Orlando. Rides like Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, where you move straight toward the sky at a 90-degree angle, and The Incredible Hulk Coaster, which propels you upside down into a weightless zero-gravity roll, are not for the faint of heart. With attractions that get your heart pumping, Universal Orlando tends to be favored by teens and roller-coaster fanatics.
The thrill ride landscape at Universal Orlando Resort - not for the risk-averse
Walkability
Anyone who has visited Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando knows to pack comfortable shoes because your smart watch pedometer will explode with the number of steps taken. You may walk even more at Universal because it’s so easy to get from your on-property hotel to the three parks. In fact, you can walk from any of the Universal hotels to the main entrance of Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay. No need to wait for shuttle buses or pay extra for a ride-hailing service. You can wake up, walk out of your hotel room and walk straight to the parks.
Hard Rock Hotel - the closest hotel to Universal Orlando Resort parks; only a five-minute walk to the entrance of Universal Studios Florida
Additionally, you can walk from one park to another at Universal, unlike at Walt Disney World where you cannot walk from Magic Kingdom to Epcot, for example. This walkability makes it a no-brainer to purchase park-to-park tickets at Universal (park-to-park = park hopping at Disney). Universal’s entertainment district, City Walk, is sandwiched between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. You certainly cannot walk to Disney Springs, City Walk’s counterpart at Walt Disney World, from any of the parks.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Universal Orlando Resort is all-around amazing, but the real star is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. (No, you will not find Harry Potter at Disney’s Universal Studios.) Immediately upon entering Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, you are transported to the world that J.K. Rowling created in the books and films. It is immersion at its finest - the detail in the storefronts, the interactions with the Universal team members in the land, and the unique beverage, snack and meal offerings that can only be found here. There is a reason that Potterheads become emotional when visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for the first time.
Step into Honeydukes in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and see which wizard card you get in your Chocolate Frog!
We would argue that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is more immersive than any of Walt Disney World’s distinct lands - although Disney stepped up its game with Pandora - The World of Avatar. Yet, it cannot compete with how Universal captured the spirit of the beloved Harry Potter universe. Of course, Disney can prove us wrong with the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.