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Disney World vs Universal Studios
Posted on 2/20/21 at 1:53 pm
Posted on 2/20/21 at 1:53 pm
I’ve been to Disney World a few times, although it’s been over a decade since my last visit. I mostly enjoyed my visits to Disney, although the crowds and heat was a down-side of course. I’ve never been to Universal Studios, but have heard good things. For those of you who have been to both, how would you compare the two? Which park do you prefer and why?
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Posted on 2/20/21 at 1:55 pm to SaintlyTiger88
Disney has better atmosphere. Universal has better rides
Posted on 2/20/21 at 1:55 pm to SaintlyTiger88
quote:
Disney World vs Universal Studios
There is a white surcharge on all their stuff now. So long as you understand you have to pay more, Disney is better.
Posted on 2/20/21 at 1:56 pm to SaintlyTiger88
Great question for the Travel Board.
I’ve been to WDW but not Universal. Sorry.
I’ve been to WDW but not Universal. Sorry.
Posted on 2/20/21 at 1:59 pm to BobABooey
Really depends on what you want. Disney is probably more of an experience and universal is a really nice theme park with bigger rides.
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:00 pm to BobABooey
If you have kids, teenage kids will enjoy universal more. Universal has better rides but too much 3D/4D stuff. I think two days at universal is plenty. Haggrid ride at universal is one of the most unique rides I have ever ridden.
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:02 pm to SaintlyTiger88
Disney world doesn’t have a jaws ride so
Disney for me. My family went to universal without and I stayed at our hotel watching tv lol
Disney for me. My family went to universal without and I stayed at our hotel watching tv lol
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:04 pm to jef443
Nothing beats Avatar Flight of Passage. GOAT ride.
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:06 pm to LSUneaux
quote:
Nothing beats Avatar Flight of Passage. GOAT ride
True but the rest of animal kingdom aside from Everest is kind of meh. Everyone whom I’ve taken to Disney and universal prefers the latter. Overall, just better rides.
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:09 pm to Sasquatch smush
quote:
Disney world doesn’t have a jaws ride so
Neither does Universal
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:11 pm to SaintlyTiger88
Disney World is for children. Universal is much more suitable for teens and adults.
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:12 pm to SaintlyTiger88
Took the kids to Disney and Universal over a decade ago. Never again. First thing that comes to mind when those places are mentioned:
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:13 pm to Archer
quote:
There is a white surcharge on all their stuff now. So long as you understand you have to pay more, Disney is better.
Wtf?
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:19 pm to SaintlyTiger88
Universal is a ton of motion rides (some of them pretty dated) but they have multiple pretty legitimate roller coasters and are adding another big Jurassic Park one. Harry Potter world is pretty first rate as far as theme parks go.
If you go to Universal it is a MUST to either buy the fast pass (which makes the ticket significantly more expensive) or stay in a universal hotel (which will give everyone staying fast passes for the duration). Honestly paying for the pass upgrade at the parks for a group of people can be more expensive than staying at their resorts some of which are actually pretty damn nice hotels.
Disney you can kinda work the system as everyone gets 3 fast passes included on your admission and then you get one at a time. If you're proficient at the app you can ride a lot of shite. Universal is a pretty shitty experience without the fast pass as the lines tend to be pretty long for the relatively short amount of time the parks are open on a daily basis.
Since Universal has the city walk area outside of their two parks (which are side by side) they want to herd everyone out by 8-9 into that area to spend more money.
Disney usually has much better hours.
If you go to Universal it is a MUST to either buy the fast pass (which makes the ticket significantly more expensive) or stay in a universal hotel (which will give everyone staying fast passes for the duration). Honestly paying for the pass upgrade at the parks for a group of people can be more expensive than staying at their resorts some of which are actually pretty damn nice hotels.
Disney you can kinda work the system as everyone gets 3 fast passes included on your admission and then you get one at a time. If you're proficient at the app you can ride a lot of shite. Universal is a pretty shitty experience without the fast pass as the lines tend to be pretty long for the relatively short amount of time the parks are open on a daily basis.
Since Universal has the city walk area outside of their two parks (which are side by side) they want to herd everyone out by 8-9 into that area to spend more money.
Disney usually has much better hours.
This post was edited on 2/20/21 at 2:20 pm
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:19 pm to BobABooey
Went to both back in October.
Universal is all about efficiency (come in, ride, eat, gtfo). Disney is all about the atmosphere and lingering.
Universal definitely has the better rides and probably the edge in food. Disney has the edge in travel and accommodations.
Epcot is pointless unless you really want to ride Soarin and eat a bunch of bad imitation ethnic food and buy mostly junky trinkets from other cultures. The Japanese pavilion is decent though and I wound up finding some nice snack candy that isn’t pure sugar from them.
Animal Kingdom is solid but their safari trek should be twice as large. Feels like someone through a mini tour of the African Plains in my backyard and called it a day. They can and should do much better. Their Rapids ride is an absolute joke and by far the worst I’ve ever been on in my life time. I’ve had more fun in bumper boats at Frankie’s Fun Park.
Universal’s rides built post 2000 are generally great. MiB needs to be updated, but everything else is solid. The mango bbq ribs from Thunder Falls Terrace are legit. The Harry Potter drinks are all overrated and pointless IMO but I rarely drink carbonated beverages so you may enjoy them more. I really miss the Poseidon walkthrough and I hate that the Greek restaurant is closed because it’s probably the best theme park restaurant in North America IMO. Really surprised that Universal/WB haven’t done some big budget Greek mythology movie yet because it would print money but whatever.
Pro tip for Universal: arrive 15-20 minutes after opening for Studios (it opens an hour before IOA and closes an hour beforehand) and do your rides in counter clockwise order. Everyone goes straight ahead to the Transformer, Minions, and Shrek ride. I went around and rode Simpsons, MiB, and ET (needs to be replaced 10 years ago) within 45 minutes. Revenge of the Mummy is fun, but also needs updating and they need to ease off by about 10% on the pyrotechnics because I felt like a baked potato in there.
DO NOT USE THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS TO TRAVEL BETWEEN PARKS! It’s pointless and triples your time. If you do both parks in a day, do them both counterclockwise. You’ll finish with the water rides at IOA. Those people dryers are legit.
Disney is leaving a lot on the table with Animal Kingdom. Actually they are leaving a lot on the table with all 4 parks but that’s another discussion. BTW, don’t waste your time on Disney’s dining plan. It’s very restrictive and feels like a subpar College Dining Plan.
Universal is all about efficiency (come in, ride, eat, gtfo). Disney is all about the atmosphere and lingering.
Universal definitely has the better rides and probably the edge in food. Disney has the edge in travel and accommodations.
Epcot is pointless unless you really want to ride Soarin and eat a bunch of bad imitation ethnic food and buy mostly junky trinkets from other cultures. The Japanese pavilion is decent though and I wound up finding some nice snack candy that isn’t pure sugar from them.
Animal Kingdom is solid but their safari trek should be twice as large. Feels like someone through a mini tour of the African Plains in my backyard and called it a day. They can and should do much better. Their Rapids ride is an absolute joke and by far the worst I’ve ever been on in my life time. I’ve had more fun in bumper boats at Frankie’s Fun Park.
Universal’s rides built post 2000 are generally great. MiB needs to be updated, but everything else is solid. The mango bbq ribs from Thunder Falls Terrace are legit. The Harry Potter drinks are all overrated and pointless IMO but I rarely drink carbonated beverages so you may enjoy them more. I really miss the Poseidon walkthrough and I hate that the Greek restaurant is closed because it’s probably the best theme park restaurant in North America IMO. Really surprised that Universal/WB haven’t done some big budget Greek mythology movie yet because it would print money but whatever.
Pro tip for Universal: arrive 15-20 minutes after opening for Studios (it opens an hour before IOA and closes an hour beforehand) and do your rides in counter clockwise order. Everyone goes straight ahead to the Transformer, Minions, and Shrek ride. I went around and rode Simpsons, MiB, and ET (needs to be replaced 10 years ago) within 45 minutes. Revenge of the Mummy is fun, but also needs updating and they need to ease off by about 10% on the pyrotechnics because I felt like a baked potato in there.
DO NOT USE THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS TO TRAVEL BETWEEN PARKS! It’s pointless and triples your time. If you do both parks in a day, do them both counterclockwise. You’ll finish with the water rides at IOA. Those people dryers are legit.
Disney is leaving a lot on the table with Animal Kingdom. Actually they are leaving a lot on the table with all 4 parks but that’s another discussion. BTW, don’t waste your time on Disney’s dining plan. It’s very restrictive and feels like a subpar College Dining Plan.
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:20 pm to Sasquatch smush
quote:
My family went to universal without and I stayed at our hotel watching tv lol
You sound fun to hang out with.
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:20 pm to SaintlyTiger88
I'd say I like them both equally. To me Universal is a more laid back experience. Less reservations required and can move at a more leisurely pace. Staying at a hotel with unlimited fastpass is great. Disney theming and immersion is better.
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:21 pm to SaintlyTiger88
We just got back from both 2 weeks ago, spent 4 days at Universal(got an awesome Black Friday deal) and 2 days at Disney(Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios). Universal was great, but I can’t see a need to be there more than 2 days. We did everything at the Studios in 1 day and everything at Island of Adventure in half a day. The rest was filler and riding whatever my 8 year old wanted to ride multiple times. Disney was much busier, especially MK. Disney is more of a full vacation and Universal is more of a short trip to me or a day or so added to a Disney vacation.
This post was edited on 2/20/21 at 3:54 pm
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:21 pm to St Augustine
quote:
you go to Universal it is a MUST to either buy the fast pass (which makes the ticket significantly more expensive) or stay in a universal hotel (which will give everyone staying fast passes for the duration). Honestly paying for the pass upgrade at the parks for a group
Not right now. It’ll only help you at the Harry Potter rides and the 4D shows. Shrek was by far the longest wait I had down there for Universal.
As for Disney, don’t do that stupid River Journey. It’s pointless and has the second longest wait time at AK.
Posted on 2/20/21 at 2:21 pm to SaintlyTiger88
Disney is probably better overall, but Harry Potter at Universal is the most immersive experience you can get in a park right now. I don’t even like the franchise, but that land beats any other themed land in Orlando.
This is coming from an Orlando resident who has annual passes to both. If your looking for roller coasters though, sea world is where it’s at.
This is coming from an Orlando resident who has annual passes to both. If your looking for roller coasters though, sea world is where it’s at.
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