Should I go to Disney or Universal?
If you find yourself having to choose between visiting Universal or Disney World, but have zero knowledge about both, how do you choose? The good news is I will explain everything you need to know in order to make a educated decision on which theme park you visit.
How much time do you have?
Walt Disney World has four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot) and two water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon). On the other hand, Universal is half the size with two amusement parks (Islands Of Adventure and Universal Studios) and one water park (Volcano Bay).
While Walt Disney World needs a good five to six complete days for first time visitors, Universal can be done in three max. You can comfortably get everything done at Universal in just a weekend if that’s your style, but I would suggest spending three days total.
Each park offers discounts for more days purchased on tickets so keep that in mind when planning your trip.
What movie franchises are your favorite?
Both Universal and Disney are themed parks meaning rides and shows are based off current movies. Universal is more of a place for roller coaster junkies, but it is in no comparison to a place like cedar point.
Universal's Themed Areas
Top themed areas are:
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Jurassic Park
- Fast & Furious
- Transformers
- Despicable Me, including the Minions
- The Simpsons
- Dr. Seuss
- Marvel’s Avengers
Disney World's Themed Areas
Top themed ares are:
- Star Wars
- Pixar – Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and the Incredibles
- Disney Animation – Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Avatar
- Guardians of the Galaxy
What ages is everyone in your party?
While Universal does offer a few rides for kids, there are a lot of the rides that are height restrictive and jerky. Definitely gage if your kids are adrenaline junkies beforehand because some of the roller coaster are intense. I like to describe Universal as an amusement park whereas Disney is more of a theme park. Both don’t get me wrong, Universal is incredibly themed.
