Are you choosing the WRONG theme parks for your upcoming Orlando trip? Today, Universal Orlando and Disney World are battling it out to see WHICH parks can win you and your travel group over — here on DFB Guide.
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I appreciate that Universal is more aggressive with updates and is currently better with guest experiences, but it’ll never be Disney. I’m not into thrill rides or most of the hodge podge of varied IPs that they have cobbled together there. There just isn’t enough there for me to justify a ticket there.
I love both Universal and Disney! However now that I have severe food allergies, Universal doesn’t make dining easy. Last time I went the only thing I could eat was a plain baked potato. While at Disney I could stop in any quick service and had multiple choices. Disney is just more accommodating for allergies all over property.
Yeah, I'm totally on Team Disney for this VS match. I've only been to Disney twice, but I loved it. We went to Universal once. I liked the theming in the Harry Potter section and a lot of the rest of the parks. The problem was that I got whiplash on the first ride I rode that day, and it made all the other rides miserable for me. Some I had to keep my eyes closed to keep me from being too nauseous from all the motion. All day I was just wishing for something low impact (I might have mentioned to my wife that I wished I could just ride Living With the Land). It didn't help my feelings about it when we ate lunch at the Three Broomsticks and my fish was rubbery. Not saying I wouldn't go back to Universal, but I might take a neck brace with me next time.
You really need to lead off with a cost comparison, or at least put it near the beginning.
As someone who visits both park on the reg! Your right. But I’m shocked that you forgot the refillable universal cups.. they are the best deals and you can bring your soda to HP. DIET SODA FOR LIFE!
I like both but as of recent years Universal wins for me
I love both but a big draw for Disney is they are more plus size friendly. I’ve always been big, and the older I get the more I’m struggling with my weight. I managed to lose some and then gained it plus more back. I really doubt I would fit anything at Universal now as I struggled to fit when I was 80lbs lighter 10 years ago. But I can still fit most stuff at Disney. I was at Disneyland in September and I fit everything I tried. I am working to lose weight to better my health but it is tough.
I love universal and Disney! But I don’t think you are giving enough credit to universal in this one
Point blank in overall value for your money Universal wins hands down🤷🏽♀️ Disney genie plus is str8 garbage sauce. We stay at the Portofino hotel every time get unlimited express for 5ppl and basically never look at our phones. I also feel the universal hotels especially pools can’t be beat that aside Disney service and the way it makes you FEEL overall will never be beat. If Disney said here pay this 1 flat rate to ride rides and didn’t make it so complicated I would pay every time. Its so unnecessarily complicated
Forgot the Macy's parades
i just want park hopper for universal. Im a simple lady(Thing…she/they)
Universal park food sucks with the exception of the Harry Potter areas. Disney has food wired.
You missed one very important aspect of Rides at Disney versus Universal. Universal's ride vehicles are much less accommodating to a variety of body types. You have a much higher chance of at least one family member, possible every family member, not being able to ride the rides they came for. All of the Harry Potter rides except the Hippogryph are problematic. It's highly unpredictable — some tall thin people can't fit their knees into the Gringott’s cars, while some heavily padded guests can shift and squish to get the lap bars closed. So if you're plus sized or tall or don't bend every which way, you can't count on being able to ride the rides at Universal.
IMO universal is now superior (by far) for the line skipping passes
I love Disney and universal and have had passes to both for years. And the crowds in Disney lately and cost are miserable. With universal during the holidays an additional $200 a person isn’t necessary like Disney. There’s a lot of options for food at universal too. AJ is the DISNEY food blog😂.But it was great to see AJ talking about things other than Disney.
You forgot to mention genie plus does not guarentee you will get rides. I was in hollywood studios and at 12 there were no more rides left for the day. You pay all that money for nothing.
I love Disney but tickets at Universal are so much cheaper than Disney. And the park-to-park tickets are still cheaper than Disney's. Also, Universal offers an amazing ticket package of 2 days free for buying 2-day tickets. So in total, you get 4 days of tickets for half the price. They have this deal almost all the time. Disney's tickets keep rising. All in all, if you want to still have money in your bank account I would choose Universal.
Universal's Christmas parade blows Disney's out of the water
UNIVERSAL All the Way!!!
Went last January stayed at hard Rock for universal loved the fast pass and going to both parks rides were great the next 3 days at Disney Port Orleans and grand floridian which I loved went to all 4 parks but genie + and lightning pass makes it harder to get around and waiting for next time to get on ride
They should copy fast track like Universal. Will go back to Victoria and Alberts. Wasn't open when I was there
I’ve stayed at the Hard Rock multiple times and have loved every time! I love the rock music playing and the whole theme of the place. You’re right it’s not at all like Disney theming, but I still really love it. The express pass is really what makes it along with the walkable distance to and from hotels. I love Disney and I really do want to go back, but it just doesn’t seem worth it unless you stay on site and even then, the perks are just not there. I will say the Disney food, even quick service, is much better than universals.
Excellent review and analysis as always AJ. For the past few holidays we have mixed 7 nights at WDW and then 3 at UO. We used to go to Disney first and then UO afterwards. We do stay in Deluxe hotels and so its usually been AKL and then HRH. Whilst we love both locations we always found that UO was just a step down in terms of service and the whole guest experience. Small example – Disney at check in sorts out everything to make your stay perfect – all your details, room key, passes, photo access, payment dining and so on are all on your Magic Band and at Universal you have to go to a machine to add on things and another desk for Express passes. It just feels less "friendly" (last there in 2019 so maybe this has changed). So the experience felt a bit of a let down compared to Disney
When we went in 2019 we did HRH first and loved it and then went to Disney's Grand Floridian and it just felt like a step up and the perfect way to do the holiday, Next time we go we will definitely do Universal first.
Rip Ride Rockit does not go upside down. It has the first non- inverting loop, it twists out at the top so you never go upside down.
The 2 times we have stayed on property at Disney was at the Swan & Dolphin. We love that resort. You don't get the Disney branding but for the savings and value and closeness to all the transportation options… it really can't be beat. I keep saying we are going to stay at AKL or some other one but when I start putting the budget together I can never justify the additional 40% – 60% price difference. And I refuse stay at the All star resorts. Plus at Swan u still get early admission, early access to dining reservations etc. And again… the location is the best! You can see fireworks from Epcot, take a boat to HS or to Epcot (or walk). Plus the Skyliner hub is right there. Only AK requires a drive. Compared to Universal we have stayed onsite at all the resorts except Hard Rock and we have a blast also. The unlimited express as a perk is a game changer. My family has literally booked 3 nights at a non deluxe and one night at a deluxe to get two days of the perk! Even though Genie + is technically cheaper it adds up the more you use it… plus u can't go when you want and so it's not even guaranteed.
I just want to highlight the unlimited express perk at Universal. This cannot be overstated… this is hands down the best perk out there!! Technically it may be more expensive than Genie +, but Genie adds up the more you use it and you are not even guaranteed to ride the ride you want! So boo on that. With Universal Express it is brain dead simple… go when you want, whenever you want. Mic drop… Also, the cost is baked into the resort price which is on average cheaper than Disney to begin with. Finally there is a hack I will share… one we have done a number of times. Book 3 nights at a non deluxe and one at a deluxe for the express passes. Wherever you put that night you will get express pass for 2 days… the check in and out days. You will have to switch resorts but it's not too much trouble IMO.
This seems like a subtle smear campaign against universal in the guise of a "neutral" comparison
It’s far easier to have fun at Universal, much less planning and crowds. I am saying this as a Huge Disney fan. At Disney you really need to prepare and plan ahead to enjoy your stay