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Adding Universal to Your Disney Vacation: Totally Doable

Adding Universal to Your Disney Vacation

Universal Orlando just got a lot bigger. With Epic Universe opening in May 2025, the resort now has three full theme parks instead of two, which means it can finally justify three solid park days where it used to stretch to fill two. But unless your kids are deeply committed to roller coasters, you probably still don’t want to spend a full week there before someone hits the wall. The smart play hasn’t changed: a Universal Disney split stay gets you the best of both worlds without flying all the way to Orlando just to do Universal for a couple of days. Adding Universal to your Disney vacation is more worth it now than it has ever been.

What Do You Need to Know About Adding Universal To Your Disney Vacation?

1. Why Should You Add Universal to Disney Orlando?

2. What is the Difference Between Universal and Disney Orlando?

2a. Theme Parks

2b. Unique Theming

2c. Rides

2d. Characters

2e. Shows

2f. Play Areas

2g. Resorts

2h. Convenient Park Hopping

2i. Universal Express Passes

2j. Universal CityWalk

3. Who Should Visit Universal Orlando and Disney World?

4. Transportation from Disney World to Universal Florida

5. Should You Visit Universal or Disney Orlando First?

6. How Many Days For Disney World and Universal?

7. Universal Admission Ticket Options

8. Does Universal Have a Dining Plan?

transport from disneyworld to universal studios Epcot

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Quick Answer: Is Adding Universal to Your Disney Trip Worth It?

Short version: yes, if your crew is into thrill rides, Harry Potter, superheroes, or Super Nintendo World. Universal is about nine miles from Disney World, roughly 15 minutes up I-4 without traffic, so a split stay is genuinely easy. Here are the bare facts:

  • Parks: three theme parks now — Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and the new Epic Universe (opened May 22, 2025) — plus Volcano Bay water park.
  • Days needed: two days covers the original two parks; budget a third if you want to do Epic Universe justice.
  • Tickets: date-based pricing. In 2026, single-day tickets start around $124 for Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure and around $139 for Epic Universe, and climb on busy dates — always check current pricing.
  • Skip-the-line: stay at a Premier hotel and Universal Express Unlimited is included free — but it does not cover Epic Universe.
  • Dining plan: gone. Universal no longer sells one.

Adding Universal to Your Disney Vacation

1. Why Should You Take a Trip to Universal and Disney?

Universal Orlando has developed the reputation of being second best to Walt Disney World. To be fair, Disney World is a massive machine, filled with four theme parks, two water parks, over two dozen on property resorts, and tons of rides with no height requirements.

I get what people who hold this position are saying, but Universal has come a long way, and Epic Universe slammed the door on that argument. It is the first brand-new major theme park in Orlando in about 25 years, and it gives Universal something genuinely different from Disney World. Universal and Disney in one trip is a great combination, and if you want the full rundown of what not to miss, our twenty must-dos at Universal Orlando guide pairs nicely with this one.

how to get from disney world to universal studios Transformers

2. What Does Universal Offer That Disney Does Not?

Is Universal or Disney better? The answer depends upon what your family enjoys. Universal Orlando is not just a smaller Disney World. If you are wondering what to do at Universal Studios, there is plenty you cannot get elsewhere.

A. Theme Parks


Going to Universal and Disney parks offers totally different experiences. As of 2025, Universal Orlando Resort is composed of three gate theme parks plus a water park:

1. Universal Studios Florida

2. Universal Islands of Adventure

3. Universal Epic Universe (opened May 22, 2025)

4. Volcano Bay Water Park

You can comfortably do Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios in one day each. Epic Universe is the new kid and a big one, so plan on a full day for it on its own. That’s the math that pushed Universal from a two-day add-on to a credible three.

pictures of universal globe

B. Unique Theming

Universal has access to intellectual property that Disney does not, so the majority of your experiences at Disney World and Universal will not overlap. Some of the highlights include:

Universal Studios Florida

1. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley

2. Springfield: Home of the Simpsons

3. Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone

Universal Island of Adventure

1. Marvel at Universal Super Hero Island

2. Jurassic Park

3. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade

4. Seuss Landing

Universal Epic Universe

This is the new one, and it is built around a central hub called Celestial Park that branches into four themed worlds:

1. Super Nintendo World (Mario, Yoshi, and the band)

2. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

3. How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

4. Dark Universe (the classic Universal monsters, finally given a home)

universal studios disney world Jurassic Park

C. Unique Rides

I hope you like motion simulators, because Universal loves them more than the Real Housewives like silicone. Pack the Dramamine. Most of Disney’s rides are mild, so a Universal and Disney trip is a nice balance. Acknowledging that Universal is out to make you puke, it has some amazing rides, including:

Universal Studios Florida

1. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

2. Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon (a perennial closure rumor, so check it’s still open before you bank on it)

3. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts

4. Revenge of the Mummy

5. MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack

Universal Islands of Adventure

1. The Incredible Hulk Coaster

2. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

3. Skull Island: Reign of Kong

4. Jurassic Park River Adventure

5. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

6. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

7. Jurassic World VelociCoaster (the one the original me forgot to mention, and the best coaster in the resort if you ask my stomach)

8. The Cat in the Hat

Universal Epic Universe

The new park leads with its headliners. The big ones include:

1. Stardust Racers (a dueling coaster in Celestial Park)

2. Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge

3. Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry

4. Hiccup’s Wing Gliders

5. Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment

universal orlando disney world Jurassic Park River Adventure

D. Universal Orlando Characters Disney Hasn’t Managed to Swallow

In the Disney versus Universal character competition, Universal may actually come out ahead. It has no shortage of unique characters to meet, including:

1. Scooby Doo and Shaggy

2. Minions

3. Superheroes

4. Dr. Seuss Characters

5. Simpsons

6. Beetlejuice

7. Barney

8. A Raptor

Spider-Man transportation from disneyworld to universal orlando

E. Shows

You don’t need to line up ahead of time to see Universal Studios shows. The show lineup gets shuffled more than a Vegas dealer, so treat these as the usual suspects rather than guarantees and confirm in the app the day you go:

1. Al Bundy Returns to Polk High FEAR FACTOR LIVE Orlando (status has come and gone over the years, so verify it’s running)

2. Universal Studios Animal Actors on Location

3. Universal Orlando’s Horror Make-up Show (a longtime fan favorite that’s been in and out for refreshes, so check it’s open)

FEAR FACTOR universal and disney same trip

F. Play Areas

Disney World has very few options for play areas within the theme parks, like The Boneyard at Animal Kingdom. Universal, on the other hand, seems to know it doesn’t have that much to offer small children, so each park has solid play areas that are generally not crowded. Play areas include:

Universal Studios Florida

1. Curious George Universal Studios Orlando Goes to Town

2. Fievel’s Playland

Universal Islands of Adventure

1. Me Ship, the Olive

2. Camp Jurassic

3. Jurassic Park Discovery Center Orlando

4. If I Ran the Zoo

Curious George split stay universal and disney

G. Convenient Resorts

The resorts at Universal Orlando are located near Universal CityWalk restaurants and the theme park entrances. The convenience of everything Universal has to offer cannot be understated. Like Disneyland, the ease of navigating Universal puts Disney World to shame. If you want the full breakdown on one of the Premier options, our Loews Portofino Bay review covers what you actually get for the price.

Several of the stupid expensive best Universal resorts can access the theme parks via water taxi or on foot, while others require a shuttle bus. Spring for one of the more expensive Premier hotels, both for the convenience and a huge added perk: front of the line Universal Express Unlimited passes included with your stay. Be careful here, though. Universal has added newer deluxe hotels like Helios Grand (the one right next to Epic Universe), Sapphire Falls, Stella Nova, and Terra Luna, and those do not come with the free Express Pass. If skipping lines is the whole point of your stay, book a Premier hotel specifically.

Loews Portofino Bay Waterfront disney world universal split stay

H. Ease of Hopping

Park hopping at Disney World is a hassle. Prepare to burn a lot of time and energy loading your stroller onto a shuttle bus filled with adults who don’t give up seats for toddlers.

Universal Orlando’s design is similar to the Disneyland Resort. You enter both major theme parks through Universal CityWalk, just as you enter both Disneyland and California Adventure through Downtown Disney. This means the entrances are located within steps of each other. If you want to switch during the day, no bus is required.

As an added bonus, Universal offers Hogwarts Express, a Harry Potter themed train ride that transports you between the parks.

Universal Studios Florida Entrance disney universal split stay

I. Front of the Line Passes

Is Disney or Universal better? When it comes to front of the line passes, there is no contest.

Let’s call a spade a spade here. Disney World’s front of the line system costs money and only saves you a little time. It helps you wait a little less with a good touring plan, but there isn’t a great way to beat the system.

Universal, on the other hand, has a great system for people willing to pay for it. Universal Express Passes get you into the equivalent of Disney’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass lines (the system that replaced Genie+) on almost every ride. If you choose the unlimited option, you can do it as much as you want. All day.

Universal Express is Included with Premier Hotel Stays

Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure Express Passes are pricey. The cost is a little hard to swallow. However, if you stay at one of Universal’s Premier hotels, Universal Express Unlimited is included for each day of your trip for everyone in your party. In other words, if you stay one night, you get passes for both the day you check in and the day you check out. If you are interested in these passes, and you should be, staying at one of these properties is a no brainer.

One big asterisk now that Epic Universe exists: the free hotel Express Pass is good at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure only. It does not cover Epic Universe, Volcano Bay, or Halloween Horror Nights. So don’t book a Premier hotel expecting to breeze past the Mario Kart line for free, because that’s not how it works.

The Universal Studios hotels that include Universal Express Unlimited are:

1. Loews Royal Pacific Resort

2. Hard Rock Hotel

3. Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

E.T. Adventure universal orlando split stay

J. CityWalk

CityWalk, boldly self-labeled the “Epicenter of Awesome”, is similar to Disney Springs. It features unique Universal spots and restaurants, like Cowfish and Toothsome Orlando Chocolate Emporium Universal, as well as shopping, a movie theater, and other entertainment venues.

You enter and exit both theme parks through CityWalk, so it is convenient to stop there before or after you visit a park. You can also easily leave the park to eat at restaurants with the best food at Universal Studios (because theme park food often leaves something to be desired), then reenter a park for the rest of the day.

disney world universal studios Toothsome Chocolate Emporium

3. Should You Bother Adding Universal To Your Disney Vacation?

Universal offers something for everyone, but it doesn’t offer enough to justify Disney Universal vacations for everyone. Both parks are a great option for:

A. Thrill Seekers

B. Harry Potter Fans

C. Superhero Lovers

D. People Who Appreciate the Themed Lands

If you have a toddler who doesn’t care about most of the themes, I would wait until he or she is older before adding Universal to your Disney vacation. Universal ride height requirements are not forgiving for the smallest amongst us.

4. Transportation From Disney to Universal

How far is Universal Studios from Disney World?

How far is Disney from Universal? Not far.

The distance from Universal Studios Orlando to Disney World is only about nine miles, and the majority of the trip is on I-4, a major highway. Without traffic, you can make the trip in about 15 minutes. A stay at Disney and Universal is easy.

Do Disney Resorts Offer Transportation to Universal?

Will Disney drive you to Universal? Nope. They don’t want you to leave. If you are wondering how to get to Universal Studios from Disney World without a car, you have several options:

A. Rideshare Services

Getting around Orlando without a car is simple with rideshare services. If you don’t need to make any stops between Universal and Disney World, a rideshare, like Uber or Lyft, is a great option. An Uber from Disney to Universal and vice versa should be reasonably priced.

B. Taxi From Disney to Universal

Orlando has taxi service, most of which are booked through Mears Transportation Services. Getting from Disney to Universal Studios without a car will feel like 2006 all over again.

C. Private Transportation

If you have a large group, a private car or limousine may be most cost effective. This option also gives you the luxury of knowing what time you are leaving, so it is easier to plan the rest of your day when getting around Disney World without a car.

D. Universal to Disney Shuttle Service

Can you get a shuttle from Disney to Universal? Yes, there is a Mears shuttle from Disney to Universal Studios Orlando.

However, I would avoid this Universal to Disney bus option unless the pickup times are convenient for you and it is cost effective. If your group is large enough, you can probably get something cheaper and more convenient for less.

Some travel agents will sell you Universal and Disney packages that include this shuttle with Universal Studios drop off and pick up. I generally do not use a travel agent for a Disney World trip because I can get better deals renting Disney Vacation Club points, but this option may make sense for you.

E. Rental Car

Do you need a car in Orlando? If you are only visiting major theme parks, that is a hard no. Renting a car is an obvious option, but is typically not the best way to get to Universal Studios from Disney World. You really don’t need a car on Universal property, especially if you are only staying for a day or two. If you want to see other parts of Florida, a rental car makes more sense.

Keep in mind that parking at Universal Orlando comes at a cost at both the hotels and theme parks, so factor that into your budget. You won’t need to pay for both because you can get to the theme parks from the hotels for free, but you will definitely need to pay for one of the two if you choose this Disney Resort to Universal transportation option.

Pro tip: Do not rent a car on Disney property. Prices are inflated beyond belief. An Uber to Universal Studios Orlando that departs from a nearby car rental location will net you a considerable savings.

Loews Port disney world to universal orlando

5. Should You Visit Universal or Disney First?

There is no right answer in deciding when to visit Universal Studios Orlando versus Disney, but there are some things to consider:

A. Don’t Visit in the Middle of Your Trip

If you are wondering how to do Universal and Disney Florida right, the answer is not to visit one of them in the middle of your trip when changing hotels. Stay overnight at Universal at the beginning or end of your trip. Otherwise, you will incur additional expenses traveling between the hotels both ways.

B. Airport Transportation

Disney used to offer Magical Express, free transportation from the airport to Disney World hotels and back. No more. RIP.

There are shuttles between the airport and Disney. Private transportation may make financial sense for you if you have enough people.

Universal has no free option. To get to or from the airport from Universal, your options are essentially the same as those you used to transport you between the parks. If you can get a better deal on a certain day of the week, this may affect your decision when choosing which park to visit first on your Disney Universal trip.

C. Do You Have Universal Express?

If you have Universal Express, the day of the week you visit isn’t all that important. Theme parks tend to be more crowded on the weekend. Check Universal and Disney crowd calendars, but consider visiting Universal on the weekend and Disney World during the week.

If you don’t have Universal Express, you may want to visit Universal during the week instead, which may affect your decision whether to visit Disney or Universal in Orlando first.

D. Logistics of Switching

When deciding how to go from Disney to Universal Orlando, you have three options:

1. Switch between Universal Studios and Disney World hotels on a break day

If your Disney and Universal itinerary includes a break day, switch hotels in a calm manner on this day. This is our preferred avenue for sanity purposes, but it is not the most cost effective option.

2. Switch hotels before or after a park day

If you want to pack everything in, you can get up at the crack of dawn or switch hotels at the end of the night. If you switch after a park day, you will likely need to check out of your hotel room, check your luggage with the hotel during the day, go to a park, return to the hotel, retrieve your luggage, and make the commute to your new hotel, then get up early the next morning to go to another park. This Disney World Universal itinerary is not the greatest with little kids.

Pro tip: If you have Universal Express Unlimited, you can use the pass both the day you check in and the day you check out. The best option will almost definitely be to do Universal first, then switch to Disney World after you are done with the park. You could also take a late flight, but flying home after two longs day at the park with little kids who have been up past their bedtimes sounds about as fun as a lobotomy.

3. Visit both parks without changing hotels

Can you stay at Universal and go to Disney? Sure. You can also stay at Disney and go to Universal, or stay off property and visit both theme parks. However, I don’t recommend this.

On property stays come with perks, and you really don’t want to deal with traffic and parking each day if you can avoid it. Pick one of the Disney or Universal hotels and stick with it if you don’t want to change.

Magic Kingdom Castle how to get from disney to universal without a car

6. How Many Days For Disney and Universal?

Can you do Disney and Universal in a week? Absolutely.

Many people wonder how to do Disney and Universal in one trip. The best way for you depends upon your priorities, but when combining Universal with Disney, I’d shoot for two days at the original Universal parks (one for Universal Studios Florida, one for Islands of Adventure) and spend the rest of your time at Disney. If Epic Universe is a must for your crew, add a third day, because it really does deserve its own full day. You can comfortably do each park in a day. Volcano Bay is fine, but it is not worth skipping a day at one of the Disney World theme parks to visit in my opinion. If you’re traveling with little ones, our take on visiting Universal Orlando with toddlers will help you set expectations.

Maximize Your Time with Universal Studios Tips and Tricks

A. Check Universal Crowd Calendars

If you have flexibility in when you visit, consult a crowd calendar when choosing your dates. Try to avoid Universal Orlando busy times. You will be able to accomplish more during the day, but be aware park hours may be more limited as well.

B. Arrive Prior to Park Opening

Rope drop. Rope drop. Did I say rope drop? This is the most important of the Universal Orlando tips. Crowds are at their lowest and lines are at their shortest first thing in the morning. You can often knock out more rides in the morning than the entire rest of the day. Do not miss this golden opportunity.

Pro tip: If you have Universal Express and don’t need to worry about lines, go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter before the masses swarm.

C. Make a Universal Orlando Touring Plan

The key to a great trip is thorough Universal Studios trip planning. You should know which rides have the longest lines and what matters most to your family before you arrive. A good touring plan is key to maximizing your day, and packing smart helps too. Our Universal Orlando packing list covers the must-haves and the stuff you can leave at home.

Touringplans.com offers free sample Disney World and Universal itineraries, and allows you to make personalized plans. You can also create a Universal touring plan with Express Pass if you purchased it.

D. Purchase Universal Express

Combining Disney and Universal is easier when you can be efficient. Front of the line passes are an added expense, and a significant one at that. Is the Universal Express Pass worth it? If you are only going to be there once, or you dislike waiting, walking onto most rides instead of wasting half the day in line will improve your experience substantially.

Pro tip: Consider a stay in Universal Studios Orlando at one of the Premier hotels. One night at the hotel gets your entire party Universal Express Unlimited for both the day you check in and the day you check out.

E. Download the Universal Studios App

The app allows you to place mobile Universal Studios Orlando food orders and check wait times for rides. It also has a Universal Studios Orlando map. These items will save you time and hassle.

F. Utilize Child Swap Universal Studios

If two adults in your party want to ride something, and your child is holding you back (like always), utilize the Child Switch Universal Studios program. You can wait in line together, then take turns riding without having to wait in line twice.

Poseidon's Fury disney universal itinerary

7. Universal Studios Ticket Options

Like Disney World, Universal offers single-park-per-day and park-to-park tickets that let you bounce between parks. Universal uses date-based pricing, so the same ticket costs more on a busy spring-break Saturday than on a sleepy January Tuesday. As a ballpark for 2026, single-day adult tickets start around $124 for Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure and around $139 for Epic Universe, and only go up from there, so always check current pricing before you buy. Universal also added multi-day tickets that can bundle all three parks, including Epic Universe, which is the move if you’re doing the full three-day plan.

Kids generally get in free under age three, with child tickets running roughly ages three to nine and everyone counting as an adult by age ten. Exact child pricing is date-based too, so confirm the current numbers. Your child’s fourth grade teacher will be so happy about the decreased responsibility.

I am not a fan of park hopping at Disney World because switching parks is a giant time suck. The Universal parks are a different ballgame because the location is so much better.

Do You Need Park to Park Tickets?

You certainly don’t need Universal Orlando park to park tickets. Here are things to consider:

A. The Park to Park Universal Studios Florida Tickets Cost More

Park to park tickets come with an additional cost. If you will use them, great, but if not, don’t waste your money.

B. There is Enough to Do at Each Park

You can definitely fill a day at each park without hopping. There is no shortage of things to do.

C. It is Easy to Switch Parks

Park hopping is easy at Universal. You enter both parks through Universal CityWalk, so you can walk between them within a few minutes.

In addition to walking, you can ride Hogwarts Express, a Harry Potter themed train between the two original parks. You can do both sections of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in one day because both stations deposit you into that land. Note that Epic Universe is a separate gate with its own entrance and ticket, so park-to-park here refers to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, not Epic.

D. You Cannot Ride Hogwarts Express Without the Park to Park Ticket

In a stroke of pure money making genius, Universal designed this train so that only people holding park to park tickets can ride. However, this train is not that exciting. Your vacation will not be ruined if you don’t ride it.

Hogwarts Express disney to universal transportation

8. Does Universal Offer a Dining Plan?

Short answer: no. Universal Orlando discontinued its dining plan, so the full-service and quick-service packages this post used to walk through are gone, and you can’t buy them anymore. If you remember pricing out a Universal Dining Plan against Disney’s, you can stop. There’s nothing to price out.

A. What Happened to the Universal Dining Plan?

Universal pulled the dining plan and never brought it back. So instead of pre-paying for an entree-dessert-snack bundle, you just pay as you go. Honestly, that’s no great loss. These plans were rarely worth the math anyway.

B. How to Save on Food at Universal Without a Plan

Use mobile order in the Universal app to skip the counter line, grab a Coca-Cola Freestyle souvenir cup if your family drinks enough soda to justify the refills, and remember you can walk out to CityWalk to eat. Theme park food is theme park food, and CityWalk gives you better options for the money.

C. Eat at CityWalk Between Park Visits

Because you enter and exit the original parks through CityWalk, you can pop out for a real lunch at a place like Cowfish or Toothsome and head right back in. It’s the closest thing Universal has to a dining hack now that the plan is gone.

Is a Universal Dining Plan Worth it?

It’s a moot point now, since you can’t buy one. Back when it existed I had a hard time justifying it, and Disney’s plans were the only ones I’d sometimes talk myself into. Pay out of pocket, use mobile order, and eat at CityWalk. You’ll come out fine.

Three Broomsticks going from disney to universal

FAQ: Combining Universal and Disney World

How many days do you need for Universal now that Epic Universe is open?

Two days handle Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure comfortably. Add a third full day if you want to experience Epic Universe properly. Three park days is now a realistic ceiling for most families, where two used to be the practical max.

Does the free hotel Express Pass work at Epic Universe?

No. The complimentary Universal Express Unlimited that comes with a Premier hotel stay is good at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure only. It does not cover Epic Universe, Volcano Bay, or Halloween Horror Nights. Plan your Epic day around rope drop or buy that park’s Express separately.

How far is Universal from Disney World?

About nine miles, mostly along I-4. Without traffic that’s roughly a 15-minute drive, which is why a split stay is so easy to pull off. Uber, Lyft, a Mears shuttle, or a rental car all work.

How much do Universal tickets cost?

Universal uses date-based pricing, so there’s no single number. As a 2026 starting point, single-day adult tickets begin around $124 for Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure and around $139 for Epic Universe, climbing on busier dates. Always check current pricing, and look at multi-day tickets if you want all three parks.

Should you do Universal or Disney first?

If you have Universal Express Unlimited from a Premier hotel, doing Universal first lets you use it the day you check in and the day you check out, then move to Disney after. That’s usually the smoothest order. Either way, don’t switch hotels in the middle of your trip.

Final Thoughts – Adding Universal to Your Disney Vacation

Should you visit Universal or Disney World? Why not both?

Universal Orlando is our jam. There is a lot to do, the theming is detailed and unique, and you can skip the lines if you are willing to pay extra. With Epic Universe in the mix, the resort can finally hold us for three full park days instead of two, and the only thing that still caps our week is that the motion sickness becomes too much to bear now that we are old. A split stay at Disney World and Universal is the perfect solution.

Adding Universal to your Disney vacation is a great way to experience it without flying to Orlando just for a two-day trip, and with a brand-new park added it’s a stronger yes than it used to be. Take a Universal and Disney vacation. You will not regret it.

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The Best Water Rides at Universal Orlando Resort

Water Rides in Disney World: From Worst to First

EPCOT Rides by Age: The Offerings for Each Age Group

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59 Comments

  1. Love this! I have never been to universal in Florida but I want to! I did really enjoy Californias though and wanted to live in Harry Potter World Forever.

  2. I totally agree with the Universal dining plan. If you compare the other Universal Studios with it, it is not compatibe and now worth it.
    Still I will suggest to pay a visit to Disney World Orlando. It should be on the vacation list.

  3. Wow… I am saving this for later. My kids would love this. Thanks for writing such a detailed post. I went to Universal as a kid, but I‚Äôd love to go to both.

  4. I used to think I was a Disney gal, but my first time visiting Universal in Japan has me sold on their parks! The rides were so much fun, and I found that they did just as good of a job with theme creation as Disney does. Disney certainly has its magic, but Universal is definitely worthwhile! Thanks for sharing such a detailed description of it!

  5. These pictures are awesome! I loved Universal Studios in California and completely agree it should be added to the Disney trip! Especially for grown folks. The Jurassic Park ride is awesome. And I love the idea of the child swap program. I had no idea!

  6. We did a California Universal/Disney trip in 2018. Definitely agree that it would be difficult to fill an entire week with just one park. An Orlando vacation is on our “must-do” list, and we will most likely do another multi-park visit. Thanks for the helpful advice!

  7. Great piece. I agree that Universal is totally worth adding to a Disney trip! For a family, one day is perfect as you can see everyone’s favorites while not having to rush like crazy.

    Harry Potter World is worth it alone! Get a wand! Your kids will love it.

  8. Excellent article. I’ve been to both Universal Studios and Universal Orlando and enjoyed them both. I was once engaged to a movie and TV actress so the entire process of making movies is interesting to me. I’m always amazed at how technology has changed movie-making (example: the effects in the original Star Wars vs. the effects in the sequels of today). The rides and exhibits just add to the experience, and your detailed descriptions make it that much easier to navigate the experience.

  9. Thanks for the amazing and detailed information! I look forward to taking the kids one day when we can travel internationally again!

  10. I’m actually so glad that I went to Universal while I was visiting Disney. I loved all of the rides and felt that it was a bit more age appropriate for me!

  11. We did the VIP Experience at Universal Orlando a few years ago, and it was the best thing we ever did. We were going on a Disney Cruise and only had one day to visit the park. We were able to pack everything in and were treated like royalty. The most impressive part of Universal Orlando for us was all of the Harry Potter stuff. We took our kids to buy robes in Diagon Alley and took the train to Hogsmead. It really felt like you were there, and the Universal staff played along. My son lost his wand on a train, and a Universal Employee took him over to Ollivander’s to pick out a new one. It was the best experience ever, and I highly recommend it. Thank you for this post. It brought back great memories.

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