Disney World Vs. Universal Orlando

Disney World Vs. Universal Orlando

Disney World Vs. Universal Orlando

This article is your ultimate guide to Disney World Vs. Universal Orlando! These two theme parks are located in Orlando, Florida, with incredible rides, resorts, restaurants, and shopping experiences for guests. We’re here to help you know the differences, like how you’ll find Harry Potter at Universal and Star Wars at Disney World!

So, if you want to learn more about Disney vs. Universal, keep reading.

We hope you find this post helpful! Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next Universal Orlando vacation!  If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando, check out the latest deals on Universal Orlando vacation packages and our discounted Universal Orlando tickets, which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you need help picking the best time to visit Orlando for your next vacation, be sure to check out our Orlando crowd calendar!

 Orlando Crowd Calendar

Disney World Vs. Universal Orlando Basics

Main Differences Between Disney and Universal

• Number of Parks: Disney has four theme parks and two water parks; Universal features THREE (brand new Epic Universe opens May 22nd, 2025) as of  theme parks and Volcano Bay water park
• Who is it for: Disney caters to families and younger children; Universal appeals to thrill-seekers and older kids.
• Attraction Types: Disney is known for magical, family-friendly rides; Universal boasts high-thrill rides and immersive lands.
  • Universal Orlando’s Top Attractions – Hagrid’s Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure, Velocicoaster, Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts, The Incredible Hulk Coaster, Revenge of the Mummy
  • Disney World’s Top Attractions: Pirates of the Caribbean, Rise of the Resistance, Haunted Mansion, Avatar Flight of Passage, Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind
• Theming: Disney’s parks are themed around classic characters and stories; Universal focuses on adventure and film franchises.
  • Lands in Disney World: Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, The World Showcase, Pandora: World of Avatar
  • Lands in Universal Orlando: Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Diagon Alley & Hogsmeade, Ministry of Magic), Jurassic Park, Seuss Landing (Epic Universe – How to Train Your Dragon, Super Nintendo World, and more)
• Hotels: Disney offers a wide range of on-site accommodations; Universal’s hotels generally provide more budget-friendly options with perks like Express Passes.
• Pricing: Disney Tickets start at $119 per day and, Universal Orlando tickets start at $119 per day
• Length of Stay: A complete Disney experience suggests a 6-7 day stay; Universal can typically be fully enjoyed in 5-6 days.

As a general rule of thumb, we typically recommend Disney World for families with children ages 3-8 who are looking for milder rides compared to Universal Orlando, which is a better fit for families with kids ages eight and up who love thrill rides. We also find that Universal Orlando has typically always been cheaper than Disney World and provides some amazing additional benefits, such as free Universal Express passes at their premier hotels.  However, on the flip side, Disney World does typically offer better parades and nightly fireworks, as well as the very popular Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, Pandora: World of Avatar, and Toy Story Land, to name a few.

Related Page: Universal Studios Orlando Vs Disney’s Hollywood Studios 

How Many Days When Visiting Universal vs Disney World?

We have covered this in detail in a few of our blog posts however, we feel the best way to see everything Walt Disney World has to offer is to plan at least 6- 7 days for your vacation. However, deciding how many days you need for Universal seems to be a bit easier as it’s smaller compared to Disney.

This will change with the brand new theme park, Epic Universe coming, which is one of the largest theme parks to date! We are assuming that with Universal Orlando’s three theme parks and water park, guests are going to need a full 5 days to enjoy all there is!

How many days to spend at Disney World Vs. Universal Orlando?

• Ideal Disney World Stay 6-7 days
• Ideal Universal Orlando Stay 5-6 days

Related Article: Complete Guide to Universal Orlando Early Admission! 

Disney World Vs. Universal Orlando Prices

Recently, Universal has cheaper than Disney in almost every category, from tickets to theme park food, and the most noticeable being hotel rooms. And not only are the Universal hotels cheaper, but we feel like guests receive more amenities for free at Universal vs Disney World.

It’s also important to note that although one-day ticket prices are similar, Universal Orlando multi-day tickets are cheaper than Walt Disney World tickets. Guests really start to see the savings once you get to the 3 or 4 day tickets to Universal, especially when Universal Orlando tends to run deals like buy 3 days, get 2 for free! Single-day tickets are very comparable for the two parks, so keep that in mind!

To be fair, no matter which one you pick the Universal Studios vs Disney World prices will not be cheap wben it comes to tickets.

Disney World Starting Ticket Prices:

A single day ticket for Walt Disney World will start at $119 per day!

• 1-Day Disney World Base Ticket: $119.00 per day
• 2-Day Disney World Base Ticket: $125.00 per day
• 3-Day Disney World Base Ticket: $124.00 per day
• 4-Day Disney World Base Ticket: $120.00 per day
• 5-Day Disney World Base Ticket: $104.00 per day

Universal Orlando Starting Ticket Prices:

Universal Orlando tickets start at $119 per day

• 1-Day Universal Orlando Base Ticket: $119.00 per day
• 2-Day Universal Orlando Base Ticket: $116.00 per day
• 3-Day Universal Orlando Base Ticket: $115.00 per day
• 4-Day Universal Orlando Base Ticket: $75.25 per day
• 5-Day Universal Orlando Base Ticket: $63.60 per day

As you can see when comparing Disney vs Universal prices, Universal Orlando is cheaper as soon as you get past the standard one-day ticket. And they continue to go down in price significantly up until the 5-day ticket, while Disney stays almost exactly the same. It is important to note that the Disney World tickets do continue to scale down on a cost-per-day basis if you do stay for 7-10 days.

Also as another helpful tip when comparing the cost of Disney World vs. Universal, we suggest using our Orlando crowd calendar to see what time of the year is best to vacation.

Epic Universe Ticket Pricing

Universal Orlando Resort is offering multi-day passes that include one day of Epic Universe admission. These passes also include entry to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure on other days. The only way to get single day tickets to Epic Universe, as of right now, is to be an Annual Passholder for a ticket!

• 3 Day – 3 Park Single Park Tickets (One Day Universal Studios, One Day Islands of Adventure, One Day Epic Universe) – Starting $117.33
• 3 Day – 3 Park Multi Park Tickets (Two Park to Park Days at Universal Studio & Islands of Adventure, One Single Day Epic Universe) Starting at $137.34
• 3 Day – 4 Park Multi Park Tickets (2 days to move freely between Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay and 1 Day at Epic Universe) Starting at $150.67

Is Universal or Disney Cheaper?

While both Disney World and Universal Studios provide unforgettable experiences, if you’re deciding between Disney or Universal based on budget, Universal Orlando often emerges as the more wallet-friendly option. Though Disney World boasts a vast array of parks and attractions, the overall cost can be steeper. In contrast, Universal Studios, while more compact, offers competitive pricing without compromising on the quality of experiences. The price difference becomes even more apparent when considering ticket bundles, dining, and accommodation. However, it’s worth noting that the exact cost advantage of Universal Studio vs Disney World can fluctuate based on seasonal promotions and specific package deals. Always keep an eye out for special offers, but if cost-effectiveness is a priority, Universal Orlando typically holds the edge

Related post: How to Get Cheap Universal Orlando Tickets

Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass Vs. Universal Express Passes

Both of the Skip the Line services at Disney and Universal have pros and cons. Disney’s system has changed many times of the years and is now the Lightning Lane system, with the multipass and the premier options. Disney’s Lightning Lane options include the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which provides one-time entry to each Lightning Lane attraction in a single park for the day, with prices ranging from $129 to $449 per day, depending on the park and date. Disney also offers the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, allowing guests to pre-select up to three specific attractions with set arrival windows, and the Lightning Lane Single Pass, offering entry to a single attraction with a reserved arrival time.

The Universal express pass, however, is an add-on option that can be purchased with your Universal Orlando tickets.The Express Passes are expensive and, in some cases, can be more expensive than the actual price of tickets for that day. Guests can purchase two options, which include riding one ride per day or an unlimited option. We do feel like this can be a great choice for guests who are looking to get as much done as they can if they only have one or two days to visit the parks. Guests can also take advantage of some great deals on Universal Orlando Express Pass combo tickets. And, of course, there are also certain on-site Universal Orlando hotels that include express passes at no additional cost!

Related Page: Is the Universal Orlando Express Pass Worth it? 

Universal Orlando Vs.Disney World Vacation Packages

Both resorts offer packages to make your vacation as affordable and fun as possible. When looking at Disney World vacation packages vs. Universal packages, consider looking into their dining plans, hotel and airfare deals, and other little offers that may be included. We have found that every family has something unique that matters most to them and both resorts offer something for every group. Below are some of the most common factors when choosing which vacation package to choose:

• Hotels: We would pick the Universal Orlando hotels as we feel they give more value, especially in terms of room size and benefits such as express passes.
• Dining Plan:  Universal has still not brought back their dining plan, so we have to go with Disney World.
• Transportation: Although Disney has some of the most iconic transportation options between the monorail and the Skyliner, we feel Universal is simply more convenient. The resort is smaller, which means it takes less time to get around.
• Pools: Although we love the pools at Universal, the theming of the Walt Disney World pools is on another level. This was an easy one!

Related Page: The Best Disney World Value Hotels 

Comparing Character Meet & Greets

This is actually one of the hidden wildcards when trying to decide if you should visit Disney World or Universal Orlando! As you probably guessed the character experiences at both parks are very different as both companies own different intellectual property. However, on the plus side here, this really is simply a personal preference as you will meet some amazing characters no matter which parks you visit. Disney is well known for their most popular characters including Mickey, Donald, Minnie, and goofy as well as some of your favorite characters from the newest Disney and Pixar movies. Guests at Universal will be able to meet SpongeBob, the Simpsons, the Minions, and even some famous Marvel superheroes!

Overall, we would have to give the edge to Disney for the simple fact that they host so many different meet-and-greets that you’ll never run out of characters to visit. Guests can also attend one of the special events such as the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party for special character interactions.

Related Page: Guide to all Disney World Character Meet and Greets 

Who Has Better Food, Universal or Disney World?

One of the perennial debates when comparing Disney World vs Universal Orlando is: who takes the crown for the best culinary delights? Both Universal Orlando and Disney World have some amazing restaurants. Yet, based on our personal experiences and the buzz among visitors, Disney World often claims the title of hosting the best restaurants in Orlando. This is very obvious as Disney World dining reservations are typically some of the hardest in all of Orlando to get. And we believe a significant factor is Disney’s renowned table-service dining options, notably the sought-after character dining experiences. In contrast, while Universal Orlando offers delectable table-service options, they often come with a friendlier price tag. For instance, a lavish meal at Disney’s Be Our Guest restaurant in Magic Kingdom might set you back more than a delightful feast at the acclaimed Mythos in Islands of Adventure.

What are some of the best restaurants in Disney World?

We do have an entire guide on the best restaurants in Disney World, but here are some of our favorites:

• Garden Grill
• Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Topolino Terrace
• Hoop Dee Doo Revue

What are some of the best restaurants in Universal Orlando?

• The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar
• Vivo Italian Kitchen
• Hard Rock Cafe
• Bigfire

Related Page: Complete Guide to the Best Restaurants in Universal Citywalk 

Disney Springs or Universal CityWalk

When weighing the options of Disney World vs Universal Orlando, nightlife is a pivotal factor for many travelers, especially for adults seeking a blend of entertainment and relaxation. Both Disney and Universal shine with their vibrant outdoor dining, shopping, and entertainment hubs. Universal Orlando boasts the lively CityWalk, while Walt Disney World invites guests to the sprawling Disney Springs. But when it comes to a head-to-head comparison of Disney World or Universal Studios in terms of entertainment districts, which one truly stands out? Both venues offer stellar entertainment, from movie theaters and bowling alleys to mini-golf and top-tier restaurants.

However, Disney Springs slightly edges out with its more extensive array of dining and shopping experiences. It’s conceivable to spend an entire day immersed in the offerings of Disney Springs. In contrast, maximizing Universal’s CityWalk might require a more planned effort to experience everything. For this reason we do believe that Disney Springs has the advantage here.

Related Article: The Best Disney Springs Quick Service Restaurants