The epic question of Walt Disney World vs. Universal Orlando can lead to many opinions between serious theme park fans. While the answer depends on what type of vacation you are looking for and who you are traveling with, there are a few big differences between Disney World and Universal. Today we break it down to help you decide between a Disney World or Universal Orlando vacation.
So what is the better park Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando. As a big fan of both parks I will never choose! They each offer a different theme park vacation experience. In certain categories Disney World is better and in others Universal Orlando wins.
At the end of the day, why do we have to choose? I think there is a better option. I love both. Each theme parks has some incredible offerings that no theme park fan should miss. We don’t typically do both in one vacation, more on why later, but we really enjoy vacationing at both for different reasons.
In this article I am going to break down the big differences and let you decide if you are looking for a Disney World or Universal vacation. Better yet you could always plan a Disney World and Universal Orlando trip.
Ready to dive deeper? Read our complete Universal Orlando Guide and Walt Disney World Guide for everything you need to plan either vacation.
- Disney World vs. Universal Orlando- What is the Difference
- Compare Disney World and Universal Orlando
- Cost of Disney World vs. Universal Orlando
- Dining Options at Universal Orlando vs. Disney World
- Attractions at Disney World vs. Universal Orlando
- Age of Travel Party
- Split Stay Disney World and Universal Orlando
- Final Thoughts
This post contains affiliate links.
Disney World vs. Universal Orlando- What is the Difference
To get started you need to know a little about the difference between Universal Orlando and Disney World. They are both large resorts with Disney World being much bigger. Neither offer complimentary transportation to and from the Orlando Airport but there are paid services like Mears that can take you to either.
Walt Disney World has four theme parks, two water parks, over 30 hotels and a dining/shopping area. Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom are the theme parks. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are the water parks.
There are hotels on any budget and they are split into categories value, moderate, and deluxe. Disney Springs is the dining and shopping area. There are internal buses and other transportation at Disney World like boats and the Disney Skyliner that will transport you to and from the parks. Some resorts are close enough to walk to some of the theme parks.
Universal Orlando has three theme parks: Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe. They have a water park: Volcano Bay and a dining/shopping area Universal’s CityWalk.
There are also around 11 resorts. The Universal Endless Summer Surfside and Universal Endless Summer Dockside are in the value category, Cabana Bay is in the moderate category, and Hard Rock Hotel is in the deluxe category. Each offers transportation to and from the parks or you can walk.
Now that you know what each park has we can get into the details of the parks.
Compare Disney World and Universal Orlando
There are basic categories to look at and compare when you are deciding on a any vacation. They are cost, accommodations, attractions, dining, and if the destination is a good fit for your travel party.
Cost of Disney World vs. Universal Orlando
Is it cheaper to go to Universal or Disney World? Honestly they cost about the same.
Based on personal experience we have found better special offers and deals at Universal Orlando for tickets and hotels, but recently Disney World has been offering great deals too. I always spend time comparing prices for each theme park resort as well as checking different places for deals.
Ticket prices for both parks typically start on average around $140.00 a day. This varies based on time of visit and how many days you plan to visit the parks.
My suggestion, use the links below to check your dates, compare them to each other and the Universal and Disney sites to find the best deal. It takes a little extra work but if you want to save money it is worth it.
Book Universal Orlando Tickets →
Book Disney World Tickets →
Dining Options at Universal Orlando vs. Disney World
Disney World and Universal have dining options to meet the needs of guests appetites’ and budgets. The dining options are themed and go beyond typical theme park food.
Walt Disney World is a larger resort and does offer more dining options because of that, but Universal Orlando has great choices as well. Both theme parks have options for quick service and sit down meals. It is recommended that you make reservations for any sit down meals at both parks.
At Disney World you make make reservations 60 days in advance and some places will immediately sell out. Keep trying because cancellations happen often.
At Universal you can make reservations 30 days in advance and can usually find a table a week before your trip.
Mobile ordering is also offered at both parks, although they do them a bit differently. At Walt Disney World you can order directly from the My Disney Experience app before arriving at the restaurant. At Universal you scan a QR code at a table once you have arrived at the restaurant and use the Universal Orlando app to continue with your order.
Costs for dining are comparable. Disney is a little less for their quick service dining and a lot more for their table service dining. We find both theme parks to have a great selection of casual dining for our family.
Attractions at Disney World vs. Universal Orlando
There are so many attractions at Disney World and Universal Orlando. Both parks have thrilling attractions, although Universal Orlando has more intense rides than Disney World.
At Disney World you will find attractions themed to Disney characters like Toy Story, Frozen, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avatar, and classics like Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean.
At Universal Orlando you will find a mix of Universal character like Minions, DreamWorks, Classic Monsters as well as How to Train Your Dragon and Super Nintendo.
One of the biggest misconceptions is about Harry Potter and Star Wars. Harry Potter is at the Universal Parks. Star Wars is at the Disney World parks, more specifically Hollywood Studios.
Age of Travel Party
If you are traveling with very young children Disney World may be a better choice for your vacation. There are many characters to meet and attractions for small children to enjoy.
There are more rides at Disney World without ride height requirements, meaning younger kids will have more attractions they can enjoy. Don’t let that discourage you from visiting Universal with younger kids. We started visiting when my youngest was 5 and we always found attractions and activities for us all to enjoy.
Universal does have areas for younger kids like Seuss Landing but there are more height requirements at the Universal parks than there are at Disney World. The attractions at Universal are also a bit scarier than Disney so keep that in mind when visiting.
Split Stay Disney World and Universal Orlando
Often people ask about doing a split stay at Disney World and Universal Orlando and if cost is a factor in your vacation planning I usually discourage it. The reason is because of how they structure the ticket prices.
At both Disney and Universal the more days you visit the parks the less per day you pay. Prices vary depending on the date of your visit.
Disney World Pricing Scale (October 2026)
Universal Orlando Pricing Scale (October 2026)
The more days you plan on staying at one theme park the less you will pay per day, making it enticing to stay your entire vacation at one resort.
If you plan on visiting Orlando more than once you may benefit from purchasing a Universal annual pass for your first trip and then using it during a Disney World vacation for your next trip. This has allowed us to off set costs for multiple theme park trips. Annual Passholders also receive hotel discounts saving us even more money.
Another thing to consider when planning a split stay at Universal and Disney World is transportation needs. Be prepared to rent a car or take an uber to move between the parks and resorts if you are planning to do both.
I like to do both theme park resorts when we can but when we are on a tight budget choosing one over the other is the better option.
Final Thoughts
When comparing Walt Disney World to Universal Orlando one is not necessarily better than the other and I think that is a great thing! Each year brings new themed lands and attractions.
They continue to push the immersive and innovative attractions and provide constant entertainment and enjoyment for our theme park vacations.
Plan your Universal Orlando trip: Universal Orlando Guide
Plan your Disney World trip: Walt Disney World Guide
Do both: Disney World and Universal in One Trip
Want to hear more from me? Subscribe to my newsletter where I share the latest posts from the blog, plus destination and theme park news I am excited about. It is like a coffee chat delivered to your inbox. 🙂
Thank you for reading my post! This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Although we try to provide the most up-to-date prices, we do not guarantee prices listed on our site. At times we are compensated or hosted by destination and brands. All opinions are honest and my own. If you would like to learn about how I work with affiliate partners you can read more here.
Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.