Disney World or Universal? Here’s How I Compare Them, As a Local Passholder
👉 Jump to: Which is Better? | Feature Comparison Chart | Final Verdict | FAQs
One of the most common questions I get when friends are planning a trip to Orlando is “Should we visit Disney World or Universal?” My usual answer is to try to combine both, but only do both if you have a long enough visit to truly enjoy everything. To decide Disney vs Universal, it really comes down to preferences.
Let me preface by saying that Disney World and Universal Orlando are both awesome resorts. I have been a pass holder at one or the other (and sometimes both at the same time!) for most of my life.
Here’s what you need to know to pick for yourself!
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Which is Better, Disney or Universal?
Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando are both fun vacation destinations for families, adults, and groups. Families with younger children often prefer Disney World, and adults are more drawn to Universal Orlando. Overall, Walt Disney World is a better resort because it offers more things to do, restaurants, and places to stay.
If you have enough time, you can combine both Disney World and Universal in one trip. But, if you have to decide and still can’t, keep reading for more differences between the two. First, let’s start with an overview of each:
Overview of Walt Disney World
- 🎡 4 theme parks
- ⛲ 2 water parks
- 🏨 25+ Disney hotels
- 🚌 Complimentary bus, boat, Skyliner, and monorail transportation
- ✨ 55+ attractions with no height requirements
- 🎢 9 rollercoasters
- ⛳ Disney Springs, The Boardwalk, 4 miniature golf courses, and 4 golf courses
- 🧞♂️ Genie+ and Lightning Lanes (additional cost)
- 🍽️ 80+ table service restaurants
Overview of Universal Orlando
- 🎡 2 theme parks (3rd opening in 2025)
- ⛲ 1 water park
- 🏨 8 hotels (2 more opening in 2025)
- 🚌 Complimentary bus and boat transportation
- ✨ 12 attractions with no height requirements
- 🎢 8 rollercoasters
- ⛳ CityWalk, 2 miniature golf courses
- ⛔ Express Pass (additional cost)
- 🍽️ 23 table service restaurants
Walt Disney World is Best For:
- 👨👩👧 Families with young children and infants
- ✨ Immersive vacation experience
- 💖 Romantic weekend
Universal Orlando is Best For:
- 💸 Budget travelers
- 👨👩👧 Families with older children
- ✨ Thrill seekers
A More Detailed Comparison Chart
Disney and Universal actually share a lot of the same pros and cons. Oftentimes, it comes down to which place has your favorite characters and movies. However, sometimes the little details can help sway your decision.
| Feature | Walt Disney World | Universal Orlando | 🏆 Winner |
| Family Friendliness | Geared mostly towards children and families | Balances adult and child entertainment | Disney World |
| Hotels | 25+ hotels at various price points | 8 hotels for different budgets | Disney World |
| Transportation Options | Bus, boat, Skyliner, monorail, walking (complimentary) | Bus, boat, walking (complimentary) | Disney World |
| Dining Options | 100+ quick-service, 80+ table-service (including Michelin recommendations) | 80+ quick-service, 40+ table-service | Disney World |
| Fandoms/Characters | Disney, Marvel, Star Wars | Harry Potter, DreamWorks, Dr. Seuss | Tie |
| Thrill Rides | Only a few options, most are family-friendly | Several rollercoasters and dark rides | Universal Orlando |
| Things to Do | 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, Disney Springs, and more | 2 theme parks, 1 water park, CityWalk | Disney World |
| Parking | Free to hotel guests, $30 per day at theme parks | $19-$33 per day for hotel guests, $32 per day at theme parks | Disney World |
| Line-skipping options | $20-40 for Genie+, $10+ for Individual Lightning Lanes | $80+ for Express Pass | Universal Orlando |
| Entertainment District | Disney Springs has family-friendly shopping, restaurants, and activities | CityWalk has shops, restaurants, and nightlife | Tie |
| Walkability | Only select Deluxe resorts are walkable to parks or Disney Springs | Most hotels are walkable to parks and CityWalk | Universal Orlando |
| Height Requirements | 55+ attractions with no height requirements | 12 attractions with no height requirements (many do not allow infants) | Disney World |
| Airport Transportation | Mears Connect $26-32 roundtrip from MCO | SuperStar Shuttle $29-39 roundtrip from MCO | Universal Orlando |
Ok, now let’s dive into a detailed discussion of each of these features:
Which is More Family-Friendly?
🏆 Winner: Disney World
Both Disney World and Universal Orlando Resorts have attractions for guests of all ages, but Disney definitely caters more to families. In addition to dozens of attractions with no height requirements, Disney also has lots of shows and entertainment for all ages.
Universal has some lands within their parts entirely themed for children, such as Minion Land at Universal Studios and Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure. Even so, it is disappointing that lap infants are not allowed on most rides.
As a toddler mom, we choose to spend our theme park time at Disney World because there are so many things we can do together as a family. You can read my guide to what to do at Disney World with a toddler for more ideas.
🏆 Winner: Disney World
Which Has Better Hotels?
🏆 Winner: Disney World
This really comes down to preference and budget. However, Disney World has over three times as many hotels as Universal, giving you plenty of diverse options. Disney also offers Vacation Club villas, which are a great choice for families who need a kitchenette and more space.
Staying at a Universal or Disney hotel also comes with perks. Universal hotel guests receive early admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and those staying at Premier level hotels receive free Express Passes.
Disney hotel guests enjoy early entry into the parks and an earlier booking window for dining reservations (many do book up quickly). Deluxe resort and DVC guests can also access extended evening hours at Epcot and Magic Kingdom on select nights.
At Disney, I love the Polynesian Village Resort, Port Orleans French Quarter Resort, and Coronado Springs Resort. At Universal, my favorite hotels are the Hard Rock Hotel and Sapphire Falls Resort.
🏆 Winner: Disney World
Are There Complimentary Transportation Options?
🏆 Winner: Disney World
Luckily for all guests, both Universal and Disney offer complimentary transportation between the hotels, entertainment districts, and parks.
Universal has bus transportation for all the hotels, and the Premier and Preferred hotels also have boat transportation. Most of the hotels are within walking distance of CityWalk and the parks.
I prefer Disney’s transportation options because, frankly, they are more fun. In addition to buses and boats, Disney also utilizes a monorail system and the Skyliner (gondolas) to connect several resorts and theme parks.
🏆 Winner: Disney World
Which Has Better Dining Options?
🏆 Winner: Disney World
Just in numbers alone, Disney takes the cake on dining options. There are so many places to choose from between snack stands, quick-service restaurants, and table-service dining. Whether you want a simple hamburger or a Michelin star meal, everything is delicious.
That is not to say that Universal doesn’t have good food. In my opinion, the food in the theme parks is average and fine to fuel your day. However, CityWalk has some fantastic restaurants! The Cowfish is a must-stop whenever I’m at Universal.
🏆 Winner: Disney World
What Characters Can I See?
🏆 Winner: Tie
As expected, characters from your favorite Disney movies can be found at the Disney theme parks. Some characters are available for meet and greets while others can be seen in shows or on attractions. Marvel and Star Wars characters are also found in the parks.
At Universal, the characters and lands are more diverse. Their lands include characters from NBC, DreamWorks, Harry Potter, Dr. Suess, and more. Even classic cartoon characters like Popeye and Scooby-Doo are at the parks.
Neither park wins in this category because it all depends on which characters you want to see! The biggest fandoms represented are Star Wars at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Harry Potter at both Universal Orlando parks.
🏆 Winner: Tie
Which Has More Thrill Rides?
🏆 Winner: Universal Orlando
Both resorts have about the same number of rollercoasters, but Universal definitely wins for thrill rides overall.
Disney has some rollercoasters and thrill rides but most are “muted down” to make them more family-friendly. The best thrill rides at Disney are Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Expedition Everest, and TRON Lightcycle Run.
On the other hand, Universal has tons of thrilling rides to get the blood pumping. Some of the best are The Incredible Hulk Coaster, the VelociCoaster, and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.
🏆 Winner: Universal Orlando
Which Has More Things to Do?
🏆 Winner: Disney World
Simply put, Disney World has more things to do than Universal Orlando. Disney has four theme parks and two water parks to Univeral’s two theme parks and one water park. This can be good or bad.
There is so much to do at Disney that some people feel overwhelmed trying to fit it all into their vacation. However, Universal is a more manageable destination for shorter (3-4 day) trips.
Regardless of which resort you visit, I always recommend NOT trying to do it all. Stressing and running between attractions isn’t fun for anyone, so focus on quality over quantity. I’ve planned an entire itinerary for Disney World to help you get started if you’re overwhelmed figuring out what to do with all the options available.
🏆 Winner: Disney World
How Much Does Parking Cost?
🏆 Winner: Disney World
At the theme parks, parking is about the same for Disney ($30/day) and Universal ($32/day). The biggest difference is for hotel guests.
Disney hotel guests get complimentary parking and not just at their hotels. If they choose to drive to the theme parks, they can park for free as well. I have an entire guide to parking at Disney that can help make things even easier!
Universal hotel guests will have a nightly parking fee of $19-$33.
In addition to the price of parking, I find Universal’s parking garages to be a pain. Universal uses one set of garages for CityWalk, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay water park.
You must take a bus to the water park after parking in the garage. Additionally, it is a long walk from the parking garages to the theme parks.
🏆 Winner: Disney World
What Are the Line-Skipping Options?
🏆 Winner: Universal Orlando
Disney and Universal have very different systems for their expedited wait time options.
Disney has Genie+, a service that costs $20-$40 per day. Using the My Disney Experience, you must book your Lightning Lane selections throughout the day. Popular rides get booked up fast, and you are not guaranteed a minimum number of Lightning Lanes. Guests can also buy Individual Lightning Lanes for select rides ($10+ per ride).
I think Universal’s Express Pass is a much better system. It costs substantially more than Genie+ at $80+ per day (can cost $200 or more on peak days), but it guarantees you the option to ride every single ride once.
Personally, I would rather pay more for the guarantee of shorter wait times for every single ride.
🏆 Winner: Universal Orlando
Which Has a Better Entertainment District?
🏆 Winner: Tie
Disney Springs is one of my favorite places to hang out. It has great shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment. It is very family-friendly and has diverse food options. Best of all, parking is free.
I think of CityWalk as Disney Springs’ edgier counterpart. It also has shops and restaurants, but it comes alive at night. There are several bars and lounges for adults to enjoy.
I would recommend Disney Springs for a daytime outing and CityWalk for an adults’ night out.
🏆 Winner: Tie
How Walkable Are the Resorts?
🏆 Winner: Universal Orlando
With how much walking people do at theme parks, it’s a surprise that anyone would want to get in more steps but some people do. I love walkable areas so I don’t have to wait on transportation.
There are a couple of walkable areas at Disney. For example, the Magic Kingdom has a walking trail to the three resorts around the lagoon. Disney’s Boardwalk hotels are connected to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Overall, many of the hotels and parks are not walkable and must be accessed by transportation.
At Universal, all but two of the hotels are connected to the parks by walking paths. However, guests at the farther resorts should plan for up to 30 minutes of walking each way.
In addition to the hotels, Universal’s two theme parks and CityWalk are all connected. This makes it easy to quickly walk between them.
🏆 Winner: Universal Orlando
How Many Attractions Do Not Have Height Requirements?
🏆 Winner: Disney World
A majority of the rides at Disney World (55+) do not have height requirements. This makes sense because the parks tend to be geared towards families and younger children.
In addition to the rides, Disney also has plenty of shows and entertainment options that are perfect for all ages to enjoy.
Universal only has 12 attractions with no height requirement. However, many of these require a guardian for guests under 48” and do not allow lap-sitting infants.
🏆 Winner: Disney World
Do Either Offer Airport Transportation?
🏆 Winner: Universal Orlando
Neither Disney nor Universal offers complimentary airport transfers, even though Disney did in the past.
Mears Connect costs $26-$32 roundtrip and will drop guests off at Disney hotels.
Universal has the SuperStar Shuttle for $29-39 roundtrip.
I have to give the win to Universal because their service is bookable with your vacation package.
🏆 Winner: Universal Orlando
Final Verdict
It is the easy way out, but I have to say – Disney and Universal are both fantastic! If I had to pick a winner, I would choose Disney World because it is larger and has more to offer for all kinds of travelers. Families with teenagers and thrill seekers will probably prefer Universal Orlando though.
FAQs
What is better for families?
Disney World is a better destination for families with young children. There are tons of attractions for all ages and heights. Universal Orlando has more thrill rides and is great for families with teenagers.
What is better for adults?
It depends. In general, Universal theme parks have more adult rides and focus than Disney. However, Disney also offers alcoholic beverages and some thrill rides.
What is better for a short trip?
Universal Orlando is a better place for a short trip to Orlando. Since there are fewer parks and attractions, you can see and do more during a short stay. Plus, the resort is fairly compact so it is easy to park hop.
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Overall, it is very easy for people to love both Disney World and Universal Orlando. The resorts are similar, but different enough to appeal to a wide variety of people. Be sure to check out my guide to all the best attractions in Orlando before you go!
