15 Reasons We’re CHEATING on Disney World

Is Disney World truly the king of the theme park experience?

Disney World may have a new ride and expansion on the way, but that doesn’t mean it just inherently gets to retain the throne when it comes to the Game of Theme Parks. In fact, one could argue that Universal Orlando Resort is the superior theme park experience…

We must preface this by saying that whichever theme park resort you prefer is totally up to you and there are no right or wrong answers! However, we’ve come up with 15 reasons why Universal Orlando might be better than Disney World. Let’s take a look!

1. THE QUICK SERVICE IS CATCHING UP TO DISNEY

While Universal isn’t known for its quick service meals, it has been upping its game as of late and has some spots that are just as good, if not better than, some of Disney World’s offerings. It also has some great snacks scattered throughout the parks.

One of our favorite spots is Illumination’s Minion Cafe — a casual cafe with three themed areas in the restaurant designed after Minions Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto. The restaurant has plenty of seating, air conditioning, and a great menu.

2. THE RIDES ARE A BLAST

It’s true that Universal has some duds (looking at you Fast & Furious: Supercharged and Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon), but the number of FANTASTIC rides greatly outweighs the number of bad ones.

Rides like VelociCoaster, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Revenge of the Mummy, and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts are ELITE attractions and better than a lot of the rides at Disney World.

Universal indisputably offers more thrills than Disney World but still has rides the whole family can enjoy! We expect that gap to widen when Universal’s Epic Universe opens in 2025.

UPDATE: 6 Exciting Universal Epic Universe Rides See NEW Construction Changes!

3. MANY FUN AND FAMOUS CHARACTERS

Shrek is here, and that’s all that matters!

Universal has many fun and interactive character meet-and-greets. You can meet characters from Shrek, the Transformers franchise, Beetlejuice, baby raptors from the Jurassic Park/World franchise, and many more! Universal truly offers unique character experiences you just can’t find at Disney World.

EVERY Character in Universal Studios Orlando

4. SOME FANTASTIC TABLE SERVICE

A misconception about Universal Orlando is that it doesn’t have any good table-service restaurants. WRONG!

Confisco Grille is one of our absolute favorites and Mythos Restaurant in Universal’s Islands of Adventure is an award-winning dining experience. We really enjoy the food variety and quality of Universal’s table-service restaurants!

5. TONS TO DO

Despite being smaller than Disney World, there is PLENTY to do at Universal Orlando.

From interactive wand magic at both Harry Potter lands to Camp Jurassic at Islands of Adventure, Universal is more than just rides and shows. You can even explore the Jurassic Park Discovery Center, Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, Hogwarts, and Hogsmeade! That list will only grow when Epic Universe opens.

3 Top Secret Places in Universal Studios Orlando

6. RIDING RIDES AT UNIVERSAL IS EASIER

Riding attractions at Universal is a lot easier than getting on rides at Disney World, especially if you visit on a weekday.

In addition to wait times being generally shorter, Universal also offers the Universal Express Pass. This pass lets you skip the general queue and can be unlimited or one-time use per ride (depending on which pass you get) and can be bought or included in a hotel stay. Easier to understand than Genie+, this front-of-the-line method really speeds up a day and makes it possible to ride everything in a single visit.

How Much Will Express Pass Cost at Universal’s Epic Universe?

7. UNIVERSAL IS NOT LIMITED TO A ONE-DAY VISIT

Another common misconception is that Universal can be done in one day. This is true if you buy an Express Pass, don’t want to ride many rides, and are willing to empty your bank account.

Instead, we recommend spending two to three days at the resort, especially if you want to visit the magnificent Volcano Bay Water Park. This trip will also need to be extended once Epic Universe opens. In short, Universal offers something truly unique at each park and is quickly growing. It absolutely is a destination vacation.

I HATE Water Parks, But I Love Universal’s Volcano Bay — Here’s Why

8. YOU DON’T NEED A BIG BAG AT UNIVERSAL

Universal’s ride locker system is unforgiving toward big bags, so traveling light is typically the way to go.

We like to pack light during our Universal days and not only is it more freeing, but it’s also not a problem! You really only need to carry the essentials and it saves you from overpacking. We recommend fanny packs or small bags, as both have done the trick for us.

The Best Bag For Universal Studios

9. THE LOCKERS ARE FREE

We already mentioned how the ride lockers at Universal are small, but they’re also free.

You can’t take your bags onto most rides thrill rides for safety purposes (trust us, that’s a good thing), so you will be storing your stuff in these complimentary lockers. Usually next to the attraction, these guys are convenient for storing bags and loose items.

A Complete List of Rides You Can’t Carry Bags On at Universal Orlando

10. INSANE WATER RIDES

Universal takes water rides to a whole new level.

Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls and Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges in Toon Lagoon will soak you but not for nothing — the rides are thrilling and a ton of fun! Other water rides like Jurassic Park River Adventure also offer a thrilling experience where you’re sure to get soaked.

11. THE IMMERSION IS UNPARALLELED

Disney World has some great immersive experiences, but Universal is on another level.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, immersive ride queues, Isla Nublar, Marvel Super Hero Island — heck, the entirety of Islands of Adventure. Universal has put a major emphasis on immersion as of late that will only continue with Epic Universe.

NEWS: 5 THEMED LANDS CONFIRMED for Universal’s Epic Universe

12. SINGLE RIDER LINES

Universal has way more single-rider lines than Disney World, simply put.

Our experience with single-rider lines are also pretty positive, with waits usually averaging out to less than 10 minutes during less busy times of the year.

13. ELITE SHOWS

Universal has some shows that eclipse those from Disney World. Yeah, we said it.

One of the best theme park shows anywhere is The Bourne Stuntacular and a few others include the Horror Make-Up Show and the street atmosphere shows. The best part is that most of the shows are drive-by experiences where you don’t have to over-plan and show up a half hour to an hour before the show starts.

14. COOL SEASONAL EVENTS

This might be controversial, but Universal just might have the better seasonal events.

If you’re all about the scares, Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights delivers each year and is an incredibly popular event. Universal also kills it each year with its Christmas and Mardi Gras events!

Why Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights Will Be DIFFERENT This Year

15. CityWalk

CityWalk is smaller than Disney Springs, but that doesn’t mean it’s short on fun things to do.

CityWalk beats Disney World when it comes to nightlife, hands down. It features tons of lounges and bars, karaoke, an escape room experience, a Voodoo Donuts, and Cowfish!

The Best Restaurants At Universal Orlando CityWalk

While picking between Disney World and Universal Orlando is totally subjective, we think there’s a fair debate to be made for both sides. Let us know which side you’re teaming up with and follow us for Disney World and Universal news, tips, reviews, and more!

Is Universal Orlando better than Disney World? Are they equal? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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