I prefer Universal Studios in Orlando over Disney World. Here's why.

Publish date: 2024-07-20

2021-11-10T18:06:07Z

Whenever I'm in Orlando, I almost always choose Universal Studios over any Disney Park.
Universal has better thrill rides, and the park highlights more modern and mature movie franchises.
Universal Studios is smaller, but that's actually a plus because it's much more manageable.

When I was a kid, my parents always took me to Orlando to spend a day at Disney World and another day at Universal Studios.

As I grew up, I realized I had started to love Universal more than any of the parks at Disney World. To this day, I still prefer the movie-themed rides at Universal over the fantasy land that is Disney, especially because I travel with other adults and no children. Although the parks are generally comparable in price, there are some pretty big differences that make me love Universal slightly more.

Here's are five reasons why I prefer Universal, and why you should head there on your next trip to Florida.

At Universal, the rides are more adult-friendly and more thrilling

Whenever I'm at Disney World, I feel like many of the rides are the same — basically, you sit in a vehicle that moves through elaborate sets. I find it can get tiresome fast, and that's because the majority of the park — especially Magic Kingdom — is designed for children.

It's designed to entertain, not to thrill.

Of course, there are rides at Disney for older thrill-seekers, but in my opinion, Universal just does it better. The majority of the rides are roller coasters or fast-paced. In fact, the most famous rides at Universal, like The Mummy and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, have height requirements, suggesting the park is less for younger children.

There are more thrill rides at Universal. Roberto Machado Noa/Getty Images

Even the vibes are edgier and more adventurous at Universal than Disney, where it feels more fairytale-focused. Of course, it depends what you're looking for, but I go to an amusement park for thrills and fun, and that's what Universal provides.

Universal Studios' attractions are inspired by more mature movie franchises

Disney World has rides that stir up nostalgia for some of the best childhood movies, like "Cinderella," "Toy Story," and "Star Wars." But most of the movies featured throughout the Disney parks are for children.

Universal, on the other hand, highlights more adult-friendly, action-packed franchises like "Fast and the Furious, "Transformers," and "Harry Potter." I think this also makes the park feel more updated and modern.

Plus, Universal has Marvel rides, like The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk Coaster, despite the fact that Disney owns Marvel. That means you even get a taste of Disney at Universal, too.

More mature movies are featured at Universal. Roberto Machado Noa/Getty Images

Although Universal is significantly smaller, it's more manageable

Disney World consists of four parks (not including the water parks) and sprawls out over 25,000 acres. You have to take shuttle buses to go from park to park because Disney is so expansive. Meanwhile, Universal has two parks (also not including the water park) and covers just over 540 acres. The two parks at Universal sit right next to each other, and you can walk from one to the other whenever you choose.

Whenever I go to Universal and buy the Park-to-Park tickets, I love being able to go from Universal Studios to Islands of Adventure without much hassle. At Disney, it's always so much more work.

Hard Rock Cafe at Universal City Walk. Roberto Machado Noa/Getty Images

At the end of the day, Universal feels much more manageable and you can do everything in one day. I think Disney World is too big to manage in a single day, which means you will have to shell out significantly more money to experience everything.

For me, Universal's CityWalk is better than Disney Springs — and it's easier to get to

Disney Springs is where you will find restaurants, bars, and outdoor shops, and it's located about a 15-minute drive from Magic Kingdom. Meanwhile, Universal's City Walk is located just outside the two Universal parks and you even have to walk through it to get to the rides.

I love going to Universal for a fun dining experience at places like Hard Rock Cafe or Margaritaville and then going out to enjoy the bars and nightlife. But at Disney Springs, the main thing to do is go shopping, and I can do that back home.