Clash of the Theme Parks Article - Universal vs. Disney

[Mainebound]

We love both, and have been going to Orlando annually for 9 years. I would not dream of an Orlando vacation without visiting Universal. But, having spent 7 nights at Universal a couple of summers ago, I found it was too much. We needed more after three days. WDW has 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, Downtown Disney, the Boardwalk, two mini golf courses, and tons of restaurants, especially when you add in all the resorts.

We love Universal but it has just the two parks. Sure, we can go to Wet and Wild or Sea World, and we have, but we feel like we're running all over town in a way that traveling the similar distance within the WDW borders does not. The eating at Universal was the biggest downfall of staying a week. With a couple of sterling exceptions (Mythos, for example) the restaurants are overall inferior to WDW restaurants in my family's opinion.

We believe both WDW and Universal offer outstanding theme park experiences and outstanding hotels and service. But Universal is just too small for us to spend a whole week.

That said, I love the competition because it is better for consumers when the parks try to outdo each other with new rides and services.

 

[buckeev]

For us, it's a total tie...I mean like 1-1 not 1-2. not even 1a-1b.

We have made only one Orlando trip as a WDW only trip, and it was tough to be in town knowing we didn't have time for US/IOA.
Now this upcoming summer trip may end up being a US/IOA only trip, but I'm still gonna probably do DTD Disney Quest with "The Boy"...he's a Pinball Wizzard! and maybe try to sneak into Chef Mickey's or some other non-park character meal.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I don't really think Universal can ever beat WDW as a vacation destination in regards to sheer economic value. I'm also sure Universal is doing just fine, and maybe they aren't even trying to overtake WDW in sales but just to carve out their own niche.

I like both of the parks, WDW and Universal, and they both get my money when I travel to Florida. However, this made me think and I decided to rank some things between the 2...

Hotels: Universal. I think you get more bang for your buck here. My preferred hotel is the Hard Rock, I think the rooms are nicer than the Deluxes at WDW and they don't cost as much. You also get the perk of 'front of the line' passes.

Transportation: WDW. But only because of the Magical Express, I like that you can walk from your Universal hotel to the parks and CityWalk.

Overall Theme: WDW. I love Adventureland, Fantasyland, AK's Africa and Asia, DHS (I seem to be the only one who loves that park), and the World Showcase.

Best Themed Land: Universal. WWOHP. I loooooove that place. I wish they would have added a whole third park full of it. Talk about Disney details, just look at all the shop windows (even the shop windows that don't actually have shops!).

Best Ride: Universal. Forbidden Journey....

Best Food: WDW. Just sheer variety and all the World Showcase country restaurants.

Best Table Restaurant: Scratch. I want to say WDW, but I have never eaten at Mythos so I feel like I cannot, in good conscience, answer this.

Best Counter Service Restaurant: Universal. As much as I love Columbia Harbour House, I have to go with the Three Broomsticks. The food is different than other counter services I have been too, the place is awesomely themed with great little details (house elves' shadows on the second floor). and BUTTERBEER.

Best Queues: WDW. Universal has some great ones like Hogwarts castle for Forbidden Journey and the Spiderman queue, but just the greater majority of awesome WDW queues hands them the prize (POTC, TOT, ST, GMR, TSMM, SM, EE, etc.)

Best Shows: WDW. Sorry Sinbad, I do enjoy you, but you can't beat IJ stunt show and Philharmagic (just to name a few).

Best Characters: WDW. Suffice it to say I was not impressed with the Wolverine I waited in line for. And I love me some Donald Duck.

Best Shopping: Universal. Harry Potter, and I do believe that the WDW merchandise has become very uniform.

I know this is just my opinion (and perhaps sliiightly off topic), but I actually had fun thinking of all the comparisons between the 2 parks

 

[WaltsMartini]

I don't really think Universal can ever beat WDW as a vacation destination in regards to sheer economic value. I'm also sure Universal is doing just fine, and maybe they aren't even trying to overtake WDW in sales but just to carve out their own niche.

I like both of the parks, WDW and Universal, and they both get my money when I travel to Florida. However, this made me think and I decided to rank some things between the 2...

Hotels: Universal. I think you get more bang for your buck here. My preferred hotel is the Hard Rock, I think the rooms are nicer than the Deluxes at WDW and they don't cost as much. You also get the perk of 'front of the line' passes.

Transportation: WDW. But only because of the Magical Express, I like that you can walk from your Universal hotel to the parks and CityWalk.

Overall Theme: WDW. I love Adventureland, Fantasyland, AK's Africa and Asia, DHS (I seem to be the only one who loves that park), and the World Showcase.

Best Themed Land: Universal. WWOHP. I loooooove that place. I wish they would have added a whole third park full of it. Talk about Disney details, just look at all the shop windows (even the shop windows that don't actually have shops!).

Best Ride: Universal. Forbidden Journey....

Best Food: WDW. Just sheer variety and all the World Showcase country restaurants.

Best Table Restaurant: Scratch. I want to say WDW, but I have never eaten at Mythos so I feel like I cannot, in good conscience, answer this.

Best Counter Service Restaurant: Universal. As much as I love Columbia Harbour House, I have to go with the Three Broomsticks. The food is different than other counter services I have been too, the place is awesomely themed with great little details (house elves' shadows on the second floor). and BUTTERBEER.

Best Queues: WDW. Universal has some great ones like Hogwarts castle for Forbidden Journey and the Spiderman queue, but just the greater majority of awesome WDW queues hands them the prize (POTC, TOT, ST, GMR, TSMM, SM, EE, etc.)

Best Shows: WDW. Sorry Sinbad, I do enjoy you, but you can't beat IJ stunt show and Philharmagic (just to name a few).

Best Characters: WDW. Suffice it to say I was not impressed with the Wolverine I waited in line for. And I love me some Donald Duck.

Best Shopping: Universal. Harry Potter, and I do believe that the WDW merchandise has become very uniform.

I know this is just my opinion (and perhaps sliiightly off topic), but I actually had fun thinking of all the comparisons between the 2 parks

Thanks for that! I find it really interesting to compare all aspects. Out last trip was before WWoHP, and I'd love to spend a day at IoA on our next trip in May 2013.

Also, does anyone know how well CityWalk is doing compared to DTD? We all know how well PI did... We were at CityWalk about five years ago, and it seemed pretty dead, but it was a weekday in early May - wasn't sure how it does on weekends/ summer.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Thanks for that! I find it really interesting to compare all aspects. Out last trip was before WWoHP, and I'd love to spend a day at IoA on our next trip in May 2013.

Also, does anyone know how well CityWalk is doing compared to DTD? We all know how well PI did... We were at CityWalk about five years ago, and it seemed pretty dead, but it was a weekday in early May - wasn't sure how it does on weekends/ summer.

You are welcome, it was fun

Last time I went to Citywalk three of us ate at Bubba Gump's and there was about a 20 minute wait, I think this was on a weekday.

I am not sure about the financial aspect, but I know that one of the things I am most looking forward to in my late September trip are the new mini golf courses at Citywalk. They look awesome!

 

[DCTooTall]

Here's the way I look at it. Disney and Universal are both great parks. To compare them would be like trying to compare Coffee and Soda. Some people swear by Coffee... others don't like it. Some swear by Soda... but others don't like it. Some people like both. Beyond that... They are both beverages which provide caffine, but outside of that basic comparison they are so different you can't really compare the two.

Disney provides a great experience. So does Universal. They each have their own feel, quirks, and you could even say Target markets.


What I will say that noone can really argue with is that Comcast's new ownership of the Universal Parks is shaping up to be a very good thing. The fact they not only are willing, but see the advantages and benefits of investing back into the parks instead of just pulling money out of it while slapping on some new paint every year is a wonderful thing that's bringing us some great new experiences.

This is turn, is prompting Disney Management to realize that maybe they can't just keep slapping a new coat of paint on the Disney parks in Florida, and will need to start putting some of the money those parks are generating back into the parks as well.

I don't see things as being so much "Fantasyland Expansion is their response to Harry Potter Round 1.... and Avatar is their response to Harry Potter Round 2", as instead being a case of "We can't just keep with the status quo and will need to invest money back into the parks just like Universal across town is doing". Again.... Different markets. Different strengths. Different companies and parks. I could no more see Hulk or Return of the Mummy in the middle of a Disney park then I could see Small World, Spaceship Earth, or Dinosaur in the middle of one of the Universal parks.

 

[Kara315]

I really love both. We are going to both next May, I am a little more excited about Universal/IOA. As a kid, I think Disney would of been my top pick if I had to pick between the two, but now in my early 20's, I still love Disney, but am more interested in Universal/IOA.
I do love the disney hotels more and of course downtown disney. I love going to both though, I love the rides, so U/IOA gets my pick only by a little, while Disney has alot of great rides, I'm a bit more excited about U/IOA for that reason. But enjoy both and can't wait to go to both next year!

 

[Planogirl]

Here's the way I look at it. Disney and Universal are both great parks. To compare them would be like trying to compare Coffee and Soda. Some people swear by Coffee... others don't like it. Some swear by Soda... but others don't like it. Some people like both. Beyond that... They are both beverages which provide caffine, but outside of that basic comparison they are so different you can't really compare the two.

Disney provides a great experience. So does Universal. They each have their own feel, quirks, and you could even say Target markets.


What I will say that noone can really argue with is that Comcast's new ownership of the Universal Parks is shaping up to be a very good thing. The fact they not only are willing, but see the advantages and benefits of investing back into the parks instead of just pulling money out of it while slapping on some new paint every year is a wonderful thing that's bringing us some great new experiences.

This is turn, is prompting Disney Management to realize that maybe they can't just keep slapping a new coat of paint on the Disney parks in Florida, and will need to start putting some of the money those parks are generating back into the parks as well.

I don't see things as being so much "Fantasyland Expansion is their response to Harry Potter Round 1.... and Avatar is their response to Harry Potter Round 2", as instead being a case of "We can't just keep with the status quo and will need to invest money back into the parks just like Universal across town is doing". Again.... Different markets. Different strengths. Different companies and parks. I could no more see Hulk or Return of the Mummy in the middle of a Disney park then I could see Small World, Spaceship Earth, or Dinosaur in the middle of one of the Universal parks.

Well said. I always tell people to avoid comparing the two directly as far as demographics go but to just enjoy what each does best. And they both do a lot best.

 

[TStrickland01]

I personally enjoy both. WDW becomes a destination based on activities like the Food and Wine Festival or Star Wars weekend or the Candlelight Processional. UO is a diversion that reminds of teenage years attacking the coaster parks further north.
The reality is one cannot compare Halloween Horror Nights to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween. You may prefer one over the other, but you cannot compare.
It's like trying to answer the question, "which of your children do you love more?"