Disney/Universal

[tguz]

This summer (July) we'll be hitting Glacier National Park and the connecting Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada. The majority of our time will be in Glacier with just an overnight at Waterton Lakes. Can't wait. I was there as a little kid, but I don't remember it. This will be my first visit as an adult.

And July of 2026 (planned this around a new moon), we'll be in the Black Hills (four nights will be at Custer State Park -- my all time favorite place for seeing wildlife and stars out west with their sweet cabins with firepits. We'll do a day trip from Custer State Park on that trip to Wind Cave National Park that I haven't been to. We'll also go to the Badlands National Park and stay for a night in that park. I've been to the Badlands several time, but this will be my first time doing an overnight there. And we'll of course stop my that Mount Rushmore National monument too.

The Black Hills are great! We were there in 2016 (time flies) and had a wonderful time. The Badlands, Mount Rushmore, and The Devils Tower in Wyoming were great. We aren't campers but the kids and I really enjoyed staying in Deadwood.

 

[jwalk03]

This summer (July) we'll be hitting Glacier National Park and the connecting Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada. The majority of our time will be in Glacier with just an overnight at Waterton Lakes. Can't wait. I was there as a little kid, but I don't remember it. This will be my first visit as an adult.

And July of 2026 (planned this around a new moon), we'll be in the Black Hills (four nights will be at Custer State Park -- my all time favorite place for seeing wildlife and stars out west with their sweet cabins with firepits. We'll do a day trip from Custer State Park on that trip to Wind Cave National Park that I haven't been to. We'll also go to the Badlands National Park and stay for a night in that park. I've been to the Badlands several time, but this will be my first time doing an overnight there. And we'll of course stop my that Mount Rushmore National monument too.

While you are near the Badlands- check out the Minute Man Missile National Historic Park too. You have to book a tour in advance but you actually get to go down underground into a 1970s era nuclear missile silo. Its a super interesting tour! The one we took there a couple of years ago- the tour guide was a missile man at the site in the 1970s so he had a very real and unique perspective of what it was like. (I believe several of the guides are former missile men)

In addition to Wind Cave- there is also Jewel Cave National Monument in the area as well, and even through they are both Caves they are both worth a visit. So different for caves that are really not that far apart.

I haven't been to Glacier yet, so no insight for me to offer on that one.

 

[Minnie1222]

This is truly a very difficult decision for us as we are true Disney lovers but it may be time to give Universal a try.

Can you go to both? I can't go to Orlando without going to Disney. For every day I spend at Universal, I would spend two at Disney.

 

[Rory607]

We have done a couple of split stays between Universal and Disney and have another one planned for the fall. We spend a few days staying onsite at each place so we get early entry benefits and can use resort transportation.

Now that our kids are tweens/teens they really enjoy Universal. Our last trip was just Universal and we had a fantastic time. It’s easier than planning a Disney trip, IMO. That being said, we still love Disney! It will always be a special place to me.

 

[tguz]

Can you go to both? I can't go to Orlando without going to Disney. For every day I spend at Universal, I would spend two at Disney.

I had not even considered that but I am now. Thanks.

 

[tguz]

We have done a couple of split stays between Universal and Disney and have another one planned for the fall. We spend a few days staying onsite at each place so we get early entry benefits and can use resort transportation.

Now that our kids are tweens/teens they really enjoy Universal. Our last trip was just Universal and we had a fantastic time. It’s easier than planning a Disney trip, IMO. That being said, we still love Disney! It will always be a special place to me.

Not a bad idea at all, we will consider that option! Thanks.

 

[Madteaparty001]

I've done a December trip at both and I found I liked the Christmas vibe at Universal better, so if that's important to you that's my vote (though check dates for decorations and offerings). My family is doing a big trip to Disney in October and everything was already locked in and paid for last year but with every closure announcement I have a twinge of dismay. Plans can't be changed as we're coordinating with multiple family members but I'm trying to hold out hope that this means the crowds will be unusually low.

Unless you're super jazzed about the new night parade my vote is Universal and exploring their new park, we found 5 days onsite at Royal Pacific with just IoA and USF very pleasant. Though I agree Disney's Deluxes are better than Universal's.

 

[Marthasor]

As PPs have noted, they have completely different vibes. There are Disney people, there are Universal people and there are some people who like both. Unfortunately, it's one of those you-won't-know-until-you-try-it, situations. We've done Uni twice as a split stay with Disney (we are Disney people!) and, even with the new park, I have no interest in going back to Uni. If you are curious, but still love elements of Disney that won't be affected by the closures (general atmosphere, rides that will be open, resort attractions/amenities, etc.), I would definitely consider a split Disney/Uni stay.

 

[disneyseniors]

Not true. We have never been to Universal. I am looking for opinions both ways. I was just stating my opinion. If people who have been to both say and vote that Disney would still be the way to go in their opinion or if the majority say Universal is they way to go based on experience, either way can help us make our final decision. This is truly a very difficult decision for us as we are true Disney lovers but it may be time to give Universal a try.

HI tvguy: My husband and I and our 2 kids always went to WDW from l977 to 2020. We loved the nostalgia and feeling like we were getting our monies worth. Then things started to change at WDW, not for the good IMO, and we tried Universal. I went to Universal once a long while ago and wasn't familiar with Universal, so I looked it up online and many Universal sites and decided it looked like a lot of fun.
My first visit was only 3 days. Then we went 4 days, then 5 days. I could actually stay at least 6 days to do it all. We are older and do a lot of shows plus the rides too I was blown away by the attractions, the TM's, the atmosphere, especially HP lands. It was not Disney, but to us,, Disney is not Disney anymore. We are now fans of Universal and go there every year instead of Disney.
We have no desire to go back to what Disney is now, even with having a lot nostalgia towards Disney. I never thought I would say that, but things change.
We are very happy with our trips to Universal and don't even think about WDW anymore, which is certainly sad. We were the ones that everyone consulted about everything Disney for many years, so we were definitely invested in all things disney. I get why people still have the nostalgia and I think that's great. It's just not for us anymore. My grown kids and grandkids are Universal fans now and don't even want to go to Disney anymore.

I think if you try Universal you will be pleasantly surprised. Let us know how things go whatever you decide to do.

 

[AngieInOH]

How old are your kids? If they're older I'd definitely give Universal a try. Especially since Epic is open. You've been to Disney numerous times. Why not try something different? We are a Disney family but we tried Universal a couple years ago. I will say, it's a different experience and Disney still has my heart, but I did not regret going. If you ask my kids, they prefer Universal over Disney and I'm really excited to see Epic.

I see you typically stay at POP. You would really love Cabana Bay!!

 

[tom1944]

How many days do you need to cover Universal?

 

[elvispursley]

How many days do you need to cover Universal?

We’re able to get everything done with 1-park/day. I haven’t been to Epic yet but we would typically buy a 3-day, park-to-park ticket so we could ride Hogwarts Express. We generally find it’s more than enough.

 

[Minnie1222]

How many days do you need to cover Universal?

Most ideal is 3 days with Express Passes. One day at Epic. Two days going back and forth between Universal Studios and Island of Adventures.

 

[Mango7100]

We visited universal the first time in Feb 2024 snd bought premier passes during our first trip and renewed them recently. We just got back from visiting Epic and we didn’t even go to Disney this trip. Last Christmas we did a split stay between universal and Disney and this Christmas we will just stay at universal. We previously had out of state Disney annual passes for 5 years.

For us they are very different but universal is way more relaxing. Especially if you have express passes (which we have after 4 since we have premier passes). Since express passes are with our premier pass, we don’t stay deluxe and instead stay in moderates like Aventura. While the hotels aren’t themed like Disney, we don’t see much of a difference as far as quality or service. We don’t have to get up and be at rope drop 30 minutes beforehand. We may do one early morning entry and then go back to the room after lunch then back out for evening. Most days we stay at the hotel in the morning and don’t venture out until afternoon for the day. It is so nice to be able to walk to the parks as an option. We aren’t looking at the phone constantly like we were with lightening lanes at Disney.

It very much depends on your family though. We are all big Harry Potter fans so spend almost all our time in those areas. My kid likes larger rollercoasters which universal offers more of. She has aged out of character meet and greets at Disney, and there are not as many characters at Universal. Now Epic is a park that you don’t have to ride a single ride and still spend all day wandering lands. It is so immersive and beautiful. We did do the meet and greet for Toothless at Epic and that is the best character meet and greet we have ever done even compared to Disney (and I’ve never even seen the movies).

 

[LSUfan4444]

We are booked for Disney in Nov 2025. With so many things closed or closing, we are thinking about switching to Universal for this year and then back to Disney in a couple years when some of the construction/ride and shows are done with the refurbs.

We booked Disney specifically for this summer when Epic Universe opened the same way we did when Harry Potter opened.

It will no doubt have an effect on the WDW crowds we want to be a part of. The resorts won't see as much of a hit because many DVC owners will use their points but build in Universal days into their stay but we're at the point where we know we won't see everything on any WDW trip so more focus on what we will see, what we will do and what we can accomplish as efficiently and cost effective as possible.

 

[tguz]

How many days do you need to cover Universal?

I am not sure. I am guessing 4.

 

[jwalk03]

I am not sure. I am guessing 4.

You can't hop to Epic with any ticket at this point so its one dedicated day alone. Then I would say 2 days for IOA and Studios so 3 if you don't do Volcano Bay. If you want to do VB as well I would say 4 days.