Disney World vs. Universal Studios: Which One Should You Choose If You Can Only Do One?

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If you’re planning a trip to Florida and only have time (or budget) for one set of theme parks, the big question in this blog post is: Disney World or Universal Studios?

Both offer amazing experiences, but they cater to different types of visitors.

We love both parks, but we thought we would explore their benefits and try to help you decide which is best if you only want to pick one.

In this guide, we’ll break down some of the differences and help you decide which is right for your trip!

1. The Overall Vibe: Magic vs. Thrills

Disney World – The ultimate fairytale experience, packed with nostalgia, immersive storytelling, and attractions for all ages. If you love classic characters, enchanting parades, and a little bit of Disney magic, this is the place to be. When most people think of going to Florida on holiday, they think of Disney, and some couldn’t imagine visiting without a trip to the House of Mouse.
Universal Studios – More fast-paced, with a focus on thrill rides, movie franchises, and immersive lands like The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It’s perfect for adrenaline junkies and movie buffs. Universal originally started with just one park and was often seen as an add-on to a Disney holiday. Over the years, they have expanded, and once Epic Universe opens in 2025, it will truly be a resort where you can spend your entire trip

Go to Disney if you want: A magical, family-friendly adventure.
Go to Universal if you want: Action-packed rides and a more grown-up vibe.

2. Rides & Attractions: What’s Your Style?

Disney World Rides

Disney has four parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom), but if you’re only going for a day, Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios are the best bets if you want rides.

Epcot is our favourite park but it has a very laid back vibe and is more focussed on food and drink than rides.

Best Rides at Disney:
- Tron Lightcycle Run (Magic Kingdom)
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (Epcot) (Makes me want to vom, love from Leigh)
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (Hollywood Studios)
- Avatar Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom)
- Hollywood Tower of Terror

Best for: Families, Disney fans, and those who love immersive storytelling over thrills.

Universal Studios Rides

Universal has two main parks (soon to be 3) (Universal Studios Florida & Islands of Adventure) plus Volcano Bay (a water park). If you’re a thrill-seeker, Universal is hard to beat.

Best Rides at Universal:
- VelociCoaster (Islands of Adventure) – One of the best coasters in Florida!
- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (Islands of Adventure)
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Islands of Adventure)
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster (Islands of Adventure)
- Spiderman (one of our favourite rides in Florida)

Best for: Thrill-seekers, movie lovers, and older kids/teens.

3. Price & Value: Which One is More Affordable?

Both Disney and Universal are expensive, but Universal tends to be slightly cheaper for a one-day visit.

Disney World One-Day Ticket (2024): Starting from $109-$189 per person (depending on the park & season).
Universal Studios One-Day Ticket (2024): Starting from $119-$179 per person (cheaper if you only do one park).
Prices change all the time and for UK visitors its usually more economical to get multi day passes. Once Epic universe opens the prices will change again. Its best to check a website like Attraction Tickets for latest UK prices

Universal is slightly better for budget travelers, especially if you only visit one park.

4. Food & Dining: Who Does It Better?

Both parks have fun-themed dining. In our opinion, Universal snacks are more value for money but you can’t beat the variety at Disney especially at the food and wine festival at Epcot (though the portions can be very small)

Disney Dining Highlights:
- Be Our Guest Restaurant (Magic Kingdom) – Dine in Beast’s Castle.
- Epcot’s World Showcase – A foodie’s dream with cuisines from around the world.
- Oga’s Cantina (Hollywood Studios) – A Star Wars-themed bar with unique drinks (bring your money though as it’s very expensive)
- Don’t forget you can visit Disney hotels and most have a variety of cafes and restaurants (you will need to make your way to the hotels and make a reservation if you want to park there)
Universal Dining Highlights:
- The Leaky Cauldron (Diagon Alley) – A must for Harry Potter fans.
- Mythos (Islands of Adventure) – One of the best sit-down theme park restaurants.
- Toothsome Chocolate Emporium (CityWalk) – Over-the-top milkshakes & desserts. (We had a bad experience here but lots of people we know love it)
- Finnegan’s Bar & Grill – One of our favourites. We have always had good food here

Go to Disney if you want unique themed dining experiences & Character dining.
Go to Universal if you’re happy with quick eats and some fun-themed restaurants.

5. The Ultimate Decision: Which One is Best for You?

Choose Disney World if:

You love Disney movies and classic characters.
You have young kids or a multi-generational family.
You prefer a more relaxing, magical experience over thrills.
You want amazing food & immersive parades/fireworks.

Choose Universal Studios if:

You’re a thrill-seeker who loves roller coasters.
You’re a Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, or Marvel fan.
You have teens or older kids who prefer action-packed rides.
You want to spend slightly less money on a one-day visit.

Final Verdict:

Families with young kids & Disney fans? Pick Disney World.
Thrill-seekers & Harry Potter fans? Pick Universal Studios.
On a budget? Universal is usually the better deal.

Whichever set of parks you choose, you can still get a taste of the others without buying tickets.

If you purchase only Universal tickets, you can still visit Disney Springs to enjoy the shopping and dining. You can also explore Disney hotels and soak in their magical atmosphere—just keep in mind that some hotels may restrict parking if you don’t have a dining reservation, so plan your transportation accordingly.

You can experience the Magic Kingdom monorail resort loop, stopping at the Polynesian, Contemporary, and Grand Floridian resorts.

Take a trip to Disney’s BoardWalk for a leisurely stroll and a bite to eat, then hop on the Skyliner for a scenic ride—all without needing a park ticket.

If you only have Disney tickets, you can still visit Universal CityWalk to enjoy its bars, shops, and restaurants.

Which one would you pick? Let us know in the comments below

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Disney World vs. Universal Studios: Which One Should You Choose If You Can Only Do One?

1. The Overall Vibe: Magic vs. Thrills