It may seem as though going to Disney Parks and Universal Orlando are similar and easy to transfer your knowledge. But, the reality is they are so different. If its your first time planning a Universal trip after spending a lot of time at Disney – here are some frequently asked questions (and a little bit of personal opinion) on how to navigate Universal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World?
This is a great question, but potentially a little longer than I have space for in this blog post. The biggest differences would be the IP (intellectual property to include movies, characters, and shows) as well as the types of rides. Universal does have rides and sections for kids, but there are a lot more thrill rides and roller coasters than there are at Walt Disney World. This park is perfect for older kids/teenagers who want a little more of a thrill!
How many theme parks does Universal Orlando have?
Universal Orlando has 3 theme parks as well as a water park. Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe with Volcano Bay being their water park!
Do I need to make park reservations to visit the Universal theme parks?
You do not! Depending on the ticket type that you buy, and whether it is for a specific date, that will help you determine which parks you have access to on which days!
How do I get tickets to Universal?
You can purchase tickets for Universal Orlando either online or at will call when you arrive. You can either have paper tickets printed at the park or use the barcode/QR code you will receive after your online purchase.
My kids don’t like thrill rides or rollercoasters, should we still go to Universal Orlando?
Yes! Absolutely! There are plenty of rides, shows, and immersive experiences to fill an entire day at the Universal Parks. Even as an adult, I do not personally like rollercoasters or thrill rides. I spent one day between Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and ran out of time before I could do everything I wanted to do! There are so many things to see and do without having to ride roller coasters!
Someone in our family gets motion sick, are there a lot of screen rides?
Quick reminder: currently (as of the time of writing this post) Universal’s Park-to-Park ticket does NOT include Epic Universe. It only includes Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
Universal’s theme parks do have quite a bit of screen based rides, but it is definitely not ALL of the rides. Check out some of the warnings before you get on the ride or ask a Team Member about the screens on that ride before you get in line. Some rides are more screen heavy than others, some don’t have screens at all. If you know which screen rides you can do at Disney (for example: I can handle Soarin’ just fine, but sometimes I have a hard time on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure) you can look up some of the rides at Universal and compare to the rides you know.
How many days at Universal would we need?
If you want to see all 3 parks, I would recommend two days. One day to go to Epic Universe, and one day to see Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. However, if you are adding Universal onto a Disney trip, you may want to see which park is priority for you and your family and only add one day. I would recommend starting with 1 day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and saving Epic Universe for when it is less new and has shorter wait times!
Is there a lightning lane equivalent at Universal Orlando?
Yes! Universal Orlando has Express Pass and Express Pass Unlimited that functions similarly to Lightning Lanes. Express Pass Unlimited allows you unlimited access to the Express Pass lines. Standard Express Pass allows one time entry into each attraction through the Express Pass line. Unlike Lightning Lane, you do not need to schedule ahead of time.
Should we do a split stay at a Disney and Universal Resort or take transportation from Disney to do a one day visit at Universal?
As a Disney person, my recommendation would always be to stay with Disney and hop over to Universal for a day to visit their parks. However, there are some circumstances in which I would recommend doing a split stay. First, if you know you want to visit the parks more than one day, maybe a split stay is ideal. You would get early entry into the parks and potentially Express Pass included (for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure). Which leads me to point two, if you know you want to ride a lot of rides and maximize your time, the benefits of being a Universal Orlando resort guest might make doing a split stay worth it!
Does Universal have a dining plan?
No, Universal does not have a dining plan the way that Disney does. They do however offer a dining pass which would be for one day!
Does Universal have an app like My Disney Experience?
Yes! They do have an app and it has similar functions to My Disney Experience. You can check wait times, access your tickets, and even mobile order your food!
Does Universal do nighttime fireworks?
Universal doesn’t do a traditional fireworks show like Happily Ever After. However, they do several nighttime shows including a projection show on Hogwarts castle or the Celestial Goodnight with lights and fireworks at Epic Universe.
If you have questions, please submit the via the contact form below. I would love to answer and add the to this list!
Adventures by Morgan 
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