3. Dining reservations

MythosEven Mythos, voted Best Theme Park Restaurant in the World for multiple years, is easy get into without a reservation.

Do you want to eat at Le Cellier, Cinderella’s Royal Table or Be Our Guest? Get ready to hit the phone and the Disney dining reservations website simultaneously at precisely 180 days (6 full months!!) before your trip. Last minute tables are sometimes possible at less-popular venues, but beginning a vacation with no ADRs (Advance Dining Reservations) at all is a gamble few visitors are willing to take.

Can’t decide what you are in the mood for at Universal? Wander around, read the menus, and put your name on the list when you decide. Most of the time, you will be seated at virtually any Universal Orlando restaurant within 30 minutes of arrival. Of course, if you have a particular favorite that you want to be sure not to miss, making a reservation in advance is always smart. A week or so is more than sufficient for normal dining, while a month or two is prudent for a special Christmas or Valentine’s Day celebration.

2. More headliners

Dragon ChallengeDragon Challenge is just one of dozens of headliners at Universal Orlando.

At Walt Disney World, the headline attractions are the big draw that bring people in, but the vast majority of each park is filled with smaller, less exciting experiences. Epcot, for example, has only two headliners—Soarin’ and Test Track. Even the highly touted Mission: Space never seems to draw as many guests. While the smaller attractions are worth visiting in their own right, the relative lack of headliners creates an uneven distribution of guests.

Universal Orlando’s decision to build Diagon Alley inside Universal Studios, with Hogsmeade located at Islands of Adventure, was a brilliant way to distribute visitors across both parks. When you have had your fill of Harry Potter, dozens of headliners beckon in all directions. While the crowds might be Potter-oriented, they are not hanging around all day for lack of other available options.

1. Staff focus / guest experience

Baby DinoUniversal Orlando team members are highly focused on providing a great guest experience.

Disney was built on the Four Keys to guest service—Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency—but the overwhelming and often conflicting responsibilities involved with FastPass Plus and now Standby Plus make it tough for Cast Members to focus on the guest experience. Tired, frustrated and responsible for explaining ever-changing and often glitchy technology to annoyed guests, Disney Cast Members are being put under serious strain (though, of course, most still do a tremendous job).

At Universal, Team Members are benefiting from Comcast’s dedication to making the parks spectacular. Working at a theme park is always stressful, but Team Members are constantly reminded to focus on the basics. They are also empowered and encouraged to go above and beyond in creating special guest interactions.

Does this mean that Disney Cast Members have lost their magic? Does it mean you won’t run into a surly or rude Universal team member? Absolutely not. Employees are humans, and all react to their environment in different ways. But overall, Disney Cast Members have a lot on their plates, while Universal team members can remain guest-focused. This means that you are more likely to feel more welcome and more celebrated at today’s Universal Orlando than at today’s Walt Disney World, and what could be more relaxing than that?