Understand the differences
Even guests who’ve chosen a single resort often get confused about where they are and what’s available. Many a visitor has asked for Minions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Star Wars at Universal Studios Florida. Both behemoths offer a lot of recognizable names and beloved brands, and it’s easy for the lines to get blurred.
If you’re visiting both resorts in your stay, it’s important to do a little guide-book or blog reading to help you brush up on the basics.
You probably know that Disney is the home of Mickey, Minnie, and the rest of the gang. But you might forget that Disney also has:
- Star Wars
- Indiana Jones
- Muppets
- Avatar
Universal boasts a different set of famous characters. Among them are:
- Harry Potter
- Shrek
- Despicable Me and the Minions
- Transformers
- Simpsons
- Men in Black
- Jurassic Park
- King Kong
The superhero lines get confusing in Orlando because Universal still has the monopoly on Marvel-themed attractions east of the Mississippi thanks to a ridiculous contract from the 90s. So you won’t see Marvel attractions at Walt Disney World (though they are popping up at Disneyland.) The Hulk roller coaster, Spider-Man, and other Marvel super hero attractions are at Superhero Island at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. You will, however, see some Marvel merch at Disney. Disney Springs even has a Marvel Super Hero Headquarters Store. So you can buy Marvel Mickey ears at Disney and wear them to Superhero Island at Universal. Yes, it’s confusing, so a little prep ahead of time is important to help you figure out what’s where.
Know your must-sees
When you’re switching parks mid-vacay, you can’t easily go back for what you missed. As you’re reviewing the attractions at each theme park resort, make a list of your must-sees. At Disney, you should prioritize FastPass+ reservations for these attractions to make it easier to secure your spot on the ride. If you’re vying for a seat to a show like Finding Nemo: The Musical at Disney or Animal Actors On Location! at Universal, check show times as soon as you get to the park and pick one that’s earlier rather than later so you have a back-up if something comes up and you miss it.
Though you want some flexibility to play things by ear when you get to the parks, having a short list of things that are most important to you will help ensure you don’t miss a thing.
Planning your visit carefully, you can easily include both of Orlando’s biggest theme park resorts in your stay. Just make sure you have comfortable walking shoes because you’ll get a major workout.
Comments
We usually stay at Disney and drive to Universal but this last time we stayed at both Universal & Disney Hotels. After leaving Universal we were able to check in at our hotel at Disney at 9am & off we went to the parks. (we were lucky)We also added other places to see in Orlando area We are doing it again next year