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3. Experiential Dining

Image: Disney

Whether you love or hate the rigamarole that goes into planning a Walt Disney World vacation, there’s no question that if the stars align, dining can be as memorable as any ride. Whether you’re talking about signature snacks (Dole Whips, Citrus Swirls, Blue Milk, or EPCOT festival booths), solid Quick Service (Satu’li Canteen, Docking Bay 7, Columbia Harbor House, Flame Tree Barbecue), iconic Table Service (‘50s Prime Time Cafe, Sci-Fi Dine In Theater, Be Our Guest, Space 220) or signature “fine dining” (across World Showcase and in many Deluxe Resorts), Disney is pretty good at dining.

On the whole, dining is generally a much less significant piece of a Universal visit. In general, Universal’s Quick Service restaurants tend to default to burgers, pizza, fries, salads, sometimes spaghetti. But if you’re going to Islands of Adventure, choosing Cafe 4, or Croissant Moon Bakery, or Burger Digs, or food from a stall wouldn’t be something you plan for and get excited about.

Image: Universal

On the Table Service end, each of Universal’s parks hosts two (Lombard’s & Finnegan’s at the Studios; Confisco Grill & Mythos at Islands). But whereas Disney’s most sought-after restaurants are 100% booked 60-days out all year round (6 months out pre-COVID), securing reservations for Universal’s full service restaurants is nice, but generally available until days or even hours before the meal.

We’re not saying Universal should aspire to the frenzied levels of Disney’s dining (which adds massive frustration to the already-exhausting planning process), but altogether, dining feels like one of the areas in which Universal could step it up.

Image: Universal

The exception, of course, is in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter where the Three Broomsticks (in Hogsmeade) and the Leaky Cauldron (in Diagon Alley) have lines out the door all day. The unique “hybrid service” restaurants are high capacity, delicious, and “authentic” in their menus and atmosphere.

Universal clearly learned a lesson here (see Krusty Burger in Springfield) and hopefully, such “in-universe” dining options become the norm in Epic Universe and then see major improvements back at the older parks. Until then, Disney’s clearly figured out how to make dining an important part of a trip. 

4. Pop Culture Prominence

Image: Disney

If there’s one area in which Universal stands approximately zero chance of beating Disney, it’s in pop culture prominence. Put simply, Disney is Disney. It stands among global, iconic, recognizable brands like Apple and McDonalds and Coca Cola and Google – a sort of god tier of brands that conjure immediate images and emotions and expectations. You know exactly what Disney “is.” Even people who don’t “follow” the entertainment industry like you and I know what’s Disney and what isn’t; what’s Pixar and what isn’t; what’s Marvel and what isn’t; what Disney owns and what it doesn’t. 

Image: Comcast

NBCUniversal? Not so much. NBC has a fairly strong brand (think The Office, 30 Rock, Parks & Rec, SNL), and maybe the general public would be able to associate Universal with properties like Jurassic Park and Jaws and Back to the Future… But maybe not. (That’s probably why Universal chose NBC’s branding as that of its streaming service, Peacock rather than going with Universal+.) 

Just about everyone on Earth has a favorite Disney character. But a favorite “Universal character?” Does that exist in the popular lexicon? Do people associate Shrek or Gru or Doc Brown or Alan Grant with Universal specifically? Folks proudly proclaim in Twitter profiles, bumper stickers, dating apps, and license plates that they’re “Disney fans,” but self-identified “Universal fans” are farther between. 

Image: Universal

The cool thing is that those who identify as “Universal fans” probably do so because of the theme parks, proving what an incredible role theme parks can play in building and maintaining those associations. Because of Universal Orlando, the name Universal probably does conjure images of Jurassic Park, and Fast & Furious, and maybe even the classics like Jaws and Kong and Earthquake and Back to the Future for many people. (It also earns an association with properties Universal does not actually own like Harry Potter and The Simpsons and Marvel and Dr. Seuss, but oh well.)

Image: Disney

Look – visiting Disney World is practically a rite of passage; sold as a “must do” for any self-respecting middle-class-or-better American family. Pop culture tells us that Disney World is worth taking out a second mortgage; the end-all-be-all of family destinations, worth forgoing international travel to re-visit. Maybe somewhere in the multiverse, Universal Orlando has surpassed that… but in our world, it’s clear that pop culture favors Disney.

And even if slashed perks and new upcharges make more and more people look anew at Universal and its incredible theme park investments, you just can’t beat Disney’s IP, its history, or its place in pop culture… At least, not in this universe. 

 
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