Since its 1971 opening, Walt Disney World has reigned as Orlando’s most beloved vacation spot. Offering unparalleled, magical experiences for the entire family, Walt Disney World has paved the way for theme park innovation and has long been considered the undisputed champion of the theme park game for its next-level theming. 

Undisputed, that was, until 2010. 

Enter Universal Studios, who, despite its own impressive line-up of world-class attractions, had struggled to escape Walt Disney World’s castle-shaped shadow since its 1990 opening. 

2010, however, would see the movie-inspired theme park finally throw its hat in the ring and change the theme-park-theming game forever. 

Yes, now thirteen years ago, guests were first given the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of a Hogwarts student, as Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter was unveiled. 

Unlike anything that had been seen before, the Wizarding World’s first phase brought Hogsmeade village to life, complete with a towering Hogwarts castle that was enough to bring a tear to any Potter fan’s eye. 

And the magic was only just beginning, as four years later Diagon Alley would apparate over to the Universal Studios’ side, fully fitted with its very own fire-breathing dragon. 

The Wizarding World’s opening shook the then-current state of Orlando’s theme park landscape, with Disney then offering their own response some seven years later with the grand unveiling of Pandora: The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom and later Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios in 2019. 

Together, the opening of these two lands served as a retaliative blow in what has since become an interesting branch of the ongoing Universal vs Disney battle.

At this stage, it must be noted that while Pandora, much like the Wizarding World, boasted a number of its own ‘never-before-seen’ elements, such as the floating mountains, it would be a complete falsification to say that this was the first time Disney had ever taken theming seriously. 

Disney has long been the front-runner in creating immersive and awe-inspiring atmospheres that spread to every nook and cranny, and continue to demonstrate this even now. 

However, Universal made the first tactical move to truly step it up, showcasing what could be done and how truly immersive a themed land could be. Now, they look ready to set an all-new standard with Epic Universe…