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Disney or Universal?

Do you prefer Disney or Universal?

  • Total voters
    36
Matt N

Matt N

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Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
Hi guys. Disney and Universal are arguably the two "big" theme park operators in the world (well, I suppose Merlin is technically bigger than Universal, but you get what I mean). Both operate very large resorts in Florida amongst other places, but I would be interested to know; which of the two do you prefer?

I've visited both companies' Florida resorts, and for what I like in a theme park, I personally prefer Universal. Disney has great parks in Florida (Animal Kingdom is particularly good!), but Universal simply does more for me on the whole. I personally feel that their themed environments and atmosphere are on par with (if not occasionally better than) Disney's, and the type of rides they have do more for me. It might be worth me noting that I'm not really one for shows in theme parks.

But which do you prefer?
 
Disney for me, no doubts about it. Generally speaking their parks have more soul and in my opinion they are higher quality enviornments to be in.

That's not to say that the two Universal parks that I have visited are not great parks because they are. Universal are capable of building some stunning rides and the theming of the Harry Potter areas is clearly top notch. But Disney seem to be taking things to another level with Star Wars.

When Disney get it right it is hard to beat them.
 
Agree with @Rob. Disney design seamlessly natural and flowing themed environments on a level that's entirely above anything Universal have so far produced (see Pandora at AK, the entirety of Disneyland CA etc). That's not to say that Universal's theming isn't astonishingly good, it's just that their parks as a whole don't feel nearly as cohesive at Disney which is something that I personally consider to be the mark of that platinum tier of modern parks.
 
Disney parks are designed and built to absolute perfection. Everything is all about guest satisfaction once you're inside.

Universal have the thrill rides, and Hogsmead/Diagon Alley are equal to or better than anything Disney have done.

So I'd say Disney are the best of the two overall, but I *prefer* Universal.
 
The strange thing about Universal is the quality of the Harry Potter attractions by far outshines the rest of their parks.

I remember walking through the Jurrasic Park section of IOA and it felt like any other themed land at any other theme park. Tacky looking games stalls, standard theme park food outlets and nice but clearly fake themeing. Even their recent additions can't help but feel like they are missing something extra.

But the Harry Potter areas are truly immersive.

By comparison Disney parks always feel like you're getting something special. There's more to do than just ride rides. While I'll take the Wizarding World over any of Disney's themed areas the Disney parks are better as a whole.
 
Only done the west coast parks but off to Florida in september. Based on Disneyland and universal studios Hollywood, Universal studios took the edge purely because of the backlot tram tour. (And it wasn’t even the full tram tour as we went in September and it was set up for Halloween horror nights.)

I might think differently after Orlando.
 
This is based on my last visit to Universal in 2011 and Disney World In
2016.
I think it’s hard to pick as if you put them into groups I have it as this:

Best Log flume: Splash Mountain
Best Rapids: popeye and bluto's bilge-rat barges
Best Dark ride: HP Forbidden Journey
Best Coaster: The Hulk
Best 4D show Tough to be a bug
Best live show Finding Nemo
 
I’ve only done Universal Florida, and all the Disney parks I’ve been to aren’t in America. So it’s difficult to do a direct comparison.

I love USF. But I much prefer Disney, especially for Tokyo DisneySea. That park is in a whole other league to anything else. That being said, the vast majority of my favourite dark rides are at Disney parks, and as good as the Hulk is I do have more of a soft spot for several Disney coasters (Paris’ Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain, and Shanghai’s Tron Lightcycle Power Run).

Also, Shanghai’s Pirates is one of my favourite rides of all time, even beating several big coasters.
 
Undecided.....

I love Disney for the escapism it creates, 3 of the parks in Orlando are great to spend the day walking around and just enjoying the atmosphere (I exclude Hollywood studios).

Universal is good for the rides but apart from Potter, seems a bit soulless. Not the type of park that you can just walk around and admire,

I think they offer totally different experiences for me.
 
The frustrating thing is, Universal can deliver world beating themeing and rides. Harry Potter and most of IOA when it opened demonstrate that. However, they often fall just short on delivering a complete package in the way Disney more consistently do.

The ability is definitely there, it’s just those two minor things of time and money which can sometimes mean Universal projects aren’t quite what they could be. Plus, their incessant use of screens.

Disney wins, but the gap I think is closing.
 
venny said:
The ability is definitely there, it’s just those two minor things of time and money which can sometimes mean Universal projects aren’t quite what they could be. Plus, their incessant use of screens.
Click to expand...
I think Universal are looking to build less screen-based attractions in years to come; Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at IOA looks to focus quite heavily on animatronics, for example.
 
venny said:
The frustrating thing is, Universal can deliver world beating themeing and rides. Harry Potter and most of IOA when it opened demonstrate that. However, they often fall just short on delivering a complete package in the way Disney more consistently do.
Click to expand...

Hagrid's whatever it is called is a perfect example of this. Most of it looks spot on from a theming point of view. However the main show building has just been painted with trees and a light blue sky. If it had been Disney, and with it being such a large project, I think it would have been clad (at least to an extent).
 
I don't really do Disney at all. Hollywood studios is the only park I'd visit if I had to.

Universal for me but I'd prefer a day at BGT over any of them.
 
What I also like about Disney is the free quick service dinning plan and the free refillable resort mug you save so much money.
The food in Epcot is the best I had in the world. The parades and nighttime shows are excellent.
 
I'm a big fan of Disney and Disney parks but the parades are something I just don't get. Obviously I get why the kids like them. That's fair enough.
However I often see adults getting teary eyed watching a bunch of teenagers dressed up as characters drive past them on a trailer and I think to myself.....you really do need to get a life.

Am I alone in this? Maybe I am. Maybe I'm getting grumpy in my old age. Best time to hit the E ticket rides when it's on though.
 
Having experienced all the Disney parks and Universal and IOA a couple of weeks ago,I have to say that I had a better time at the Universal parks.However,I can fully see why some people would prefer the experience that Disney offers.For a more detailed assessment of my views on all of the parks feel free to have a read of my trip report “Dossa does Orlando”.

On the subject of Disney and Universal,I was blind to the “beef” that both brands seemingly have with each other.I dug myself a big hole by wearing a Universal Studios shirt to Animal Kingdom (report to follow soon).It all started when my fingerprint wasn’t recognised at the entrance and the chap on the turnstiles said “You must be using your Universal finger!”. The comments and funny looks continued throughout the day with a cast member pointing at me and saying “interesting shirt” and then a young guy in the queue for Expedition Everest said that me wearing a Universal shirt to a Disney park was blasphemous!!! He did say it in a jovial way and I found the whole issue amusing but I just had no idea it would cause such a stir :grimacing:.This definitely wasn’t an issue at the Universal parks as every other person there was donning Disney garms!!
 
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