Is Universal less busy than Disney?

Its skip-the-line system (Universal Express Pass) is much more expensive and much less complicated than Disney's Genie+ / Lightning Lane system. It generally has lower crowds, and the smaller ride lineups make the parks a little easier to tackle once you know how to get on the heavy hitters (hint: arrive early).



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The Crowds Aren't So Bad Universal seems to be less crowded than Disney World these days, which may mean that you're not as stressed about your planning. During your trip, the wait times will likely be lower at Universal Orlando and you won't encounter quite as many long lines.

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For thrilling theme park staples, go with Universal. Disney offers a tamer, more family-friendly experience. After spending seven years in the U.S. Air Force as an Arabic linguist, Carissa is now a freelance writer using points and miles to fund a four-year (and counting!) adventure.

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Universal Studios Proven More Popular Than Disney World Parks. Despite Magic Kingdom at the top spot, Universal Studios is slowly catching up, beating several Disney Partks in attendance. It's no secret that the Disney Parks are some of the most popular and successful theme parks in the world.

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However, the Universal Studios age recommendation is a fairly mature 8 years-old. If they're younger they probably won't be able to appreciate much of the entertainment or be able to go on many rides, but families do have a fun experience when taking a trip together.

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The theme parks at Universal Orlando offer something for everyone. There are thrilling coasters and water rides for the adrenaline junkies, shows for families, rides for kids of all sizes, and some of the best themed play areas for little kids anywhere in the world.

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As a leading global entertainment destination, Universal Studios Hollywood delivers highly themed immersive lands that translate to real-life interpretations of iconic movie and television shows.

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While a Universal vacation tends to be slightly less than a Disney vacation, food is going to cost you about the same at either resort. A family of four at Disney can expect to spend between $200-$300 a day on dining, depending on what restaurants they go to. The same goes for Universal.

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For that reason, we recommend devoting a minimum of a full day to each Universal Orlando theme park, especially if this is your first visit. Three days is ideal, particularly with a park-to-park pass, as it will allow you to fully explore each park and revisit your favorite attractions.

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One of the questions I get asked most is “how much time do I need at Universal?” Several factors do come into play here, but I generally recommend 3:1. For people doing three days at Disney, add 1 day at Universal and for six days at Disney, add 2 days at Universal.

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When is Universal Orlando Most Crowded?
  • Presidents' Day week (third week in February)
  • Spring Break period from mid-March through late April.
  • Memorial Day weekend.
  • Summer (mid-June through Labor Day)
  • Thanksgiving week (including the weekends)
  • Christmas week through January 1.


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As you can guess if Saturday and Monday tend to be the busiest, Tuesday tends to be the best day to visit Universal Studios Orlando. We also find Thursday to be one of the least busy days of the week at Universal Studios, with Sunday being a great weekend option.

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Here are the days we expect to have the lowest crowd levels at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2024: Weekdays in January (minus the week of New Year's Day and the days around MLK Day) Weekdays in February (minus the days around Presidents Day) The first few days in March (until March 9)

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Price increases, inflation, and new and revamped add-on options for tickets mean the average theme park day costs substantially more money than it used to. In some cases, the increase in out-of-pocket expenses is dramatic.

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Disneyland Paris The most popular theme park in Europe, Disneyland Paris attracts nearly ten million visitors per year.

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With over 17 million visitors in 2022, the most visited amusement park in the United States was Magic Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort, located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

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Granted, we know that not all adults are thrill seekers when it comes to attractions. But if perhaps you're looking for rides you can't typically get on if or when you've had a little one in tow on a different trip, Universal Studios is your best bet.

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In fact, Disney World is only about 9 miles away from Universal Studios, which means, if you are driving the most direct route in good traffic, the journey time is only approximately 15 minutes. Universal Studios is located closest to Orlando, found towards the Southwest of the city.

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