A Disney Family’s Guide to Universal Orlando: What We Learned After Two Trips

After probably 50+ Disney World trips over the years, we finally ventured into Universal Orlando, and I can't believe what we'd been missing. The boys had been begging to experience the Harry Potter lands after devouring all the books and movies, and those massive coasters started calling our names as they got taller and braver. But going from Disney expert to Universal newbie was humbling. Suddenly I'm the dad who can't find the Lightning Lane entrance, wondering why my MagicBand doesn't work here, and discovering that everything I knew about theme parks needed updating. The learning curve was real.

After two Universal trips (and yes, we're already planning a third for Epic Universe in the fall), we've learned enough to help other Disney families make the jump. This isn't a comprehensive Universal guide, we're still figuring things out ourselves. But if you're a Disney regular wondering what Universal is all about, here's some of the things we discovered that made a difference in our trips.

Quick disclaimer: Our trips were pre-Epic Universe, so this guide covers Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure only. We're visiting Epic in the fall and can't wait to share that experience afterwards!

Planning Differences That Threw This Disney Dad for a Loop

Universal operates differently than Disney in ways that seem small but matter:

No advance ride reservations. This still breaks my Disney-trained brain. You just… show up? And ride things? With Express Pass, yes. Without it, you're playing the standby game all day.

No MagicBands. Your room key is your Express Pass, and you need the physical card. Don't lose it. (Guess who almost did on day one?)

Way less spread out. You can walk between both parks in 5 minutes. After Disney's massive property, this feels almost cozy. My pedometer was confused by the lack of steps. Or take the Hogwarts Express if you have park-to-park tickets!

But here's the thing that changes everything about Universal's no-planning approach…

Express Pass Strategy: The Universal Game-Changer

Let me clear up any confusion about Express Passes because this system completely changes how you experience Universal.

First things first: Express Passes are add-ons to your park ticket. This caught me off guard initially, I assumed it was like a park hopper upgrade. Nope. Two separate purchases.

There are two types:

• Regular Express Pass ($100-150+ per day): One-time access to each ride's Express line
• Universal Express Unlimited: Unlimited Express access all day, and here's the kicker, it's included FREE with stays at Royal Pacific, Portofino, and Hard Rock hotels

We did the math. A family of four would spend $400-600+ per day on separate Express Passes. Suddenly that "expensive" deluxe hotel doesn't look so pricey. Staying at Royal Pacific with included Unlimited Express actually cost less than a moderate hotel plus buying passes separately. And the time it saves you, especially if it’s a first trip where you are trying to do everything, is priceless.

Why We Chose Royal Pacific

Once we understood the Express Pass math, choosing Loews Royal Pacific was a no-brainer.

The hotel itself? Think Disney moderate resort quality…clean, comfortable, nothing fancy. But the perks make it special:

• 5-minute walk to both parks – Leave at 8:15 for 9 AM opening, no transportation roulette
• Early park entry – We walked to Islands of Adventure at 8 AM and were able to get on Hagrids within 15 minutes of park open
• Jake's American Bar – Their pretzel rods appetizer is legitimately amazing. The kids loved it so much we ordered two rounds on the next visit. Overall quality, convenient food after a day at the park
• Solid pool – Huge, heated, circular bar nearby for snacks and drinks

The theming is more "nice hotel" than Disney immersion, but after experiencing unlimited Express Pass all day? Nobody cared. No strategizing about "saving" our Express use. No Lightning Lane alarms. Just pure flexibility to ride what we wanted, when we wanted. For a Disney dad used to precision planning, this freedom felt almost rebellious.

With our home base sorted and those golden Express Passes in hand, it was time to explore what we'd been missing all these years.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Harry Potter Experience: Where Universal Shines Brightest

If your family loves Harry Potter, Universal is non-negotiable. The Wizarding World is split between both parks, Diagon Alley at Universal Studios and Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure. Important heads up: You'll need a park-to-park ticket to experience everything. Single park tickets save money, but you'll miss half the Harry Potter magic and can't ride the Hogwarts Express between the lands.

Ollivanders is special. Yes, there's a line. Yes, it's just a wand shop. But watching a kid get chosen by a wand? Magic. The experience is straight out of the first Harry Potter movie. The wand keeper in full robes pulls one lucky person from the group to try different wands until "the wand chooses the wizard." Lights flicker, books rattle, and a dramatic soundtrack plays when they find their match. My boys didn't get chosen but stood there absolutely mesmerized, watching every second of the show.

After the show ended, we spent a solid 30 minutes in the shop while they agonized over which wand to pick. The attention to detail on each wand is incredible, every character's wand is unique with its own wood type and core listed. It's truly a unique shopping experience that makes you feel like you are stepping into the books.

The Hogwarts Express between parks is more than transport, it's an experience. There are slightly different shows depending on direction, and it offers a nice break off your feet to relax. The train is also key unless you want to walk out of the park and around to the front of the other park. In our experience, the wait time was always less than 15 minutes, so it was a no-brainer.

Interactive wands ($70-ish) let kids cast spells throughout both parks. Window displays come alive, suits of armor move, 'rain' falls from the sky. It's genius. Both my wife and boys spent hours perfecting their wand movements. This was something that we were able to come back to each day we visited, as you are always finding new spell locations or just wanting to try some of the more unique and favorite spells again and again.

One surprising gap though: minimal character interaction. After Disney, where you might run into Stormtroopers or see Mickey randomly, the Harry Potter areas feel oddly empty of wizards. No Death Eaters lurking in Knockturn Alley, no students from Hogwarts wandering Hogsmeade. Great theming, but it's missing that lived-in feeling Disney nails.

The Rides: A Disney Family's Tier List

After two trips, here's how we'd rank everything. Remember, we're comparing to Disney standards here, and I've included thrill comparables to help gauge if your kids are ready:

Top Tier (Multiple rides per day territory)

• Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – This might be the best ride in Orlando. Yes, including Disney. The motorcycle seating, the multiple launches, the surprises. Even better: it's now on Express Pass! Thrill level: Similar to Cosmic Rewind – fast and fun but not overwhelming.
• VelociCoaster – Smooth, intense, and that moment when you're hanging over the lagoon? Incredible. My oldest declared it his new favorite coaster, dethroning Expedition Everest. Just an amazing ride on all levels. Expect to be scared to death, especially the first time when you aren’t prepared for the ‘air time’ the lap bars only offer. Thrill level: League of its own – nothing at Disney compares to this intensity.

Second Tier (Definitely priority)

• Escape from Gringotts – The queue alone is worth it. You genuinely feel like you're descending into a wizard bank. The ride has just enough thrill without terrifying younger riders. Thrill level: Like Rise of the Resistance – immersive with some drops but not scary.
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – Immersive and impressive, but my wife got queasy from the motion. Know your limits. The castle walk-through is worth it even if you skip the ride. Thrill level (and motion sickness level): Similar to Ratatouille – motion that might cause queasiness.
• Revenge of the Mummy – Perfect "intro to thrill rides" for kids. Dark, fun, not too scary. Great air conditioning too. Thrill level: Slightly less intense than Expedition Everest – good starter coaster.
• Incredible Hulk Coaster – Great coaster but rough on the head. Once per day is enough. Bring ibuprofen. Thrill level: Think Tron but way more intense – honestly closer to VelociCoaster territory.
• Ripsaw Falls – This log flume makes Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Kali River Rapids look like dry rides in comparison. I'm not exaggerating, you will be SOAKED. The final drop launches a wall of water that drenches everyone, front to back. Make this your last ride before heading to the hotel unless you enjoy squelching through the parks. Thrill level: Like Tiana's Bayou Adventure – but with 10x more water.

Third Tier (Do once)

• Transformers – Decent 3D action. Similar to Spider-Man at Islands of Adventure. Thrill level: Like Star Tours – motion simulator with 3D screens.
• Jurassic Park River Adventure – The animatronics feel dated compared to Disney's newer stuff. Still fun for the big drop though. Thrill level: Similar to Tiana's – water ride with one big drop.
• Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man – Good, but showing its age. It seems Universal went through a 3D era, because many of these rides end up feeling similar. Thrill level: Like Ratatouille – 3D motion but manageable.

Skip Unless You Have Time

• MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack – Imagine Buzz Lightyear but older and less fun. The guns don't work half the time. Thrill level: Exactly like Buzz Lightyear – but less reliable.
• Fast & Furious - Supercharged – Loud, confusing, and my wife was ready for it to end halfway through. That never happens. Thrill level: Like Millennium Falcon – motion simulator that underwhelms.
• Skull Island: Reign of Kong – Similar problems. So. Much. Screaming. My ears are still recovering. Thrill level: Also like Millennium Falcon – but louder.
• Doctor Doom's Fearfall – The theming isn't great, and holding Tower of Terror as the standard for drop rides, this just doesn't compare. It's basically a carnival ride with Marvel characters slapped on it. Thrill level: Tower of Terror – but without any of the charm or story.

Food: Where Three Broomsticks Stole Our Hearts

Food at Universal is… fine. Not Disney-level variety, but you won't starve. Our clear winner? Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade.

The theming here is comparable to anything at Disney. Walking in feels like stepping into the Harry Potter films. Dark wood, floating candles, that British pub atmosphere. Even my non-Potter-obsessed younger son was impressed. We spent most of our first meal pointing out details from the movies.

We split the Rotisserie Smoked Chicken (comes with corn and roasted potatoes) between two people and had plenty. At $17.99, it's actually reasonable by theme park standards. The chicken is legitimately good – smoky, juicy, not the dried-out theme park chicken you're expecting.

Fair warning: This place gets PACKED. We waited about 15 minutes for our food during lunch rush. But sitting in that atmosphere, listening to the boys debate which Hogwarts house they'd be in? Worth every minute.

Beverage winner: Frozen Butterbeer beats regular Butterbeer, no contest. It's like a butterscotch cream soda float. The boys each finished an entire one, which never happens with new drinks. Skip the hot version unless it's actually cold outside – learned that lesson in 85-degree weather.

What Disney Does Better (And Where Universal Wins)

Let's be honest about the differences:

Disney wins:

• Overall maintenance and cleanliness
• Character interactions and entertainment
• Food variety and quality
• Rides for all ages. While Universal does offer plenty of rides for younger kids, its best rides are the more thrilling
• That intangible "magic" feeling

Universal wins:

• Express Pass included with deluxe hotels
• Walking distance between everything
• Thrill rides (especially for tweens/teens)
• Less planning required, express pass just works everywhere, anytime

The employees at Universal are friendly but it's different. They're helpful, they're nice, but they're not "Cast Members." There's less of that above-and-beyond service we're used to at Disney. Not bad, just… different. Nobody's asking about your first visit, welcoming you home, or wishing you a magical day.

Our Universal Reality Check

Here's the truth: Universal is really good. Different than Disney, but good in its own right. The boys now beg to add Universal days to our Disney trips. My wife loves the simplified planning. I love not having to meticulously plan my Lightning Lanes.

We're not Universal experts yet. Still figuring out the best touring strategies, still discovering new spots. But for Disney families curious about trying something different? It's worth the leap. Just don't expect it to be Disney with different characters. Accept it for what it is, a fun, more thrilling alternative that'll give your kids new experiences to talk about.

And now that Epic Universe is open with Nintendo World, Dark Universe, and all the other lands? We've got our October trip booked. Something tells me we'll be just as confused as our first Universal visit, but that's part of the adventure!