Should You Do a Universal/Disney Split Trip in 2025?
There’s a topic Disney fans don’t discuss much. It’s the pink elephant dancing in the living room.
A new theme park is coming to Orlando, Florida, in May, but it’s not at Disney.


Photo: Universal
Universal Epic Universe promises a Disney-like experience at a theme park that has historically fallen far behind Disney.
Understandably, more than a few Disney fans are debating whether they should do the unthinkable.


Photo: Playbuzz.com
So, should you visit Universal Studios this year during your Disney vacation? Let’s discuss the pros and cons…
About Split Vacations


Photo-Illustration: Vulture | Photo: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images, Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
The first subject we need to discuss is the idea of the split vacation.
The genius of a Disney trip is that you don’t need to worry about anything else.


Image: The Healthy Mouse
As soon as you’re comfortably ensconced within the warmth of the Disney Bubble, why would you ever leave?
You’ll find more to experience at Walt Disney World during your vacation, and I’m saying that as someone who has spent two weeks there.


Disney
Even on day 14, we were still uncovering new ideas for activities.
For example, every Disney hotel offers some unique amenities you probably don’t even know exist.


Photo: Oyster Hotel Reviews
You can create your own arts and crafts, take walking tours, or even take classes taught by Imagineers.
So, you’d need to have a good reason to exit the Disney Bubble.


sea world
For many guests, the other Central Florida theme parks are a good enough reason.
SeaWorld, Universal Orlando Resort (UOR), and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay are all easily accessible.
For fans of new experiences, it can be exciting to shave a day or two from your Disney visit to experience some of the competitors.
Over the past 15 years, UOR has soared in popularity due to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
In combination with the wildly successful Halloween Horror Nights events, UOR has lured many guests away from Disney for a short while.
The process is simple. You take a ride-share from your Disney hotel to UOR. It takes about 35 minutes and costs $50 or so.


Image Credit: Universal Orlando
Then, you can spend the day at Universal and take another ride-share back to Disney when you’re done.
I’ve done this several times, and it’s always enjoyable. But Universal is aiming higher with its latest creation.
Universal wants you to leave Disney and spend three days at its competitor. Should you?
About Universal Orlando


Universal Studios Japan
Since I acknowledged I’ve done this, my answer is obviously yes…to an extent.
Universal Orlando is my third or fourth favorite non-Disney theme park.


cedar point
I’m loyal to Cedar Point and enough of a homer to love Dollywood. So, UOR is fighting for third on my list.
I do NOT in any way, shape, or form consider it on the level of Disneyland or Walt Disney World…because it’s not.


Photo: Universal
Universal is the knockoff competitor with little sibling syndrome. It’s the Wendy’s that wants to be McDonald’s.
So, your enjoyment of the current iteration of Universal largely depends on your perspective of Harry Potter.


Photo: Universal
Let’s acknowledge that this subject isn’t as straightforward for many of you as it was a decade ago. JK Rowling is…tough to love.
Anyway, the heart and soul of UOR is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and has been since 2010.


Universal
This is the most Disney-like of all Universal experiences. Not coincidentally, it’s also by far the most successful.
Universal has quietly had a ton of struggles since the creation of Wizarding World.
Several of its hyped attractions, like Fast & Furious: Supercharged, Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.
That last ride is already scheduled to close in October, and the other two are in jeopardy as well.
While I maintain that Springfield, the themed land based on The Simpsons, is delightful, it’s nowhere near Disney-like in quality, either.
Overall, UOR somehow costs about the same as Disney.


Photo: Touringplans.com
Comcast, the corporate owner of UOR and CNBC, dictated the creation of that video and article.
The Comcast-paid reporter’s own data suggests that four nights at Universal costs almost the same as five nights at Disney.
As a rule, the challenger brand should be cheaper. Universal isn’t.
About Epic Universe


Photo: Center Watch
Notably, Universal Studios has increased prices regularly to the point where single-day admission rivals that of Disney.
That behavior occurred before the debut of Universal Epic Universe.


Photo: Getty
Now, the new park will understandably cost more because…simple economics.
Universal paid billions of dollars for Universal Epic Universe. The park has to pay for itself somewhere.
Therefore, you should understand that you won’t be saving any money by visiting here, especially in 2025.
Universal has created an arbitrary, unique pricing structure wherein guests pay for a three-day admission.


Photo: Universal
In exchange, they can visit Epic Universe for one day. Bold strategy, Cotton.
Still, Epic Universe is likely good enough to justify the splurge.


Photo: Universal
This park will feature entire themed lands based on beloved brands like How to Train Your Dragon, Nintendo, and, yes, more Potter.
Perhaps the most intriguing land for combo Universal/Disney fans is Dark Universe, a themed land based on Universal Monsters.


Photo: Universal
This location will celebrate characters like The Mummy, Dracula, and Frankenstein’s Monster.
More importantly, the area will function as a daily version of Halloween Horror Nights, complete with gothic village.


Photo: Universal
In a way, Dark Universe will set the standard the upcoming Disney Villains land must surpass.
Historically, Disney wouldn’t have considered this a challenge, but Epic Universe may prove different.


Photo: Universal
We haven’t had a major new theme park in Orlando in more than 25 years.
So, Epic Universe should establish new standards in theme park design.


Photo: Universal
Simply consider how much technology has advanced since 1999. Smartphones weren’t even a thing then.
In short, Universal has a rare opportunity to create a viable threat to Walt Disney World.
Should You Visit Universal This Year?


Photo: Pexel.com
This question presumes that 1) You intend to visit Orlando this year 2) You don’t mind leaving the Disney Bubble and 3) Epic Universe intrigues you.
I suspect the answer to the third topic is yes. So, that makes you more flexible with your response to the second topic.


Photo: Universal
Let’s say that you are visiting Orlando this year. If so, you can be among the first to experience Epic Universe.
I certainly won’t talk you out of that unforgettable possibility. You can tell your grandkids one day that you were among the first!
Those of you familiar with my writing know that I sometimes do this about EPCOT.
I’m grateful that my family took me during its first year. And I’d similarly encourage you to create a similar memory at Epic Universe.
That statement comes with a few words of caution, though.
The first is that split vacations introduce a bit more complexity. You’ll pack more into your trip, which can be fatiguing.


Photo: Universal
Another is that your trip will cost much more. Disney prices tickets brilliantly.
Your package incentivizes you to stay longer since Disney knows you’ll spend more on food and merchandise.
You’re ceding that advantage by heading to Universal and probably adding at least 30 percent to your vacation budget.
Again, Universal must turn a profit on Epic Universe, and everything there will be marked up during the first year.


Photo: skillastics.com
Finally, the most pressing opportunity cost is that you’ll have less time to spend at Disney.
Only you can decide how much that bothers you, as Walt Disney World will always be there. Still, it is a strong consideration.


Photo: Universal
Personally, I plan to visit Epic Universe this year, but I fully understand why you may choose to wait.
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Feature Photo: Disney/Universal