There’s so much to see and do in Orlando. But the two main attractions are Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. But what if you want to do both? Believe it or not, it is possible to fit it all in if you plan ahead and prioritize which parks are most important to you.
Walt Disney World has four theme parks and two water parks. Universal Studios has two theme parks and one water park. If you have just a week to visit both, it can be a busy vacation to fit it all in, but it can be done.
If you want to just visit Walt Disney World, I recommend at least six days. This will give you a full day at each park and possibly sometime on your travel days, depending on what time you need to hit the road or catch your flight. Ideally, I recommend seven days, so you have time to enjoy the resort, waterparks, Disney Springs, etc.
If you are looking to just visit Universal Orlando, I recommend four days. A day for each park along with your travel days. Ideally, I recommend five days, so you have time to enjoy the resort, waterpark, City Walk, etc.
If you want to visit the two Universal theme parks in one day, or just go to one of the parks, I recommend staying at Walt Disney World for your entire stay and traveling to Universal for the day. The Universal parks are right next to each other. So, they are easily accessible with a one-day park-to-park ticket.
However, if you want to spend more time at Universal Orlando, highly recommended if you are a Harry Potter fan or if you want to visit Universal’s water park too, I suggest a split stay. You can stay a few days at a Disney resort and visit those parks, and then move to a Universal resort for the rest of your stay. This will give you the full experience of both destinations, along with the perks each has to offer, such as early park entry, etc.
Pro tip: If you stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort, you can take advantage of extra magic evening hours at the parks on certain evenings. And, if you stay at a Premier Universal Resort, you will receive the Unlimited Express Pass for free.
Dreaming of your next vacation to Disney or beyond? I would love to help you design the perfect land or sea experience for your family! Click here to schedule a “Let’s Get Acquainted Session” with me so we can start planning your family’s next great adventure.
