Updated September 8, 2026 to include Epic Universe, current Universal ticket and Express Pass information, Early Park Admission, and the announced Mythos closure.
If you’re a Disney adult, your first trip to Universal Orlando can feel a little strange.
You know Disney. You know how the parks work. You know what kind of rides you like, where you want to eat, and probably exactly how early you need to leave your hotel to make rope drop.
Then you walk into Universal and realize: this is not Disney.
And that’s actually a good thing.
I love Disney, but I also really enjoy Universal Orlando. The trick is not going into Universal expecting it to be another version of Walt Disney World. It has its own personality, its own way of doing things, and some experiences Disney simply doesn’t have.
And now that Epic Universe is open, there’s even more reason for Disney adults to venture outside the Disney bubble.
Universal Orlando Is Bigger Than It Used to Be
When I originally wrote this article in 2024, Universal Orlando had two main theme parks—Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure—plus Volcano Bay.
That has changed.
Universal Orlando now includes:
- Universal Studios Florida
- Islands of Adventure
- Epic Universe
- Volcano Bay
Epic Universe alone added five new immersive worlds, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, and Celestial Park.
If you haven’t been to Universal in several years, you’re no longer looking at something you can necessarily squeeze into one extra day of a Disney vacation.
You could easily make Universal a trip of its own.
Don’t Expect Disney—Enjoy What Universal Does Differently
This is probably my biggest advice for Disney adults.
Stop comparing everything.
Universal has more thrill rides and coasters. The parks can feel a little more fast-paced. There’s less of the classic Disney nostalgia and more emphasis on movies, characters, franchises, and immersive worlds.
But Universal can absolutely compete when it comes to theming.
Walk into Diagon Alley for the first time and tell me you don’t immediately want to look in every window.
Then there’s Hogsmeade, Hogwarts Castle, and now the Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe.
And it’s not all Harry Potter anymore. Epic Universe added entire worlds based around Nintendo, How to Train Your Dragon, and Universal’s classic monsters.
Universal isn’t trying to be Disney.
Let it be Universal.
The Wizarding World Is a Must for Disney Adults
If what you love about Disney is detailed theming and feeling like you’ve stepped into another world, start with Harry Potter.
Hogsmeade is located in Islands of Adventure, while Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios Florida.
Some of the major attractions include:
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey inside Hogwarts Castle.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, which manages to combine a genuinely fun coaster with great theming.
The Hogwarts Express, which travels between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley.
Keep in mind that you need the appropriate park-to-park admission to ride the Hogwarts Express between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.
And now Epic Universe has added a third Wizarding World location: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic.
Harry Potter fans can easily spend a significant chunk of a Universal vacation just exploring these areas.
Universal Has Some Serious Thrill Rides
If your Disney ride limit is something like Pirates of the Caribbean, we need to have a different conversation.
Universal has considerably more intense rides.
Jurassic World VelociCoaster is in a completely different category from most Disney coasters. Hagrid’s is fast but wonderfully themed. And plenty of Universal attractions use motion, screens, 3D effects, or combinations of all three.
You don’t have to ride everything to have a good time.
That is something I think we sometimes forget as adults. We paid for the ticket, so suddenly we think we need to conquer every attraction.
You don’t.
Pick the things that actually sound fun to you.
Dining at Universal Orlando
Universal has some genuinely good places to eat, and the themed restaurants are especially fun if that is something you enjoy at Disney.
Three Broomsticks
Located in Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure, Three Broomsticks serves British-inspired food in a setting straight out of Harry Potter.
Even if you aren’t looking for a huge meal, it’s worth going inside just to see it.
Leaky Cauldron
Over in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida, Leaky Cauldron gives you another Harry Potter dining option with an atmosphere that fits beautifully into the land.
Mythos—Go While You Still Can
Mythos has been one of the best-known sit-down restaurants at Islands of Adventure for years.
But this recommendation now comes with an expiration date.
Universal has announced that the Lost Continent will close in phases as the area is redeveloped, and Mythos is scheduled to close permanently in 2027.
An exact closing date has not been announced as of this update.
So if Mythos is on your Universal bucket list and you’re visiting before it closes, this is one I would make time for.
Understanding Universal Tickets
This is one area where I would slow down and actually read what you’re buying.
Universal now has more parks and more ticket combinations than it did when this article was originally written.
One particularly important distinction is the Hogwarts Express. If you want to ride it between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, you need admission that allows you to visit both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure on the same day.
And with Epic Universe now part of the resort, don’t automatically assume every ticket includes every park in exactly the way you expect.
Look at your actual ticket before you buy it.
Express Pass Can Completely Change Your Day
Universal Express Pass allows you to use a separate Express queue at participating attractions.
I wouldn’t even bother comparing it directly to whatever line-skipping system Disney happens to be using this year. Universal Express is its own thing.
Depending on where you stay, it can also affect how I look at the price of a Universal hotel.
Some Universal hotel stays include complimentary Universal Express Unlimited for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. That benefit does not automatically extend to Epic Universe, so always check the current hotel benefits and your specific tickets.
Sometimes the hotel price makes a lot more sense once you calculate the value of Express.
Don’t Forget Early Park Admission
If you stay at a qualifying Universal hotel or have other eligible admission, you may have access to Early Park Admission at select parks and attractions.
Which park offers it can vary.
Universal currently lists Early Park Admission at select parks—including Islands of Adventure and, on select dates, Epic Universe—so this is something I would check shortly before your trip rather than assuming it will work exactly the same way every day.
That extra hour can be very useful for popular attractions.
Make Time for CityWalk
If Disney Springs is part of your Disney trips, don’t completely ignore CityWalk.
CityWalk sits right outside Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, so you naturally pass through it rather than making a separate trip.
There are restaurants, shops, bars, snacks, and places to sit down after you’ve been walking around the parks all day.
Toothsome Chocolate Emporium is probably one of the most recognizable restaurants there, and Voodoo Doughnut is an easy stop if you want something sweet.
But sometimes my favorite part of CityWalk is simply being able to leave a park, eat dinner, and not have to get back in the car.
Should a Disney Adult Visit Universal Orlando?
Yes.
But don’t go because you expect another Disney World.
Go because it’s different.
Universal has some incredible theming, great thrill rides, Harry Potter, CityWalk, good restaurants, and now an entirely new theme park with Epic Universe.
I don’t think loving Disney means every Orlando vacation has to happen inside the Disney bubble.
You can love Cinderella Castle and Hogwarts Castle.
You can have Mickey ears and a Harry Potter wand.
There is room in the suitcase for both.
Although, if you’ve read anything else I’ve written about packing, you know I’m going to tell you not to take that as permission to bring a bigger suitcase.