Trying to decide between spending a day at Hollywood Studios or Universal Studios for your next theme park trip? We can help!
It’s important to know that these are two very different theme parks with very different ownership. Some people don’t realize that Walt Disney World owns Hollywood Studios, which is located in Lake Buena Vista and NBCUniversal owns Universal Studios which is located in Orlando.
While the two are drastically different, Hollywood Studios and Universal Studios are equally popular. The themes and characters in each park are usually the deciding factor for guests. Universal has the theme park rights to Harry Potter, the Simpsons, the Mummy and more, and Hollywood Studios’ has Star Wars, Pixar, and the Muppets among others.
That’s a super quick summary. Realistically, each park has a long list of pros and cons that should be considered before booking your tickets. This comprehensive comparison will cover everything you need to know about how each parks’ rides, food, attractions, entertainment, and general experiences stack up against one another.
P.S. – If you’re planning a grown-up trip, definitely check out our Insider’s Guide to Hollywood Studios for Adults.
About Each Park
Hollywood Studios is a part of Walt Disney World Resort, located in Lake Buena Vista, FL on its own property. It’s extremely close to Epcot and Magic Kingdom, along with all the Disney World resort hotels. Hollywood Studios offers multiple forms of free transportation between all the Disney parks and resorts by way of the Disney Skyliner and bus. Hollywood Studios also has its own parking lot right outside the park.
Hollywood Studios originally began as a classic Hollywood movie-themed park, featuring lots of film sets and backdrops, along with attractions based on old Hollywood films. Today, the primary attractions in the park revolve around Star Wars, Disney Junior and Pixar Animation.
Universal Studios is a part of Universal Orlando, located in Orlando, FL and operated by NBCUniversal. It’s directly connected to Islands of Adventure by walkway and by train via the Hogwarts Express. Universal Orlando resort hotels are a short walk or bus ride away. Guests can access the park on foot from the hotels or they can park their vehicles in the nearby parking garage.
Universal Orlando is only accessible by way of CityWalk (free entry), a sort of plaza which houses notable restaurants, shops and attractions. Guests will enter and exit the park going through this area. Universal Orlando is also inspired by Hollywood, and started with a focus on 1940’s and 50’s America. These days the park has added more popular franchises like Harry Potter, Transformers, Fast & Furious, the Simpsons, and Despicable Me.
Rides
WINNER: Hollywood Studios
Universal Studios has our two favorite rides with Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and Rip Ride Rockit. However, we think Hollywood Studios has the best collection of rides overall. Hollywood Studios recently upped their game with Rise of the Resistance, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. These, in addition to the timeless Rock ’N’ Roller Coaster and the Tower of Terror solidify Hollywood Studios as the winner in this category.
HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS’ BEST RIDES
RISE OF THE RESISTANCE (10/10)
Rise of the Resistance is the marquee Star Wars themed experience inside Hollywood Studios. It’ll transport you directly to outer space where you’ll come face to face with the Empire and get rescued by the Resistance. This is by far the most highly anticipated ride in Hollywood Studios ever since its debut in 2019. The technology is superb and the experience is fantastic. It has a great pace, all the way from the line queue to the set up to the ride itself. It can still be difficult to snag Lightning Lane (Disney’s version of a ride pass) for Rise of the Resistance, but it’s gotten easier in recent months.
ROCK ‘N’ ROLLER COASTER (10/10)
Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster may be older but the thrilling experience remains unchanged. The band Aerosmith acts as your guide to this super fast coaster, inviting you to join them backstage at a concert in L.A. Once aboard this super-stretch limousine, you’ll reach speeds of 57 mph in less than 3 seconds and go through a series of inverted loops, corkscrews and turns before arriving at your destination. It’s a short, but solid indoor coaster that’s synonymous with classic Hollywood Studios.
THE TWILIGHT ZONE TOWER OF TERROR (10/10)
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is a true classic Disney ride (and it’s probably our favorite Hollywood Studios ride), harkening to old 1940’s Hollywood. Riders who dare take a seat in this paranormal elevator shaft will be quickly spirited into the twilight zone. Expect a series of drops, always in different sequences, including one big drop from the very top of the tower to the bottom. While the theme or drop sequence can be scary for some, we’ve seen people of all ages on this one.
MILLENNIUM FALCON: SMUGGLER’S RUN (10/10)
Here’s another great Star Wars themed ride, also located inside Galaxy’s Edge. Guests get to take flight on Han Solo’s cherished Millennium Falcon, aiding the Rebel Force in stealing resources from the Empire fleet. Each rider is assigned a position where they are responsible for piloting, engineering or gunning while you evade the enemy. Perhaps the best part about this ride is how truly realistic the sets are in comparison to the movies. You can also get great photo ops in the line queue that brings you into the living quarters of the Falcon.
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (10/10)
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a good experience for people of all ages to enjoy together, especially if you’re a fan of the current Mickey Mouse cartoons. You’ll accompany the pair for a romantic picnic in the park but end up facing a few distractions along the way. As your train takes you to the final destination, it ends up breaking apart and your ride vehicle will pilot itself through multiple scenes that include state fairs, underwater reefs, dance studios, and more.
TOY STORY MANIA! (9/10)
Join the toys as you set off through this shooter game-style ride inside Andy’s bedroom. Toy Story Mania is a competitive game where you use a pop gun to shoot different items on various 3D screens. You’ll be presented with many different scenes featuring all of Andy’s toys and at the end be placed in a category of winners based on the points you scored. This interactive ride never gets old since there are basically limitless secrets/strategies to get a higher score each time you ride. It’s easy to play casually, but complex and difficult to master at a high level.
SLINKY DOG DASH (8/10)
Slinky Dog Dash is the only other steel roller coaster at Hollywood Studios. Unlike Rock ’N’ Roller Coaster, Slinky is slow and smooth, designed for young children to have fun and enjoy. That said, it’s not a boring ride – it has multiple stops and starts, a large incline, darting movements and lots of different toys to see in Andy’s backyard. But don’t get stuck waiting in this grueling outdoor line! Try to get Lightning Lane for this one.
STAR TOURS (7/10)
Star Tours is the last of the Star Wars rides; an older one but a good one. C3PO and R2D2 are your guides in this unique ride who help you get your own Rebel spy to the Resistance base. This simulator ride is different every time you experience it, shuttling you to a new planet with different characters every time. The scenes are good and the life-sized C3PO who pilots your ship adds a lot to the experience.
Universal Studios’ BEST RIDES
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts (10/10)
Gringotts is quite the sight to behold. Before you even get onto the ride, guests will be amazed by the sheer magnitude of this fictional bank as it looks remarkably like the one in the movie, complete with goblins and marble pillars. The ride features a steel coaster track with familiar feats like drops and turns, along with unique spinning movements as you move between 3D scenes. During the ride, you’ll encounter some of the top characters like Harry Potter, Bellatrix LeStrange and the Dark Lord himself.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (10/10)
This impressive steel coaster is one of the largest roller coasters on Universal Orlando property, featuring a 167 foot drop and top speed of 65 mph. Rip Ride Rockit is very popular and usually has a long wait time. One of the best parts about the ride is that you can choose your own track to listen to on the ride. Selections include ZZ Top, Daft Punk, Britney Spears and more to amp up this extreme experience.
Revenge of the Mummy (10/10)
Based on the Mummy movie, this ride is full of ancient Egyptian sets and creepy undead beings. The steel track roller coaster is all enclosed which allows for guests to fully feel the water, fire and wind effects on the ride. Just when you think the ride has ended, guests are catapulted at 40mph into a new thrilling sequence as you escape the death trap of Imhotep. This is one ride that we sincerely hope stays forever.
Hogwarts Express – King’s Cross Station (9/10)
Wizards and muggles alike will enjoy embarking on the iconic Hogwarts Express, which transports guests from Universal Studios to Islands of Adventure. You’re required to have a pass for both parks in order to board this ride, but the cost is worth it. The train station itself is gives each passenger the feeling of being cast as an extra in Harry Potter. As you journey, you’ll encounter several movie characters outside the window including Hagrid who welcomes you to a new year at school.
Transformers: The Ride 3d (9/10)
Movie fans will appreciate the lifelike Transformers in all their metallic glory on this ride. Each guest is on a mission to protect the Allspark from the Decepticons as they ride on motion-platform vehicles through different sets. The ride is 3D and features everyone’s favorite Autobots who guide you through the city to safety. Aside from Gringotts, we consider Transformers to be the best 3D ride in Universal Studios. It’s got a visually impressive setup compared to other 3D rides at the park.
Race through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon (8/10)
This is another 3D ride, relying more so on the 3D imaging than the ride vehicle movements. Jimmy Fallon himself literally takes you through New York City and onto unexpected tracks, including a shot to the moon. Probably the most fun part about the ride is the line queue where you get live entertainment before the ride begins.
Men in Black (7/10)
Admittedly, this ride could use an update. However, it’s an old-school classic and we really like the original Men in Black theme of this shooter ride. The line queue takes you through the super secret MIB offices and suggests you use their target practice facility before going after real aliens. Each rider has a laser gun to practice with before you eventually encounter real aliens that must be destroyed. Almost every time we visit Universal with a group, someone is adamant about getting on this one.
Restaurants, Food, & Drinks
WINNER: Draw
Unfortunately, neither Hollywood Studios nor Universal Studios is particularly well known for their food. However, both have a couple good options to keep in mind. Hollywood Studios has more table service restaurants than Universal, but none really stand above the rest. We more highly recommend the quick service meals in Hollywood Studios’ Galaxy’s Edge.
Universal Studios only has two table service restaurants, however their quick service food can easily rival Hollywood Studios’ food any day of the week.
One thing to consider about Universal Studios is the direct access to CityWalk. This means that you’ve got tons of great sit-down and quick service restaurants, snacks, and drinking spots within a short walk (on the way in or out) from Universal’s front gates. But since CityWalk is not technically inside Universal Studios, we won’t include it here.
We also have a separate guide specifically to all of the best restaurants, snacks, and drinks at Hollywood Studios.
Universal Studios’ BEST RESTAURANTS
LOMBARD’S SEASFOOD GRILL (9/10)
Lombard’s is definitely the “nicer” of the two table service restaurants at Universal Studios, offering a more upscale selection of local and nationally sourced seafood dishes for guests looking to have a finer dining experience. It’s right on the water and has a fancy nautical theme. Menu items like Calamari, Filet Mignon and the Cioppino Ocean Bowl will elevate your theme park experience.
Finnegan’s Bar and Grill (9/10)
Finnegan’s Bar and Grill is an excellent choice for those looking to take a break from the hot Florida weather. Most of the menu items here are traditional Irish pub fare, therefore they can feel a little heavier on a hot day. However, the food is delicious and great for a big appetite. There is open seating at the bar, so even if you don’t have a reservation or prefer not to wait for a table, bar service is the way to go for a small party. We always enjoy the staff here too, especially when sitting at the bar.
Universal STudios QUICK-SERVICE RESTAURANTS (8/10)
Universal is lacking in comparison to Hollywood Studios as far as the quantity of food options, but their quick service is decidedly better. Here are our top choices for quick service, which all have great seating options:
The Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley is an exact replica of the decrepit restaurant you’ll find in the Harry Potter movies. Traditional English food is served up on temporary plates so you can choose to sit and eat inside or take it with you while you walk the park. You can order Butterbeer here along with Bangers & Mash, Pot Pies, and English Stews.
Lard Lad Doughnuts and Bumblebee Man’s Tacos are two great little stands that are extremely popular for quick service. These are both located in Springfield: Home of the Simpsons and they make the park experience more realistic to the show. Lard Lad has incredible doughnuts and Bumblebee Man has delicious Tex-Mex inspired choices.
Mel’s Drive-in is inspired by George Lucas’ American Graffiti and features classic 1950’s American food. You’ll find a selection of burgers, chicken fingers, fries, milkshakes and Root Beer Floats at this retro establishment. The color scheme and model cars out front will definitely enhance the experience.
Krusty Burger is part of Springfield: Home of the Simpsons section of Universal, where you can find other show eateries like Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck, Lard Lad and Luigi’s Pizza. If you’re in the mood for a giant burger that’s worth the calories, Krusty Burger delivers 1/3 and 2/3 lb burgers with various toppings along with sodas and milkshakes to wash it down.
HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS’ BEST RESTAURANTS
THE HOLLYWOOD BROWN DERBY (8/10)
The Hollywood Brown Derby in Hollywood Studios is based on the real Brown Derby in Hollywood, CA. The cool part about their interior is that it’s filled with caricatures of modern celebrities, along with those of past stars. The top menu item is undoubtedly their Cobb Salad, which has been a staple of the original Brown Derby since its inception. Brown Derby is in the “Signature” category of Disney restaurants, so prices will be moderately high. We usually don’t think it’s worth the price when compared to Disney restaurants in the same echelon, but it’s the nicest table service in Hollywood Studios.
OGA’S CANTINA (8/10)
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to drink at the real Star Wars bar from the movie, now’s your chance to live the dream. Oga’s Cantina was designed to look and feel like the Mos Eisley Cantina on Tatooine. Instead of the famous Cantina Band, Oga’s features DJ R3-X who spins tracks all day while bartenders serve up interesting beverages from all over the galaxy. The attention to detail and general atmosphere of the bar is awesome, but if there’s a complaint, it’s that things can sometimes feel a bit rushed and there’s no food. There are a couple snack options, but don’t come here expecting a full meal.
Since its opening, Oga’s is solidly on our Definitive List of Disney World Must-Do’s.
SCI-FI DINE-IN THEATER RESTAURANT (7/10)
The Sci-Fi Dine-In has been a crowd favorite for ages. Each dining party gets a seat in their own car while they watch old tv commercials, shows and movies from days gone by. The menu is mainly American classics like burgers and fries, milkshakes, turkey sandwiches and more.
50’S PRIME TIME CAFE (7/10)
50’s Prime Time is a throwback restaurant set in what appears to be your great-grandmother’s home. Waiters will treat you like family (literally) as they expect you to set the table and clean your plate if you want dessert. Longtime family favorites are served here like meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANTS (6/10)
Hollywood Studios has gotten an upgrade to their quick service food recently with great additions located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. These areas of the park have unique offerings like “Totchos”, Ronto Wraps and Blue Milk. We highly suggest referencing the below list for small meals and snacks as the rest of the park has very standard food that isn’t often worth the price:
- Baseline Taphouse
- Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
- Ronto Roasters
- Woody’s Lunchbox
Entertainment & Attractions
WINNER: Hollywood Studios
Both of these parks have very different entertainment options, so it really comes down to what’s more desirable for your vacation. Universal Studios is going to have some great Harry Potter themed attractions, along with a character parade and varying stage shows. Hollywood Studios places a high priority on their Disney IP with broadway-esque performances and the ever-popular Fantasmic! nighttime show.
HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS’ BEST ENTERTAINMENT & ATTRACTIONS
FANTASMIC! (10/10)
Fantasmic! is one of the best theatrical and stunt shows on Disney property. It takes place on a huge stage across a large body of water with an enormous outdoor amphitheater that can hold thousands of people. This is a nighttime show that combines lots of Disney’s popular movie music in a dream sequence going on inside Mickey’s head. If you wanted to see dozens of Disney’s best characters all at once, this is the place to be. It’s been around for quite a while and it’s always worth it.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: LIVE ON STAGE (9/10)
Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage captures the magic of the animated classic in an abbreviated story. It’s got Broadway caliber performers who sing and dance to the most popular musical numbers from the movie. Despite it being outdoors, most guests will quickly forget how hot they are as they marvel at the elaborate costumes and performance given by these talented artists.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER: FROZEN SING-ALONG CELEBRATION (8/10)
While it’s definitely geared toward children, adults will also have some laughs at this popular indoor stage show. The audience is taken through a humorous narration of the first Frozen movie as they sing through every single song. At the end, Anna and Kristoff take the stage as Elsa sends snowfall on the crowd.
MUPPETVISION 3D (8/10)
Muppet Vision 3D is a great way to cool down and sit for a while. It’s not the most exciting attraction at Hollywood Studios, so lines will usually be short, but you’ll get a performance from the Muppets that you won’t find anywhere else. If you love the Muppets, you won’t be disappointed. Even if you’re not a Muppets fan, you’re still probably going to be pleasantly surprised.
WONDERFUL WORLD OF ANIMATION (7/10)
Wonderful World of Animation is a nightly firework show at Hollywood Studios. It highlights the last 90 years of Disney animation. The show is great if members of your party don’t enjoy loud fireworks or flashy lights, but if you do like those things you’ll find Wonderful World of Animation underwhelming. If you have the choice between seeing this or Fantasmic!, we definitely recommend Fantasmic!
INDIANA JONES EPIC STUNT SPECTACULAR (7/10)
The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is an action stage show. The point of the show is to explain to audiences how each stunt and explosion can be recreated with the help of a Hollywood director and lots of stunt doubles. Since Raiders of the Lost Ark is the theme, you’ll get to see everything from explosions to the iconic rolling ball scene.
The crew will always select a person from the audience to participate, which makes the show a little more exciting.
Universal StudioS’ BEST ENTERTAINMENT & ATTRACTIONS
Ollivanders Experience in Diagon Alley (10/10)
This is a truly magical experience for anyone who desires to go through the same wand selection process as Harry Potter from the Sorcerer’s Stone. Each wizard will meet Ollivander himself who takes you through the full process of finding a wand that chooses you. You’ll go through several trials and errors as you test different wands until one is a perfect fit. Whether or not you opt for the full Ollivander experience, we highly recommend walking through the store. It’s without a doubt one of the best true-to-the-movie recreations inside the park.
The Bourne Stuntacular (10/10)
The Bourne Stuntacular follows Jason Bourne through a series of epic stunts replicated from the films – and it’s truly “stuntacular”. Believe us: don’t snooze on this experience! This is an indoor stage show that takes place on an open stage with a 3D backdrop that recreates scenes from the saga. The actors perform various high-level stunts from the movie like car chases, helicopter drops and fist fights. We first thought this wasn’t going to be good, but it’s one of the rare occasions that we totally misjudged an attraction.
Universal’s Superstar Parade (9/10)
Superstar Parade has lots of beloved Universal characters on display, including those from SpongeBob SquarePants, Despicable Me, and Dora the Explorer. The parade runs every day starting behind Revenge of the Mummy and ending at E.T. Adventure. It’s best suited for kids since it features many of their favorite childhood characters on Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade-caliber floats.
Tales of Beedle the Bard (8/10)
Several performers gather on a small stage in Diagon Alley to put on a trunk show of magical tales. They use intricate puppets and props to tell several stories from the famed wizard author, Beedle the Bard. We think the performance is a pretty impressive use of puppetry and magical storytelling.
Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration (7/10)
This nighttime water and projection show is a great way to end the day at Universal. The water is streamed in sheets so you can see scenes from different movies like Fast & Furious or Jurassic World, while other fountain features and lasers create varying spectacles. The downside to this attraction is that it’s only available on select nights, so you’re not always guaranteed to catch it.
Marilyn and the Diamond Bellas (6/10)
This is an entertaining street show that takes place regularly throughout the day on the backlot, between Race Through New York and Revenge of the Mummy. Marilyn and her backup performers sing and dance different songs and a guest from the audience is selected to direct it. Afterward, people can take pictures with the actors.
Animal Actors on Location! (6/10)
This is an adorable show for all ages and stars some actual animal actors from movies we all know and love. They perform a few of their recognizable tricks for the audience and members from the crowd can even get involved at different points. You’ll see several dogs, cats, birds and more in this short show.
Conclusion
Universal Studios will always be one of our favorite parks to visit, but when you compare every single detail with that of Hollywood Studios, Hollywood wins more often than not. But for most what it may actually come down to is this: are you a Star Wars fan or are you a Harry Potter fan?
The addition of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios was a great expansion on Disney’s part, introducing incredible extraterrestrial scenery, better-than-average food and next-level rides. Toy Story Land helps the case of Hollywood Studios with beloved movie characters, child-appropriate rides and more tasty quick service dishes. Plus, there’s other Pixar magic and entertainment around the park that smaller kids will enjoy.
Hollywood Studios’ revamping of stage shows like Fantasmic!, Beauty and the Beast and Frozen Ever After are perfect for a reprieve from the bustling walkways and hot temperatures.
Universal Studios has nailed certain things, like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and brings the action with a few thrill rides, cool shows and parades. Kids will also be entertained by the Illumination section of the park featuring Despicable Me characters and more. It’s just been a while since Universal has gotten a huge makeover, so it lags behind when you consider the massive undertaking of Disney’s renovations to Hollywood Studios.
Additional Park Comparisons
We have plenty more theme park comparisons in the Central Florida area so you can better plan your next trip!
