If you’re a budget-conscious traveler planning a family trip to Florida’s world-renowned theme parks, you might be wondering whether a vacation to Universal Orlando is truly more affordable than a trip to Walt Disney World. This article will compare costs between Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, focusing on base/value options for hotels, tickets, parking, and food. Given the fluctuating nature of hotel and ticket prices, which can be affected by various factors, this analysis will focus on a family of four, consisting of two adults and two children aged 10 and above. To maintain simplicity and provide a clearer comparison across categories, this article excludes vacation packages, dining packages, and exclusive rates, such as Florida resident discounts.
Hotel Rates
To ensure consistency, we will analyze Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando hotel rates for a 4-night stay from June 26, 2025 through June 30, 2025. Keep in mind that rates can fluctuate based on selected dates and may change at any time.
Walt Disney World:
For our comparison, the cheapest Walt Disney World hotel is Disney’s All-Star Resort, which includes All-Star Sports, All-Star Music, and All-Star Movies. The average rate is approximately $206.25 per night, resulting in a total of $825 (excluding tax) for a 4-night stay.
Universal Orlando:
The most economical option at Universal Orlando during this period is Universal Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites, with an average nightly rate of $250. For a 4-night stay, this totals $1,000 (excluding tax). However, guests at a Universal Orlando hotel also incur an additional fee for parking. At Surfside Inn and Suites, that fee is $26 per night for parking, bringing the total to $1,104 (excluding tax).
Hotel Summary:
- Walt Disney World total: $825
- Universal Orlando total: $1,104
Ticket Prices
Walt Disney World is home to four theme parks. Once Epic Universe opens on May 22, 2025, Universal Orlando will have three theme parks. For a fair comparison, this analysis will focus on a 3-day theme park ticket for each destination, without the option to park hop. Ticket prices vary based on the chosen date, so for our comparison, we’ll consider the first day of ticket use to be June 27, the day following the previously mentioned hotel check-in date. For simplicity, we’ve excluded potential discounts that may apply when booking a hotel and tickets at the same time.
Walt Disney World:
A 3-day ticket costs $486.99 per person (excluding tax). For a family of four, that totals to $1,947.96 (before tax).
Universal Orlando:
A 3-day ticket with access to the upcoming Epic Universe theme park is $462.99 per person (excluding tax). For four tickets, that comes out to $1,851.96 (plus tax).
Ticket Summary:
- Walt Disney World total: $1,947.96
- Universal Orlando total: $1,851.96
Parking Fees
Parking fees are another critical factor in our comparison, though they mostly apply to guests not staying at an on-site hotel.
Walt Disney World:
If you’re parking a vehicle at a Walt Disney World theme park, it costs $30 per day, so if you have a 3-day ticket, you’ll need to pay for parking 3 times, bringing the parking fee to a total of $90 for 3 days. However, if you’re staying at a Walt Disney World hotel, you can take advantage of complimentary transportation throughout Walt Disney World, so you probably won’t be driving. If you do choose to park your car at a theme park when staying at an on-site hotel, you’ll qualify for free theme park parking.
Universal Orlando:
For Universal Orlando, parking costs $32 per day accumulating to $96 for 3 days. However, if you’re staying at a Universal Orlando hotel, you can simply take advantage of complimentary transportation throughout Universal Orlando. It’s not practical given that it would take longer, but should you decide to utilize theme park parking instead of the transportation, you’ll still be required to pay the theme park parking fee on top of the hotel parking fee.
Parking Summary:
These fees only apply if you’re parking a vehicle at a theme park. If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando hotel, these are fees you shouldn’t worry about.
- Walt Disney World total: $90
- Universal Orlando total: $96
Dining Costs
To maintain consistency, we’ll explore dining options at three popular restaurants throughout Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando theme parks, focusing on quick-serve meals. Meals at on-site hotels have been excluded, so our analysis will concentrate solely on options available within the theme parks.
Walt Disney World:
- Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe: Chicken strips with fries – $10.99
- Connections Eatery: Two slices of cheese pizza – $11.29
- Backlot Express: Bacon cheeseburger with fries – $13.99
Universal Orlando:
- Mel’s Drive-In: Chicken fingers with fries – $11.49
- Cafe 4: Jumbo cheese pizza slice – $11.29
- The Burger Digs: Bacon cheeseburger with fries – $15.99
Dining Cost Summary:
For the purpose of our analysis, we’ll say that all four family members are dining for both lunch and dinner in the parks, resulting in two meals a day over three days since they have a 3-day ticket. To maintain simplicity, we’ll consider that everyone orders the same meal twice in a single day. This means we will multiply each dining option previously listed by eight, as there are four individuals each enjoying the same meal twice. Finally, we’ll sum the total costs from each restaurant to calculate the grand total for food expenses during this trip.
- Walt Disney World total: $290.16
- Universal Orlando total: $310.16
Conclusion
For this mock family vacation for four from June 26 to June 30, 2025, the overall expense of a trip to Walt Disney World amounts to $3,063.12; this figure covers on-site accommodations, tickets, and meals, while theme park parking fees have been omitted, as you will be utilizing complimentary transportation available to hotel guests. In contrast, a vacation to Universal Orlando totals $3,266.12 for the same criteria, making Walt Disney World the more economical choice in this instance. However, it’s essential to consider that prices can fluctuate based on specific travel dates, with some periods potentially offering better rates at Universal Orlando. Moreover, if you opt for an off-site hotel, Universal Orlando could become more budget-friendly.
For example, if you exclude the on-site hotel costs while factoring in theme park parking fees, a trip to Universal Orlando may amount to $2,258.12 plus the cost of your chosen off-site accommodation. Meanwhile, a similar scenario at Walt Disney World would total approximately $2,328.12 plus the cost for off-site lodging, which can make a Disney vacation slightly more expensive.
Numerous factors influence the determination of which destination is more affordable. In addition to fluctuating hotel rates, theme park ticket prices can also vary significantly, with certain dates presenting lower prices for one destination compared to the other. However, parking fees and dining expenses are generally lower at Walt Disney World.
Both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando have their dedicated fan bases; however, the key consideration isn’t which one is better—since that’s a matter of personal preference—but rather which one is more affordable. The truth is that both destinations maintain competitive pricing. The notion that Universal Orlando is consistently the more budget-friendly option is not always accurate. Choose the destination that excites you the most, and keep an eye out for promotions and packages that could help reduce your costs.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando? You can use our FREE travel guides to get the most out of your vacation.
NOTE: The prices included in this article do not include tax. These figures were collected on March 10, 2025 from the official Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando websites for U.S. consumers. These rates are subject to change at any time. Users accessing these websites from outside the U.S. may encounter different prices.
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