The growl of velociraptors, the countdown before launch and rocketing out into the raptor paddock on a high-speed race. There is no better proof that Universal Studios Orlando is the best of all Florida theme parks than their best rollercoaster: Velocicoaster. Universal doesn’t try to spoon-feed entertainment; it is trying to instill a lasting sense of exhilaration that will follow guests through their entire visit.

What  truly sets Universal apart from other parks is its immersion. The areas in both Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe don’t just have rides; they have full worlds. Instead of simply representing the movies, the park recreates them. The “Jurassic Park” area in Universal’s Islands of Adventure excels at this — from the sounds of the jungle to the roar of dinosaurs, it is a portal to another world. Even Volcano Bay is able to create the perfect atmosphere and truly allows guests to forget about the regular world for a day and enjoy everything the park has to offer.

There isn’t  a single area in Disney World that measures up to the atmosphere of the Wizarding World; no castle can compare to the feeling of stepping into Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. Additionally, Disney’s rollercoasters are often short and restrained, failing to instill the same adrenaline that any Universal coaster could. The Incredible Hulk, Velocicoaster, The Mummy and Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure deliver a lasting sense of adrenaline that simply outranks that of Tron, the Seven Dwarves Mine Train and Expedition Everest. Velocicoaster stands out as the best coaster in Universal, but it is also the best rollercoaster in Florida. From the atmosphere and suspense to the two minutes that send riders flying through the paddock, Velocicoaster is unbeatable. On the other hand, Disney’s coasters are more nostalgic retellings of childhood stories than full-blown roller coasters, and they lack any real sense of thrill.

From a sheer convenience and logistical standpoint, Universal’s Express system still outmatches Disney’s Lighting Lane. Though it is more expensive, Universal Express is a more straightforward way to skip long lines. The booking system that Lightning Lane uses is a confusing and convoluted way to skip lines, and doesn’t truly allow riders to get the most out of their day. Universal Express, however, is easier to use and allows guests to maximize the amount of rides they can hit in one day. If comparing the total prices of a Disney trip to those of a Universal trip, even when factoring in the skip-the-line systems, Disney still comes out being more expensive.

This is not to say that Disney has no real strengths. The variety of food offered — from Mickey Mouse ice cream to Cinderella’s Royal Table — far exceeds the options at Universal. The dining experiences offered are an exciting way for guests to connect with their favorite characters while enjoying a meal. Additionally, the live entertainment Disney has to offer is undeniably better than anything at Universal. The immersive character meet-and-greets, along with live shows, easily beat the quick, almost boring ones in Universal. On top of it all, costuming stands out as Disney’s greatest strength. Disney princesses have incredible costuming that transforms them into their character, while the Universal costumes — especially those in Marvel Superhero Island — are poor representations of beloved characters. The costumes in Universal look like cheap Halloween costumes a five-year-old would wear trick-or-treating, and a theme park as popular as Universal should be able to offer something better.

But that is where the pros for Disney end. One of Universal’s main strengths is its walkability; the thoughtful, circular layout of both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure gives park guests an easy way to move from attraction to attraction without feeling drained or bored. There’s always something new to see as guests travel through the park. At Disney, guests have to rely on buses, boats or long monorail rides to get from park to park, while Universal keeps its main attractions — Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk — close to each other. The only transportation from Universal Studios to Islands of Adventure, the Hogwarts Express, serves as a ride of its own, so guests can spend less time traveling and more time enjoying all of the attractions. 

At the park’s core, Universal is a park designed for people from Florida, tailoring to their interests, while Disney serves more as “tourist bait,” or a park for small children. Disney is a bucket list park, something to attend once and then never again, while Universal is a place guests can attend over and over and still enjoy all it has to offer.