Disney4me Posted February 25 Report Posted February 25 When tourists are planning trips to the Orlando area, the first question many face is whether to visit Walt Disney World or the Universal Orlando Resort. While there are a litany of reasons to visit both world-class resorts, sometimes the decision can come down simply to dates. Universal Studios Whether it’s due to what Universal is offering, or simply what some guests may wish to avoid at Disney World, these are the dates that many will be looking at Universal Orlando for their theme park fun. Let’s begin with some of Universal’s best offerings: March 1st will see the start of Butterbeer Season, a celebration of the iconic Harry Potter drink, which is available at Universal’s Wizarding World locations in several forms, including cold, hot, frozen, and as ice cream, fudge, and potted cream. The event, which extends to May 31st, will feature “limited-time treats and merch inspired by the iconic drink.” Of course, there’s Halloween Horror Nights, the premier Halloween event in the whole theme park world. Pretty much any day is a good day to get HHN tickets… EXCEPT the opening night and Halloween itself, both of which are usually slammed. Finally, Universal’s Holiday Season — including the Holiday Parade and the Grinchmas celebration — kicks off on November 14th. Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights However, like we said above, Universal’s offerings aren’t the only reasons the resort is better to visit on certain days. Some are based on days guests would rather AVOID Disney World. Let’s begin with EPCOT’s festival start dates. While the park’s annual fests are some of the best times to visit overall, their opening days tend to be crowded, with items often unavailable or selling out. The remaining festival openers for 2026 are Flower and Garden on March 4th, Food & Wine in late August, and the Festival of the Holidays on Black Friday, November 27th. Bambi topiary The (re)opening days of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (spring) and the new Muppets take on Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster (summer) promise to be the biggest and most in-demand ride openings at Disney World this year, meaning that both days might be better spent visiting the competition. ©Disney While Universal’s parks will surely be crowded on America’s 250th birthday, it seems likely that their 4th of July crowds won’t be close to those of Disney World, especially the Magic Kingdom, since Universal isn’t nearly as well known for its fireworks show as the “Most Magical Place on Earth.” The sky just lights up with this show Finally, there’s the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, which lasts from October 22nd to the 25th. Simply put, while race weekends are great for competitors and their families, for uninvolved guests, they usually involve crowded parks, delayed openings, rerouted roads, and traffic snafus. ©Disney If you’re making your way to the Central Florida area in 2026, you may want to consider Universal Orlando on these dates. Stay tuned to DFB for more travel tips. Why Fans Are Still OBSESSED with This Universal Orlando Ride 18 Years After It Closed Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Heading to the Orlando area this year? Let us know in the comments below. View the full article Quote
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