As a theme park enthusiast and a mom of two, visiting the Universal Parks has always been high on my list. I first explored the Universal Parks in Orlando in 2024 with my family, visiting both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Then, in July 2025, we made our way to California and checked Universal Studios Hollywood off our list.

This article is a real and personal comparison between both locations. I’m sharing what I loved, what caught me off guard, and what I’d definitely plan differently next time. Whether you’re planning a trip with kids or you’re a movie lover looking for behind-the-scenes magic, I hope my experience helps guide yours.

Note: I haven’t been to Epic Universe yet, but I’m definitely counting the days!

Overview: My Visits to the Universal Parks

Let’s start with a quick snapshot of both trips.

Orlando (2024): We visited in August with a big family group—my husband, our two boys (7 and 15 at the time), my brother, sister-in-law, and our 6-year-old nephew. The weather was warm but very unpredictable. We had one day of heavy rain, which gave us a few short breaks but still affected the experience quite a bit. Because we had limited time and a packed schedule with other parks, we ended up doing both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure on the same day.

Hollywood (2025): This was a summer trip in July, just the four of us—my husband, our sons (now 8 and 16), and me. We had a day and a half to explore Universal Studios Hollywood, and the weather couldn’t have been better: sunny skies and perfect California vibes.

While the vibes of both parks are magical, the cities, layouts, and overall experiences couldn’t be more different.

Attractions: What’s Different Between Universal Parks

🎬 Universal Studios Hollywood:

• Focused heavily on movie sets and behind-the-scenes magic
• The Studio Tour is a must—it’s exclusive to Hollywood and truly one of a kind
• Super Nintendo World is new, colorful, and immersive, though compact
• The park is smaller, but getting around isn’t that easy due to the many escalators between the lower and upper lots, which can take some time.

☄️ Universal Orlando:

• Includes two major parks (Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure – Epic Universe wasn’t open yet)
• More thrill rides and roller coasters: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures, Jurassic World VelociCoaster, The Hulk, and more
• Harry Potter is split between two areas: Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade
• Better suited for multi-day visits

💬 If you love roller coasters and adrenaline like I do, Orlando has way more to offer. But Hollywood has the Studio Tour, which is super cool, and the Super Nintendo World area—something that’s now part of Epic Universe, but back in 2024, it wasn’t open yet.

Weather & Experience: California Sun vs. Florida Rain

One of the biggest contrasts between our visits was the weather.

• Orlando: As I mentioned, we had a particularly rainy day during our visit, which definitely impacted the experience in some ways. On the one hand, it was challenging dealing with the downpours, especially with kids. But on the bright side, the rain actually worked in our favor—many of the roller coasters reopened quickly between showers, and we managed to take advantage of those windows to hop on several major rides with surprisingly short wait times. Despite the rain, the weather was still hot, with temperatures reaching 91°F (33°C).
• Hollywood: We had perfect weather on both days—sunny skies and comfortable temperatures. The dry California heat was totally manageable, with highs around 81°F (27°C), and we didn’t need ponchos, umbrellas, or backup plans. It made the whole day feel lighter and easier to enjoy.

💡 Pro Tip: Always check the forecast. The California weather made our day smoother and way more relaxed.

Wait Times and Crowds in Universal Parks

Crowds are part of any theme park, but the experience varies.

• Orlando: Larger parks = larger crowds. Popular rides like Hagrid’s and the VelociCoaster had waits of over 90 minutes at times. That’s why I recommend either dedicating one full day to each park or investing in the Express Pass for both parks. Another tip we used for some rides is the Single Rider line, which can be much faster—but it’s only available for select attractions.
• Hollywood: Smaller park, generally faster lines—around 25 minutes on average. However, some rides still have long waits, like the Mario Kart ride, which can hit 90 minutes. The best strategy is to arrive early and head straight to Super Nintendo World before the crowds build up.

💬 What worked best for us? Arriving early and prioritizing high-demand attractions before noon.

What I Brought (and What I Should Have)

I always travel prepared with:

• Water bottles
• Sunscreen
• Snacks
• Phone charger
• Hats and hand sanitizer
• Hand fan
• Sunglasses

In Orlando, we rented a stroller for our youngest. It was super helpful during the Disney park days, but when it rained at Universal, it actually got in the way a bit.

In Hollywood, we didn’t use a stroller—and honestly, we didn’t miss it. The lines weren’t too long, and whenever our son got tired, he just sat on the ground. It was pretty manageable, especially since most of the queues were indoors with air conditioning.

What I’d Do Differently on a Future Visit in Universal Parks

Every trip teaches us something. If I had the chance to go back, here’s what I’d do differently:

Get the Express Pass in Orlando or Plan for More Than One Day:
Now that Epic Universe is coming, visiting the new park will likely require a dedicated day since it’s located farther from the others. But even now, it’s really hard to enjoy both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in just one day—even with the Express Pass. There are simply too many attractions to cover in a short time.

Plan Attractions According to Different Age Groups:
Having kids with a big age gap—and loving roller coasters myself—makes it tricky to wait in long lines for rides that aren’t exciting for everyone. If you’re visiting with family, it’s a great idea to split up sometimes so everyone can enjoy the rides they really want. If possible, go with other adults to help with this.

Bring Your Own Snacks:
In Orlando, we brought simple sandwiches and snacks, which worked great. But in California, we decided to eat lunch at the park—and honestly, it wasn’t worth it. We spent over $100 on fast food and felt sluggish afterward, which made it harder to enjoy the rest of the day. Light snacks from home are a much better option for keeping energy up without weighing you down.

Epic Universe: What I’m Excited to See

Even though we haven’t been yet, Epic Universe is already on my radar. I’m excited about:

The How to Train Your Dragon area – In Dragon Racer’s Rally, new Vikings can train for high-speed dragon riding by spinning, diving, and performing aerial maneuvers on a towering ride designed to simulate the thrill of racing a dragon. The immersive theming makes you feel like you’re right in the village of Berk—perfect for fans of the movies.

The expanded Super Nintendo World – In addition to the incredible Mario-themed area already in California, Epic Universe will include a Donkey Kong Country expansion! This is especially exciting for me because Donkey Kong was one of the most nostalgic games from my childhood. There will even be a mine-cart coaster that mimics the classic in-game jumps across broken tracks!

Celestial Park – This area looks absolutely stunning, with futuristic landscapes and glowing gardens. But the real star here is the Stardust Racers roller coaster, a dual-launch ride where two tracks twist and race against each other in a cosmic-themed setting. With high speeds, inversions, and near-misses, it promises to be one of the most thrilling rides ever built at a Universal park.

Could this be the best Universal park yet? We’ll see—but with all this coming together, it’s definitely shaping up to be something unforgettable.

This is a tough one.

Orlando has more rides, bigger parks, and feels like a full-on vacation destination. If you’re a theme park lover, it’s absolutely worth it—not just for Universal, but for the entire collection of world-class parks like Disney, SeaWorld, and more. You could easily spend a whole week just exploring the attractions.

Hollywood, on the other hand, is perfect for a shorter trip. The park itself can be done in one day, and it really captures the feeling of being on a working movie set. Plus, the weather is milder, and there are tons of things to do around the city—from walking along the Hollywood Walk of Fame to visiting Santa Monica, Venice Beach, or even doing a studio tour.

So, it all comes down to your travel style and who you’re going with. If you’re looking for theme park overload, Orlando is the winner. If you want a mix of rides, iconic landmarks, and a more relaxed pace, Hollywood is the way to go.

Conclusion

It felt so special to visit both parks with my family—each one during a different chapter of our lives.

Choosing between them really depends on your travel style and who you’re traveling with. If you’re all about attractions and roller coasters, Orlando wins. But if you love film, want a shorter visit, and hate Florida’s unpredictable weather, Hollywood is a dream.

Have you been to either park? Let me know which one was your favorite!

🔗 Planning your own trip to LA? Check out my full travel guide here: How We Planned Our Family Trip to Los Angeles
👗 Want to see what I wore? Read: Outfit for LA: How I Dressed for 4 Days in LA