For those of you who haven’t been to either Walt Disney World or Universal Studios before, or it has been a really long time, let’s start with the basics.
Universal Resort Orlando has 2 theme parks, Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, along with its own water park, Volcano Bay, and the ever-fabulous CityWalk where you can shop, eat and drink to your heart’s content. Alongside these epic theme parks, Universal Resort Orlando is also home to 8 amazing resort hotels that are ready to suit a variety of budgets.
Walt Disney World is home to 4 fun-filled theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Alongside these, at Walt Disney World you will find 2 water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, and the fantastic Disney Springs – your go-to place for shopping, dining, entertainment, and lots of fun!
On our Florida holidays 2023 Walt Disney World and Universal Studios might look a little different to what you have been used to. Both resorts are home to a handful of amazing new rides that you’ll love just as much as your old favourites! On your 2023 Orlando holiday to Universal Resort Orlando you will be able to ride the all-new and stupidly fast VelociCoaster! Anyone you ask who has been on the VelociCoaster themselves will tell you to prepare for a genuinely terrifying ride! Also new in 2023 to Universal Resort Orlando is Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, which has stunned guests with its fabulous and un-seen technology.
At Walt Disney World, you will also be amazed by the plethora of new rides and attractions in 2023. EPCOT is gaining the long-awaited Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – a fabulous hybrid roller coaster! Also new at EPCOT in 2023 for those who haven’t been back to Orlando in a while will be Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure – this is a family friendly trackless ride that uses Disney’s new ride technology. New for 2023 at Magic Kingdom will be TRON Lightcycle Run Roller Coaster that is currently still being built behind Space Mountain. Hollywood Studios has had a major revamp over the past few years and has lots of new rides ready for guests visiting Disney World in 2023; Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance are another 2 rides that use the all-new trackless technology, and the Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run ride is an epic adventure for all the family! Star Wars Galaxy’s edge is Hollywood Studios’ newest land and even if you are not a Star Wars superfan, it is definitely worth spending a while here on your 2023 Disney World holiday. Lastly, in 2023 guests will be able to stay at the highly anticipated Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel located behind Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios. The hotel is an immersive, 2-night experience unlike anything else at Walt Disney World!
On your 2023 Orlando holiday you might opt to stay offsite in an amazing Orlando Villa, or you might want to make the most of your Disney World and Universal Studios experience. Obviously, you cannot stay at both resorts the whole time, so we suggest changing from one to another and there are a few ways to do this.
Walt Disney World has a variety of hotels to choose from and depending on your budget, you could stay in one of the great Value resorts (All Star Movies, All Star Music, All Star Sports, Pop Century, and Art of Animation), Moderate resorts (Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter, Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach Resort, and the Fort Wilderness Cabins) or the amazing Deluxe resorts (Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Polynesian, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House, and Wilderness Lodge). Staying at a Walt Disney World resort will also give you access to Disney’s Early Theme Park Entry (formerly known as Extra Magic Hours). Extended Evening Hours are also available for guests staying at Deluxe resorts. In 2023, our favourite Value resort to stay at would be Disney’s All-Star Movies and Music Resorts due to the complete room refurbishment the hotel underwent. Our pick for Moderate resorts would be Port Orleans Riverside due to its new room refurbishments and the addition of Princess and the Frog theming. Lastly, of all the Deluxe Disney resort Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House is one of our favourites – one of because its location isn’t amazing and if you are after direct Disney transportation this hotel might not be for you, but waking up in a savanna facing room is unbeatable!
Universal also has a range of resort options that suit every family’s budget. Universal Resort Orlando offers Value hotels (Universal's Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites & Dockside Inn and Suites), Prime Value hotels (Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort,
Universal's Aventura Hotel), Preferred hotels (Loews Sapphire Falls Resort) and Premier hotels (Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel®, Loews Royal Pacific Resort). Each level of resort offers different features to guests, but all Universal Resort hotels offers Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ up to one hour before the park opens. A unique feature Universal Resort offers is in their Premier hotel’s guests will also have access to Free Universal Express Unlimited alongside their purchased theme park ticket. This is a massive draw for Universal Resort hotels and is a big factor for many families when choosing their Orlando accommodation. Our favourite hotels at Universal Resort are…Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort for the more budget friendly option as it has excellent theming, spacious rooms, and a hot tub! For the travellers who love luxury, the Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Portofino Bay hotel are excellent choices – from the Hard Rock you can walk to CityWalk and at Loews Portofino Bay you will have access to Universal Resorts’ only spa!
This is where your 2023 Orlando holiday preferences come in!
Many guests opt to say in one of the fabulous Disney resorts for the most part and hop over to a Universal Premier resort for a couple of nights to have access to the Unlimited, Free Fast Passes! Though, if Universal Studios is where you want to spend most of your time during your Orlando 2023 holiday, you could stay in one of the amazing Universal Resort hotels then change to a Deluxe Disney hotel for a couple of nights to make the most of those Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours at the theme parks. Of course, you can always stay put in one accommodation and drive between the two resorts at your leisure too!
In 2023 Orlando is your oyster and Walt Disney World and Universal Resort Orlando are ready to welcome you back with open arms! Book your 2023 trip to Orlando today to make the most of our exclusive prices, including access to Walt Disney World’s fantastic offer of included 14-Day Magic Tickets, Disney Magical Extras, Disney Dining & Merchandise Credit, $200 Disney Spending money and Disney Memory Maker in your holiday package!!