Editor's Note: This story was last updated on May 30, 2023.
Just as there are similarities and differences between Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California, there are parallels and variations between the Universal theme parks in Orlando, Fla., and Hollywood, Calif.
Sometimes choosing which one is right for clients is as simple as asking what they’re looking for.
“It’s amazing how many people think the parks are exactly the same until you start talking to them,” said Meredith Wallace of Minnie Memories Travel in Bedford, New York. “So, I always start with three questions: Are you hoping to visit Diagon Alley? You have to go to Orlando. Do you want to see active movie sets and maybe a star or two? You need to go to Hollywood. Are rollercoasters a must? You want to go to Orlando.”
The Main Differences Between the Parks
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Dennis Quinn, senior vice president of sales for Universal Studios Hollywood, noted that the biggest distinction between Orlando and Hollywood is not necessarily found in the qualitative difference between the parks, but rather that Orlando is a family theme park destination, whereas Hollywood is more about an L.A. experience.
One key component to that L.A. experience is certainly the fact that Universal Studios Hollywood is located within a real working movie studio. Because of this unique situation, park-goers have the opportunity to tour the studio and not only see how and where some of their favorite movies and television shows were made but also possibly see current projects being filmed on the backlot. In addition, two of the park's most impressive technological attractions — King Kong: 360 3-D and Fast & Furious: Supercharged — are incorporated into the studio tour, with the tram literally transporting visitors into the center of the action.
Another noticeable difference is the way the parks are constructed. In Hollywood, the theme park is built on multiple levels. The upper lot is where many family-friendly attractions are located, including DreamWorks Theatre Featuring Kung Fu Panda, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (and the adjacent Super Silly Fun Land), The Simpsons Ride and Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash.
This is also where guests can step into the magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter and experience the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction as well as the park’s only outdoor rollercoaster, Flight of the Hippogriff. The lower lot (at the bottom of a series of escalators) is where more adventurous attractions can be found, including Transformers: The Ride-3D, Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride, and Jurassic World featuring massive state-of-the-art animatronic dinosaurs. The lower lot is also the location of the first Super Nintendo World in the U.S., which opened in February of 2023 with themed dining at Toadstool Cafe, shopping at 1-UP Factory and the innovative Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride.
But if clients are looking for big coasters, they’ll have to go to Florida. There, two full parks — Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure — sit side by side. Islands of Adventure is home to the Incredible Hulk Coaster and the “apex predator of roller coasters,” the Jurassic World VelociCoaster, as well as the kid-friendly Seuss Landing area and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. Universal Studios Florida is where guests can ride the 65-mph Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster, Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon and the charming E.T. Adventure. A third gate, the highly themed Volcano Bay water park, offers 20 attractions, from the relaxing Kopiko Wai Winding River to the exhilarating Krakatau Aqua Coaster.
The Jurassic World VelociCoaster is located at Universal’s Islands of Adventure park in Orlando.
Credit: 2021 Universal Orlando ResortThough Universal Studios Hollywood can easily be experienced in one day, clients would be hard-pressed to do everything in the Orlando parks in a single day. One important fact for travel agents to point out to clients who may only be familiar with the California park: While most of their favorite Hollywood attractions can be found in Florida, they’re not all located in the same Orlando park, so a multi-park ticket is the only way to experience them all. Additionally, for Harry Potter fans, Hogsmeade Village is in Islands of Adventure, and Diagon Alley is in Universal Studios, so to enjoy both (and the Hogwarts Express train between them), a park-to-park ticket is a must.
“The Universal Studios Hollywood experience began as being inherently different than the Universal Orlando experience,” said Tom Schroder, vice president of corporate communications for Universal Parks & Resorts. “But from a Universal parks perspective … exciting growth is happening across all our destinations.”
Hotels at and Near Universal Parks
A significant difference between the destinations is that Universal Orlando Resort operates eight on-site hotels, while Universal Studios Hollywood doesn't have any — although the AAA Four Diamond Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City and the Sheraton Universal Hotel are both within walking distance.
"One thing about the experience in Orlando, as opposed to Hollywood, is that your day doesn't end at the parks,” said Russ Dagon, vice president and executive project director for Universal Creative. “In Hollywood, when you finish at the theme park, you get in your car and move on to a separate experience at your hotel — even if it’s one of the hotels close to the park.”
Clients who stay on-site at Universal Orlando can choose from themed properties that suit any budget, from the retro Cabana Bay Beach Resort to the Caribbean-themed Loews Sapphire Falls Resort to the modern Aventura Hotel, all with early park admission and complimentary transportation to and from the parks. Plus, guests at premier hotels — Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort, Hard Rock Hotel Universal Orlando, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando Resort — also receive complimentary Universal Express unlimited ride access.
“[Universal Orlando’s] relationship with the travel trade has evolved and developed in a very significant way,” Quinn said. “One of the key drivers to that was … the expansion of hotel inventory. Hotels are such an important part of a family vacation, which makes us a great partner for agents selling the Orlando experience — and let’s face it, that’s what travel agents really start with when they’re selling a destination.”
While the California park doesn’t offer on-site hotels, clients can select one of the Universal Studios Hollywood preferred hotels, all less than 10 miles from the park, many of which offer complimentary shuttle service.
"Family and exceptional guest service are woven in the hotel’s fabric, and guests are treated like family,” said Scott A. Mills, general manager for The Garland, a Universal preferred hotel located 1.5 miles from the park. “With our close proximity to Universal Studios, we ensure that guests — and especially families — have a memorable experience, with family-friendly accommodations including family suites with bunk beds.”
Similarly, Cynthia Ordyke, vice president of sales and marketing for Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, notes that the hotel’s proximity to the park ensures a memorable vacation.
“Our hotel features amazing views from all guestrooms, but the most requested is the view of Universal Studios, including Harry Potter’s castle,” she said. “An additional benefit to reserving Universal Studios-view rooms is never missing the evening light show or fireworks."
Comparing Crossover Attractions
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem:
The exterior facade is larger in Hollywood (don’t miss the interactive doorbells), and Super Silly Fun Land, with its kids’ Wet Zone, is not available in Orlando. The all-new themed Minion Land and Villain-Con Minion Blast walk-through attraction is opening at Universal Studios Florida this summer.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem can be found in both Hollywood and Orlando.
Credit: 2021 Universal Orlando ResortJurassic Park/Jurassic World Rides:
While the 85-foot-drop is the same on both attractions, Florida still has the original Jurassic Park River Adventure attraction, while Hollywood updated the ride (and surrounding area) in 2019, themed around the Jurassic World sequel franchise.
Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride:
The rides are indoor rollercoasters at both parks, but the tracks and special effects are different depending on location (check out the cool ceiling of fire in Orlando, and prepare to ride backward in Hollywood).
King Kong Attractions:
In Hollywood, King Kong: 360 3-D is a "drive-through" attraction on the backlot tram tour. But in Orlando, Skull Island: Reign of Kong is an immersive stand-alone experience.
Fast & Furious – Supercharged:
Like King Kong, this is part of the Hollywood tram tour. However, in Orlando, it’s an extended freestanding attraction at Universal Studios Florida. Also, in Hollywood, the action takes place in L.A., but in Orlando, the cityscape is San Francisco.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter:
Orlando has two Wizarding World lands — Hogsmeade Village and Diagon Alley — connected by the Hogwarts Express train, while Hollywood has only Hogsmeade with the iconic Hogwarts castle (and plenty of Butterbeer, of course). Harry Potter fans can also ride five Wizarding World attractions in Florida (compared to two in California), including Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
