• Universal Orlando Resort's new theme park, Epic Universe, opens in May 2025.
• Disney also announced expansions at its Central Florida theme parks in August.
• An attractions industry expert told BI that Epic Universe's arrival will "chink" Disney's armor.

The competition is ratcheting up in Central Florida, where Universal Orlando Resort has upped the ante on Walt Disney World.

Universal will open Epic Universe, a major expansion first announced in 2019, this May.

The theme park comprises five separate "worlds," including Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter's Ministry of Magic.

When Epic Universe opens its doors to these new worlds on May 22, it will mark a major shift for the local tourism industry — especially for its main competitor 15 minutes south down Interstate 4.

Walt Disney World vs. Universal Orlando Resort

Walt Disney World Resort has reigned supreme in Central Florida for decades with four theme parks, two water parks, and related destinations like Disney Springs. Its flagship theme park, Magic Kingdom, recorded more than 17 million visitors in 2023, according to a report published by Themed Entertainment Association, Storyland Studios, and consulting firm AECOM.

The study said Universal's Islands of Adventure welcomed 10 million guests in 2023, while Universal Studios Florida counted over 9 million visitors.

However, Disney isn't resting on its laurels.

Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro unveiled a series of theme park expansions at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, which was held in August. Earlier that summer, members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District's board of supervisors approved a $17 billion development deal with the entertainment maven.

The expansion will include a "land" based on Disney villains and new attractions based on Disney's "Cars" film series. Walt Disney World Resort's expansions will also introduce a new land to Animal Kingdom featuring "Indiana Jones" and "Encanto" attractions. The new land at Hollywood Studios will dive into "Monsters, Inc."

Dennis L. Speigel, the founder of International Theme Park Services, Inc., said the dynamics between Disney and Universal have changed "dramatically" over the past decade.

"What comes into play here is Universal's ability to deliver story, product, and technology," he told Business Insider. "With their movies, content, IP, and technology, it's really an armaments war now in Orlando."

Speigel said his consultation company, which works with theme parks and other entertainment entities, believes Epic Universe could attract a minimum of 6 million guests in its first year.

"Now, in my opinion, Disney is going to get a chink in its armor," Speigel said.

When people travel to Florida for its theme parks, they have several options. They might spend a day at Disney's Magic Kingdom before flitting over to Epcot later in the week. They could explore Universal's Volcano Bay for two days, then visit SeaWorld's Discovery Cove.

Speigel said Epic Universe could reshuffle how guests choose to spend their time and money.

"Epic Universe is going to pull a day out from someplace," he said. "It could be Universal's Island of Adventures. It could be Animal Kingdom. It could be SeaWorld."

However, Spiegel said Universal Orlando Resort will unlikely overtake Disney anytime soon.

"Disney is not going to allow their mantle of dominance to be overturned," he said.

It's all good for Orlando

There is one clear winner in the battle between Universal and Disney: the local economy.

Jakob Wahl, the President of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, told BI the competition between Universal Studios and Walt Disney World is good for Central Florida.

"When you're running and someone's catching up with you, you run faster and try to beat them," he said. "I would say it actually benefits all guests because it helps develop better products."

Speigel agreed, saying, "The rising tide lifts all boats in the tourism industry. I think the length of stay for the tourists in Florida is going to increase dramatically. I think people are going to load another day or a day and a half during their visit because there's more to do."

Walt Disney World said it generated $40 billion in economic impact across the state and over 250,000 jobs in 2022. Epic Universe could generate $11.5 billion in direct and indirect economic benefits to Florida's economy, according to a study conducted for Universal.

"Obviously, there's a lot of direct economic impact, but also a lot of indirect economic impact," Wahl said. "All those people want to eat somewhere. They need a rental car. They want to have activities before or afterward."

Wahl said the new attractions mean the industry is "alive and booming."

"I think the future is bright here for Orlando with everything coming in," he said.

• I've been visiting Universal and Disney World during the holidays for almost a decade.
• Both destinations offer festive activities at different price points.
• Right now, Universal seems to offer the best overall value.

Since moving to Florida with my family eight years ago, we've spent every holiday season visiting Disney World and Universal Orlando.

Both offer theme parks, resorts, and entertainment districts filled with holiday activities and events. There's truly something for every budget, whether you want to walk around Disney Springs' Christmas trees for free or purchase a VIP holiday tour at Universal.

This year, I spent nights at the resorts' movie-themed parks, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Universal Studios Florida, to compare their holiday offerings.

I attended Jollywood Nights, an after-hours holiday party at Hollywood Studios.

Disney World is known for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, a ticketed event at Magic Kingdom, but this is the second year for Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios.

The after-hours event runs for five hours on select nights and includes perks like short ride times, party-exclusive food, and the opportunity to meet rare Disney characters.

It also requires a separate ticket, but it can be slightly more affordable — Magic Kingdom's event costs between $180 and $220 for adults, and Jollywood Nights goes for $160 to $180.

This is all separate from daytime park admission. One-day, single-park tickets for this month start at about $150.

At Universal, I spent time on my own and did a holiday tour.

Universal's holiday tour is a must-do for me every season.

My $100 ticket included five hours with a tour guide, special meet-and-greets, dinner, dessert, and more. It's the only way to meet Santa at Universal Orlando, although he does appear nightly in a holiday parade.

The tour is less expensive than the Disney events, but unlike those, it requires a park ticket — a one-day, single-park ticket costs about $120 right now. Luckily, I have an annual pass, so I was able to use that and skip this added cost.

I also spent time at Universal before check-in to explore some of the holiday offerings on my own.

At Disney, characters were dressed in their holiday best.

Getting photos with characters is one of my favorite parts of visiting theme parks, so I was sure to line up for some of the party-exclusive meet-and-greets at Jollywood Nights, like Disney's Duffy Bear dressed as Santa.

However, you don't have to have an event ticket to meet holiday-themed characters. Some characters, like Chip and Dale and Woody, are out in their holiday best all day at Hollywood Studios.

At Universal, Grinchmas was in full swing.

Universal goes full Grinch during the holiday season, with offerings like a Grinch meet-and-greet, a character breakfast with the mean one himself, and the "Grinchmas Who-Liday Spectacular" show.

From sweet treats to merchandise, you'll see the green guy all over the park.

Earl the Squirrel, a Universal character inspired by a real-life squirrel who used to live in the park's Christmas tree, is also a main figure of the season.

Hollywood Studios guests can see a Christmassy version of "Frozen."

There were Jollywood Nights-specific entertainment offerings at my event — like a "Nightmare Before Christmas" sing-along — there are also holiday happenings for daytime park guests.

The popular "Frozen Sing-a-long Celebration" show gets a special holiday revamp, and Santa also greets guests at It's A Wonderful Shop.

Universal's Grinch show is pure holiday joy.

There's no greater holiday joy for me than watching the "Grinchmas Who-Liday Spectacular" show, starring the Grinch, every Who down in Whoville, and a real-life version of Max (the dog).

Anyone with a regular park admission can see the Broadway-quality performance, which features songs by Mannheim Steamroller. It runs several times every day throughout the holiday season.

The park also has a special holiday parade that features Dreamworks characters, floats, entertainers, and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons.

Disney scored high marks for its festive menus.

The holiday food at Disney truly can't be rivaled.

I noshed on lots of things you can only get during Jollywood Nights, like kimchi-pimento-cheese dip and tot poutine, but festive foods are available at the park during the day as well.

From a red-velvet holiday shake to a winter-spiced whoopie pie, Disney has plenty of only-seen-at-Christmas foods to try.

If you're looking for worthwhile treats, try another Universal festival.

Universal has some holiday-themed treats, like Max-shaped cookies and a roasted-turkey-dinner crepe, but I didn't think there were too many options.

If you're looking to really experience delicious festival food at Universal, you'll want to visit during Mardi Gras or Halloween Horror Nights, when the park is filled with stands selling tasty themed bites.

It's so much fun to shop for holiday merchandise.

Choosing a theme-park souvenir is tough on any vacation, but it's even harder for me during the holidays.

Almost every Hollywood Studios' giftshop was taken over by Mickey ornaments and cozy holiday sweatshirts. There were also special pop-up areas selling even more festive items.

Universal's holiday cheer is also clear in its shops.

Like Disney World, Universal goes all out with holiday-themed merch.

This is especially true for the themed lands, like Seuss Landing and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Both "Grinchmas" and "Holidays at Hogsmeade" release fun limited-time offerings this time of year.

There's stunning holiday decor at Disney.

Disney goes all out, adorning Hollywood Studios with vintage Hollywood-glam decorations like star-lit lamp posts and sparkly ornaments and lights.

You'll even find fake snow made of soap, dubbed "snoap." It's really beautiful to watch it fall over the decorated theme park without having to feel freezing cold — a win-win.

Universal also goes all out with decor.

From the 80-foot tree in the New York area to its Holiday Tribute Store filled with limited-time merchandise, Universal's Christmas decor is truly something to behold.

It also produces plenty of snoap, so you don't have to worry about missing out on that magic.

Overall, I think Universal is a better value around he holidays.

Disney and Universal hold special places in my heart after years of building family memories in both.

Still, I think Universal is a better value during the holidays since a regular park ticket gets guests way more seasonal activities for their money.

Although I added on the VIP tour and recommend it, it's not actually necessary. Everyone can meet characters like the Grinch and Earl the Squirrel, watch the "Grinchmas Who-Liday Spectacular," and catch the parade.

Disney keeps many of its best holiday activities in its separate, ticketed events, which can be costly, especially if you're also planning on spending the day at the parks.

• I've visited Disney with my kids for years, but they ask to skip the parks now that they're teens.
• To recapture some Disney magic, I "borrowed" my friend's three kids, who range in age from 2 to 9.
• I loved taking them to Magic Kingdom and seeing the Disney magic through their young eyes.

I've been visiting Disney World with my kids for over a decade — but they've become "too cool" for the parks in many ways as they've gotten older.

Now 14 and 16, they prefer trips to Disney that involve pool days and shopping, so it's rare that I get to witness the childlike wonder that once came with encounters with Mickey Mouse or parades at the theme parks.

To try to recapture some magic, I recently took my friend and her three daughters to Disney World with me instead of my reluctant teens.

At 2, 6, and 9, her girls are prime ages for experiencing Disney, so I knew attending the after-hours ticketed event Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party with them would be a special experience.

Here's why I'll definitely be "borrowing" my friend's kids for Disney trips in the future.

I was reminded of things my kids once loved to do at Disney that I hadn't experienced in years

I had all but forgotten those sweet autograph books kids carry to character meet-and-greets to collect signatures from Mickey and his pals.

My friend's kids each brought one, and it was a delight watching them rush up to the characters we met to get autographs and pose for photos.

There were other long-forgotten Disney moments I experienced anew that night, too: eating Mickey-shaped treats, basking in the park's fake snow showers, and picking out the perfect stuffed animal at the gift shops.

A big highlight was taking the girls to see Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, which only happens a few times a year.

When I visit Disney parks with my teens, it's rare they have the patience to scope out a good spot and watch any parade from start to finish.

On the other hand, my friend's daughters love Disney characters and were happy to secure a prime parade-viewing location and watch the entire thing.

Parades have always been a Disney favorite for me, and it was a joy to watch them interact with the passing characters.

Taking people who enjoy the parks makes the pricey tickets feel worth it

Disney can be pricey, but it feels way less stressful to spend money on a theme park when you're with people who truly enjoy it.

On the night we visited, tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party were close to $200 each, but I know we got our money's worth.

I'm sure I would've had a great time with my own kids, but the experience would have involved a bit more complaining about lines and itineraries and a lot less excitement.

If I'm going to spend money on Disney tickets, I'd rather buy them for kids who are thrilled to be there than teenagers who are being dragged against their will.

As a mom of teens, I recommend visiting Disney with little kids if you're looking to feel some magic

Taking small kids to one of my favorite holiday events at Florida's theme parks was a special treat — one that helped me feel like, just for a moment, I was a mom to littles again.

Still, I adore my teens. Going to theme parks with them is still fun — just different as they get older.

I've found other ways to continue to explore parks with them, from walking through Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando with my film-buff son to tasting TikTok-famous snacks with my daughter all over Disney property.

My teens will always be my theme-park buddies, but I'd definitely "borrow" a friend's kids again from time to time just to feel the Disney magic all over again.

• There's a lot of temptation to spend money at Disney World, but some things aren't worth it.
• I will never buy hot coffee from a park or resort in the morning.
• I'm also no longer buying ponchos at the parks since they are cheaper elsewhere.

I've been going to Disney World for over 30 years and visit the Orlando theme parks multiple times a month.

Over the years, I've bought my share of souvenirs and merchandise. However, I've also narrowed down what's not worth the money at the parks and resorts.

Preparing for a new year is a prime time to reassess my travel budget.

Here are some of the things I don't plan on buying at Disney World in 2025.

It doesn't make sense to buy plain coffee when I can make it at my hotel.

I inevitably need a morning boost at Disney World, especially after spending a few days in the parks. But I try not to buy cups of hot black coffee.

I'm always at a hotel when I visit the parks — usually a resort on the Disney property — so I have access to at least a single-serve coffee machine that makes a decent cup at no added expense to me.

Even better, when I stay at a Disney Vacation Club villa, there are usually larger machines that brew full pots instead of single cups. I can bring my own ground coffee and filters for my perfect cup.

I skip buying ponchos in the parks since they're cheaper elsewhere.

Rain and Disney World seem to go hand-in-hand. When it rains at one of the theme parks, you'll likely see people donning thick, branded ponchos from the gift shops that cost about $12.

I've been guilty of buying these when I've been ill-prepared in the past, but I can get much cheaper disposable ones on Amazon or at Target before the trip.

The thinner, disposable ones are smaller anyway, so it's easy to pack multiple in any bag I have with me. Then, when it's done raining, I can simply throw the poncho away instead of carrying around a wet bundle of plastic.

Simple room upgrades usually aren't worth the extra cost.

I like to stay at the Disney World resorts, but I usually skip upgrading my booking from a standard to a preferred room closer to the hotel's front or its transportation options.

I imagine this is a nice feature for families with kids, but the rooms themselves seem to be exactly the same. Plus, it only saves me a couple of minutes of walking.

Prices vary depending on which kind of resort you're at — value, moderate, or deluxe. Sometimes, it's only about a $20-a-night difference between standard and preferred, but I could use that money on plenty of other things.

Dining packages for fireworks shows are overpriced.

Disney World sometimes offers dining packages for its bigger shows, but I often find them to be of poor value. I'd rather grab something quick and easy and save my money.

For instance, you can book a dining package to watch "Fantasmic!" at Hollywood Studios. The price includes your meal, a drink, and guaranteed seats to the show, starting at $57 for adults.

That's much more than I'd normally spend on a meal at Disney World, and as long as I get to the theater early, open seats are usually plentiful.

I don't think Lightning Lane Single Passes are worth it.

If you're not as familiar with Disney World, all the different ticket add-ons can be confusing — plus, they always seem to be changing.

For now, there are still times when I think it makes sense to pay $15 a person per day for a Lightning Lane Multi Pass that I can use to expedite three lines at certain attractions. However, the individually priced Lightning Lane Single Passes for the most popular rides cost $10 to $25 each.

I understand that some people only have one opportunity to visit the parks and get on these rides, but I'm there often enough that the added expense isn't worth it.

Instead, I just get to the park early or stay late since lines are usually shorter during those times. I also keep my eye out for virtual queues on rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. When they're open, you can reserve one a day for free on the My Disney Experience app.