I know. Not only is the Disney Bubble real, but it is so coveted, guests are willing to fork over thousands of dollars just to call its comforting confines home for a week. I’ve craved it all my life, and it’s the reason I go to Walt Disney World less now than I did in the past. Sure, I could go and stay off property, but the bubble is worth it.
But here’s the thing, that bubble isn’t quite as unique as it once was. There’s another one being blown down the street, and once inside it, it’s hard to imagine it’s any less amazing.
I’m talking about the Universal Bubble — that is, the handful of resorts that make up Universal Orlando: Portofino Bay, the Hard Rock Hotel, the Royal Pacific, Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Sapphire Falls Resort, and Hotel Aventura (and, eventually, Endless Summer Resort).
These hotels offer a kind of parallel dimension to Disney that can feel like as much of an escape but in a vastly different way. And, after enjoying some of these resorts myself, I can say that it is now time to consider staying at Universal instead of Walt Disney World.
Here are the reasons why you should stay at the Universal Orlando Resort rather than Walt Disney World for your Florida vacation.
It’s cheaper
Image: aloha75, Flickr (license)
When its newest and cheapest resort, Endless Summer Resort, finally comes online, its base rate will be $85 per night for a standard room. Compare that to the cheapest rack rate for the Value season at the Disney All-Star Sports Resort — $112 for a standard room. That is, at writing, the cheapest rack rate for a Disney hotel room — which is, it’s fair to say, hard to come by.
Universal is, pretty significantly, cheaper.
That discount holds as you go up the resort pyramid as well — for the comparable resort at Universal, you’re paying less than you would at Disney. Interesting, ticket prices at Universal aren’t all that much cheaper, so it’s clear that where they’re distinguishing from the mouse, they’re doing it on resorts.
The idea is pretty simple — if guests can get comparable amenities for a cheaper price, will they change their base of operations while in Florida from Disney to Universal? It depends on your wallet and what you value, of course — but saving $189 at least on a one week stay is certainly something to consider.
The perks are equivalent (and, in some cases, superior)
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One benefit of the Disney bubble is its perks — that is, the special privileges Disney gives to its guests staying onsite. For Disney, those are early park admission (or after-hours park access) via Extra Magic Hours, free transportation, resort-wide charging privileges, and package transfer back to the room among others.
Universal offers these privileges as well for its onsite guests, particularly the early park admission, which gives onsite guests early access to the highly popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter areas in advance of general admission guests.
Additionally, Disney of course offers an exclusive FastPass+ reservation window for its onsite guests, but Universal actually has that one beat.
At its most expensive resorts — the Portofino Bay, the Hard Rock Hotel, and the Royal Pacific — Universal grants guests complimentary “Express Passes” to its parks. These Express Passes are, essentially, reservation-free FastPasses which Universal sells most guests. That they’re included in the room price is incredible value — and, with Disney discounting the uniqueness of Extra Magic Hours in favor of private After Hours parties, they’re a unique perk that Disney hasn’t yet matched.
The decor and vibe is comparable to Disney
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One of the things that set Disney apart from its competitors in the ‘90s was its commitment to resort theming. Up to that point, it was relatively unheard of to build a hotel that stuck to a particular theme — and did so in ways both dignified and playful.
Hotels like the Port Orleans – French Quarter and Boardwalk Resort transported guests to intricately themed eras and environments, but never felt cheesy or kitschy while doing so. It was a tough line to walk, but Disney pulled it off.
Now, Universal is walking that same line and doing so with equally amazing deftness. The Cabana Bay Beach Resort is among the most well-themed and beautifully designed hotels in central Florida. Perfectly capturing the roadside motel vibe of mid-century America, Cabana Bay offers the kind of style and verve more closely associated with Deluxe Hotels at Disney rather than the value accommodation it is in reality.
It’s other resorts, from the beautiful Portofino Bay to the relaxing Royal Pacific, are equally dedicated to immersive theming — and, they manage to do so in a way that equals Disney without feeling iterative.
The location is spectacular
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In part due to Universal’s smaller size, nearly all of it’s resort hotels are located walking distance of its parks — with a ferry and bus linking them if guests don’t wish to walk. Just as importantly, the hotels are located just off Universal CityWalk, providing prime access to nightlife without boarding a bus if so desired.
For all but the most luxurious of Disney’s resorts, that is not something that can be matched further south on I-4. Even guests at Cabana Bay Beach resort can walk to CityWalk (albeit a much further distance than for guests at the high-end hotels).
If you’re staying on Universal property for the length of your Florida vacation, it literally doesn’t get more convenient. But, even if you wish to venture off property, these hotels are in a perfect spot. The famed attractions of International Drive are just a short Uber or Lyft trip away, but when you return, you’ll feel comfortable staying in the secured confines of the Universal resort. It really is the best of all worlds — the safety and convenience of a resort bubble without feeling cut off from the real world like you are at Disney.
There are Deluxe amenities at all resorts
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One way Disney likes to stratify its resorts is through the offering of some perks at its higher end resorts but not at its more budget friendly resorts. For example, all Deluxe Resorts with the exception of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge offer non-bus transportation to at least one of Disney’s theme parks. Disney’s Moderate Resorts have water slides and table-service restaurants. Disney’s Value Resorts don’t have any of those things.
Universal is different. While the value-focused Cabana Bay Beach Resort doesn’t have a sit down restaurant, it does have a bowling alley, which is unique at the Universal Resort. It also offers a full-service Starbucks and a lazy river — all elements Disney usually keeps to its higher-end resorts.
The mid level hotels, like Aventura and Sapphire Falls, both offer destination restaurants in addition to their smaller food service spots. Even the forthcoming hyper-value resort, Endless Summer Resort, will offer a sandy beach overlooking the lake beside which the former Wet N Wild water park stood. According to rumors, the resort will also offer rented watercraft for that lake — something that’s quite unheard of at Disney’s most inexpensive resorts.
Ultimately, the lack of gradation among the resorts can make them feel like better value. Sometimes, it’s the smallest things that can make the difference, and Universal taking its customers staying at its cheapest resorts this seriously really makes it a great option to consider.
Yes, it’s scary leaving the Disney bubble — so why not dip your toe in somewhere you’ll feel valued? Universal, suddenly, is such a place.
