Universal Studios Hollywood vs Orlando – Which Universal Park Is Best?
Some of the links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Universal Studios currently has two locations in the United States; Universal Studios Hollywood located in California and the Universal Orlando Resort located in Florida. If you’re a theme park enthusiast then you might be looking to base your vacation around one of these two locations and wondering which one is best.
Universal Studios Hollywood is better for those looking for a single-day theme park experience and for seeing a working film set. Meanwhile, the Universal Orlando Resort is better for those looking for an all-encompassing theme park vacation.
That’s because the Universal Orlando Resort is exactly that, a resort. It’s got two theme parks, a water park and multiple on-site hotels which means that it takes a couple of days (at least) to experience everything here.
Meanwhile, Universal Studios Hollywood is a working film studio that’s been expanded to include rides and shows that make this place a popular tourist attraction. However, this park is significantly smaller when compared to the Universal Orlando Resort and stands alone with the entertainment district CityWalk. As such, when it comes to deciding how long to spend at Universal Studios Hollywood, we recommend just one day.
Similarities Between Universal Studios Orlando & Universal Studios Hollywood?
Given that both Orlando and Hollywood are both Universal theme parks you’ll find a lot of overlap. Although keep in mind that some sizes, styles or durations may differ.
Rides & Attractions
- Transformers: The Ride 3D
- Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
- Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride
- The Simpsons Ride
- Jurassic Park: The Ride
- Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey
- Ollivanders
- Flight of the Hippogriff
- King Kong: 360 3D
- Fast & Furious: Supercharged
Both King Kong: 360 3D and Fast & Furious: Supercharged are stand-alone rides at the Universal Orlando Resort. However, at Universal Studios Hollywood these two rides are part of The World Famous Studio Tour.
Restaurants, Food & Drink
- Lard Lad Donuts
- The Three Broomsticks
- Krusty Burger
- Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck
- Cletus’ Chicken Shack
- Luigi’s Pizza
- HogsHead
- Butterbeer
- Coca-Cola Freestyle Refillable Cups
- Refillable Popcorn Buckets
While both Universal Studios Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood sell the Coca-Cola Freestyle refillable cups, the cost of the Universal Studios refillable cups is higher in Hollywood, and there seem to be far fewer Coca-Cola vending machines around the park where you’re able to refill your cup.
Therefore in our opinion, the value for money typically offered with a Universal Studios refillable cup isn’t as good in Hollywood as it is in Orlando.
Differences Between Universal Studios Orlando & Universal Studios Hollywood?
Of course, not everything at Universal Studios Hollywood and the Universal Orlando Resort is the same. Being that the Universal Orlando Resort is two theme parks instead of one, there is unsurprisingly a lot more to see and do in Orlando.
However, since Super Nintendo World has recently opened at Universal Studios Hollywood you’ll find that Universal Studios Hollywood has several unique and very exciting attractions. However, these aren’t likely to stay unique for long as the new theme park Epic Universe that is set to open at the Universal Orlando Resort in 2025 is set to also have a Super Nintendo World as well as several other unique lands for visitors to explore.
Unique To Universal Studios Hollywood
- Super Nintendo World
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
- Toadstool Cafe
- The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash
- The World Famous Studio Tour
- WaterWorld
- Minion Cafe
- Silly Swirly Fun Ride
- Super Silly Fun Land
Unique To The Universal Orlando Resort
- Hogwarts Express
- Diagon Alley
- Seuss Landing
- Volcano Bay
- Harry Potter And The Escape From Gringotts
- E.T. Adventure
- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
- Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl
- Men In Black: Alien Attack
- Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
- Jurassic World VelociCoaster
- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
- Jurassic Park River Adventure
- Caro-Seuss-el
- Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
- Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls
- One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
- Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
- Pteranodon Flyers
- Storm Force Accelatron
- The Cat In The Hat
- The High In The Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster
While both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando offer the nighttime lights projection on the Hogwarts Castle. Only Universal Studios Florida has fireworks as part of the evening performance that they host on the lagoon in the centre of the park.
Size Difference Between Universal Studios Orlando & Universal Studios Hollywood
The Universal Orlando Resort is significantly bigger than Universal Studios Hollywood being that Orlando is home to two theme parks and a waterpark as well as several on-site hotels compared to Universal Studios Hollywood which is a stand-alone theme park.
In terms of acreage, the Universal Orlando Resort currently covers 541 acres. This includes all of the on-site hotels, theme parks, water park and the CityWalk Entertainment complex. Meanwhile, Universal Studios Hollywood is just 415 acres in size, with this also including the filming studios which are covered on The World Famous Studio Tour.
The Universal Orlando Resort is set to increase in size further in 2025 with the opening of a third theme park, Epic Universe. The theme park is set to be around 110 acres. However, Universal have 750 acres here so it’s likely we’re going to see more on-site hotels and restaurants in the very near future.
Subsequently, most visitors need three to four days to experience everything at the Universal Orlando Resort and can either stay on-site in a Universal Orlando hotel or elsewhere in the Orlando region when doing so.
Meanwhile, most people can visit Universal Studios Hollywood in one day, and when doing so will need to stay in a nearby hotel in Hollywood.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter At Universal Studios Orlando & Universal Studios Hollywood?
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Orlando Resort is significantly better than the one at Universal Studios Hollywood. This again predominantly comes back to the amount of space that the Universal Orlando Resort has and has therefore been able to dedicate to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood is based around Hogsmeade and features;
- Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey
- Flight of the Hippogriff
- Three Broomsticks
- Hogshead
- Ollivanders
- Honeydukes
Over at the Universal Orlando Resort, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is split across both theme parks;
- Universal Studios Florida: Diagon Alley & Kings Cross Station
- Universal’s Islands of Adventure: Hogsmeade
Guests with a park-to-park ticket are then able to use the Hogwarts Express to travel between these two areas. With more space, for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Orlando Resort, you’ll find more Harry Potter inspired rides, stores, shows and restaurants including;
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
- The Hopping Pot
- Florean Fortescue’s Ice-Cream Parlour
- Leaky Cauldron
- Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop
- Gringotts Money Exchange
You can purchase an official Universal Studios Hogwarts Robe at both Universal Studios Hollywood and at Universal Orlando. However, only Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida at the Universal Orlando Resort has a Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions store.
Both Universal Studios Hollywood and the Universal Orlando Resort have locations where you can use your Harry Potter interactive wand to cast spells. However, there are more locations at the Universal Orlando Resort when compared to Universal Studios Hollywood.
Who Has The Best Rides Universal Studios Orlando or Universal Studios Hollywood?
In our opinion, the Universal Orlando Resort also has better rides when compared to Universal Studios Hollywood. Especially when it comes to thrill rides.
Some of our favourite rides at the Universal Orlando Resort include;
- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
- Jurassic World VelociCoaster
- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster
- Harry Potter And The Escape From Gringotts
- Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey
- Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride
Meanwhile, some of our favourite rides at Universal Studios Hollywood include;
- The World Famous Studio Tour
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
- Revenge of the Mummy – The Ride
- Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey
Interesting & useful information given from this site.
I’m wondering when talking about the size of the park are we talking just universal studios Orlando or is that size comparison Universal Studios including Islands of Adventure? I’m really curious as to how much bigger Just Universal Studios Orlando alone is compared to Universal Studios Hollywood?
Universal Studios Orlando is slightly smaller (maybe 10%) when compared to Hollywood. That’s based on Orlando being a single park, and not including IOA. While the land size of Hollywood is bigger due to The World-Famous Studio Tour. This size I’m going on is based on ‘accessible areas’ or walking areas of the park.
According to both websites, there’s 15 rides and attractions at Universal Orlando (54 across the resort) and 21 in Hollywood. Meanwhile, there are 56 dining options at both, and 10 shows at Universal Orlando and just 3 in Hollywood. Hope this helps! 🙂
THANKS A LOT!!!!!!!!!
I was going sites by sites by sites trying to figured out the rides differences since I live close by Universal Hollywood but never been to Orlando… Don’t want to waste time on the rides that I could get nearby since I have really limited time visiting Orlando…
Your article is SUPER CLEAR and is EXACTLY what I need.
Thank YOU!!!!!!!!!