With summer around the corner, a lot of people will be taking off to enjoy a break from school. But imagine for a minute that you’re in southern California and you have to choose between going to Disney California Adventure and Universal Studios Hollywood.
At first glance, you see that they’re both theme parks. They both sell alcohol, have interactive apps and have themed food and beverages. So what’s the real big difference?
When clicking on the Universal Studios app it’s flashy and the homepage looks like a lot of ads, making it not very user-friendly. The Disneyland app homepage however has the times both parks open and close as well as the lighting lane pass option and complimentary day planner.
There’s no way to really plan a day at Universal Studios Hollywood. The last thing I want to do on vacation is plan my trip while I’m there and stress out about wait times. Disney California Adventure however offers a free Disney genie service that plans your day for you based on the rides you like and includes wait times.
Not only does it plan rides, but it also gives you suggestions for food places in Disney California that you should eat at.
If you don’t like the wait time you can always opt to buy a Lightning Lane multipass for $36 per person. This pass works in both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
Included in the multipass is a free professional photographer set up throughout the park that can take photos of you and your family. You can use your lightning lane multiple times throughout your stay.
Universal Studios Hollywood has something similar called the Universal Express add-on, but it can only be used one time per ride a day. The $36 it costs for the Disney multipass is nothing compared to the $80 price tag of the universal express.
A lot of Universal Studios rides are just like watching a 4DX movie and this does not appeal to everyone. They’re not interactive and they’re lacking the thrill aspect that you expect when going to a theme park.
The two most popular rides in Universal Studios Hollywood are Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge with a current wait time on May 9,2025 of 70 minutes, and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey which has a wait time of 35 minutes.
On the same day Disney California Adventure’s Incredicoaster, for all you thrill seekers, has a wait time of 35 minutes and Radiator Spring Racers which has a 65 minute wait time. Disney California Adventure also has 34 attractions as opposed to Universal Studios Hollywood who has only 15 rides in the park.
Both parks’ prices fluctuate based on the day you go. Disney California Adventure’s price for May 14,2025 is $142 per person, while Universal Studios Hollywood would be $124 per person.
You’re getting more bang for your buck at Disneyland California Adventure.
At the end of the day, if you want a movie like a theme park, you should save your money and just go watch a couple 4DX movies at River Park instead of spending your money at Universal Studios Hollywood.
If you want to have an experience for your family and friends with all the bells and whistles then Disney California Adventure is the only right choice for your summer fun full of unforgettable memories.
