3 Ways Epic Universe Will Beat Disney World Every Time

Yes, we here at DisneyFoodBlog LOVE Disney World. The blog started out with enjoying tasty Disney World food and AJ sharing her thoughts and opinions on the matter, and it has since transformed beyond just food into a place for all your Disney news. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have a soft spot for Universal Orlando and the theme parks over at that resort.

Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando has some awesome intellectual property that has transformed into amazing rides. From Shrek to Jurassic Park and Jurassic World to Harry Potter, you’ll find tons of great experiences at both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. And now, coming in 2025, Epic Universe will bring FIVE new lands, new stories, new attractions, and so much more to the resort. We seriously can’t wait to visit this new park and check it all out. While we’ve been getting new information and sneak peeks, we’ve gotta say there are three things we already know Epic Universe will beat Disney World at.

Harry Potter

Honestly, need we say more than just the boy who lived’s name? Harry Potter is a fan-favorite franchise. People are obsessed with the books, movies, and two other Harry Potter lands at Universal Orlando (Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley). That’s why Epic Universe (and Universal Orlando in general) will always have this leg up on Disney World for these fans.

©Universal

Epic Universe will take us to two brand-new sets of Harry Potter. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic will have us exploring the streets of Paris during the times of the Fantastic Beasts movies as well as stepping foot into the actual Ministry of Magic via the Floo Network! Inside the Ministry of Magic, you’ll get to watch Delores Umbridge’s trial take place until chaos lets loose. And in Paris, you’ll see a magic show, dine with wizards, and of course enjoy butterbeer. Harry Potter fans likely can’t think of much more exciting than this!

Dragons

You won’t find any flying dragons in Disney World, but at How To Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk, you’ll get to see just that and MORE. First, you’ll get to meet the dragons from the How To Train Your Dragon franchise! Ever wanted to meet Toothless? Now you’ll be able to.

©Universal

But dragon meet-and-greets aren’t the only form of dragon entertainment you’ll get here. There will be a live show for guests to enjoy, AND if you look to the sky, you might spot a few FLYING DRAGONS. Yep, Universal has shared that “You may even catch a glimpse of dragons flying high above the village.” That will be pretty amazing to see!

A Hotel IN the Park

The last thing Epic Universe is sure to beat Disney World is its in-park hotel game. As of now, Disney World doesn’t have any hotels built into one of the parks. There are several within walking distance of the parks, but none right within the parks themselves. However, this will be the case for one Epic Universe hotel — Helios Grand Hotel!

©Universal

Helios Grand Hotel will have its own entrance directly into Epic Universe. You can walk from your room straight into Celestial Park. From there, you can choose your path to any of the other lands. While Disney offers similar hotels at other resorts around the country and world (i.e., Disneyland Resort and Tokyo Disney), this is not offered at Disney World in Florida currently.

©Universal

Epic Universe and Helios Grand Hotel will open on May 22nd, 2025. In just a few short months, we’ll be stepping foot into the exciting worlds of Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, How To Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, and Super Nintendo World. While we’ll always love Disney World, we’re looking forward to experiencing this brand-new theme park, and so are a lot of fans.

For more Epic Universe news, keep following DFB!