The Orlando theme park vacation used to revolve almost entirely around one destination: Walt Disney World.
Families would arrive in Central Florida, check into a Disney resort hotel, and spend nearly every day inside one of Disney’s four theme parks. Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom offered more than enough experiences to fill a full week.
For many visitors, there was little reason to go anywhere else.
But in 2026, the way people plan Orlando vacations is starting to look different.
Instead of dedicating their entire trip to Walt Disney World, many travelers are dividing their time between Disney and Universal Orlando Resort. And in a growing number of cases, Disney is getting only half of the vacation.
A Major Shift in Vacation Planning
Vacation planning discussions across social media, fan communities, and travel groups are revealing a clear trend.
Guests aren’t replacing Disney with Universal. Instead, they’re combining the two resorts into a single itinerary.
Rather than staying on Disney property for the entire trip, travelers are building schedules that split time between both destinations. That might mean three or four days at Walt Disney World followed by several days at Universal Orlando.
The goal is simple: experience everything Orlando now offers.
But the result is something Disney hasn’t historically faced very often—less total vacation time dedicated exclusively to its parks.
Epic Universe Changes the Balance
Universal Orlando’s newest theme park, Epic Universe, has played a major role in reshaping vacation plans.
When the park opened in 2025, it significantly expanded Universal’s lineup of attractions and themed environments. Instead of two parks and a short visit, Universal now offers a multi-park destination that can occupy several days of a trip.
Epic Universe features multiple immersive lands, brand-new rides, and an entirely new resort area with hotels and entertainment options.
For many theme park fans, skipping the park simply isn’t an option.
Travelers planning Orlando vacations now often want to dedicate two or three full days to Universal alone in order to experience Epic Universe alongside Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.
That time has to be pulled from somewhere.
For many guests, it’s coming out of the Disney portion of the vacation.
Two Resorts, One Trip
As guests divide their time between the two destinations, another pattern has begun to emerge: the two-hotel vacation.
Instead of booking one hotel for the entire trip, many visitors now stay at a Walt Disney World resort for part of their vacation before moving to a Universal hotel for the remainder.
The strategy allows guests to take advantage of perks tied to each resort’s parks. Staying on Disney property offers benefits for visiting Disney’s parks, while staying at Universal hotels provides advantages when exploring Universal’s parks.
Guests might spend the first half of the trip focusing on Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Then they relocate to a Universal hotel to explore Epic Universe, Universal Studios Florida, and Islands of Adventure.
It requires a little more planning, but many travelers believe it creates the most balanced Orlando vacation possible.
The Orlando Theme Park Rivalry Is Evolving
This shift doesn’t mean Walt Disney World is losing its influence. The resort remains the centerpiece of Orlando tourism and continues to attract massive crowds every year.
Disney’s parks still offer experiences that can’t easily be replicated elsewhere. Magic Kingdom alone remains one of the most visited theme parks on the planet.
What’s changing is how guests distribute their time.
Universal’s rapid expansion has created a destination that visitors feel compelled to include in their plans. Rather than competing directly with Disney for entire trips, Universal is now competing for a larger portion of the same vacation.
For many travelers, the result is a balanced itinerary that includes both resorts.
The New Orlando Vacation
For theme park fans, the shift may actually represent the best of both worlds.
Disney continues to deliver classic attractions, beloved characters, and immersive storytelling experiences. Universal offers high-energy rides, blockbuster franchises, and cutting-edge attractions.
By visiting both resorts in the same trip, guests can enjoy a wider variety of experiences than ever before.
But the impact on vacation planning is clear.
The classic Disney-only vacation is becoming less common for some travelers.
Instead, Orlando vacations are increasingly being shared between two major resort destinations.
And in many cases, Walt Disney World is no longer the entire trip. It’s now just one part of it.
