Going on holiday to Florida? If you are, then there is presumably going to be one of the top two theme parks you wish to see: Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. However, if during the same holiday you wish to visit both, then the next question asked will probably be, ‘What is it like travelling between the parks?
How far is Universal Studios from Disney World in Florida? Depending on where you are driving from within the Disney complex, the distance to Universal is approximately 10 – 16 miles. The trip can take you between 20-30 minutes, travelling along many of the different roadways with a normal amount of traffic.
While you may not think of it as the big to be so close, with so many thousands travelling in Orlando at times of the year traffic can play a serious role in getting from A to B without much problem, and it’s well worth taking into to consideration the most efficient of the transport at your disposal to help get yourself, your group or even large family around more safely and with a few less stressful journeys.
How Far Apart Are Disney World and Universal Studios?
There is not just one attraction at Walt Disney World. The property is very large. It contains multiple theme parks, resorts, and entertainment areas throughout its area. Universal Orlando Resort is further north and resides close to International Drive; therefore, distance is relative to where your trip begins at Disney property.
As an example, the distance from a location at Disney to Universal Studios Florida is approximately 14 to 16 miles via the roads. Other points at both locations may be closer.
Due to the above, not all travelers can be given one solid mileage. There can be any number of starting points within Disney World. You can begin at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, or any of the Disney resort locations
Typical Distance and Travel Time
In terms of planning, travelers can consider the trip between the two resort locations to be fairly manageable overall. Short, light traffic periods are about 20 to 30 minutes long, but during heavy traffic periods, that duration can significantly increase.
Traffic is perhaps the biggest unknown variable. Tourism is a huge business in Orlando, and roads near many theme parks are subject to heavy traffic during mornings, afternoons, weekends, and especially during holidays and major events.
| Travel Factor | Typical Expectation |
| We did this to get the approximate road distance, as the bearings will give us the straight-line distance. | 10–16 miles |
| The average time for a drive (average normal duration of drive). | Approximately 20- 30 minutes |
| Busy traffic | Likely to take between 30 and 60 minutes or more(May)take over 60 minutes2 or more(Employs)continuously over a 20 minute period.2 or more |
| Two main transportation issues: Our access to transportation is a concern, as we rely on public transportation (buses and trains) primarily. We tend to take many taxis in New York, and then rely on Boston area transportation back home. | Orlando traffic |
| The most suitable planning methodology should be determined. | Add a few more minutes to your journey. |
The sample estimations indicated by the mentioned above are not guaranteed but correct due to the following information: the route depends on the place of pickup, the destination, traffic, and the selected route.
What Is the Disney World to Universal Studios Distance by Car?
Driving: Once again, as mentioned by the author, the best way of getting around both resort towns is by car. The actual route can be either I-4 or other back roads depending on your destination once picked up by Disney.
The Disney World itself is situated southwest of Orlando and is accessible from other highway networks via various highway arteries. Universal Orlando’s proximity, relative to Orlando’s downtown, results in less travel distance as opposed to other locations within the state of Florida. According to Disney’s authoritative source, the official distance and directions measure Interstate 4’s importance as a transportation artery serving Walt Disney World.
The best part of taking the trip by car is that it is flexible. You can leave whenever your group is ready rather than having to wait on other people, and you can go straight to the Universal area from your hotel or any other pickup point.
Why Traffic Can Change Your Travel Time
Distance by itself is not sufficient. A path that appears to be short on a map may take three times as long with the traffic on Orlando highways.
Traffic in the morning may be significant if you are leaving Disney early to get to Universal for opening. Likewise, heading back to Disney after Universal in the evening may take more time with all the roads busy.
That’s why it may be smart to add some margin to your schedule. If your GPS states 25 mn it can be useful to anticipate a bit, so that the traffic delay does not impact reservations, parking plans, etc.
How Far Is Disney From Universal When Staying at a Disney Resort?
Your hotel is important for the calculation of your journey. Disney guests are staying at many different resort hotels, and some of them are much nearer to Universal than others.
Guests staying close to Disney Springs will have a slightly different travel time than those guests staying at the far end of the Walt Disney World property at a resort. Similarly, those guests departing from one of the Disney theme parks should include travel time to the true pick-up location before the actual drive begins.
This necessitates that the calculation is made from the travelers’ hotel or attraction as opposed to just an average Disney to Universal figure.
Read More: How Far Is Orlando Sanford FL SFB From Disney World?
Why Your Starting Point Matters
Let’s say your family has just spent the afternoon at Magic Kingdom, and now wishes to go straight to Universal. The amount of time taken to exit the park, get to the bus loading zone, and get in the car counts toward the trip length.
The same occurs when you want to get out of EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or any other Disney property. A plan that seems OK in miles can quite possibly need more time once parking, walking, waiting areas, and traffic are factored in. This becomes more crucial for groups with young children, or groups that have bags, strollers, or other equipment.
Best Ways to Travel From Disney to Universal Studios
What kind of route should I consider? There are various ways that you’ll find going out of one theme park and on into another. What options you consider taking depends upon where you are with your family, your budget, your time, and whether or not you care about the journey in any way, shape, or form.
For instance, public, available modes of transportation are: the journey in an effort to depart Walt Disney World to Universal Studios Florida via a collection of public transit can take almost 2 hours of time. Alternatively, you could decide to move together with rideshare/personal automobiles and taxis. Personal cars give the additional attraction.
Why Private Transportation Can Be More Convenient
Avoid Coordinating with Public Transport: A private car keeps everyone together. Instead of relying on transfers between each place or hiking from place to place, your group will get to choose when and where to be picked up. That can come in really handy for trips with children, grandmas, or big groups of friends.
This also increases departure control and can help manage your visit when you’ve got lots on your to-do list.
Signature luxury transportation in Orlando. Keeping your vacation comfortable and worry-free, Signature Luxury Transportation Group is there to provide transportation to and from all destinations in Orlando if you or your family want to take the easier road to getting from point A to point B. A professionally orchestrated ride can take away some of the pressure of finding new roads, locating the right parking places, and getting everyone where they need to go at the end of their exciting and exhilarating day at a few destinations in Orlando.
Should You Visit Disney World and Universal on the Same Day?
Can You Do Disney And Universal In One Day? Yes, it is technically doable to get round both in the same day, although it is a lot more fun to do at a relaxed pace. Both Disney and Universal parks have a huge amount to see and do, including rides, attractions, shows and shops.
If you plan on attempting both in a single day, you will likely sacrifice relaxation and relaxation for your schedule, and you could easily see yourselves watching your clock instead of on rides/shows/stalls for more time than you would wish.
The better option for the majority of travellers is to simply designate a full day to visit one resort; however, if you find yourselves in need of visiting both on the same day, be sure to investigate all opening hours and take careful consideration to your priority list.
When Visiting Both in One Day Makes Sense
A split-day itinerary might be an option for visitors with minimal time or visitors wanting to visit only certain sections of the parks; for instance, they may take the morning at Disney and then call back in the evening for dinner in one of the restaurant attractions or visit Universal Studios after lunch.
But you will need to temper your expectations of the timed arrivals. You will not have enough time to do everything at both locations, especially during high season.
If you are planning to do a split day, private transportation can help by making the changeover much more manageable because you could plan the trip around your own timings rather than putting yourself at the mercy of waiting for transportation connections.
Tips for Planning Your Disney and Universal Transportation
Proper transportation planning is the single most important factor to having an excellent Orlando vacation. Double-check the pick-up and drop-off places (rather than just typing in “Disney” or “Universal” into a GPS navigation) before rushing out of your hotel or park.
Think also of the time of day. A distance that is short in miles can take a long time in traffic.
Here are a few useful planning tips:
- Bear in mind that there will be a lot of traffic in and around Orlando. Make allowances for this.
- Please identify the correct Disney pickup location.
- Try to look after children during longer traffic delays.
- If possible, get return transportation arranged sooner the same day.
- Select an appropriate vehicle for your party size and baggage (2 people…);
Simply by taking these simple precautions, you can learn how to prevent transportation from becoming a nightmare.
Is Universal Studios Close Enough to Disney World for a Day Trip?
Yes, the two sights are nearby enough so it is possible to go to Universal from Disney on a day trip. The distance isn’t too far compared to many of the other sights in the Orlando area, and there are a couple of direct routes.
The first thing to remember about the latter is that distance and travel time are not the same. A journey of about 15 miles, for example, can take much longer if traffic is heavy.
The two absolute essential places to be at during your summer holiday are located close by, though it takes a little planning (and some time) to find your way to each, so as long as you think to get those things done early, you’re safely covered by m‘s.
Families and groups could also reduce some of the ‘uncertainty’ of traveling between resorts by booking transportation ahead of time.
Final Thoughts
The distance between these major sites is manageable for most travelers; the journey itself would normally be in the range of 10 to 16 miles from one place to another, to be more precise. A road trip would take about 20 to 30 mins under normal circumstances; however, traffic in the Orlando area could prolong this.
The crucial point is the mileage. We also need to take into consideration your specific Disney’s location, the venue you are visiting in Universal locations, the traveling time, traffic circumstances, and the mode of transport to reach the destination.
So, comfort and convenience with curbside access for all- if you choose to rent a party bus or private vehicle service with Signature Luxury Transportation Group to roam around the must-see sights of Orlando- means less time on the road when things get organised.
FAQs
1. Can I visit Disney and Universal on the same day?
Yes, but it is quite exhausting to do them in one day. Each resort is loaded with plenty of things to see and do to fill up a whole day, and they should be done on different days.
2. Is traffic a problem between Disney World and Universal?
Road conditions can have a huge effect on the drive, especially when traveling during travel times and peak hours. It is always advisable to allow time on top of the assumed shortest time.
3. Does the distance from Disney World to Universal vary by location?
Yes. Walt Disney World covers a large area with multiple theme parks, resorts, and entertainment areas. Your travel distance and time can vary depending on whether you are leaving from Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, or a Disney resort.
4. What is the best way to travel from Disney World to Universal Studios?
Traveling by car or private transportation can be a convenient option because it allows you to choose your departure time and travel directly between locations. Public transportation may require transfers and can take considerably longer.
5. Does staying at a Disney resort affect the travel time to Universal?
Yes. Your Disney resort location can affect both the distance and total travel time. You should calculate the journey from your specific hotel or pickup point rather than relying only on an average Disney World to Universal distance.
