Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure are both great parks at Universal, but which one is best? In this post I compare Universal Studios vs Islands of Adventure to determine which Universal Orlando park is best for your visit to the Universal Orlando resort.
Everyone has an opinion on Universal Studios vs. Islands of Adventure, and as we visit I find myself liking one park more on one visit and the other park more during the next.
I thought it would be fun to share what we like at each of the Universal Parks to help decide which is better Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure.
To do this I’ve come up with seven categories that we value when we visit the parks to help determine who is the ultimate winner of this Universal vs. Islands of Adventure showdown!
This post is not going to include Universal’s newest park Epic Universe. The newness of the park doesn’t offer a fair comparison. Once it settles down and I have a few more visits I will have a better opinion.
For now let’s compare the original Universal parks: Islands of Adventure vs Universal Studios Florida.
Insider Tip: Purchase tickets before you arrive to get the best deal and save time!
Universal Studios vs Islands of Adventure
I decided on seven different categories to compare the two parks. These cover everything guests might want in a theme park and will help you decide which park is better for your trip.
- Thrill Rides
- Family Attractions
- Atmosphere
- Food
- Characters to Meet
- Shows and Entertainment
- Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Thrill Rides
Both parks offer thrill rides. Islands of Adventure has more roller coasters and thrills, but let’s look at what both parks offer.
Universal Studios has Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (Closing August 18, 2025) that climbs 167 feet and reaches speeds of 65 mph. It also has The Mummy and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.
Islands of Adventure has The Incredible Hulk Coaster which launches guests to 40 mph in 2 seconds, VelociCoaster with multiple launch sequence and top speeds of 70 mph, and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
Guests can also ride Jurassic Park River Adventure, Doctor Dooms Fear Fall, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls, and Skull Island: Reign of Kong for thrills.
Both parks have thrilling attractions but Islands of Adventure is the winner based on the more intense coasters.
Family Attractions
The Universal Orlando parks are geared toward older kids but there are still many things to do for preschool age kids and kids that may not want big thrills.
Universal Studios has E.T. Adventure, 2 Despicable Me attractions, DreamWorks Land, and Kang and Kondo’s Twirl n’ Hurl.
Islands of Adventure has Seuss Landing. I love Seuss Landing and how it feels like you are stepping into a Dr. Seuss world.
There are four rides at Seuss Landing: The Cat in the Hat, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train and Caro-Seuss-al.
All of the Seuss Landing attractions have a 36″ and under height requirement making this a great place to visit for families.
My kids also really enjoyed The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man attraction that is fun for all ages.
There are a few themed play areas throughout Islands of Adventure. They are Camp Jurassic, If I Ran the Zoo, and Me Ship, the Olive.
Islands of Adventure slightly moves ahead of Universal Studios because of the multiple play areas and numerous attractions at Seuss Landing. Universal has DreamWorks Land but it only has 1 ride for kids and a playground, not as much to do for little ones throughout the entire park.
Atmosphere at the Parks
This one is going to be up for discussion but I think the atmosphere of the parks is worth noting as well as the ease of getting around.
Universal Studios is modeled after a working film studio and the rides and attractions are housed in big studio buildings. There are sections based on different cities like NYC or San Francisco as well as Springfield U.S.A. (The Simpsons) and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. There are many paths and cut throughs to navigate the park.
Islands of Adventure has 5 distinct themed lands. They are Seuss Landing, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Toon Lagoon, and Marvel Super Hero Island. Islands of Adventure is a big circle and there are no cut through paths to navigate the park.
Each park has great themed areas and I think it comes down to personal preference with this one. I went back and forth on this one but I think the distinct themed lands at Islands of Adventure are more immersive and sets the tone for the park.
Food
This was another category that I thought was very difficult. There are places I really enjoy at both parks and I shared our favorite places to eat at Universal Orlando in a previous post.
Universal Studios has a handful of sit down restaurants as well as numerous options at Springfield U.S.A. The Taco Truck outside Moe’s at Springfield U.S.A is delicious, Minions Cafe is such a food spot, and overall the dining is great at the park.
Islands of Adventure has many sit down restaurants and some of my favorite quick service restaurants. Thunder Falls Terrace, Green Eggs and Ham, and Three Broomsticks are all great options. Read this for more: Best Places to Eat at Islands of Adventure
We do mostly quick service dining when we are at the theme parks so Islands of Adventure is our go-to for food.
Characters
Universal Orlando Resort is always surprising us with new and fun characters to meet at the parks. In this post I share characters to meet at Universal Orlando and I am always updating it with the latest additions.
Universal Studios has some of the classic movie characters like Marilyn Monroe, Scooby Doo Gang, Beetlejuice as well as The Simpsons, Despicable Me characters and Transformers.
Islands of Adventure has The Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, as well as Spider-Man, Wolverine, and other Marvel characters. You can also meet a Raptor in the Jurassic Park area.
Universal Studios is going to take this one because there are so many places to meet characters and you will meet more inside this park than Islands of Adventure.
Shows & Entertainment
Throughout both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios you will find amazing and interactive entertainment. On our last visit the kids joined a drum band at Islands of Adventure. You never really know what to expect.
Universal Studios has the Bourne Stuntacular, The Blues Brothers Show, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard to name a few. The Tales of Beedle the Bard is located in Diagon Alley at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It is often underrated but on one of my favorite shows at the parks.
There is also a nightly water and drone show on the lagoon called CineSational. It runs seasonal and worth making time to see.
Islands of Adventure has a nightly projection show on Hogwarts which is a great way to end your day at the parks. You can also watch shows in Seuss Landing that retell the beloved Dr. Seuss stories.
Universal Studios is the place to go if you want to watch shows. They have indoor and outdoor ones that are perfect during the summer afternoons at the park.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure have The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. At Universal Studios they have Diagon Alley and at Islands of Adventure they have Hogsmeade.
Diagon Alley is incredible. The first time we visited we literally walked past the entrance and didn’t even realize it was there. Universal has done an incredible job with this area making it one of the best every to explore.
Hogsmeade is at Islands of Adventure and features Hogwarts castle as its center piece. Inside Hogwarts guests can board a “broom” in Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This ride is unique and unlike anything I have ever been on. Hogsmeade also has Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.
Although both areas offer something special I am going to have to say Diagon Alley is the winner. There is something so immersive when you enter this area that is unlike anything I have ever experienced.
If you want to experience both worlds, guests can hop on the Hogwarts Express. This takes guests between the two Harry Potter lands. To experience this train ride you must have a park-to-park ticket.
Bonus: Best Overall Ride at Both Parks
I think it is important to say that the best ride at Universal Orlando is definitely Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. It is full of surprises and unexpected twists. I won’t spoil it but it is a must if you are visiting the parks.
My Final Thoughts
When I tell friends about which Universal park to visit I say it depends on what their priorities are at the park. If you can, visit both parks because there are so many things that we love across Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
If you only have one day and only want to do one park, consider what you and your group want to experience and plan from there.
No matter which park you choose you will have a great time experiencing the rides and attractions at the Universal park.
If you are overwhelmed with planning or just want someone to make all the reservations for you consider using a travel agent. Our friend Nikki at Royal Treatment Travel is amazing and has helped us plan and book many of our trips. She finds the best deals and her service is complimentary for most theme park vacations! It is a win-win. Learn more here.
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Leah has been planning and writing about Universal trips since 2016. She loves finding the best places to eat and stay during her visits to the park. Leah enjoys the little details that make visiting the parks so immersive and special, and sharing that with her readers.
