Walt Disney World Answers Archives - DisAnswers = Disney Answers

Is Universal Part of Walt Disney World

Disney Answer: No!

Walt Disney World Resort is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. It spans approximately 25,000 acres and includes four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom), two water parks (Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach), over 25 Disney-owned hotels, Disney Springs shopping district, golf courses, and more.

Universal Orlando Resort, on the other hand, is owned by NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast Corporation. It covers about 840 acres and currently features three theme parks (Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and Universal’s Volcano Bay water theme park), with a fourth park (Epic Universe) opening on May 22, 2025. The resort also includes eight hotels and the Universal CityWalk entertainment district.

Close But Separate

Adding to the confusion is the fact that Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World are relatively close to each other, located in the same metropolitan area of Orlando. However, they’re about 9 miles apart – a drive that typically takes 15-20 minutes depending on traffic.

Walt Disney World is located southwest of downtown Orlando, primarily in the cities of Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista. Universal Orlando is closer to the heart of Orlando, near the intersection of Interstate 4 and Florida’s Turnpike.

Different Vacation Experiences

Each resort offers distinct experiences:

Walt Disney World emphasizes family-friendly storytelling, character experiences, and carefully crafted themed environments. The Disney experience is often described as more “magical” and immersive, with attention to detail in everything from landscaping to background music.
Universal Orlando tends to feature more thrilling rides and attractions based on popular movies and TV shows. While still family-friendly, Universal generally appeals to families with older children and teens who enjoy more intense attractions.

Can You Visit Both in One Trip?

Absolutely! Many Orlando visitors choose to experience both resorts during their vacation. However, keep in mind:

You’ll need separate tickets for each resort. There are no combined ticket options that include both Disney and Universal parks.
Transportation between the resorts isn’t provided by either company. You’ll need to arrange your own transportation via rental car, rideshare service, or taxi.
Consider your time carefully. A complete Disney World experience could easily fill a week or more, while Universal Orlando typically requires 2-3 days to experience thoroughly.

Planning Tips for Both Resorts

If you’re planning to visit both Disney World and Universal Orlando, consider these strategies:

Split your stay between resorts to minimize travel time and take advantage of early park entry perks at both destinations
Book accommodations in the “middle ground” areas like International Drive if you plan to visit both equally
Consider purchasing Express Pass at Universal and Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disney to maximize your time in the parks
Allow for at least 4-5 days at Disney World and 2-3 days at Universal Orlando for a comprehensive experience

Understanding that Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando are separate destinations will help you better plan your Orlando vacation and make the most of everything this remarkable tourism destination has to offer.

Do Disney Cruises Have Casinos

Disney Answer: No

If you’re considering a Disney Cruise Line vacation, you’re in for a voyage filled with enchantment, family-friendly fun, and top-notch entertainment. However, some travelers may wonder about one particular feature commonly found on cruise ships: casinos. In this blog post, we’ll answer the question: Do Disney Cruises have casinos? We’ll explore the unique approach Disney takes to onboard entertainment while maintaining a family-friendly atmosphere.

Disney Cruise Line is renowned for delivering a vacation experience like no other. With a fleet of stunning ships, impeccable service, and Disney’s trademark storytelling, guests of all ages are in for a memorable journey. But when it comes to casinos, Disney Cruise Line takes a different path compared to many other cruise operators.

In keeping with their commitment to providing a family-oriented environment, Disney Cruise Line has made the deliberate choice not to include onboard casinos on their ships. This means that, unlike some cruise lines where casinos are a significant part of the onboard entertainment, you won’t find traditional casinos on any Disney Cruise ships, including the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Wish or the new Disney Treasure. Disney also does not offer casinos on either of their private islands, Castaway Cay nor Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

Disney Cruise Line’s decision to omit casinos aligns with their overall vision of creating a family-friendly atmosphere where guests of all ages can enjoy themselves. Here are some reasons behind this choice:

Focus on Family: Disney Cruise Line places a strong emphasis on family vacations. They want parents and children to bond and make memories together without the distraction of a casino.
Disney Storytelling: Disney is known for its immersive storytelling, and this extends to their cruise experiences. Without the presence of casinos, the ships can maintain a consistent theme and atmosphere that enhances the overall guest experience.
A Range of Entertainment: Disney Cruise Line offers a diverse array of entertainment options, from Broadway-style shows to character meet-and-greets, live music, and outdoor activities. These offerings provide ample opportunities for guests to enjoy their time onboard without the need for casinos.

While you won’t find traditional casinos on Disney Cruise Line ships, you can look forward to a wide variety of Disney Cruise activities and entertainment to keep you engaged and entertained throughout your voyage.

Themed Bars and Lounges: Disney Cruise Line features beautifully themed bars and lounges where you can relax and enjoy your favorite beverages. Each has its unique ambiance, adding to the immersive experience.
Broadway-Caliber Shows: Prepare to be dazzled by Broadway-style musicals and live performances in the ship’s theaters. These productions are top-notch and suitable for the entire family.
Deck Parties: Disney Cruise Line hosts unforgettable deck parties, such as the “Pirate Night” celebration and the “Sailing Away” party, where you can dance, sing, and enjoy spectacular fireworks displays at sea.
Character Meet-and-Greets: Interact with beloved Disney characters who come to life on the ship. These encounters are a highlight for children and Disney fans of all ages.
Outdoor Recreation: From swimming pools and water slides to sports courts and mini-golf, Disney Cruise Line offers a range of outdoor activities to keep you active and entertained.
Adult-Only Areas: While Disney Cruise Line caters to families, they also provide adults with their own exclusive spaces, including quiet pools, upscale dining venues, and bars.
Nightclubs and Live Music: Enjoy dancing and live music in the ship’s nightclubs and entertainment venues. The onboard bands and musicians are talented and diverse, offering something for every musical taste.

In answer to the question, “Do Disney Cruises have casinos?” the resounding answer is no. Disney Cruise Line’s commitment to creating a family-friendly, immersive, and enchanting experience at sea means that traditional casinos are not part of their shipboard offerings. Instead, you can look forward to a vast array of entertainment, themed experiences, and activities that cater to guests of all ages, ensuring that your Disney Cruise is filled with magical moments and cherished memories. So, set sail with Disney Cruise Line, and prepare to embark on a journey where the enchantment of Disney storytelling takes center stage.

Do You Need a Separate Ticket for Star Wars Land?

Disney Answer: No, but Kind of?

If you didn’t know already, Disney is finally building a Star Wars Land, officially known as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This brand new Star Wars Land will be located in both Disneyland and in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. Opening dates have been announced, Star Wars Land will open on May 31, 2019 in Disneyland and on August 29, 2019. Regular admission to each park will get you access to Star Wars Land, kind of.

Disneyland – While technically your theme park ticket will get you into Disneyland, from May 31 – June 23, 2019, it will NOT get you into Star Wars Land. During this time frame, in addition to a park ticket, you will also need a reservation.

Guests staying in one of the three Disneyland Resort Hotels during this time will get a free designated reservation to access Star Wars Land (one reservation per registered guest). You will still need a theme park ticket, but the reservation will get you into Star Wars Land once inside Disneyland.
Reservations for non-Disneyland Resort Hotel guests will be made available, though this process and how they will be made available has not yet been announced. Reservations will be free, but will be extremely limited.
Beginning June 24, 2019, a separate reservations will no longer be required.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be capacity controlled, so after June 24, you may need to stand in a very long line just to get into Star Wars Land to stand in another very long line to ride any of the rides.
Star Wars Land will not be available during Extra Magic Hours or Magic Morning at Disneyland Park, and is not available with FastPass or MaxPass services.

Walt Disney World – Disney World has decided to forgo the reservation system (they have A LOT more hotels) and just give everyone equal access. And by equal access I mean anyone that wants to wait in a 5+ hour line can have access. Capacity for both Hollywood Studios and Star Wars Land will be capacity controlled, so even if you have a ticket, you may not be able to get into Hollywood Studios, and if you get inside, you may not be able to get into Star Wars Land. As with Disneyland, there will be no FastPass+ service for any attraction in Star Wars Land.

Please note at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is opening with only one of the two main attractions available. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will be available at the grand opening while Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will not open until later in the year (or possibly 2020 at Walt Disney World).

Are Epcot Fireworks Every Night?

Disney Answer: Yes

The nightly fireworks show at Epcot is currently called IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, and starts nightly at 9:00 PM and lasts 12 minutes, subject to the weather conditions or course. Illuminations is available for viewing all around the World Showcase, just find a good spot with a decent view of the water, and you are good to go.

Illuminations has been part of the Epcot landscape since 1998, and is scheduled to be replaced later this year. Sometime in the late Summer or early Fall of 2019, Disney will introduce Epcot Forever, an interim show that will feature classic Epcot tunes, surely to be a hit with long time Epcot fans.

Sometime in 2020, the new permanent show, A Celebration of Disney Music, will replace Epcot Forever.

While no exact dates for the changes have been announced, it appears that there will not be any transition period between the shows, and fireworks will continue to be displayed every night.

Are there Disney characters at Be Our Guest?

Disney Answer: No and Yes

Disney’s Be Our Guest restaurant, located in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, is not a normal Disney character meal. Some restaurants at Walt Disney World feature Disney characters that go table to table to meet the guests, offering photo opportunities you may not get otherwise. In the Magic Kingdom, character meals include Crystal Palace and Cinderella’s Royal Table. You will notice that Be Our Guest is not included in that list. That is because Disney characters are NOT available at Be Our Guest (most of the time).

Breakfast and Lunch – For both meals, Be Our Guest is considered a Quick-Service meal, you order via a kiosk, pick up your food and take it to your table. Other than dining inside of Be Our Guest, the meal itself isn’t much different than eating at any of the other Quick-Service places in the Magic Kingdom. There are no Disney characters to be found during breakfast or lunch.

Dinner – For Dinner, Be Our Guest transforms into a Table Service restaurant, complete with waiters/waitresses, a nicer menu, and Disney characters. Well, kind of. Beast appears in his little library area (it is actually the area where you order your food for breakfast and lunch), and is available for photos with your family. Disney suggests that you meet Beast on your way out of the restaurant. Beast does not go table to table, you must go see him. And remember that this is Beast’s castle you are dining in, Belle isn’t anywhere to be found (you will have to head over to Belle’s attraction next door, Enchanted Tales with Belle in order to find her).

Be Our Guest is super popular, by far the most difficult dining reservation there is at Walt Disney World. But remember, you are not booking a character meal, so if your kids want to see characters, look elsewhere.

Can you walk from the Contemporary to the Magic Kingdom?

Disney Answer: Yes

While everyone knows that the monorail services Disney’s Contemporary Resort, that isn’t the only way to get to the theme parks. Of all the resorts in the Magic Kingdom area, it is the only resort (along with Bay Lake Tower which is attached to the Contemporary) that you can walk directly from the resort into a theme park. Both Polynesian Village and the Grand Floridian are not directly accessible to the Magic Kingdom.

In fact, if you are going to the Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary, it is much quicker to walk to the Magic Kingdom than take the resort monorail. After waiting for the monorail at the Contemporary, it will make three more stops before coming to the Magic Kingdom, and the trip will take about 15 – 20 minutes, maybe more if the trains are delayed at all. Walking from the Contemporary will take about 5 – 10 minutes, depending on how quickly you can walk.

Please note however, after a long day in the park, it may be worth taking the monorail back to the Contemporary from the Magic Kingdom even if it is a few minutes longer. It is the first stop on the resort line, and your feet may be considerably more tired than on the way to the park in the morning.

To walk to the Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary, there is a sidewalk that starts at the bus stop in front of the resort, head to the North away from the Contemporary. The sidewalk basically follows the monorail line until you reach the Magic Kingdom plaza, where you can go directly into the park. The path from Bay Lake is similar, just exit the front of Bay Lake and follow the sidewalk West until it joins with the sidewalk from the Contemporary.