Universal vs. Disney With Young Kids: Which First?

If you have young kids and only a few park days, the order you visit Universal and Disney World actually matters. They are very different experiences — one leans into gentle storytelling for the littlest visitors, the other into thrills and immersive worlds that shine for older kids. Here is how they compare on the things that make or break a day with small children.

Ride heights and the toddler question

This is the biggest deciding factor. Disney World is built for the youngest kids — Magic Kingdom in particular is packed with no-height-requirement classics like it's a small world, the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan's Flight, and the carousel. A 2- or 3-year-old has a full day of rides they can actually go on.

Universal skews older. Many of its headline attractions are big coasters or intense simulators with 40″–48″ height requirements. There is a wonderful area for little ones, but a preschooler will hit more "you must be this tall" signs here than at Magic Kingdom. Universal really comes alive for kids around 7 and up — especially Harry Potter fans.

Getting around: walking and rest spots

Universal's two parks are compact and walkable, and the CityWalk hub between them makes hopping easy. Disney's four parks are enormous and spread across miles — you will cover far more ground, and the transportation between parks and resorts adds up. Either way, plan for a lot of walking and plenty of shaded rest breaks.

For little legs, a stroller is essential at both. For a grandparent joining the trip, or anyone who simply cannot do 8–10 miles a day, a mobility scooter is what lets them stay with the group from open to close instead of tapping out at lunch. One quick note: stroller wagons are not allowed inside the Disney parks (they are fine at Universal and CityWalk), so pack a standard stroller for Disney days.

Pace, naps, and meltdowns

Disney's slower, story-driven rides and abundant character meet-and-greets suit a toddler's rhythm — there is more to do at a gentle pace, and more shady queues. Universal's intensity and thrill focus can overwhelm a very young child by mid-afternoon. Whichever park you choose, build in a midday break: a stroller nap, a sit-down lunch out of the sun, or a return to the hotel pool pays off with a happier evening.

So which first?

A simple rule of thumb:

• Kids 2–6: start with Disney (Magic Kingdom first). It has the most rides they can ride and the gentlest pace. Add Universal only if you have older siblings or extra days.
• Kids 7–10: either works — do Disney for the classic magic, then Universal for the coasters and Harry Potter. Doing Disney first often keeps the "little kid" magic before the thrill rides raise the bar.
• Mixed ages or Potter superfans: split your days, and let the kids' must-do lists break the tie.

Whatever you choose, the gear is the easy part — we deliver strollers, scooters, and baby gear free to your hotel or vacation home on orders of $120 or more, so you arrive ready for either park.