When planning a student performance tour to Orlando, one of the biggest questions directors face is: Disney or Universal?
The answer depends entirely on your group’s personality, goals, age range, and the type of experience you want students to have outside of their workshops and performances.
At Educational Performance Tours, we develop customized Orlando Performance & Dance Tours that balance education, entertainment, group logistics, and unforgettable experiences. Both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort offer incredible opportunities for student groups, but they cultivate very different atmospheres, and also have different requirements.
Here’s how to decide which Orlando destination is the best fit for your students.
Choose Disney World If You Want the “Classic” Student Tour Experience
There’s a reason Walt Disney World remains one of the most popular destinations for student travel programs year after year.
Disney tends to offer:
- A more immersive and polished overall atmosphere
- Educational workshops and performing arts programs
- A wide variety of park experiences – group dinner & firework show experiences, Cirque du Soleil’s Drawn to Life performances, fun interactive restaurants in Disney Springs.
For performing arts groups especially, Disney’s Imagination Campus can be a major advantage. Students often have opportunities to participate in workshops focused on performance, leadership, choreography, vocal technique, and behind-the-scenes entertainment production.
Choose Universal Orlando If Your Students Want High-Energy Thrills
Universal Orlando has become increasingly popular with high school student groups, especially with the opening of their brand new EPIC Universe.
Universal tends to appeal more to students looking for:
- Bigger thrill rides
- More intense attractions
- A faster-paced atmosphere
- Movie and pop culture immersion
- It is important to note, Universal’s Educational workshops and performing arts programs are more limited (For Example, there is no musical theatre focused workshop).
Consider Logistics & Requirements:
Disney and Universal also operate differently when it comes to:
- Group Size Requirements
- Disney requires a minimum of 15 students for each workshop, and 20 performers for a stage performance (Marching Band Parade Performances require 40 total performers)
- Universal Orlando requires a total group size of 40 to qualify for any workshop or stage performance
- Park Offerings / Ticket Pricing
- Requirements for On-Property Hotels
- Disney requires a minimum of 10 rooms to hold a group block at an On-Property hotel
- Types of Workshops / Masterclasses offered
- Disney Offers:
- Universal Offers:
- Stage Performance Opportunities:
- Disney’s Stage Performances take place at Water Side stage in Disney Springs. Music for all performances needs to be approved and/or come from the list of pre-approved music!
- Universal Orlando’s Performances take place on the Citywalk Stage!
At Educational Performance Tours, we help directors navigate the application, tour development, ticket type selection, and all other details so the experience feels stress free and seamless for students, parents, and chaperones alike.
The Best Orlando Student Tours Often Combine Both
For many performing arts groups, the ideal Orlando tour includes a mix of both Disney and Universal experiences!
The benefit of a customized student performance tour is that the experience can be designed specifically around your students and your program goal & desires.
Please note, you will need a minimum of a 2 day Park Ticket at BOTH properties to qualify for a workshop or performance at that respective property.
Planning an Orlando Performance Tour?
Whether your group is leaning toward Disney, Universal, or a combination of both, we are ready to get the show on the road, and begin planning!
