A 7-day Disney and Universal itinerary with Epic Universe, built for families and big groups staying in ChampionsGate: park order, rest days, and ticket tips.
Seven days. Two resorts. Six or seven theme parks. One family of 16.
It can be done. It can also be a disaster. The difference is pacing.
Here's a plan that works for a big family staying at SuperVilla in ChampionsGate.
First, the map
The house is 14 miles from Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom. Hollywood Studios is 13. Universal is 20. The airport is 28.
So Disney is your short drive. Universal is your long drive. Plan your early mornings around that.
What's at Universal now
Universal Orlando has three theme parks plus a water park:
- Universal Studios Florida. Diagon Alley, movie rides.
- Islands of Adventure. Hogsmeade, Hulk, Jurassic Park.
- Epic Universe. The new one, opened May 2025. A central hub called Celestial Park, with portals to Super Nintendo World, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic, Dark Universe, and How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk.
- Volcano Bay. Closed for maintenance since October 26, 2026. Universal plans to reopen it on or before April 1, 2027, and says dates can change.
Epic Universe deserves its own full day. Don't try to hop to it for an afternoon.
The itinerary
| Day | Plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive. Groceries. Pool. | Travel days are long. Rest. |
| 2 | Magic Kingdom | Freshest legs for the biggest walking day. |
| 3 | Epic Universe | Get there early. It's the hot ticket. |
| 4 | Rest day at the house | You'll need it. |
| 5 | Hollywood Studios | Closest park. Star Wars and Toy Story. |
| 6 | Universal Studios + Islands of Adventure | Park-to-Park, ride the Hogwarts Express. |
| 7 | Epcot or Animal Kingdom, half day. Pack. | Easy finish. |
That's 3 Disney days and 3 Universal park days. If your group skews little, swap Day 6 for Animal Kingdom. If it skews teen, swap Day 7 for a second Epic Universe day.
Day by day
Day 1: Arrive and settle
Land at MCO. It's 28 miles to the house. Stop for groceries. Let the kids pick their themed rooms. Kristen's boys "took turns sleeping in the different rooms each night!" Swim. Order pizza. Bed early.
Day 2: Magic Kingdom
Leave early. Rope drop if you can. Fireworks if the little ones can last. Otherwise, home for a swim.
Day 3: Epic Universe
The longest drive of the week. Leave earlier than you think. Check the hours for your date, since some days close at 6 PM. Pick a world first and go straight there. Nintendo and Ministry of Magic are the big draws.
Day 4: Rest day
This is non-negotiable with a big group. Pool, theater, game room. The Retreat Club is a 3-minute walk. Read the day trips guide if anyone gets restless.
Day 5: Hollywood Studios
Only 13 miles away. Galaxy's Edge first. There's a whole Star Wars family day plan for this one.
Day 6: Universal Studios + Islands of Adventure
With a Park-to-Park ticket, you can ride the Hogwarts Express between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Harry Potter fans will want both. SuperVilla's Harry Potter bedroom is the warm-up. Ravi said it "felt straight out of Hogwarts."
Day 7: Easy finish
Half day at Epcot or Animal Kingdom. Lunch out. Home to pack. Last swim.
Tickets for this plan
For this itinerary you need:
- Disney: a 3-day base ticket per person. Disney counts ages 10 and up as adults.
- Universal: a 3-day ticket that includes Epic Universe. Universal now sells Park-to-Park multi-day tickets that let you move between Epic Universe, Universal Studios, and Islands of Adventure.
Prices change by date. For a rough sense: Universal lists Epic Universe 1-day tickets "from $139.99" plus tax, and dated prices for late 2026 into early 2027 ran roughly $135 to $210 (checked Oct 2026, estimate only). A 1-day Epic ticket is Epic only, no hopping. Buy multi-day. It's cheaper per day, and it's the ticket you need for Day 6 anyway.
Tips for big groups
- Take two cars. One group can leave early. The other stays for fireworks.
- Split on Day 6 if you need to. Thrill seekers to Islands of Adventure. Little ones to Animal Kingdom.
- Pack lunches on Universal days. Feed 16 for a fraction of the price.
- Plan the drive back. I-4 traffic is real. Amy wrote "we did hit traffic on the I4, it was an easy drive in!"
Ready to plan?
SuperVilla sleeps 18 in 8 bedrooms, 20 miles from Universal and 14 from Magic Kingdom. Rates run $280 to $1,109 a night, with cleaning and tax shown in your booking total. Check your dates.
Questions people ask
Can you do Disney and Universal in 7 days?
Yes. A good split is three Disney days, three Universal days including a full Epic Universe day, and one rest day.
How many days do you need for Epic Universe?
Plan at least one full day. Teens and big fans may want two.
How far is ChampionsGate from Universal?
SuperVilla is about 20 miles from Universal Orlando. It's about 14 miles from Magic Kingdom and 13 from Hollywood Studios. Check live traffic for Epic Universe on your park day.
Do I need Park-to-Park to ride the Hogwarts Express?
Yes. The Hogwarts Express between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley requires a Park-to-Park ticket.
Is Volcano Bay open?
Universal says Volcano Bay closed for maintenance on October 26, 2026, and plans to reopen on or before April 1, 2027.