Universal Studios Bedford vs. Disneyland Paris: Which European Destination Wins?

Europe is about to gain a new theme park heavyweight. With Universal Studios Bedford scheduled to open in May 2031 under a UK Special Development Order, many fans are already weighing it up against the continents established giant, Disneyland Paris. If you are planning future holidays, which destination should be top of your list?

This guide puts Universal Studios Bedford vs. Disneyland Paris head to head, comparing location, attractions, atmosphere, hotels and cost to help different types of visitors decide which resort wins for them.

Universal Studios Bedford vs. Disneyland Paris: the big picture

Disneyland Paris has been Europes most visited theme park resort since it opened in 1992, with two theme parks, a busy Disney Village dining district and a full range of on site hotels. It is a well tested, mature destination that many families already know from childhood memories and repeat visits.

Universal Studios Bedford, by contrast, is an all new Universal theme park and resort being built just outside the town of Bedford in England. Backed by Special Development Order approval and a planned May 2031 opening, it will be Universal Destinations and Experiences first full scale park in the United Kingdom and a major new rival in the European market.

Rather than asking which is objectively better, the smarter question is how Universal Studios Bedford vs. Disneyland Paris stacks up for different kinds of holidays. Your answer may change depending on whether you are travelling with toddlers, thrill loving teens or a group of adults on a short break.

Location and ease of access

Disneyland Paris sits in Marne la Vallee, around 32 kilometres east of central Paris. The dedicated Marne la Vallee Chessy station puts the resort on high speed rail lines, with direct TGV services from French cities and easy connections from London, Brussels and beyond. Two major Paris airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, offer frequent flights from across Europe, followed by a short train or coach transfer to the parks.

Universal Studios Bedford is being developed on former industrial land to the south of Bedford, close to both the Midland Main Line railway and the M1 motorway corridor. From London, travellers are expected to reach the resort via fast trains from St Pancras to Bedford or new local stations, followed by dedicated shuttle links, or by car in around an hour and a half depending on traffic. London Luton, Stansted and Heathrow airports are all within practical transfer distance.

For UK based visitors, especially families wary of post Brexit border queues, Universal Studios Bedford offers clear advantages in simplicity. No passports are needed for domestic trips, self driving is straightforward, and travel costs are likely to be lower than a flight or Eurostar to France. For visitors from mainland Europe, however, Disneyland Paris remains the more convenient option, with direct rail connections and no need to cross the Channel.

Rides and attractions: now versus the future

When you compare Universal Studios Bedford vs. Disneyland Paris on sheer number of attractions today, Disneyland Paris naturally dominates because it is already open. Between Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park, soon to be reimagined as Disney Adventure World, the resort offers more than fifty rides plus parades, seasonal shows and character experiences.

Disneyland Park delivers the classic castle park mix of lands and headliners. Big Thunder Mountain races through an island on the Rivers of the Far West, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain launches guests into space battles, and Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor and Peter Pan provide richly themed family adventures. For younger children, fantasy rides, meet and greets and daily parades easily fill two days on their own.

Next door, the second gate brings Marvels Avengers Campus, the Ratatouille trackless dark ride and high energy thrill machines like Tower of Terror. Ongoing expansion is adding a large Frozen themed land wrapped around a central lake, with upgraded night time spectaculars that will strengthen the parks after dark offering.

Universal has not yet released a full attraction line up for Universal Studios Bedford, but the development has been repeatedly described as a world class resort designed for multi day stays. Looking at Universal parks in Orlando, Hollywood, Osaka and Beijing, it is reasonable to expect a blend of cutting edge screen based dark rides, large scale roller coasters, detailed walk through environments and a water based offering, all built around major film and gaming franchises.

Universal is known for packing intense thrills into its parks, and Bedford is likely to lean more towards teens and adults than Disneyland Paris does. That said, Universal has steadily increased its family friendly areas worldwide, from Minion and DreamWorks zones to colourful kids coasters, so it would be a surprise if Bedford did not launch with at least one or two lands aimed squarely at younger guests as well.

Attractions for families with young children

For the rest of the 2020s, families travelling with mainly under sevens will find Disneyland Paris the safer all round choice. The resort offers a long list of gentle rides with low or no height restrictions, plenty of character encounters and a forgiving layout where guests can take breaks in playgrounds, hotels or quieter paths between lands.

Universal Studios Bedford will almost certainly include family attractions, but until the final ride roster is confirmed it is wise to assume that a higher share of its line up will carry height or intensity restrictions. If you are planning a once in a childhood trip in the next few years, Disneyland Paris is the known quantity, while Bedford looks better suited to families whose children will be older by the early 2030s.

Theming, entertainment and atmosphere

In pure atmosphere, these two destinations promise different flavours rather than a clear winner. Disneyland Paris leans into romantic European architecture and fairytale detail, from the ornate Sleeping Beauty Castle with its dragon animatronic in the dungeon to the gaslit charm of Main Street and the landscaping around Discoveryland and Adventureland.

Daily parades, seasonal festivals and nightly fireworks or drone shows ensure that Disneyland Paris always feels like an event, even for guests who are not ride focused. The resort has also invested heavily in live entertainment, from stage shows in Frontierland to stunt performances and Marvel themed productions.

Universal Studios Bedford, judging by Universals global track record, will likely feel more like walking onto active film sets. Expect high energy soundtracks, kinetic streets filled with performers and stunt driven spectaculars, along with immersive lands that drop guests straight into their favourite cinematic universes. The tone will probably skew slightly edgier and more contemporary than the dreamy nostalgia of Disneyland Paris.

Hotels, trip length and overall cost

Disneyland Paris currently offers a full spectrum of on site hotels, from the recently rethemed luxury Disneyland Hotel at the park gates through to moderate Disney Sequoia Lodge and value options like Hotel Santa Fe. Add in partner hotels and off site accommodation, and most budgets are catered for. A typical stay to experience both parks comfortably runs to three or four days.

Universal Studios Bedford is planned as an integrated resort, with on site hotels and an entertainment district alongside the park itself. While exact price points are not yet public, Universals existing resorts suggest a mix of value, moderate and premium properties. Given the parks location near an existing town, visitors are also likely to have access to a wider range of independent hotels and guesthouses in Bedford and the surrounding area.

For British travellers, the big cost swing comes from transport. A family trip to Disneyland Paris almost always involves flights or international rail fares plus airport or station transfers, and possibly higher travel insurance and roaming costs. By contrast, many visitors will be able to reach Universal Studios Bedford by car or standard rail, cutting both travel time and overall budget. For guests coming from the rest of Europe, that equation flips, with Disneyland Paris retaining the advantage on affordable, direct high speed rail.

Who should choose which resort

When you break Universal Studios Bedford vs. Disneyland Paris down by visitor type, some clear patterns emerge.

• Disney and Pixar superfans, or anyone planning a first big theme park trip to Europe before 2031, should prioritise Disneyland Paris. It is open, proven and packed with uniquely European touches you will not find in the American Disney parks.
• UK families wanting an easier, passport free escape from 2031 onwards will find Universal Studios Bedford extremely appealing, especially for long weekends or school holiday breaks where travel time needs to be kept short.
• Thrill seekers and teens are likely to gravitate towards Universal once Bedford opens, given Universals reputation for high intensity coasters and immersive dark rides. Until then, Disneyland Paris still offers plenty of adrenaline, but on balance is a little more family focused.
• Film and pop culture fans who love franchises such as Jurassic World, Minions or other Universal owned brands should keep a close watch on Bedford. While no specific lands are confirmed yet, Universals global strategy strongly suggests that its biggest intellectual properties will feature heavily.
• Budget conscious short breakers may find that two or three nights in Bedford works out cheaper than a similar stay at Disneyland Paris once transport and currency exchange are factored in, particularly for groups travelling from northern and central England.

Verdict: a changing European theme park landscape

In a straight fight today, Disneyland Paris wins almost every practical comparison simply because it exists, is expanding and already delivers a rounded resort experience. For trips in the next few years, especially with younger children or first time visitors to Europe, it remains the obvious recommendation.

From the early 2030s, however, the arrival of Universal Studios Bedford will reshape the map for UK and European theme park fans. A major Universal resort on British soil, fast tracked by a Special Development Order and targeting a May 2031 opening, will give travellers a genuine choice between two world class destinations on their doorstep.

In the long run, that competition is good news for guests. Disneyland Paris is already investing in new lands, entertainment and hotel upgrades, while Universal brings fresh ideas, different franchises and a bolder thrill profile. Rather than an either or battle, the real winner of Universal Studios Bedford vs. Disneyland Paris may be the visitor who eventually gets to experience both.

For now, the key is timing. If your dream trip is coming up soon, start pricing packages, transport and seasonal events at Disneyland Paris. If you like the sound of Universals style of storytelling and thrills, keep a close eye on construction updates, job announcements and hotel plans in Bedford as 2031 approaches.

Universally Bedford will continue to track every milestone on the Universal Studios Bedford project, from detailed masterplans to confirmed attractions and opening celebrations. Whether you end up walking down Main Street towards a fairytale castle or stepping into a blockbuster backlot beside the Bedford brickfields, European theme park holidays have never looked more exciting.