Disney World or Universal for the holidays? Here’s how to choose.

Don’t ask me to choose between celebrating the holidays at Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando Resort.

I will never forget my children’s amazement at seeing the enormous helium balloons during the Universal Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s at Universal Studios Florida or their delight as fake snow swirled around them during For the First Time in Forever: A Sing-Along Frozen Celebration at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Both resorts can be magical, especially during the holidays. The only question is: what kind of magic do you prefer?

Here’s what to consider when choosing your vacation destination.

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Holiday offers

In terms of volume, Disney World has more vacation deals than Universal Orlando, but both can get you in the mood.

Some of my favorites at Disney World include Living with the Land – The twinkling greenhouses lit with Christmas lights at EPCOT, the way the puppeteers bring the Merry Menagerie puppets to life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, which is exclusive to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party with a special ticket for most of the season, but runs during regular hours at the Magic Kingdom starting December 22.

My top picks for Universal Orlando are the holiday parade at Universal Studios Florida, “The Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular” at Universal Islands of Adventure, and immersing yourself in the festive atmosphere of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, since the holidays played such an important role in the early books and films. Universal Epic Universe doesn’t have any major holiday deals in its first year, but there are some decorations.

When deciding where to go, you’ll also need to consider non-holiday deals. Are you a die-hard Star Wars fan or does someone in your family love Disney princesses? If so, you might be better off at Disney World. Did you grow up playing Super Nintendo or do you have a “Jurassic Park” lover in the family? Then you might prefer Universal Orlando. You’ll want to take the whole experience into account, especially on a first visit.

Beyond the parks

No matter which resort you choose, you can always vacation at the other, even without park tickets.

Some Disney guests spend a day going from one Disney hotel to another to see the decorations, especially those with gingerbread displays.

Disney Springs hosts free holiday entertainment and a Christmas tree walk with Disney-themed trees. And the resort’s restaurants serve seasonal specialties, including Jock Lindsey’s Hanger Bar, which boasts a full holiday overlay.

At Universal CityWalk, the Red Coconut Club becomes the Green and Red Coconut Club for the season. The resort’s restaurants and lounges offer seasonal dishes. Universal hotels are also decorated, although guests don’t typically hop into hotels like they do at Disney.

Crowds

You really can’t go wrong with either hotel unless you don’t like crowds. The holidays are the busiest time of year at Disney World and one of the busiest times of year at Universal Orlando. This means two things: large crowds and high ticket prices.

If you’re still willing to move on, there are several ways you can make your experience easier. Guests staying at three of Universal’s most prestigious hotels receive complimentary Universal Express passes, significantly reducing waits at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. Express passes for these parks generally start at around $120 per person per day. Epic Universe Express passes, which are excluded, start at around $180 per person per day. Guests can also pay for breakfast with the Grinch and Friends or a Universal Holiday Tour for guaranteed low waits for holiday experiences.

Disney World guests can purchase Lightning Lane passes for shorter waits. Prices vary depending on the park and date. For Christmas week, Lightning Lane Multi Pass starts at $25 per person, per day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, according to the Disney World app. Customers can also use the free Genie tool in the app to plan their day and save time, without paying extra.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to Choose Disney World or Universal for Vacation