Disney World has officially lost another round of its growing battle with Universal Orlando.
The 2026 Golden Ticket Awards are in, and Universal has accomplished something that would have seemed difficult only a few years ago.
Not only did Universal beat Disney World for Best Dark Ride, but it placed two attractions ahead of Disney’s highest-ranked ride.
And this isn’t the first time.
Epic Universe has now secured the No. 1 and No. 2 positions for two consecutive years, creating another sign of just how much Orlando’s theme park competition has changed since Universal’s newest park opened.
Epic Universe Sweeps the Top Two
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment earned the Best Dark Ride title for 2026.
The Dark Universe attraction sends guests beneath Frankenstein Manor, using physical environments and a large collection of Audio-Animatronics to bring Universal’s classic monsters into the experience.
But Universal didn’t stop there.
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry finished No. 2. The Epic Universe attraction combines large sets, screens, and Audio-Animatronics as riders chase Dolores Umbridge through the Ministry of Magic.
Disney’s Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance finished third.
Danse Macabre at Efteling came in fourth, followed by Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland in fifth.
Disney World Has Now Lost Twice
The 2026 results become much harder for Disney to ignore when compared with last year.
The exact same three attractions held the exact same positions in 2025.
Monsters Unchained was No. 1.
Battle at the Ministry was No. 2.
Rise of the Resistance was No. 3.
Before Epic Universe entered the picture, Disney had dominated the category. Rise of the Resistance won four of the five years it was eligible, losing only once to Shanghai Disneyland’s Pirates attraction during that stretch.
Universal has now prevented it from returning to the top for two consecutive years.
Disney’s Answer Is Coming
Disney World has several opportunities to fight back.
Tropical Americas is scheduled to open at Animal Kingdom in 2027, bringing Antonio’s Fiesta de Encanto and Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent.
But perhaps the most interesting challenger is still years away.
Villains Land at Magic Kingdom will include a Magic Mirror dark ride, giving Disney another chance to build the kind of massive attraction capable of competing for the industry’s top honor.
Until then, Universal owns the bragging rights.
Epic Universe also finished third in the 2026 Best Park category, showing that Universal’s newest Orlando park is gaining recognition beyond individual rides.
Disney World remains Orlando’s biggest theme park destination, but Universal has delivered a clear message when it comes to this particular competition.
For the second year in a row, Disney doesn’t have the world’s top-ranked dark ride.
Universal has the top two.
