I visited the free sections of Disney World and Universal Orlando, and found the best had more unique food options and things to do

I took my first plane ride to visit the tourist destinations, and went to both during the day and at night to compare them.

I arrived at 12:30 p.m. and had to pay $27 for parking. From there, I had to walk a decently far distance between my space and the actual destination. Luckily, there were plenty of moving walkways to help speed things up.

I quickly realized that the morning parking fee exists because Universal's theme parks and shopping center share garages. Still, the price was hefty for only a short visit, and I was frustrated knowing that I'd have less money to spend once inside.

I liked being able to walk around without massive crowds, and found that I was able to enjoy each spot I visited.

I saw a Starbucks when I first walked in, as well as a Panda Express and Moe's nearby. There was also a Cold Stone Creamery, Cinnabon, and Hard Rock Cafe located in CityWalk.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with chain restaurants. Some of them were even unique, like the Burger King Whopper Bar that sells specialty burgers.

But the giant billboards promoting the restaurants and sheer number of them made me feel like I was back home walking through Times Square instead of a vacation spot.

One of which was the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen.

From the outside, it looked like a scene straight out of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." Inside, it was even better. There were countless candies to buy, a bustling restaurant, and steampunk robots walking around.

There are Voodoo Doughnut shops across the US, but I'd never had a chance to visit. So I got four classic doughnuts — including the shop's raspberry-filled Voodoo Doll — and loved each one.

I also had one of the best pizzas of my life at Red Oven Pizza Bakery. I ordered the Bianca pizza made with three cheeses — mozzarella, fontina, and sottocenere — and haven't stopped thinking about it since.

Bigfire, a barbecue restaurant, and Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food both didn't open until 4 p.m. when I visited. A restaurant inspired by musician Bob Marley opened even later at 5 p.m.

I hoped to find some unique Coke beverages or theme-park snacks here, but I didn't find either. When I visited, the stand only sold regular soda and treats like popcorn.

Spots like the Universal Studios Store were some of my favorite parts of CityWalk. I loved being able to browse "Harry Potter" merchandise and Universal Orlando T-shirts without having to pay for a theme-park ticket.

I also thought many of the prices were reasonable compared to Disney, where I'm used to buying expensive souvenirs.

Though some sold theme-park merchandise, others were a bit more unexpected.

One had an array of anime merchandise, while another sold custom airbrush T-shirts like those you commonly see at malls and on boardwalks.

You can also get a great view of Universal Orlando and CityWalk from the spot.

When I first walked through this area, I didn't immediately realize it was winter-themed. People were passing straight through, and using the section as a walkway to other areas of Universal.

It was only when I got close to some of the booths that I realized there were specialty hot chocolates and other winter treats for sale.

CityWalk's atmosphere was completely different when I returned around 6:30 p.m. Almost every restaurant was open, stores looked more inviting, and neon signs lit up the entire place.

I especially loved that parking was free after 6 p.m., and that the Mistletoe Pines area became more festive with more open booths and characters walking around to greet you.

But because Universal Orlando's theme parks closed around that same time, crowds seemingly tripled and as a result it became more difficult to get around.

Parking was free, and there was a short line to enter security. From there, I only had to make my way down one escalator before I entered Disney Springs.

Chicken Guy! is a great spot for lunch, while Gideon's Bakehouse is the No. 1 place I'd recommend for dessert. There are also places like B.B. Wolf's Sausage Co., Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar, and Wine Bar George — all of which are exclusive to Disney Springs.

There are some chains like Starbucks, Wetzel's Pretzels, and Blaze Pizza, as well, but they're fewer and far between than at CityWalk.

Inside, you'll find two levels of Coke-themed products ranging from shirts and makeup to ornaments and special-edition bottles.

At the very top, there's even a rooftop bar where you can sip Coke beverages from around the world, order alcoholic drinks, and get a standout view of Disney Springs. It's become one of my favorite spots in the entire shopping center.

Decorations were everywhere rather than in one spot, and there were plenty of holiday activities for visitors.

One of my favorites was the Christmas Tree Stroll, in which visitors could search to find 20 trees that were decorated with ornaments inspired by Disney characters, rides, and movies.

Whereas CityWalk only became super crowded at night, in my experience, Disney Springs was consistently busy. Parents and children frequented the spot in the mornings, while teenagers and adults crowded the space at night.

I shopped at stores like World of Disney and the Marketplace Co-Op, and stopped at food kiosks to buy theme-park snacks like Dole Whip.

But I did skip a bunch of stores like Sephora and Anthropologie because I can visit them at home. Still, I found that some chains like Uniqlo and Kate Spade had Disney sections of their stores to display their collaboration merchandise, which made them feel a bit more special than other stores.

While I found there wasn't much to do at CityWalk besides eat and drink, I found the opposite to be true at Disney Springs.

There was a carousel for kids, a photo studio for families, a hot-air balloon attraction, a giant dine-in movie theater, luxury bowling alley, and a Cirque du Soleil show.

I noticed handcrafted art, specialty snacks, and flowers when I visited.

Whereas Universal Orlando's nightlife caters more to adults, I thought that Disney Springs had more options for all ages.

After dark, I saw couples listening to live music, families eating dinner, and kids running around places like the Lego store.

In my opinion, Disney Springs is the better place to spend a day. Parking is free, there are more things to do, and both adults and children can enjoy it.

That said, I understand why some people might enjoy Universal CityWalk more. The free shopping center is in the same spot as its theme parks, and it's a great option to visit popular places that you might not have access to at home.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference. But if I was to recommend only one, there's no doubt I'd choose Disney Springs any day.