<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-05-11</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001017008</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNIVISION COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UVN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000902012</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GATES WILLIAM H III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MICROSOFT WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REDMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98052</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>No securities are beneficially owned (1) (2)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>(1) On May 11, 2006, Grupo Televisa, S.A., a Mexican corporation (&quot;Televisa&quot;), Bain Capital Partners, LLC, Blackstone Management Associates V, LLC, Carlyle Investment Management, L.L.C., Cascade Investment, L.L.C. (&quot;Cascade&quot;) and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts &amp; Co. L.P. decided to work together for the purpose of making a plan or proposal for a transaction involving the issuer following the issuer's announcement that it is exploring strategic alternatives.  Televisa currently owns greater than 10% of the issuer's Class A Common Stock.  The reporting person is the sole member of Cascade and disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares beneficially owned by any of the other persons named in the first sentence of this paragraph, except to the extent of his interest as a shareholder (through Cascade) of Televisa.  Pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(2)(iii), the reporting person is not deemed to have a pecuniary interest in the shares of the issuer owned by Televisa.

(2) The reporting person may also be deemed to beneficially own, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Act, 100,000 shares of the issuer's Class A Common Stock held by the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation (the &quot;Foundation&quot;), of which the reporting person is a co-trustee.  The reporting person has no pecuniary interest in the shares held by the Foundation.

*Duly authorized under Special Power of Attorney appointing Michael Larson attorney-in-fact, dated February 3, 2006, by and on behalf of William H. Gates III, filed as Exhibit 99.1 to Cascade Investment, L.L.C.'s Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13G with respect to Arch Capital Group Ltd. on March 7, 2006, SEC File No. 005-45257, and incorporated by reference herein.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael Larson, on behalf of William H. Gates III.*</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
