I spent another few days considering November vacation options, and the winner is … Universal Studios Orlando.

Maybe. I’m still deciding. One less vacation would pay for a lot of kitchen renovation. However —

Time to break with Walt Disney World. I’ve been going there for fifty years. I couldn’t count, but I have certainly been there well over 100 times, perhaps toward 200. Some may remember that I really enjoyed last year’s visit, but it would probably be my last.

O

Strangely, I’ve never been to Universal Orlando. With a large Harry Potter section of the park and many other film-themed immersive lands, you’d think I would’ve visited several times by now. My last visit to Disney World finally pushed me there — right across Interstate 4.

Walt Disney World has become increasingly annoying. New petty policies put in place, perks removed, now requiring specific park reservations on specific days (which can run out), et al. I’m sure there are others who find it much less oppressive. For me, I’m not looking for exhausting-and-incredibly-complicated.

If you’d really rather not know about it, skip the following section. =)

To see what you’d like to see, you now must now even schedule your rides months in advance on the Disney app — up to three per day, scheduling more as you go, with your face in your phone all day. This means your phone will need charged at a theme park in the middle of things. You may arrange to skip long lines (for around $15 per line, per person), but you’ll need to get up early so you’re online and waiting when the system opens at seven that morning.

All of this is still not going to get you on the super-premium newer stuff (Star Wars, Pandora, Tron), which on top of everything, have their own complicated reservation, queuing, and boarding system per attraction. This all comes with price increase. The “value” hotels (along the lines of a Holiday Inn Suites) can be $200+ per night, and a basic park ticket up to $189 per day per person.

Famously, everything at the DW is connected by shuttle buses, boats, cable cars, monorails, etc. But even with all that transportation available, Disney World is gigantic, and 5 miles away from the next thing is still 5 miles away from the next thing.

So, across to Universal I defect.

O

Universal is by nature, more of a teen-to-adult thing than a little-kid thing. (Many attractions with height requirements add to that fact.) So, that changes the dynamic right away. I’m making an assumption here, but with a 42-inch height requirement on many rides, you’re not going to see a lot of toddlers and younger elementary-age kids.

It also seems that in many cases, Universal has purposely done the opposite of what people complain about at Disney World.

O

Universal’s “lands” (Harry Potter, The Simpsons’ Springfield, Minions, Jurassic World, Super Nintendo, etc.) are just as heavily themed and complete, but they’re near to each other — not a lot of distance between them. All hotels are close, just walking distance rather than miles. Rental scooters are reserved, rather than take-your-chances. Purchasing the Express Pass (skip the line) option does exactly what it says on the box, and isn’t limited to only 3 per day.

O

So. I haven’t clicked the checkout button yet, but I have my hotel, tickets, and airfare in my cart.