Skip the Waiting
If you're trying to pack a lot of fun into a short trip or if you just can't stand the thought of spending hours of your vacation on line, all of the theme parks offer ways to help cut the waiting time. They each work a little differently, but the concept is the same. With Disney's Fastpass, you can avoid a long line by getting a Fastpass ticket with an assigned one-hour window, then return during that time frame and have little or no wait for the ride. Universal Express lets visitors skip the regular line and proceed to a shorter line reserved for Express pass holders. SeaWorld has Quick Queue, which gives you front-of-the-line access for one ride or for an entire day, depending on which version you buy. The prices for Universal's and SeaWorld's add-ons vary depending on when you buy and what kind of ticket you purchase.
If you don't want to wait at all and don't mind paying, Universal also offers VIP packages that can be booked three to six weeks in advance and give you line-skipping privileges along with a personal tour guide.