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Dream Parks
US News & World Report · May 19, 2003

Theme-park vacations conjure up cut-rate motels, overpriced food, and lines as endless as summer. Not for Adele Binder. This month, she checked into the swanky Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Disney World in Orlando with husband and grandson. Their $1,100-a-night suite had a Magic Kingdom view. Lobster dinner for five set her back $300, but she loved it. Best of all, she never had to wait in line. The hotel concierge tipped her off to a VIP tour of Animal Kingdom. An in-the-know guide whisked the trio through for $80 an hour plus admission fees. "I didn't know you could do that," marvels Binder, a Los Angeles designer.

Neither do a lot of guests.

Over the past few years, the Disney and Universal parks have quietly set up what theme park expert Bob Sehlinger calls a "two-tiered" system. In both Florida and California, the parks have hotels on their land, from deluxe (Universal Orlando's Portofino Bay Hotel starts at $259 per night) to bargain (Disney's All-Star Movies Resorts starts at $77). Guests get privileges that cut the time spent in line. Hit hard by the soft economy, Universal and Disney are pushing harder than ever for on-site guests, especially those who can afford a high-end hotel. But, as Sehlinger, notes, "many of the perks have an adverse effect on guests who don't stay on the property."

One big bonus: early admission. Disney lets its hotel guests in an hour early to select parks. They get first crack at rides--and at the first-come, first-serve Fastpass kiosks. The reservations system spits out a voucher with a ride time (but only one ticket at a time). Ticket holders queue up in an "express" line when the time draws nigh. Universal has a more restrictive early admission plan, but it hardly matters. All day, guests at Universal hotels can cut to the fast lane (mere mortals must use Universal Express, the park's Fastpass equivalent). "Fastpass is certainly more democratic" than waving a room key, says Mary Waring, publisher of MouseSavers.com, which covers theme-park deals.

Then there's the VIP tour. You just have to ask (and pay). Disney charges $80 an hour, with a five-hour minimum. Universal's fee: $100 per head. Park officials admit they don't publicize VIP tours as much as they could. Details are buried in park maps and Web sites. Charging for perks is fine, says Bruce Oliver, who directs the center for business ethics at the Rochester Institute of Technology. But, he asks, "Why aren't they more upfront?"

No guilt. Maybe they're a little gun-shy. VIP guest Randy Williams, a Tampa businessman, had a twinge when someone asked, "Where the hell do you think you're going?" But the guilt passed: "I saved at least five hours of waiting time in a day. I can't go back."

That's music to Mickey's ears. And this summer, there are new ways to live it up. Disney's platinum package costs $2,304 and up for a double room for three nights, with options like a private cruise to view nightly fireworks. Universal's Portofino Bay is adding concierge service to two floors--for an extra $60 a night. Some frugal folks may gripe. Others are resigned to theme-park waits. "Besides," says Don Hierholzer, a salesman stuck in a 45-minute queue at Space Mountain, "if everyone got to go to the front, we'd just have another line to stand in."

Losing the wait

Avoiding long theme-park lines is possible even if you don't get the perks of an in-park guest (or have the cash for a VIP tour). Here are a few tips from Bob Sehlinger, author of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2003.

• Look at the load. Some rides, like the Magic Kingdom's Dumbo, handle only a small number of riders at a time. Others pack 'em in. Go for "slow loaders" when lines are shortest, like early morning.
  
  
• Don't go with the flow. Parks have a traffic pattern--guests tend to go right or left upon entering. Watch what happens, then head in the less popular direction and seek out the most popular rides in that sector.
  
  
• Ride at meal time. When hunger strikes, most parkgoers head to an eatery. Plan your meals at off times and you can ride with short waits while others dine.
  
  
• Shun the parade. Special events like concerts and parades tend to whittle down ride lines.
  
  
• Read Bob's book. Bob Sehlinger really is the line king, and this year's edition of his opus offers computer-generated itineraries that tell the best sequence to hit the most desirable attractions. He promises to shave up to three hours off wait time at a park like the Magic Kingdom.

Christopher Elliott is a travel commentator based in Key Largo, Fla. All e-mailed questions may be edited, condensed or republished at the site's discretion.