For some of the big rides during peak season you will have to endure standing for anything up to 2 hours in the heat of the Florida summer. All that for just a 2 or 3 minute ride. At that rate it could take you all day just to do four or five rides.

Let's look first at a simple and very effective way, which will allow you to avoid the queues. It's the way I choose myself and I've found it to be the only really effective solution. DON'T GO DURING PEAK SEASON. This may seem obvious, but it does appear that the majority of people choose the summer months to make their visit to Florida. Why ? The airports are crowded, the prices are highest, it's really hot and humid and it rains heavier than any other time of year.

I know the main reason is because it's the school holidays, and for some it's the only time they can take off, but if you can possibly avoid this time of year, do. You will have a much better time in Florida during the Spring, Autumn or even Winter ( avoid Christmas & New Year though ). The climate is much more suited to those who don't like the heat and more importantly, the crowds are much, much smaller. You will still find queues of course at any time of year, but the time of year you go could mean the difference between waiting 15 minutes for a top attraction or 2 hours.

What about the Theme Parks themselves, are they doing anything to try to keep those queues to a minimum? After all it's in their interests to try and keep you happy and make sure you have an enjoyable day. You're likely to spend more money that way.

Well you'll be pleased to hear that they are recognising the problem and are starting to create ways of shortening your waiting time.

Disney World brought in it's 'FastPass' system in it's four main Theme Parks and Universal is using what it calls 'Express'. These two systems are now quite similar so once you have mastered the basic idea you should be able to work the systems in both Disney and Universal parks. So let's look at these in more detail.

Disney came up with the idea first and has slowly changed and improved it over the last couple of years. When you approach one of the more popular rides you will see two clocks. One tells you the queuing time in the normal queue and the other gives you the time you can come back and go straight on the ride without further queuing using 'FastPass'. If you decide to use the 'FastPass', you insert your park pass into the machine and you are then issued with a 'FastPass'. You can then go away and enjoy other rides and attractions until the time marked on your 'FastPass', when you return and can then enter the 'FastPass' line which should take you straight to the pre-show area, ready to board. There is no extra charge for this, it's included in your normal entrance fee.

That all sounds simple enough, but there are a few things which complicate it a little. You can only hold one 'FastPass' at a time, unless the time marked on your pass is more than two hours away. So for example, if it's 10am and you get a 'FastPass' to Space Mountain and it gives you a return time of between 2 and 3pm, you will be able to get another 'FastPass' for a different ride at 12 noon.

Also as soon as your current 'FastPass' time begins you may get a new pass for a different ride. So if your ticket says return between 3pm and 4pm, you will, at 3.01pm be able to get another 'FastPass' even though you may not have used your current one yet. The machines also tend to stop issuing passes by the afternoon on the busier rides or they can be issuing times for the rides well into the evening.

The other thing that you may not like is that you have to walk past all the other people who are waiting in the normal queue, who perhaps do not fully understand how 'FastPass' works, and endure some very annoyed looks as you breeze past and board ahead of them. It also means that the normal queue does move even slower than it used to because all the 'FastPass' holders are joining the ride at the front.

Universal Express works in a similar way. You scan your park pass into the Express distribution machines and you will be given the option of two different times to return for your ride. You choose your preferred time and you will then be issued with an Express pass with your return time printed on it. Present this ticket at the designated Universal Express location of the attraction during the return time and gain immediate access to the attraction. You may still have to wait for a few minutes during busy times to access the ride. You may obtain another Express pass if (1) You have used your existing Universal Express pass.(2) The one hour time slot to experience the attraction has expired.(3) Two hours have passed since you first obtained your existing Universal Express pass.

From reading comments from some of you who have recently used the 'FastPass' and 'Express' system, it does appear that the majority of you do like them, and it has allowed you easier and quicker access to your favourite rides. Some concerns were expressed however, that this might be the first step down the road toward a two tier system, where you would have to pay extra for the pass or where your whole day may end up being planned out for you in advance by computer, which would take away your freedom to enjoy the parks at your own pace. We shall have to wait and see what direction Disney and Universal choose to take this idea, but for the present it seems that the 'FastPass' and 'Express' systems can work to your advantage, if you understand how they operate and plan carefully.

That brings me to my final point, plan your visit carefully. If you have had a look at the Attraction Guide on this site you will have noticed that all the big, popular attractions have large queues and you are advised to visit early or late in the day. You obviously cannot do this for every ride in a park so you need to make some decisions before you go. Every day you visit one of the Theme Parks you should sit down beforehand with your family and decide which rides you most want to do.

Plan to arrive at the park early so that you are at the front when the park opens. Then go straight away to the ride you all most want to do. If you're in Disney you should then pick up a 'FastPass' to another main ride. Look at your park guide for the times of the parades, because that is another good time to do a big ride, as most people will be sat in the street somewhere watching the entertainment go by.

Do lunch early. Not only do you avoid the queues in the fast food areas, but while others are eating the queues elsewhere will be a little shorter. During summer it's also a good idea to have a break from the park during the heat of the afternoon and then return early evening. The parks stay open very late in high season and many people tend to go home after the main fireworks displays are over, so this is another good time to hit some of the more popular rides.

You will never be able to avoid the queues completely at the main Theme Parks, but by remembering the points we have covered here you will certainly cut your queuing to a minimum and have more time to enjoy yourself.

So when planning your trip remember these points (1) If possible plan to visit Florida in low season thereby avoiding the crowds altogether. The weather is still great. (2) Take the time to understand how Universal's Express and Disney's FastPass systems work. You will be able to do at least some of the best rides without waiting. (3) Plan out your day in advance, using a good guide, and try to arrange your day so that you do things at a different time to everyone else.

Hopefully if you follow these guides you will avoid the Theme Park Blues, because you won't be standing in those queues.

End.