Universal and Wet 'n Wild Like a Pro

Arrive early —as early at 8 AM if the parks open at 9. Seriously. Better to share Universal or Wet 'n Wild with hundreds of people rather than thousands.

Visit on a weekday. Crowds are lighter, especially fall through spring, when kids are in school.

Don't forget anything in your car. Universal's parking areas are at least a half-mile from park entrances and a round-trip hike will eat up valuable time. At Wet 'n Wild parking's closer, but who wants to towel off, get dressed and walk across the street for a hairbrush?

Know the rules. A few things aren't allowed in the parks: alcohol and glass containers; hard-sided coolers; soft-sided coolers larger than 8½ inches wide by 6 inches high by 6 inches deep; coolers, suitcases, and other bags with wheels.

Consider valet parking. It costs almost twice as much as regular parking, but it puts you much closer to Universal's park entrances and just steps from CityWalk.

Look into the Express Pass. Jumping to the front of the line with this pass really is worth the extra cost—unless you stay at a resort hotel, in which case cutting in line is one of the perks.

Ride solo. At Universal some rides have a Single Rider line that moves faster than regular lines.

Get expert advice. The folks at Guest Services (aka Guest Relations) in both Universal and Wet 'n Wild have great insight. At Universal, reps will create a custom itinerary free of charge.

Check Out Child Swap. At certain Universal attractions, one parent can enter the attraction, take a spin, and then return to take care of the baby while the other parent rides without having to wait in line again.