Robert Niles: I just got back from Orlando, where we stayed at the Royal Pacific Hotel, on-site at Universal Orlando. One of the perks of staying at Universal's three on-site hotels is that you get unlimited "front of line" access to all (okay, all but one) the rides and shows at the two Universal Orlando theme parks, for no extra charge.

I tell you, that was the best value I've ever had in a theme park vacation, and I'm going to have a hard time going back to Universal without that perk. The key, though, was that the perk was unlimited. With many paid line jumping services, including the one Universal offers to non-hotel guests, you get only a limited number times to skip lines.

I'd try instead to visit the parks on a day when attendance is not that heavy, and to arrive first thing in the morning, when lines haven 't built up yet. That's a better deal than spending money on the skip pass. But If I were visiting on Fourth of July, or another busy weekend, I'd definitely consider buying one.

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New York, N.Y.: I'm torn when I visit parks. On the one hand, there are more shores and street entertainment and parades, it seems like, but I always feel like, to max out my dollar, I should stand in line for the hottest, most expensive rides, because ticket prices feel so high. What are your thoughts about this, if any?

Robert Niles: Once, you've bought your ticket, it is what economists call a "sunk cost." (Sorry, but I gotta throw those terms around now and then so I feel like I got something outta that 8 am college econ class.) In plain English, you've already paid, so quit worrying about it. Go have fun.

Arrive before the park opens and do the "biggest" roller coasters and thrill rides first. Then move to the higher capacity dark rides and shows. Get the big stuff out of the way before lunch, they you can enjoy the rest of your day, wandering around doing whatever catches your eye.

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Chicago, Ill.: Robert, You're a journalist as well as a theme park insider. Is there a common mistake that the media makes when it covers theme parks?

Robert Niles: Most major news outlets don't pay theme park enough attention. (Which is great for me; it keeps my website's readership up! LOL!) This is a multibillion dollar industry, employing thousands of people in each community where theme parks exist. Tens of millions of people visit parks each year. I started my site because I think that people should be able to read reviews and get consumer news about theme parks. Fortunately, in no small part due to the success of such websites, the "Big Media" folks are coming around and paying more attention to parks.

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Beaumont, Calif.: Now that Toy Story Mania has been opened at Disney's California Adventure to rave reviews, how do you feel about the upcoming changes to the park as well as the rest of the Disneyland Resort? Is there such thing as a scary roller coaster or thrill ride or it is just in the mind of the person? What is the most thrilling thrill ride ever concieved? Rock 'n' Roller Coaster simulates a wild ride through Southern California. What if all of the freeways were replaced with a system of roller coasters?

Robert Niles: Ahhh! So many questions!

First, I'm excited about the plans for Disney's California Adventure. Pixar's John Lasseter is calling the creative shots now at the Disney theme parks. He's a former Disneyland employee and a real theme park fan, which is what you want in a corporate boss! The plans are to revamp the look of much of the park, and to add a massive new land based on the movie "Cars." The plans look spectacular, and Toy Story Midway Mania is just the first step.

Scary is in the mind of the rider, but c'mon, 70 mph and 200-foot sheer drops are... 70 mph and 200-foot sheer drops. If you can't get excited by that, well, then, you scare me....

Replace freeways with roller coasters? I'd be happy with more mass transit. But an optional track with a few twists and turns would be nice on a Friday night ride home. :-)

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