Amusement Parks [Surviving the Long Lines]
 

I enjoy people-watching. making up stories and lives to go with the other people waiting in line can be hilarious.

Some parks have quick passes that let you get in a short line, so that might be worth looking into if you don't want to wait. Of course, they tend to be pricey, so you might want to disregard that. Anyway, I've found that you can always do the I-spy game...or, y'know, since you're going with a friend, just talk to them about things. I'm sure you have lots to talk about.

I went to Universal Theme Park about a year ago and most of the lines were at least 30 minutes long. The lines for the Harry Potter rides were closer to an hour or two. My friends and I generally just talked about things to pass time. Some of the rides/attractions had things you could look at for entertainment, but for the most part all I can really recommend is chatting to pass the time.

I usually go with my Best Friend and we can talk about nothing for days, so really the lines do NOT deter us. If I go with other friends I know will be bored easily I take my travel scattegories game. All you have to keep on you is a 20 sided specialty dice a small pad of paper and a couple small writing utensils. However, we also just got the Apples to Apples MOD, and it will probably go with us too(it's a dice and some travel sized cards). Cause you always need moar apples to apples.

@Lucid; Haha, yeah I definitely LOVE to people watch. All the weirdos come out when amusement parks are involved.

@Moth; Unfortunately I don't think mine has that. ):

@Johnny; Wow, a half hour is nothing. Most lines at my park are between 1-2.h hours. ALWAYS.

@Fey; Oooo! I love Apples to Apples! If I get a big group to come with me, I will for sure bring that! :D

Main problem I have with theme parks are I get overheated in the long lines.
My brother and I went one morning at opening, and made a mad dash to the ride we wanted to ride most, but I made the mistake of wearing a hot color, and when I got to the ride, I threw up. >_> This was only at 8am.
So when you go, be sure to drink lots of water, wear sunblock and light breathable clothing.
As for the lines, fully charged cell phones, sneak pictures of people you think are attractive and really ugly and joke about them later in another line.

Aww poor Zed. D:
I've thankfully never puked at an amusement park.

you could always cut in front of a little kid

I'm patient but I prefer not to stand in long lines if I can help it, therefore I tend not to bother with them in the first place. If there's a popular ride with a long line, I'll avoid it and go elsewhere until it slows a little. Usually there is some point during the day when rides are less overwhelmed, either early or later evening. Asking around might help if you don't know already.

As for what to bring, I'd only say grab something as tiny as you can get away with and preferably something that can strap on.

I suggest getting one of those mp3 player holders you can strap on your arm that people use for jogging and stuff and pop in the headphones. Maybe you can find some mini speakers and jam out with your buddies while you wait.

I like to watch the area around me when I'm in long lines. What bugs me more is not having a place to sit so my legs get tired and sore from the knees down, and occasionally my back starts to gripe.

I've seen plenty of people play cards with one another whilst in long lines at Cedar Point. Generally I people watch, or play games in my mind - maybe trying to find things that I can see, counting something, etc...

The best amusement park I know is an older fashioned one with a lotta rides that were popular before, not all the same stuff under different packages.
http://www.knoebels.com/ The Flyers are my favorite thing, http://www.knoebels.com/images/rides/Flyer.jpg
I got to go there for my last birthday and man it was amazing. :D
I saw people skilled on the flyers almost get to the trees and once I found that, bam I stuck there doing it repeatedly... I must've ridden them 5 times or more.