Step right up and … get in line for new park attractions

Thrill seekers waited a year for Busch Gardens' to build and test its new Cheetah Hunt roller coaster.

Now that it's been open for a month, they're still waiting — for as long two hours, some days — to get on and ride.

That's no surprise: New attractions almost always go to the top of theme park visitors' must-see lists. And that means lots and lots of people are lining up in the sticky Florida heat.

We checked out three of the newest mega-attractions at area parks to see just how long the lines really are and to get some tips on how to beat the wait.

Cheetah Hunt, Busch Gardens, Tampa: Cheetah Hunt is meant to mimic the high-speed pursuit of a cheetah after its prey, but you might want to bring a beverage and a good book when you get in line. The wait time is averaging 45 to 60 minutes and could increase now that school is out, says park spokeswoman Jill Revelle. Weekends usually have longer waits than weekdays.

Minimize the wait by getting to the park when it opens, Revelle says, and hit Cheetah Hunt first. Lunchtime is also good, as others take a time-out. Or stay late for extended hours during "Summer Nights" and benefit from shorter lines and — with any luck — cooler temperatures.

Star Tours, Walt Disney World, Orlando: Disney doesn't share wait times for Star Tours, spokesman Gary Buchanan says, because attendance fluctuates widely depending on the time of day, weekend or weekday, weather and special events.

But the Star Wars-themed ride, which opened May 20, has been a big hit, he says, and FastPasses — which allow guests to return later for a scheduled minimal wait — are available. Guests at Disney resorts also can use "Extra Magic Hours" to enter certain parks before they open or stay after they close. The schedule varies.

The unofficial Disney website Allears.net reports long lines even with FastPasses, and it suggests riding Star Tours in the morning, shortly before the park closes or during the afternoon parade.

Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey, Universal Orlando: The much-hyped Forbidden Journey, which winds through Hogwarts castle, was designed with long waits in mind. The year-old ride rewards Potter fans with dazzling details from the books and movies, including moving portraits, the Mirror of Erised and holographic images of the movie cast. Most of the wait is indoors, too, which means air-conditioning.

A spokeswoman said Universal does not comment on wait times for its attractions. But visitors posting recently on the travel websites Yelp and TripAdvisor have reported lines as short as a half-hour if you get there when the park opens. The wait gets longer later in the day, and an hour in line is common. Some people reported waiting two hours or more.

Although Universal offers an express pass to minimize lines at some attractions, Forbidden Journey is not included. Guests at Universal's onsite hotels are admitted to the park an hour before it officially opens, so die-hard fans may want to book a room.

To monitor wait times throughout the day, some companies have developed smart phone apps for Disney and Universal. Undercover Tourist, a discount travel company, has one that's free.