For those living in Florida, it’s a foregone conclusion that most families will visit Orlando theme parks at least once, if not on an annual basis. In my case, we live within a three-hour drive to a vacation destination most other people have to fly to, so yes, we’ve visited the theme parks more than a few times.

People-watching can be a fun activity wherever you find yourself, but the world of theme parks raises people-watching to a new level. And the best time and place to learn about your fellow park visitors is while standing on line.

Waiting on long lines at these parks is often the added price we pay to enjoy the attractions. But what character traits does the wait reveal? It’s difficult to remain patient and good-natured while waiting with tired, bored children shuffling along the queue asking the inevitable, “How much loooonger?”

Still, even that is manageable with a few distractions. Play a memory game, or enjoy a snack while waiting.The real challenge occurs when you and your family watch as another family skips to the front of the line because they paid for VIP passes. Character development swirls down the drain as resentment builds and another inevitable question arises. “Why can’t we skip the line, too?”

The answer is usually because we weren’t aware of the option, or more frequently, because we can’t afford the cost in addition to the price of general admission.

So is this another case of the haves vs. the have-nots? Or is it simply good ol’ American capitalism operating at its finest? The answer may depend on whether you are the line skipper or the family stuck waiting in the hot sun.

Is waiting on line at a theme park merely a nuisance to be avoided if at all possible? After all, vacations contain a limited amount of hours. Why waste them waiting?

Or is the bigger problem what we’re teaching our children about life? Will they grow up thinking problems will go away if you throw enough money at them? That waiting is to be avoided at any cost?

If this is the lesson they learn, how will it impact their relationship with the Lord? Will waiting become a time to be sidestepped or a time of learning to trust God?

Skip the line and save some time or not? What are your thoughts?