Yes you can avoid lines by booking tickets online. But going there on weekdays late afternoon will not have a long queue and your family will have the park to themselves.
Yes
Yes, although the lines aren't really that bad
We didn't buy tickets ahead of time and it wad fine. No lines. We also went on a Monday, so it wasn't so busy.
Yes. I don't know if you can use the discounts online, such as AAA.
Just show up and go. Don't worry about things like this.
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