Florida parks hike prices

Florida’s mega-theme parks, Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando, are bumping up adult admission prices $5. Disney, at Lake Buena Vista, is also revising ticket packages.

Universal on Dec. 18 increased its one-day, single-park admission from $54.75 to $59.75, plus tax, for adults, and from $44.95 to $48 for children ages 3 to 9; kids younger than 3 are still admitted free. Disney will match those prices Jan. 2.

It was Universal’s third increase this year. Disney last increased prices March 28.

Under the “Magic Your Way” program, starting Jan. 2, adults can pay $199 total, or $28.43, plus tax, per day, for single-park entry if they visit for seven days.

Park Hopper passes, good for all four Disney parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Disney-MGM), will be available for shorter stays. Guests at the resort’s hotels will be offered new dining packages and will be able to stay three hours after regular closing times.

One downside: Multi-day tickets, now issued without an expiration date, will expire after 14 days under the new program, unless you pay up to $55 extra. For details, visit www.disneyworld.com.

New LAX lot: call waiting

Los Angeles International Airport last week opened a 79-space parking lot where motorists can await calls from arriving passengers.

The LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot is at 9011 Airport Blvd., about five minutes from the main terminal. It is the first of three such lots expected to open by summer. The aim is to reduce traffic congestion near the terminals.

“People don’t want to go into the parking structures, so they keep circling and circling,” said LAX spokeswoman Gaby Pacheco.

Refining the pat-down

Washington

Airport security screeners have altered pat-down searches after passengers complained that the procedure was invasive, the Transportation Security Administration said.

Under the new rules, said TSA spokesman Mark Hatfield, passengers undergoing secondary screening are allowed to put their arms down after screeners check their upper bodies. The TSA began doing more pat-downs in September after passengers blew up two Russian jets.

Associated Press

-- Compiled by

Jane Engle