First Timer here; need help with park plans, please!

[dreamscometrue47]

Hi everyone,

My daughter (17) and I will be in Orlando March 8-12 for an allstar cheerleading competition at the Orlando Convention Center. I'll admit that we are Disney addicts, but for this trip, we've decided (along with some of her friends and their parents) to visit Universal. This will be the FIRST trip for all of us and we are very excited to do something new and different (ok, I will miss my rides on Peter Pan, but I'm sure I'll get over it!)

First of all, we have all day Friday, Monday until 2 pm and a couple of hours both Saturday and Sunday. Our thoughts were to buy the $85.00 7-day passes (what a deal) first of all. Does that make sense to you all??

Second of all, we are staying offsite due to the cheerleading competition. So no FOTL.

Third, we plan to visit Universal Studios on Friday. Here are our "must see" attractions. Can anyone tell me how we should attack this list? I feel so lost compared to knowing Disney inside and out....
Shrek 4-D
Revenge of the Mummy
Men in Black
Terminator
ET Adventure
Jaws
Earthquake
Animal Actors on Location

Fourth, we plan to get to IOA Monday 3/12 morning at opening. How would you attack this must do list? We probably don't need to leave the park until around 2 pm...
Spider Man
Hulk
Jurassic Park
Dueling Dragons
Eighth Voyage of Sinbad show
Dudley DoRight Ripsaw Falls

Fifth, we thought in the couple of hours we have both Sat and Sun, we could fit things that we don't plan on doing Fri and Mon.

Does this look workable? I don't think there are going to be big crowds......

reading these Universal threads is getting me very excited to visit the parks!!!

TIA!

 

[Amity 3]

I'm pretty sure my daughter's team is going to the same competition. I don't know if I should help out one of the opposing teams.

at IOA, if you're there at opening, just turn left out of the port of entry and follow the park clockwise.

hulk, spidey, JPRA, ripsaw falls, DD. you can check showtimes for Sinbad. spend some time in seuss landing.

US is different because there's some scheduled showtimes and it depends on when you're going to hit the park.

 

[dreamscometrue47]

Amity 3, we're going to hit US at opening if that helps. Thanks for the IOA advise.

And we are JAG Cheer, Senior Level 4, located in Woburn MA! It would be fun to see you at the competition.....

 

[Amity 3]

at US, go straight. Shrek will be the first attraction on your right. it has a long pre-show, and it's very popular. hit it first. Jimmy Neutron is right across the street from it, and it's really fun if you want to hit it. keep heading to New York and do ROTM, you'll need to get a locker if you have any carry-ons. if the wait is low, do it again. I'd pass earthquake at this point and see if Jaws is open yet, if not, go to MIB. you can head back to Jaws after you ride MIB easily.

from there, ET will be no problem. Terminator is a must see, but is on a schedule like animal actors. you can fill in those when you get a show schedule at the front of the park.

the horror makeup show is a great thing to see. twister and earthquake usually have a 15 minute wait as well.

our daughter's on the Florida Wildcats seniors team, but that's all I know, good thing there's a steak and ale near the OCCC.