Need advice on doing 2 parks in 1 day with a show!!!!

[maslex]

Okay, I haven't been to Universal in about 6yrs and never been to IOA. So here is what we'd LIKE to do in both parks. Would some Universal expert be able to tell me the best possible way to see both parks? Meaning, which one should we do first? The thing is though....we're eating at HRC around 3p and seeing the Blue Man Group at 6pm.
(I'm assuming I'm choosing all rides that need an express pass of some sort or a huge wait in line, correct?)

IOA
Ripshaw Falls
Bilge-Rat Barges
JP River Adventures
Sinbad Stunt Show
Dueling Dragons
Flying Unicorn
Spider Man
Storm Force
Hulk Coaster

Universal
Shrek
Jimmy Neutron
Mummy
Twister
Terminator
Men in Black
Jaw
Beetlejuice
Earthquake

Now, I realize that we won't be able to see everything on that list but I just thought I would let you know what we would be interested in and if someone could give me an idea of what is possible to see in one day. And really not even a full day if you consider HFC and BMG. I was thinking of maybe going to IOA first (since we've never been there and doing what we can from opening until 3pm, then go to BMG then hop over to Universal and do whatever we can from about 7:30 to closing (which is 11, right)?

Any suggestions?

 

[robvia]

That's way too much stuff packed into 1 day.

It's funny how Disney people have no problem spending an entire week visiting 4 parks, yet for Universal, everything is crammed into 1 day.

First of all, I wouldn't ride Rip Saw Falls or Popeye because you'll get soaked.

Shows take 45 minutes to see (arriving 20 minutes early plus the show itself), and you've got 2 of them in there plus BMG.

It's very easy to take a thrill ride tour of IOA when you arrive first thing in the morning, You can take a lap in 2 hours. You could head over to USF around 11am but you won't get to see the Sinbad show at IOA because the first one doesn't start until noon.

Your late lunch at the HRC will take 1.5 hours. The movie attractions at USF usually take 30 minutes because each has a pre show. There's not enough time in the day to do all that. Thrill ride tour of each park with no shows or water rides? Easy, I do it all the time.

It would be better if you spend the extra money, buy a longer ticket deal, and plan on 2 days. You can bring a change of cloths for the water rides and put them in a locker up front.

 

[damo]

Are you going in July? The parks close at 10. The parks are also quite busy in July, so expect to get about as much done as you would at Disney in half of one day unless you are planning on staying onsite or purchasing the express plus pass.

I would skip the lunch at Hard Rock and get some counter food to give you a few more hours of park time.

http://www.universalorlando.com/cal...o_park_hours.html&year=2007&month=7&year=2007