Touring plan advice from all you experts!

[Hobbes]

We are going to Universal for 1 day only for the first time. It is a Wednesday at the beginning of November and is classed as slow season. The day we go is early opening at USF. We have looked at a couple of touring plans that do the "best of Both Parks" which both say start at USF, go to IOA, the finish up back at USF. However, because of early opening at USF, would we be better starting at IOA and then going to USF afterwards? Or doesn't it matter during slower times of year?
Also tell me more about Jimmy Fallon booking process-can you do it in the parks like good old Fastpass?

thanks for any advice you can give. I think I am overplanning this!

 

[wookiebeck]

All plans have many variables to consider. It sounds like you are off-site and will not use early entry. And by 'best-of', I assume that you will hit the headliners and thrill rides. Will you buy the Express pass?

I say start at IOA for a few good reasons. It has the best visual appeal, aka a theme park. You will also be able to rope drop without the incursion of the EE people. We have gotten up to 5 headliners done in the first two hours (brisk walking between all the lands, though). And you only have the one day.

Is your group interested in Harry Potter? If so, your plan would be to rope drop to there. Then when you ride the HE, you can hit Diagon Alley for several more hours (and ride the HE back because it is different).

If trying to cram in the best, I would go to Hulk, then Spiderman, then Kong, Jurassic River Adventure, Harry Potter Forbidden Journey, lunch at 3 Broomsticks, HE to USF. Then Gringotts, MIB, Transformers, Mummy and take the train back to IOA. Finish with Cat in the Hat (our guilty pleasure).

You won't go wrong, though. It is all fun and you can deviate from this to explore. Don't feel like you have to run from one to the other.