Universal Studios
Avoid Mummy ride. I really like this ride but based on what you said I don't think you will enjoy the drops. It is fun though and you should consider it.
Avoid Rip Ride Rocket- the drops are steeper than the ones on the mummy.
Jimmy Neutron will be OK for you to ride but it's targeted more towards kids. The ride that this replaced was better IMO. It's fun but nothing special.
Shrek 4D is boring for me but you might like it if this is your first Universal visit and it is indoors so you get out of the heat. It is long though and is too tame for my tastes.
Twister is a ride I like but many people find it outdated- It's a walk through attraction.
T2 has an endless wait in tight spaces.First you wait in a long line, then you wait in a crowded room then you see a pre-ride video wait in another holding room then see a 3D show that is long, boring, and outdated. The special effects are not impressive.
Jaws is a joke!
ET is worse than Jaws. The lines are long because of little kids who can't ride the bigger rides and ET fans. It goes at 1MPH
The Curious George/ Woody Woodpecker section is kids only rides
The Simpsons is fun but not as cool as the Back to the Future ride it replaced.
Many people like MIB- It kind bores me but I like the details of the ride so instead of focusing on the ride itself ( the laser tag game) I look at the scenery.
Disaster ruined a classic ride. Earthquake was replaced with this stupid ride
Kongfrontation is long gone
There is a I love Lucy muesum but IDK if that interests you.
Islands of Adventure
I love the Hulk + Dragon Challenge coasters but from your post I don't think you're a big coaster fan. In the Jurrasic park section there is 3 attractions. A playground for kids, A ride you won't be allowed on unless you have a child chaperone lol and a ride similar to Splash Mountain. The drop is bigger than the SM on though and I don't think you'll like it. There are 2 more water rides. Dudley Do Right Ripsaw Falls which has a slightly less steep drop but goes faster and you get soaked. The raft ride is always fun but you get soaked on this too. There is a ride similar to the teacups at Disney but it isn't worth it. The Spiderman ride is fun but do the single rider line because this ride is very popular! The FJ is new and is supposed to be better than Spiderman but be prepared to wait for this baby! You could do the single rider line here too if you want but you will miss the castle queu. The giftshops in WWOHP are overpriced and over crowded. Take Note: If you want to buy a Potter item from the gift shop- Buy it late in the day for 3 reasons. 1. the lines will be shorter 2. you won't have to carry it around with you- some rides won't let you carry things on them like the Mummy, MIB etc. 3. buy something after taking the time to think if you really want it. You can buy HP gifts at other sections of the park. The other 2 rides beside FJ at Universal for Potter fans are a family coaster and Dragon Challenge. Olivander's is popular and you will have to wait long to possibly be selected to buy a special wand. The chocolate frog at Honeydukes sells for $10 and so does Butterbeer which is warm in the hot sun and comes in a small cup. Dr dooms fearfall is very short. There is a place called Seuse Landing for little kids again. Posiden's Fury is a walk through attraction and there is an 8th voyage of Sinbad show but you said you don't like the shows. US also has the Universal Horror make up show but again you said you're not big on shows. If you buy tikets to IOA you can pay $10 to upgrade and get both parks. I do this you when I go to IOA I can ride the thrill rides at Universal Studios but you don't like those rides so maybe you should just pay for one park. Citywalk is great but you'll need to pay $16 for parking to get in during the day and $3 after 6:00. Here there are clubs, Restraunts and Gift shops.
I just read that you are going in October. This is an excelent time to plan a Florida vacation! The weather has finally cooled down and instead od being unbearably hot it feels like how summer feels everywhere else in the US. Also with the kids back at school, it will be uncrowded. The Harry Potter fuss should have settled down a little so you will be able to enjoy this part of the park better than if you were going now. Notice though that Universal does Halloween Horror Nights in October so Universal Studios ( not IOA) will close early- so if you buy tickets to both parks come here first. Also even though Orlando Octobers are alot warmer it becomes dark early- Between 7-8pm. I would reccomend Wet N' Wild which you can purchase with a a Universal package deal. Or seperately. Do you have questions about Disney rides too? I can help
