As I put my walking shoes on for my day at Universal, I thought about how much I wished I had had a little more information before I walked in the front gate the first time I went. I’ve been to the park four times, both with and without children. Here's a brief rundown, to help you plan your day.

Universal Studios is fun for all ages. There is something for everyone here. Make sure and get a park map when you get your tickets, as it will help you decide your route before you get too overwhelmed.

They have lots of activities: the Studiotour, Rugrats Magic Adventure, Blastzone, The Blues Brothers, Waterworld, Animal Planet, Terminator 2: 3D, Back to the Future The Ride, Spiderman Rocks, Mummy Returns, Backdraft, Jurassic Park, ET, Shrek 4-D, and Van Helsing The Ride. Blastzone and Rugrats Magic Adventure are Nickelodeon activities. Blues Brothers, Waterworld, Animal Planet, and Spiderman Rocks are shows, and Waterworld, Blastzone, and Jurassic Park are WET rides. Terminator 3D is my absolute favorite. Be sure to sit either right in the front or on the far side of either side of the auditorium - you won't regret it. ET is a great ride for kids and adults, as is Back to the Future. They're both virtual rides with motion and special effects. Backdraft can be scary for little ones, because it's hot and there's fire.

I recommend going in the off-season to avoid LONG lines for the attractions. Summer is always busy, as is Christmas. I found the best time is February, when it’s a little chilly in the morning, but the crowds are a lot sparser. I don't recommend bringing really small children (babies), because there's a lot of territory to cover and most of the rides are scary and have a height requirement. Food is a bit pricey, as can be expected. I bring my own water bottle and put a few granola bars and beef jerky in my purse so I don't snack too much. There are plenty of places to eat.

Try to get there when the gates open if you only have a 1-day pass, because there's a lot of ground cover and you can wait in line for half an hour or more for some rides.

Of course, wear comfy shoes and bring a sweater. Don't forget your wallet, as souvenirs are expensive. Don’t forget the camera and extra film and/or batteries. You can purchase those items there, but they’re expensive.

Parking is free at the park and is in a covered garage, which is nice. City Walk, outside the park, is a stretch of land like you've never seen before. Restaurants of every kind and shops line the walkway into the park, tempting you to eat and spend your money. Be STRONG - save your money for the park.

As of 2005, they have a new rain-check guarantee. Go to their website to see the restrictions.

Backdraft
This short show goes into detail about the making of the movie Backdraft. There are three stages to the show, two of which describe fire and how they made the movie, and then the last stage of the show is an all-out live show with lots of fire. Basically, they set the stage on fire and things blow up. It's pretty interesting, but (obviously) very well-rehearsed and scripted so that nothing goes out of control.

Revenge of the Mummy (Roller Coaster)
This is the only real roller coaster at Universal. Also, it is indoors. Unlike a real roller coaster, however, this one uses small cars that hold about 16 people. It twists and turns in complete darkness, occasionally stopping with something from the movie jumping out at you. There are no loops in the ride, but because it is pitch black, it feels much scarier than the coaster actually is.

Terminator 2: 3D
This is another well-made show. It's presented as if the audience is part of a presentation being put on by the company that makes the terminator robots. But then things get out of hand, and the show gets really wild. Live-action actors are mixed in with 3-dimensional films being shown on the screen. So, you have 3-D objects flying at you from the screen, and then actors with fake guns and lots of smoke physically in front of you in the theater. If you are a fan of these movies, the show is definitely worth seeing. The only disappointments were that some people (in the audience) had never heard of Terminator 2 (nor did they know Arnold Schwarzenegger was in the film) and that the volume of the show was extremely loud.

Back to the Future Ride
As with most of the shows at Universal, the audience often feels more part of the ride, and not just an observer. The Back to the Future ride is no different. After walking through two different rooms with videos playing, you then enter the main part of the show. You are placed in a replica Delorean and then are sent off in a high-speed time-traveling race. The ride shakes and moves a lot, and you really feel like you’re part of it. Once again, I would recommend this ride.

Van Helsing Fortress Dragon
This is basically a big haunted house. It is not very scary, aside from the few live actors who jump out from the darkness to scare you. I did one walk through it and walked away laughing. It really is not scary at all.

The Universal Studios Theme Park is fun for both adults and children. If you're seeking big roller coasters and thrill rides, this is NOT your place. The rides here are very tame, but you can learn a lot about Universal Studios in the process. They do have an option for a Front of the Line ticket (which is exactly as the name says). It is probably a good deal on a very busy day, but on slow days, like when I was there, the ticket is a waste of money.

Studio Tour
The most informative and interesting attraction is the Studio Tour. In fact, I took it twice . . .once to sit on the left side of the tram and once to sit on the right side. For about 45 minutes, four-car trams wander around the back lot of Universal. Most of the tour focuses around sets and thrills specifically made for the tour; although, the tour guides try to act as if they are currently being used. In the very beginning, they pass actual sound stages still used today, however. The guides themselves read from a script. On the two tours I took, the different guides each said the same thing, including the same bad jokes. It got old, fast. One difference with taking the tour twice with different guides, however, is the fact that they each pointed out some slightly different facts and things along the way (not in their script). For instance, one guide pointed out the signs used in "Back to the Future" that say "Lyon Estates" (where Marty McFly lived), and one guide pointed out the "Leave It to Beaver" house. One thing that did happen, which I didn't think would, was that we did pass through a Budweiser commercial being filmed. I'd recommend the Studio Tour to anyone visiting the park.

Special Effects Stages
As with most of the attractions at Universal, bad jokes are constantly being used by the hosts and tour guides. At the Special Effects Stages, the whole show was one bad joke after another. Aside from that, the facts presented and effects shown were nothing new or impressive today. However, that might just be because I have a background in television. What I did find impressive was how flawlessly the effects are shown. It makes every Hollywood effect seem simple and easy to do, but I am sure a lot of preparation was put into them.

Read my Part 2 for more reviews of this park!

Just outside the Universal Studios Theme Park lies their Citywalk. Basically, it is a mob scene of restaurants, stores, theaters, and vendors packed together to form an outdoor mall. Although very busy, it is definitely a place where you can find what you want. Examples of some stores are Abercrombie & Fitch, Electronics Boutique, Billabong, and Fossil. For food, you can get everything from coffee at Starbucks, steak at Tony Roma's, to greasy burgers at the Hard Rock Cafe. In addition, there is an IMAX theater too, which was showing a 3-D version of The Polar Express during my visit.

Citywalk is ideal for getting away from the kiddie-world of the Theme Park and to grab some good food, shop, or simply waste money.

All attractions are based on Universal movies. They offer different "levels" of tickets. If you buy the higher priced tickets, they claim you don't have to wait in as long in the line.

This park is more heavily geared towards younger guests. Plan on spending the day here as lines for each attraction can be long. Visit the City Walk when you're done. It has shops and restaurants.