Is it possible to visit both parks, see the top rides, and get some shopping in, in one full day? It is a visit for 2 first timers. (but have been to USH many times). Any info and tips would be great.

Thanks

I couldn't do it, myself. IOA may be a 3/4 day park as far as number of attractions is concerned, but the attractions themselves (coasters and other very intense rides) take it out of me to to a point where I'm about done for the day after just IOA.

I would recommend giving both IOA and USF their own days. If you run out of things to do before the day is over, you can always go play Fantasia mini golf.

I think it's doable, but not very realistic. And if it's your first visit, you want to be able to experience both parks on a much more reasonable pace than if you were running from one park to another. I agree with Andrew here.

I deffinitely wouldn't try to do both in the same day on a first visit. I've pulled it off before, but that is because I have an AP and have seen everything to the point where i don't care if I miss a few here and there. I think that the wait times alone wouldn't allow you to hit even just the major attractions at both parks in one day, and you deffinitely wouldn't have time to enjoy it. So, yes it can be done, but no I wouldn't reccomend it.

Arrive to the parking lot of USF at 07:45am.
Parking garage opens at 8am.
Walk to the gate of IOA, get your ticket if needed and get in line.
For IOA, the turnstiles to the left are used first, at USF the ones to
the right are used first.
At 8:45am, they let people in.
Run to Hulk, get a front seat ride, go again.
As you exit Hulk, get an express pass for noon.
Ride Spiderman, and Dr. Doom, they will be walkons.
Continue to Rip Saw Falls, 5 minute wait.
JPRA, Popeye. You'll be soaked, but dry off.
Dueling Dragons, 5 minute wait. You can even wait for the front if
you want.
Continue back to the front of the park.
Go on Dr. Doom and Spiderman using single rider lines. To use them,
go up the exit of the ride and you see them.
Use your express pass for Hulk.
It is now noon, goto USF and do some shows.
Use single rider for MIB and Mummy. Then walk around an catch any ride that you find without too long of a line. You probably will not be able to do Shrek.

If you want to see Shrek 4d, then you start your day at USF.

What you do here is get an express pass for either Mummy or Jimmy
Neutron, then get in the Shrek 4d Line, and you'll be in the first
show. It's ok to let some people ahead of you, that way you'll be in
the middle of a row. Rows 2-4 are good in the middle. Come out of
Shrek 4d, use your express pass for Jimmy Neutron or Mummy. If you chose Jimmy Neutron for express , then head over to
Mummy and use single rider and hit Twister. Earthquake is next. Then you might have to skip Jaws because it doesn't open until 10:00. Ride MIB then Back to the Future and then ET. Hit Terminator on the way out of the park and head to IoA.

as you can see from the previous post it can be done in a day if you are willing to forego a few things. it will be a highlite trip only. you will miss such fun things as the 8th voyage of sinbad, and the cat in the hat. not to mention the need to rush from place to place and miss some of the subtle stuff (like the talking fountain) that make it as full an expierence as WDW.
if you are limited to just one day I suggest you make it for one park only. you can decide for yourself which is most appealing. for me it would be IOA hands down.

If one is not at all interested in roller coasters (or rides remotely roller coaster like) would IOA be doable in 1/2 a day and USF in 1 day. What would you recommend as far as allotting park time between the two parks.

lets see.
IOA.
spiderman (not a rollercoaster).
8th voyage of sindbad
tritons revenge (or what ever they call it now)
cat in the hat
one fish two fish
the caresousel

that's about it for IOA, non thrill rides. I did leave out dudly dorights and popeyes as being to coaster like. yeah that would be a half day.

US
t2-3d
et
MIB
jaws
shrek
Jimmy nuetron
asorted other shows.
one day easy.
leaving out- back to the future and mummy as being to close to coasters.