Universal Orlando Meal Plan Ticket About This Page:

[disneyxscollectr]

Has anyone used it? Is it worth it?

You can enjoy as much food as you would like at either Universal Studios Florida OR Islands of Adventure with a 1-Day/1-Park Meal Deal Pass at participating Meal Deal locations only.
Adult $18.99 + tax
Child (Ages 9 and under) $8.99 + tax

You can enjoy as much food as you would like at both Universal Studios Florida AND Islands of Adventure with a 1-Day/2-Park Meal Deal Pass at participating Meal Deal locations only.
Adult $22.99 + tax
Child (Ages 9 and under) $10.99 + tax


This ticket entitles you to one (1) day of unlimited soft drink fountain beverages at all participating Meal Deal locations at either Universal Studios Florida OR Islands of Adventure.

To purchase the 1-Day Meal Deal Sipper Cup ticket online you must also purchase a 1-Day/1-Park or 1-Day/2-Park Universal Meal Deal ticket in the same online transaction.

All Ages $7.99 + tax

I don't think that it is bad because we do get DS entry tix for free with the Kids Free Ticket, so that is a savings. I guess that a regular counter service meal at the Park is more expensive than $18.00 especially if you eat twice.

We have never done a meal plan at Disney or Universal so we don't know.

Anyone have any experiences?? I definitely know that the drinks portion is worth it because we drink a lot at the parks when we go.

Thanks,
Maria

[jimmymac]

Yes, i used it earlier this year and it is definitely worth it

[disneyfan2183]

If you plan on eating a few meals throughout the day, it's worth it. However, an average counter service meal, especially at the participating restaurants, is a lot ess than $18. You're supposed to get one ticket for each person and not share food, but it can be done. It's more of a moral issue. A lot of people on here are dead-set against using last year's resort mugs, or saying that their 3-and a half year old is under three. It's the same deal.

[disneyknut]

Maria- I definitely think it's a great deal for the drinks alone.. Our local Amusmement park has something similar with drinks only & we saved a ton of money by using the refillable mug...

[GoofyMom]

I think that Universal's meal plan is like Disney's meal plan in that you have to seriously consider if it is worth it for you and your family. Some people will eat $19 worth of counter service food a day and some people won't. My understanding of the plan is that it is only valid at a couple counter service restaurants in each park, not every counter service restaurant. So you have to take that into consideration also. I hadn't ever heard of the Drink Deal before, but based on my touring habits, that definitely sounds like a good deal!

Now, Jessica is correct, that it is intended as a per person thing and not as a way for an entire family to eat for $19, but I believe that it is left on the honour system. And we all know that PassPorters are honourable! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[disneyxscollectr]

Thanks everyone for your advice. We will definitely purchase the meal and the drinks plan because I think that it is cheaper than buying the food without it. Especially if you have some type of breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pays for itself. The counterplaces where they take the voucher are fine too. Any place that has chicken is good with my DS.

Great thing about this plan is that you can buy it at the participating counter service places so if we really enjoy it the first day, we can purchase it again the next day.

Oh yes, every person will get their own plan, just in case there were any doubts.

Thanks again,
Maria

[HiddenMickey]

Maria--
Come back and tell us how it worked for you. I debated on using the plan when we were there in March. Decided in the end it wouldn't work well for us....and I was right. We left the park around 3pm each day because we'd done what we'd set out to do and the parks were getting packed, so would have only had one meal with it.

[JBARN105]

I know others have written that they enjoyed the Universal meal plan but I did not. We went in April of this year, myself, DH and DS (5 yo). You could only eat at certain restaurants - which was okay but VERY limited IMO. We were used to the Disney plan which we think is a great value. We didn't like the fact that the plan itself was very confusing - the drinks were not included and, as I said, thought the selection was poor. However, everyone has to try for themselves...Good luck!

[Fortissimo]

[ QUOTE ]
I know others have written that they enjoyed the Universal meal plan but I did not. We went in April of this year, myself, DH and DS (5 yo). You could only eat at certain restaurants - which was okay but VERY limited IMO. We were used to the Disney plan which we think is a great value. We didn't like the fact that the plan itself was very confusing - the drinks were not included and, as I said, thought the selection was poor. However, everyone has to try for themselves...Good luck!

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with this. Another thing to add, was that the restaurants you could use the meal plan at had very long lines that moved very slow.

This plan may work for some, but it wasn't a good plan for us.

[Shell_of_the_South]

We considered the meal plan, but decided against it, party due to the fact there were only a few restaurants included. And none of those served any time of breakfast that we were interested in. We came out better to buy on our own.

I love Universal parks, but their dining is not up to par with Disney restaurants. We eat offsite a lot when we go to Universal.

[disneyfan2183]

I'd have to agree with the above post. Except for Mytho's at Islands of Adventure and the CityWalk restaurants, the counter service restaurants at Universal aren't great. The counter service at Islands of Adventure are better than at Universal Studios, but still not anything special.

[dahoov2]

Okay, so we went last year and are going again in November. I think the meal deal is okay but it could actually cost you more money.... I think the park does this because they make money on it. People cannot eat as much as the cost of the plan and here's why:

1) there are only three places to eat in each park where you can use this pass.

2) the restaurants are located far from one another: one in the entrance area, one in the middle and one towards the end, which is good! But it's also Bad too, because you can't go back to one without walking very far on your tired, aching feet/legs.

2) If you go into the park early in the morning, they do not serve breakfast at these specific restaurants (and they may not be open at early entry), so the first restaurant you encounter, you'll pass without entering typically.

3) The second restaurant you encounter, you'll eat lunch. Unless you are not in a hurry to finish the park, you will probably only eat one meal, which is about 8 dollars or so. You probably will not go back for seconds because you have to a) wait 30 minutes before you are allowed to get back in line for a second helping and b) the lines are LONG and you will spend at least 30 minutes or more in the line (so you'll end up there for a LONG time if you go back for more). Most people just want to fill up and go to the park. You don't want to overeat anyway, because you don't want to barf on the rides.

4) then you'll probably eat at the last one for dinner before you leave. Dinners are probably in the 8.00 range. So when all is said and done you would have paid 16 dollars plus tax for two meals. They charge you 21.99 for the meal deal, hence MAKING money off you.

However, you can get your money's worth and here's what I'd suggest (what they don't want you to do).

If you can stave off breakfast or you want a fourth meal before you got night night, you can go to the second restaurant for "breakfast" or lunch, go to the third restaurant for lunch or dinner, and then on the way out, go to the one by the entrance for either dinner or your midnight snack. In addition, as soon as you go into the park, if the first restaurant is open, GET THE DRINK filled and share one between two people. If it's not sizzling hot, ask for NO ICE because we got too much ice and like three sips of soda. If it's not open, go on rides or go shopping in the immediate area first then backtrack to the first restaurant to get the drink. You'll be sorry if you don't... because the drinks are refillable only at those restaurants.

Every time you go to a new restaurant, make sure to fill the drink going in (if you have some old stuff, dump it and refill) and before you leave the place, get the refill again (they can top it off). you do NOT have to wait in the food line for this; if you go off to the side, they will often have someone there just to do drinks. It may be cutting the lines, but they know it sucks to wait 30 minutes to refill a drink, so most staffers will be kind and do it for you.

I hope this helps. I am going back and I got the meal deal even though we did not use enough last time We lost about 5-6 dollars a person but it was convenient not to have to keep pulling out the wallet and we didn't have to even take the wallet to the park at all and worry about it getting wet or lost. Souvenirs you can come back for... or better yet, you're too tired and when you get to your hotel you realize you didn't need that junk anyway and avoided the impulse buys.

[MBUS]

I have 3 boys (2 teens), and when we went last year we definitely enjoyed the meal deal. We had a light breakfast at the hotel, then had an early lunch and late lunch at the park. We thought the restaurants offered a nice variety - a favorite was the fried chicken and mashed potato meal at Circus McGurkis. I believe we opted for 2 of the cups - you pay a certain amount and get refills. Two of my boys only drink water - no tonic - so we didn't need more of the cups. I thought there was a nice variety of foods - pizza, burgers, chinese, american. Yes, it's fast food, but it's pretty good. We ate at off times, I think it was 11 and 3, and didn't encounter lines that were too bad. With teen boys they definitely got in line for seconds and I know we got more than our money's worth. It was also nice to get a snack/3rd or 4th meal on the way out, too. The only issue for me was to remember I don't have the metabolism of a teenage boy and not to eat each time they did!

Just my experience!

Beth

[MsODancr]

we did it this week and only got two meals - you just about break even for two meals, would have been better for three - BUT we didn't get to eat in any of the amazing restaurants ( like I wanted to eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp) because of it - choose wisely. The restaurants included as mentioned do have a limited menu.

[mamajab]

I agree. If you have big eaters, like my DS19 (where does that boy put it?!?), it definitely works well. It sounds like they have made a few modifications from the last time we were there; there used to be 4 restaurants to chose from in US, and no time limit for "seconds." We will be there in <2 weeks, so I guess I'll see for myself soon!