Universal Dining Plan sales suspended indefinitely (2023)

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On July 2, Universal Orlando notified travel agencies that it would indefinitely suspend sales of table service and quick service meal plans. Here are tips on how to manage grocery costs at Universal without a meal plan.

First of all, congratulations on your decision to visit Universal Studios Orlando. You will have a magical time! As someone obsessed with Disney, I was a little concerned that I wouldn't feel the same way about Universal on my first visit. Boy was I wrong. Regardless of age, there is something for everyone at Universal Studios.

Continue reading:Planning a vacation at Universal Studios? Start here!

Every time we visit Walt Disney World, my family always buys thisDisney meal plan. I've done the math several times and can see that we're actually saving money this way. I also like that the meal plan feels more like an all-inclusive vacation.

Even when Universal Orlando meal plans were available, they were NOT the same as those at Walt Disney World. Here's what you need to know about Universal Dining now that meal plan sales have been "indefinitely suspended."

How did the Universal Full Service Dining Plan work?

Editor's note:The information below applies to universal meal plans sold prior to July 2021. All prices listed were correct for universal meal plans sold in 2018.

First, the Universal Full Service Dining Plan is exclusively for pre-purchase with aUniversal Orlando vacation packageor at the Universal Ticket Center for on-site resort guests only. This is the only meal plan that offers full-service and quick-service dining, as well as snacks.

The Universal Full Service Dining Plan provides guests with one (1) full service meal, one (1) quick service meal, one (1) snack and one (1) soft drink per day.

The full service menu includes an appetizer, dessert and a soft drink. The quick service menu includes a starter and a soft drink. Each guest receives their own menu.

Key Details: Full Service Plan

• Reservations are recommended for full-service restaurants. Can secure dinner reservationsonline,or by calling (407) 224-FOOD up to thirty (30) days in advance.
• Credits on the Universal Dining Plan (Full Service) expire at the end of your stay (or within 14 days).
• Gratuities are not included in the meal plan price.
• Theme park admission is required for dining at Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure, and Universal's Volcano Bay.

Universal Fast Service Meal Plan

The universal Quick Service meal plan is available to all guests, regardless of where they are staying. You can purchase the Quick Service Dining Plan at any time during your visit by visiting any of the kiosks located at the main gates of the parks. The Quick Service Meal Plan provides guests with one (1) quick service meal, one (1) snack and one (1) soft drink per day. The cost is $25.55 for adults (ages 10+) and $17.03 for children (ages 3-9) per day.* Yes, that's pretty cheap for a theme park if you ask me.

If you were to pay for these items out of pocket, it would most likely exceed the $25.55 price tag. Let's put a price just to be sure. Say you have lunch at the Leaky Cauldron and order fish and chips ($13.99) along with a bottle of water ($2.75). Order a frozen Butterbeer now for your later-day snack, it's about $7.50 with tax. At the end of the day, order a Powerade for $3.29. Your daily total is $27.53, which is $1.98 more than the price you paid for your Quick Service meal plan.

More flexibility with quick service meals

The best thing about the Universal Quick Service Dining Plan is that the credits don't expire. You can transfer your credits from one day to another. If you can keep up with the coupon, you can use it on your next Universal vacation as well. Another great benefit is that you don't have to buy the plan for every day of your trip. Let's say you want to spend three days at the parks and two days relaxing by the pool. You can choose to buy only three days of the meal plan. Even better, if you want to buy the plan for kids rather than adults, you have that option. With Universal you are very flexible with your quick service meal plan.

Coca-Cola Freestyle Souvenirbecher

If you've ever looked into the Universal Dining Plan, you've probably heard of the Coca-Cola Freestyle souvenir mug. What is it exactly and do you need it? Let's go through the details. You can purchase the Freestyle Cup for $11.99 (per day) or add it to the Quick Service Dining Plan for an additional $6.00. The cup can be reactivated for an additional $5.99 per day. There are approximately six (6) freestanding self-serve soda fountains in each park that can only be activated by the RFID computer chip in the base of the Freestyle Cup. To avoid sharing, there is a 10 minute wait between charges.

Buying the Coca-Cola Freestyle souvenir mug for multiple people to share is not a good idea. Carrying that big mug around all day can be cumbersome. If you're carrying a backpack through the parks, you should be fine. Make sure you take the mug to the parks every day you plan to use it. If you are like me and suffer from itKinetoseYou'll be grateful to have unlimited soft drinks throughout the day to settle your stomach.

Universal Dining Plan Snack Credits

Each of the two meal plans includes one (1) snack per day. What is a snack in the universal dining plan? Let's check. You can find snacks at various food trucks and quick service locations throughout the parks. Some examples of snack credits include churros, sundaes, popcorn, pretzels, funnel cakes, and my personal favorite: frozen butterbeer! The key to saving money on the Universal Dining Plan is to maximize your credit by purchasing the most expensive items covered. For example, it's always better to use your snack credit to buy a $7 butterbeer than spend $2.99 ​​on a churro. As a general rule of thumb, to really maximize the benefits of the universal meal plan, try to buy snack credits that cost $5 or more.

SheBuy's travel suggestion: Curious about what exactly counts as a snack? TouringPlans.com has a great tool within itUniversal Orlando menu pageThis allows you to search for "UDP-enabled snacks".

Places NOT included in meal plans

My main complaint about the Universal Dining Plan is that NONE of the restaurants at the resort hotels are included. These include full-service and quick-service restaurants, as well as dinner shows. If you intend to dine frequently at your resort, the Universal Dining Plan may not be the best option for you. Another negative aspect of the plan is NONEDining experiences with characterare included in the Universal Dining Plan.

There are some universal onesRestaurants CityWalkYou cannot participate in the Universal Dining Plan including: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Emeril's Orlando, Hard Rock Cafe Orlando and The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen.