Best Univeral Budget Saving Tips

[TravelMommy]

What is your best current Universal Budget Saving Tips?? Anything from tickets, lodging, meals??? TIA

 

[macraven]

What is your best current Universal Budget Saving Tips?? Anything from tickets, lodging, meals??? TIA

i have the ap so that alone saves me a lot of money for park attendance and food/merch discounts.

i guess the you first program with Loews.
i get $100 credit in food and beverage at the hotel per stay and free king suite (RPH) due to my status/platinum.
hotel costs are usually what newbies complain about so the loyalty program keeps my costs lower for my stay.

 

[Cubicleprisoner]

You can get slightly discounted park tickets from UndercoverTourist. Several months ago, I was on MouseSavers.com and found a promo code to use at CheapTickets.com for a pretty good rate on my hotel room at Royal Pacific this September.

 

[hpfan100]

Tickets...

Look for deals through third party sites, I found a great deal on last minute travel club, or look into an annual pass


Lodging....

Stay off site, if on site look for pass discounts or use a promo code on cheaptickets/ orbitz


Meals...

Share meals, bring snacks, eat breakfast in the room, triple a discounts, pass discounts etc.

 

[mrsabbott]

You know, a lot of it depends on how large your group is. Also, are you planning to fly or drive? How long will you be staying and how many days do you want to spend at the park?

 

[Classicmonsterfan]

If you use American Express or are an AAA member (and have your card), you can save 10-15% at most shops and restaurants around the Universal resort. Be sure to ask for this discount at every location and don't be afraid to push for it - many employees are not aware of the discount at first.

When I was at Universal, most places in the park accepted the discounts with no problem. However, the new photo purchase location at Gringotts will not accept any discounts, and the Sweet Shop at the front of the park did not accept an American Express discount with less than a $50 purchase.

In City Walk, there is less regularity - some places accept discounts and some do not.

 

[johde]

While not necessarily cheap, some of the City Walk restaurants have some lunch specials. Seasonally, Emeril's has their "Big Easy Lunch Crunch" that includes an Appetizer, Entree, and Desert for $22. Emeril's also has 1 free Appetizer or Desert per table with an Entree purchase and park ticket.

Also, the table service restaurants in the park are often only $1-$2 more expensive than the counter service restaurants. In fact, the prices at the Leaky Cauldron are almost the same as Finnegan's. So, for the vacation as a whole, a "budget" tip may be to save your table service dining for Universal instead of Disney.