Food Budget at Universal

[disneydaydreamer33]

So obviously there are lots of variables for how one should budget food at Universal, but I just thought I would ask what others' budgets are to give me a starting point. Our family of 5 (me, DH, DS10, DS7, DD4) plus my in-laws will be going for 2 days in February at the start of our Disney week. Park to park passes, but staying off site. We are not opposed to eating well (if there is a must do sit down restaurant for instance), but I think I would rather save where I can. I'm not opposed to stepping out of the parks if there are much better deals for our meals. TIA!

 

[Lisa0620]

We are a family of 4 (2 boys 13 and 10) and budgeted $150/day for our August trip and came up a little short. We will probably budget $170/day next time. We had breakfast in the room and ate out for lunch and dinner and usually a snack or ice cream (August!) We don't split meals, but my younger son got kids' meals most of the time. We preferred the meals we had at Citywalk over anything we ate in the parks although we had good meals at both Mythos and Confisco (table service.)

 

[Kivara]

We are a family of 5 (3 boys 14/12/10). We budgeted $150/day for our trip in June, and we came in a bit under.

We never went anywhere super fancy (no Emeril's or hotel restaurants), we share meals quite a bit, and the boys get one snack a day paid by us. After that, it comes out of their spending money (we have one that would eat sugar all day if mom & dad were paying, so that's a good rule for us.)

Also, we get a refillable Coke cup for soda in the parks, and we all get water in the restaurants. ($2-3 per person for soda in restaurants x3/day = $30-45/DAY for a family of 5)

We also get the kids in on it. We let them know why we are going to order water ($ and to get some water in.) They get part of the money saved added to what they've saved for spending money (they'd much rather have a new Tshirt or a plushie over some sodas.) I usually give them each $20 for the week for the "soda ban"

Also, neither of us adults care much for alcohol, so that keeps things quite a bit cheaper.

 

[HM]

If you are familiar with Disney food prices, they really are similar at US/IOA.
We actually do more TS at US/IOA as we haven't found the CS places as a whole to be all that great though.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I usually budget $15 per person for each counter service meal and $30 per person for each table service. Some meals come in more or less, but it is pretty close.

 

[Robo56]

Universal is so easy to plan if needed for meals. It's as easy as going to the Universal Orlando site and looking at all the restaurants in the park and City Walk and their menus (prices are listed) and getting a rough idea on what it will cost to feed a family of 7.

I take my two youngest grandchildren every year 17, 11. This year though that included son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter friend. So the food budget swelled to 6 people total this year. When you add more people you add more cost and more likes and dislikes but, all went well.

We usually have a light in room breakfast. Major meal of the day at lunch and the a light supper. We carry a few light snacks. Granola bars, apples dried fruit and nut mix.

Breakfast includes. Juice, muffins, fruit yogurt. Although everyone except two were Starbuck lovers. Myself included. So we usually had a stop at Starbucks in the am on the way to the park. This is a expensive habit to have. Having a light breakfast in the room is a cost saver.

They did get a couple of the Coke refillable mugs.

The best deal I found for a large group was the family feast at Three Broomsticks. It has roasted chicken,ribs, steamed veggies and roasted corn and roasted potatoes. This meal was awesome. It says it feeds a family of four but, it feeds more than that. I think it was about $ 49.00. We love Mythos in IOA and always have a couple meals there.

So here are my cost saving ideas. I collected over a number of months Starbuck gift cards (which were loaded to iPhone). I also purchased a number of other restaurant gift cards and some Universal Gift cards. This was done over a period of about 7 months. When it came time for vacation we enjoyed restaurants traveling to and from Universal, all our Starbuck needs as well as some of our meals in the park. This helped take the pinch out of paying all that money out at once.

Table service meals with 6 people or more will have a 18 % gratuity added to the bill. So factor this in also.

Also some stores will sell gift cards at a slightly discounted price so that is a win.

I also asked everyone to look around the shops and decide what they wanted for their gift from Universal. And while they where in the park one day I shopped all their wants and had them laying on their pillows when they returned from the park one day.

I used my AAA for discounts at the the big Universal Store in City walk and the big Universal Stores entering both IOA and Universal. I also used my AAA discounts at restaurants. Getting AAA and APH discounts helps a lot.

Happy planning. You will have a great time at Universal.

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I'm getting VERY excited to go to Universal! I am such a die hard Disney fan, I was actually kind of bummed to do Universal-- thinking it would take away from our Disney experience (and in some ways I guess it is. We will stay off site for the 9 days now, so no dining plan and therefore not as many character meals as usual while at Disney) However, the more I learn about Universal, the more I realize it just going to add so much to our vacation-- especially for me and DS10 who are huge HP fans!!

 

[Robo56]

I promise you will not regret your trip to Universal. Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley are something to behold. At the Ollivander wand show they pick people out of the audience for the show. That would be awesome if they picked your son. Get him a interactive wand so he can do the magic tricks in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. The wands have a map with them that indicate all the sites for the magic tricks. Also there is a metal medallion on the ground in front of the interatvie sites.

 

[angierae]

We are only eating counter service at the parks and I budgeted $15/meal/person. Our snack budget is a different line item though.

 

[humphreydog]

DS10, DS7, DD4

You're lucky, your kids still qualify for kids meals!!! Not sure about the other sit down places US or IOA, but Finnegans offers discounted kids meals. We were shocked when we found out we could eat at sit down restaurants inside the parks for a comparable price to counter service (and have better food). Margaritaville also offers kids sizes meals with an included drink. Look up the menus on the sticky and check out the prices. Plates are ususlly huge and can be shared.

$15 each at finnegans will get you an adult sandwich and a beverage (w/ refills). Kids meals will be cheaper. Plus they put a homemade loaf of bread (with spreads) on the table while you wait for your food. Atmosphere is similar to TGI Fridays and provides your family the perfect escape (from the parks) to recharge you batteries.

 

[kohlby]

We always eat at Sweet Tomatoes a couple times for dinner when we're in Orlando. It's off-site and buffet - and super affordable. It's nice to get all those veggies in too! They often have some good coupons so sign up on their email list to increase the chance of getting one.

As for in the parks, we did a lot of sharing meals. (My kids are now 12, 9, and 6 - so we had a park trip at 10, 7, and 4 as well! In fact, that was our 6 days at US/IOA and 1 day at Legoland trip). Sometimes, it's better for us to do kids meals. I've even done a kids meal for myself for quick service. On the flip side, quite often, my middle child and I will share an adult meal. One of our favorite sharing meals is the ribs and chicken platter at 3 Broomsticks. We do the meal plan for that day and use those snack credits for butterbeer. (And we share those). We bought two adult meal plans - making 2 adult ribs and chicken platters enough food for the 5 of us for lunch! Of course, it depends how much your crew eats too. I'm not a heavy eater and neither are my younger two, so that helps. My eldest was a big eater at 10 and is now a bigger eater at 12, so we'll see how this next trip goes.

Our breakfasts are very cheap - we bring food from home and stop by the grocery store to add in some fresh fruit. We eat breakfast in our room with that food. It makes the mornings very relaxing. And makes it easy to get to the parks early.

I realize I haven't helped you with the budgeting at all - the other poster saying it was like Disney's prices is a great way to estimate. There are also menus with prices online somewhere that will help you get a better idea.

 

[humphreydog]

Off premises, Milliers (Orlando) Ale house has 'kids eat free' on Tuesdays(includes drink and dessert). It's right across the street from the Portofino.

 

[JOCAmom]

So here are my cost saving ideas. I collected over a number of months Starbuck gift cards (which were loaded to iPhone). I also purchased a number of other restaurant gift cards and some Universal Gift cards. This was done over a period of about 7 months. When it came time for vacation we enjoyed restaurants traveling to and from Universal, all our Starbuck needs as well as some of our meals in the park. This helped take the pinch out of paying all that money out at once.

The Starbucks in the parks take gift cards? What about the resorts (Cabana Bay)?

As for in the parks, we did a lot of sharing meals. (My kids are now 12, 9, and 6 - so we had a park trip at 10, 7, and 4 as well! In fact, that was our 6 days at US/IOA and 1 day at Legoland trip). Sometimes, it's better for us to do kids meals. I've even done a kids meal for myself for quick service. On the flip side, quite often, my middle child and I will share an adult meal. One of our favorite sharing meals is the ribs and chicken platter at 3 Broomsticks. We do the meal plan for that day and use those snack credits for butterbeer. (And we share those). We bought two adult meal plans - making 2 adult ribs and chicken platters enough food for the 5 of us for lunch! Of course, it depends how much your crew eats too. I'm not a heavy eater and neither are my younger two, so that helps. My eldest was a big eater at 10 and is now a bigger eater at 12, so we'll see how this next trip goes.

We have a family of 6 and want to eat at 3 Broomsticks. Could we only order 3 of the combo meals for all of us? I was under the impression we had to order the family feast and then pay for the amount of people over the limit of 4.

 

[kohlby]

We have a family of 6 and want to eat at 3 Broomsticks. Could we only order 3 of the combo meals for all of us? I was under the impression we had to order the family feast and then pay for the amount of people over the limit of 4.

With 6 people, there's a chance that the feast may be a better way to go - but my hunch would be that you could order it for 4 people as there aren't sharing rules that have been brought to my attention. It's a set amount of food. I'm not sure which works out better as we've never done the feast as that's too much food for the 5 of us. (Keeping in mind that three of the five of us eat less than the average adult each). You can order meals instead of the feast and no one has ever counted us up to make sure we order the same number of meals as people. As for using the quick-serve meal plan credits for it and sharing, I'm not sure if that's a gray area or not. They don't make everyone in the party buy a meal plan so I don't see why that would be an issue. They used to have a meal plan that allowed an unlimited time through the line - so no sharing made sense for that one. But when it's a set amount of food that you get, I wouldn't think it's an issue. We've never had any problems with ordering less meals than people in our party.

 

[JOCAmom]

With 6 people, there's a chance that the feast may be a better way to go - but my hunch would be that you could order it for 4 people as there aren't sharing rules that have been brought to my attention. It's a set amount of food. I'm not sure which works out better as we've never done the feast as that's too much food for the 5 of us. (Keeping in mind that three of the five of us eat less than the average adult each). You can order meals instead of the feast and no one has ever counted us up to make sure we order the same number of meals as people. As for using the quick-serve meal plan credits for it and sharing, I'm not sure if that's a gray area or not. They don't make everyone in the party buy a meal plan so I don't see why that would be an issue. They used to have a meal plan that allowed an unlimited time through the line - so no sharing made sense for that one. But when it's a set amount of food that you get, I wouldn't think it's an issue. We've never had any problems with ordering less meals than people in our party.

Thank you! We could probably get away with 3 combo meals. I just thought we had to order meals for every person in our party there. We prefer to graze our way through the parks. Got to leave room for all the goodies available.

OP.....looking at our food budget, I have budgeted $70 for counter service meals for 6 people on average. That is before our AP discount. We also have the refillable mugs to use. Those mugs were our best investment ever along with the popcorn bucket. I wouldn't leave the parks for a meal....I think it wastes too much time. In City Walk, my youngest daughter and I love the Breadbox. Nothing fancy but decently priced and not crowded. Do a search for Universal Orlando menus. I always use Touring Plans to plan out our meals.

 

[bumbershoot]

The Starbucks in the parks take gift cards?

Absolutley. Just like at WDW. Though Uni had Starbucks first. They take the app, too.

I just thought we had to order meals for every person in our party there.

I'm quite sure you can just order what you want. After all, the others in your party might have just eaten elsewhere. I've seen the table after a group of 8 had 8 feasts...there was a HUGE amount of food left over. It was sad. Plates of totally untouched meats and corn. I cannot even imagine leaving such waste; if I were them I'd have asked for a to go box at least!)


If you're staying offsite and have a car, Sweet Tomatoes is SO good.

 

[mthds]

Universal is so easy to plan if needed for meals. It's as easy as going to the Universal Orlando site and looking at all the restaurants in the park and City Walk and their menus (prices are listed) and getting a rough idea on what it will cost to feed a family of 7.

I take my two youngest grandchildren every year 17, 11. This year though that included son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter friend. So the food budget swelled to 6 people total this year. When you add more people you add more cost and more likes and dislikes but, all went well.

We usually have a light in room breakfast. Major meal of the day at lunch and the a light supper. We carry a few light snacks. Granola bars, apples dried fruit and nut mix.

Breakfast includes. Juice, muffins, fruit yogurt. Although everyone except two were Starbuck lovers. Myself included. So we usually had a stop at Starbucks in the am on the way to the park. This is a expensive habit to have. Having a light breakfast in the room is a cost saver.

They did get a couple of the Coke refillable mugs.

The best deal I found for a large group was the family feast at Three Broomsticks. It has roasted chicken,ribs, steamed veggies and roasted corn and roasted potatoes. This meal was awesome. It says it feeds a family of four but, it feeds more than that. I think it was about $ 49.00. We love Mythos in IOA and always have a couple meals there.

So here are my cost saving ideas. I collected over a number of months Starbuck gift cards (which were loaded to iPhone). I also purchased a number of other restaurant gift cards and some Universal Gift cards. This was done over a period of about 7 months. When it came time for vacation we enjoyed restaurants traveling to and from Universal, all our Starbuck needs as well as some of our meals in the park. This helped take the pinch out of paying all that money out at once.

Table service meals with 6 people or more will have a 18 % gratuity added to the bill. So factor this in also.

Also some stores will sell gift cards at a slightly discounted price so that is a win.

I also asked everyone to look around the shops and decide what they wanted for their gift from Universal. And while they where in the park one day I shopped all their wants and had them laying on their pillows when they returned from the park one day.

I used my AAA for discounts at the the big Universal Store in City walk and the big Universal Stores entering both IOA and Universal. I also used my AAA discounts at restaurants. Getting AAA and APH discounts helps a lot.

Happy planning. You will have a great time at Universal.

 

[mthds]

What other gift cards are accepted at Universal other than Starbucks? In City walk does Moe's Burger King, etc accept gift cards

 

[Robo56]

You can sometimes get about 3 to 4 Starbuck gift cards at a discount at Sam's. They usually come in a pack of 3 to 4 $10.00 cards. I have recently seen Logan's at 18 % discount. You get $ 100.00 worth of Logan's gift cards for $82.00.

You can purchase Universal gift cards online or I have seen them at Walmart at home in Florida or Walgreens or Target in Florida.