Food plan

[ACH]

We are going to Disney in May, but spending 2 days at Universal, which is a first for us. I haven't booked that part of the trip yet because I'm not sure about the food portion. I think I'm understanding that if we get the quick service meal plan we can just add that at anytime, but if we are booking the whole package and want to do the better food plan, then we will have to book it right now. Thus, the hold up. Do we need the plan? We will eat all of our meals on property and plan to stay at Cabana Bay. We want to eat at all Harry Potter locations. Can anyone tell me where I can find pros and cons about buying the plan and/or whether we should just do it on the fly. I feel like it's so different from Disney where I'm planning every move in advance! Thanks for your help.

 

[tony67]

You can add the quick service plan when you get there, but for the most part it's not a great deal unless you order very specific things.
You might come out 2-3 ahead. If you are ordering something at the high end of the price scale you can buy the meal plan at that point I think..you dont have to buy it in advance of ordering your food.

From what I understand the "better" plan is not much of a deal either, best to just pay out of pocket and eat what you want when you want.

There is an overview here unless things have changed
https://touringplans.com/universal-orlando/universal-dining-plan#

Oh and this is the great thing about Universal you dont have to plan every minute and meal 6 months in advance.

 

[wookiebeck]

We never did any meal plans. Just don't see how it could help us come out ahead by a) price and b) choices. We save a few bucks by eating right at the CBBR Baylite Diner. Great meals all through the day. Good value. Then we choose a nice table service meal once per day. Then snacks when we want. I figure we spend way less than the meal plans.

 

[bchbetha]

You truly don't need it. And you can buy it in the park if you change your mind.

 

[damo]

I wouldn't bother buying it ahead of time. Decide once you are actually purchasing your food if it is going to save you any money.

 

[macraven]

With only a two day stay for the parks,
I would not go for the upper dining plan

Why take longer time out of your park touring?

The meal deal of $21.99 could save you a few bucks or $4 for it if you go with the high end meals

Do a potter sit down dining and use the snack coupon for a butterbeer
Use the beverage coupon for soda or bottled water

Other than that, don't see much more of a savings

 

[gotomu212]

I know you just asked about food, but since you were new to the dark side I wanted to add that a lot of us don't bother with packages for Universal. You can book the hotel directly with Loews and then Us tickets through universal or undercover tourist. The pricing usually works out the same (or maybe even cheaper) but either way you end up with way more flexibility since you can change hotel reservations without penalty until right before your trip.