How is the Meal Plan?

[JavaQueen8]

We are going to IOA in June and were thinking about doing the meal plan. how is it???

 

[Metro West]

We are going to IOA in June and were thinking about doing the meal plan. how is it???

Unless you have people in your party that likes to eat a lot, it's probably not the best deal. You only have three restaurants at IOA that are on the meal deal and none of them are first on anyone's list of recommendations. But...if you like standard theme park fare then you might want to consider it. You can purchase the meal deal once you arrive so you don't really need to commit now.

 

[francie57]

If you don't mind eating fast food all day and lots of it then it might be something to consider. We have never done it since it is not what we want to eat all day and the places we like to eat aren't included.

 

[RMulieri]

It really didn't appeal to us..Limited restaurants on it to choose from, drinks not included and we aren't huge eaters of fastfood

 

[Magical Kingdoms]

My mother, being a complete Universal newbie, bought a meal plan and almost gave it to me, until I explained that the only place I'd get the chance to really sit down and eat was Three Broomsticks, which isn't on the plan. So she gave it to my brother. Unless he's on his medication, he'll eat A LOT, so it's good for him. But I wouldn't have much of a use for it unless I had longer than I do have at the park.

My Mom has a few things to learn about the way Universal works. I'm glad the DISBoards has a forum section on Universal so that I can get a lot more info on the place before taking my first "darkside" trip, as they say.

 

[dntd]

This year I am using the meal plan as it's only $10 a kid( taking 3 older kids 7,9,and almost 10) they will eat at least 2 times making it worth it for us.

 

[Disneynut71]

I bought the dining plan for my day trip in June. At the price of only $20.99, it was worth that my teenage son can eat as much as he wants. I know he will use it. I am not sure I will eat enough, but my DD and DS will so it's nice I don't have to worry about a budget for that day.

 

[kohlby]

Price what you would normally eat and compare it to the plan. We used it just for our kids but not for the adults on past trips. (Except for the last trip, since we wanted to eat at Three Broomsticks). It was a good deal for the kids as long as we ate both lunch and dinner there. But wasn't a good deal for the adults. Maybe I'll think differently when I have teens!

 

[macraven]

the meal deal begins at 10:30 - 11:00, no breakfast is included.


the meal deal ends 30 minutes prior to park closing.

 

[andyman8]

We have done the Meal Deal and I personally like it. We're not heavy eaters by any means but have two teenagers. It is $20 per person for your "entrees" and $9 for the cup. So, it is nearly $30 for the day and does not include breakfast.

Here's how we made it a value: We got to the park after breakfast at our onsite hotel. Once, we got to the park we had lunch ($15 per person for us). Little later we got our mugs refilled, for we got thirsty ($3 per person). About an hour later, we had a small snack (fries, chips; $7 per person). Towards the end of the day, we had a big dinner ($15) with multiple refills (some locations at Universal now charge for refills). Overall, the day would have costed $40 per person without the meal plan, so we saved $10.

It worked out well, and the restaurants were okay. The nice thing as that they are strategically. At IOA, you have one in Seuss Landing, Jurassic Park, and Toon Lagoon. At USF, you have one in New York, World Expo, and Hollywood.