Meal Deal not really worth it

[bucket o' butter]

I am sure some people will not agree with me. Feel free to post your comments. We decided to purchase the meal deal for one of the days we were at Universal. There are five of us (4 adults and 1 child) so we paid about $117.00 for food that day. We got the deal that could be used in both parks on the same day. I believe they were $23.99 for adults and $12.99 for children. You would have to eat an awful lot of food to make it a bargain. I obviously did not pay attention to the fine print and didn't realize that drinks were not included in the meal deal. That made it completely not worth it. Your choice was to buy a drink at each meal (for $2.49 or $2.99 each) or buy a refillable mug ($8.99 w/free refills) for everyone. So, on top of the $117 we paid another $48. On average the meals at the included meal deal restaurants are about $8.00 each. Some a little less and some a little higher. To make it a "bargain" you would have to eat 4 meals a day. I don't know about everyone else, but I don't tend to overeat while I am a theme park. The heat and walking make me less hungry. The lines to the included restaurants were hideously long and took us about 30 minutes each time we ate. I suppose if you are a big eater (4+ meals a day) then it would be worth it, but I don't recommend it at all. If a drink was included, it might make it better. I know, I should have read the fine print, but I didn't. Learned my lesson on that one. We figure we probably would have eaten 2 meals a day and with a drink would have spent around $100 - $120. Just curious what everyone else's opinion of the meal deal is.

 

[Metro West]

Most people on this board agree that it's not a great deal...unless you have eating machines with you. Otherwise...it's cheaper to buy meals at your leisure. Plus with the meal deal you miss a lot of good restaurants. Mythos and Thunder Falls Terrace at IOA and Finnegan's at the Studios in particular.

 

[geffric]

I like the meal deal for my teen age boys who can eat and eat and eat.. I bought one mug for them to share and they ate like hobbits.. it worked very well for them..plus you don't have to buy the meal deal for the entire family like the DP..

 

[donaldduck352]

Your so right metro.At Thunder Falls a group of 4adults can get the chicken&rib combo for $55 +tax,and that includes a large soda.This meal will stick to your ribs allday..
Mytho's is just as resonable priced..
There is so many eateries you miss on the meal deal plan!!
IMO

 

[Purseval]

Does anybody really think a meal plan is structured to lose money for the company running it? The only time one of those plans will lose money is when it is used as an incentive to get you to spend even more money on something else, so it still makes money in the end. Also, in the case of people like myself, there is a desire to "get your money's worth". This not only takes away valuable time you could be spending on your visit to the park it leaves you feeling bloated and miserable at the end of the day

 

[jeslynhat]

Most people on this board agree that it's not a great deal...unless you have eating machines with you. Otherwise...it's cheaper to buy meals at your leisure. Plus with the meal deal you miss a lot of good restaurants. Mythos and Thunder Falls Terrace at IOA and Finnegan's at the Studios in particular.

ESPECIALLY Mythos! I get the personal pizza appetizer there for only 7.50 and it's big enough for two peoplw... I can only ever eat 1/2 of it and it is SOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jonny_Duck]

Does anybody really think a meal plan is structured to lose money for the company running it? The only time one of those plans will lose money is when it is used as an incentive to get you to spend even more money on something else, so it still makes money in the end. Also, in the case of people like myself, there is a desire to "get your money's worth". This not only takes away valuable time you could be spending on your visit to the park it leaves you feeling bloated and miserable at the end of the day

Bloated and miserable was how I felt lol. I do the "get your money's worth" tactic and ended up paying about $4 a meal through my 1 day trip. So I think I got my moneys worth but I would say if park closes earlier then 9 it wouldn't rly be worth it.

I am sure some people will not agree with me. Feel free to post your comments. We decided to purchase the meal deal for one of the days we were at Universal. There are five of us (4 adults and 1 child) so we paid about $117.00 for food that day. We got the deal that could be used in both parks on the same day. I believe they were $23.99 for adults and $12.99 for children. You would have to eat an awful lot of food to make it a bargain. I obviously did not pay attention to the fine print and didn't realize that drinks were not included in the meal deal. That made it completely not worth it. Your choice was to buy a drink at each meal (for $2.49 or $2.99 each) or buy a refillable mug ($8.99 w/free refills) for everyone. So, on top of the $117 we paid another $48. On average the meals at the included meal deal restaurants are about $8.00 each. Some a little less and some a little higher. To make it a "bargain" you would have to eat 4 meals a day. I don't know about everyone else, but I don't tend to overeat while I am a theme park. The heat and walking make me less hungry. The lines to the included restaurants were hideously long and took us about 30 minutes each time we ate. I suppose if you are a big eater (4+ meals a day) then it would be worth it, but I don't recommend it at all. If a drink was included, it might make it better. I know, I should have read the fine print, but I didn't. Learned my lesson on that one. We figure we probably would have eaten 2 meals a day and with a drink would have spent around $100 - $120. Just curious what everyone else's opinion of the meal deal is.

Like Metro said it does take away the choices in which you can eat at. But financially speaking if you eat twice and would of purchased the desert both meals it is about equal in price for the meal deal.

Your right about the lines. We went on the 4th and lines were about 30 mins each meal which took away from my runs on MIB to try to get a better score.

I drink water so the soda wasnt a big deal. I do hate how they give you tiny little waters and I drink a lot so I got 2 each time through and still didnt get enough to drink. I think it would be better if they just raised the price of the deal a little bit and made a drink available to you as well.

I am curious how long lines get when it is less busy. Chances are they open less lines, so it could even out to still be a line. May be worth it more then but have less time to eat so idk. Your prob right its never worth it.

 

[macraven]

i always post this and i always stand alone on it...........


i buy the meal plan only when i will be in the parks for 5 or 6 days. i also go solo on my trips to the darkside.
i use that day to do pictures, shop and eat.
this is a day i don't have a schedule or pressed for time.
i wander around by myself that day.

i only buy the plan for the studios side.
and, i only eat at Louie's and IFFF.

Those 2 places i could graze at as i like many things on the menus.

i start with pizza when louie's opens.
i get back in the line for more pizza.

couple of hours later, i get the fruit plate at IFFF.
later in the day i get the chicken dinner or the chinese dinner.
Louie's starts calling my name much later.......
out of all the parks i have been to, i love that pizza at Louie's!
i always end the day with that last slice of pizza there and get one to take with me when i am leaving the place.....it's a great snack at midnight in the hotel room

i walk, take pictures, shop, might do a few shows and eat again.

that's my one day out of 6 in the park.

i do go back before the cut off time period for my last taste of pizza on that day.

if i had a schedule and limited days in the park, i would not be doing the meal plan.
it would take too much time away from the shows and rides for me. also, who can do the rides and walk around all day when they are stuffed?


i agree with the op that the meal deal is not a real deal for many if not most people.


i stay onsite and use the fotl perk and still would not give up my park time to graze if i was at the park for a limited number of days.


i take my refillable mug with me to the park on "chow down" day.
refills are cheap.
i even show my ap or aaa card for the discount on top of that discount.....

If you plan a day just to walk around in the park and not concentrate on rides, would be the only way to do the meal plan and get your "money's worth".

there are too many great places in the park, at the hotel and at city walk to eat at to do as i do on grazing day.

about the beverage cup, i have read that many have been using that one day only cup for their entire visit at the parks. hopefully, you were able to do that also.

if you have never been to the parks before, or have only been a few times, explore all the places that universal offers in the park.
you will miss out on great places if you limit yourself only to the meal deal.


i have been going to universal annually since 1992.
on my longer trips to uo, i like to take one day just to walk around and do a very casual unplanned day at the parks.

 

[wdw&sonny]

I agree w/ most of you...not worth it (for my family). I hate the restrictions as well.

I did the math for a recent WDW trip, just like you Bucket O' and recognized two key reasons...
1. My kids (11 and 13) are consider adults, but sure don't eat like it.
2. On vacation, especially in heat and excitement, we don't have the usual appetites, especially for lunch.

We have learned to buy 2 lunches for the 4 of us and share...works great. Then we are not bloated, still energized for the afternoon and can grab a Mickey Bar (or USF equivalent treat) mid afternoon...

But, then we pig out at dinner...hey it's vacation.

 

[Metro West]

But, then we pig out at dinner...hey it's vacation.

 

[Sleepyhollowstudios]

I guess I'm in the minority, because I really like the Meal Deal and really do see it as a value. I like the selections they offer, as well. I don't go to a theme park for the gourmet food. I go for the rides, the sights, and the "theme park" food. I like the personal, wood-oven pizzas. Between my girlfriend and I, we probably eat 8 pizzas in one day (no, we're not "big" if that's what you're thinking...145 and 175 lbs. respectively and active.) Anyway, we really do like it! Meal Deal is A-OK in our book!

-Andy