Meal Deal? Yes or No?

[ready4mouse]

I’m thinking about using the meal deal on some of our days that we’re at US, but I was wondering if there was general feedback as to how people like the plan. We’re fans of the DDP at WDW, but this seems like it is quite a bit different.
A little background if it helps:
-We’re a family of 5; the kids ages are 4,6,11
-We’ll be staying at Portofino for 6 nights
-I really hate spending a lot of $ on food on vacation; my hubby’s much different- he figures we’re on vacation so “what the heck-spend!” So, the more we can “prepay” for, the happier I am!
-We did feel that we spent too much time at sit down meals at WDW, so thought this counter service idea could work. However, I’m still not sure how to really make it “work”
-As I understand it, you don’t need to buy it for the whole length of your stay- is that correct?

My idea was to do the following:
-Arrival day: NO meal deal; perhaps dinner at Mythos?
-US day: Meal deal; we’ll be back and forth to the parks all day
-IOA day: Meal deal; “ “
-Sea World day: No meal deal; maybe luau at night?
-Open day: Maybe a character breakfast (if they have them)?; or maybe 2 park meal deal?
-Open day: Maybe 1 park meal deal w/City Walk dinner option?
-Last day: No meal deal;

Does that make any sense? I thought my head was swimming with table-credits for WDW last year, but this is almost as bad!

I’d love anybody that could help me make sense of this! Is my strategy correct? Thanks so much!

 

[Jonny_Duck]

I’m thinking about using the meal deal on some of our days that we’re at US, but I was wondering if there was general feedback as to how people like the plan. We’re fans of the DDP at WDW, but this seems like it is quite a bit different.
A little background if it helps:
-We’re a family of 5; the kids ages are 4,6,11
-We’ll be staying at Portofino for 6 nights
-I really hate spending a lot of $ on food on vacation; my hubby’s much different- he figures we’re on vacation so “what the heck-spend!” So, the more we can “prepay” for, the happier I am!
-We did feel that we spent too much time at sit down meals at WDW, so thought this counter service idea could work. However, I’m still not sure how to really make it “work”
-As I understand it, you don’t need to buy it for the whole length of your stay- is that correct?

My idea was to do the following:
-Arrival day: NO meal deal; perhaps dinner at Mythos?
-US day: Meal deal; we’ll be back and forth to the parks all day
-IOA day: Meal deal; “ “
-Sea World day: No meal deal; maybe luau at night?
-Open day: Maybe a character breakfast (if they have them)?; or maybe 2 park meal deal?
-Open day: Maybe 1 park meal deal w/City Walk dinner option?
-Last day: No meal deal;

Does that make any sense? I thought my head was swimming with table-credits for WDW last year, but this is almost as bad!

I’d love anybody that could help me make sense of this! Is my strategy correct? Thanks so much!

One thing to look at is what time the parks close. If your trip is coming up chances are it is around 6pm so that gives you from 11am to 6pm to eat. Not a huge window to stuff yourself. I also think they cut you off hr before close to may only have till 5.

I did the deal in summer and I got moneys worth but lines were long and it was kinda annoying just to stuff myself to get my moneys worth.

Imo get it for the kids. The price is not too high for the kids and in my experience kids get something then say I don't like that, so another trip through to get something else wouldn't be a hastle. They also randomly get hungry throughout the day so being able to pop in and get em something rq would be nice and you could always pick off their plate a little if ya get hungry through the day.

The meals at CS are like $8 to $9 ish so you would have to eat 3 times in that time to make the deal worth it. Also does not come with a drink so you have an extra charge for that each time unless you get the refill cup. I considered it but lugging around a cup the whole day is not so fun.

 

[Metro West]

The only thing I was going to add to Jonny's response was he's right about eating a lot to make it worth it. Try it one day and see if it's a good bargain for your family. If not, don't worry about it...there are plenty of great places to eat that are not on the meal deal.

 

[ready4mouse]

I think I'm going to have to make a spreadsheet to see how we would use it! It's ok- I love vacation spreadsheets!

We're going in April, so I'm hoping the parks will be open a little later. At least to let us get dinner and then maybe have a light snack after.

Can you go through and just get the "dessert" part, or do you need to order the whole meal each time?

Good idea about just ordering for kids! I'll make that a row on the spreadsheet and see how it plays out!

I'm wondering if adding CityWalk dinner for $6 makes it more worthwhile? So much to figure out....

 

[donaldduck352]

Like others have stated,you gotta eat alot to make it worth your money and youre very limited to the places and choices.Food at USO is very well priced and come in good portions.So I give you the site that gives you the Idea of pricing and menus..

http://allears.net/uni/menu/menus.htm

 

[Jonny_Duck]

I think I'm going to have to make a spreadsheet to see how we would use it! It's ok- I love vacation spreadsheets!

We're going in April, so I'm hoping the parks will be open a little later. At least to let us get dinner and then maybe have a light snack after.

Can you go through and just get the "dessert" part, or do you need to order the whole meal each time?

Good idea about just ordering for kids! I'll make that a row on the spreadsheet and see how it plays out!

I'm wondering if adding CityWalk dinner for $6 makes it more worthwhile? So much to figure out....

I didn't do the citywalk part because I was not a fan of the limited menu they offered. Check that menu out though and if it looks good I think its probably worth the extra price.

As far as just the desert idk you probably can. If not just get the full meal and throw rest away? It is free afterall

O the other thing the desert gets old. There are 3 selections. I mostly got Jello. So tbh thats another thing of the meal deal I did not find worth it. Kinda a waste of a desert. But then again I am not a big desert eater.

 

[ready4mouse]

I didn't do the citywalk part because I was not a fan of the limited menu they offered. Check that menu out though and if it looks good I think its probably worth the extra price.

QUOTE]

Is there anywhere I can find the limited menu for CityWalk restaurants? I saw the full menus on allears, but not the meal deal specific ones...

 

[lachica]

On the uni website:

CityWalk Dinner Entrée


You receive one (1) dinner entree at Bob Marley's, Pat O'Brien's, Latin Quarter, or Pastamore' at Universal's CityWalk®.

CitlyWalk's menu items include:
•Adult (ages 10 & up) - Bob Marley's: Sun is shinning - Jamaican curry chicken with rice and peas, Natty Dread - Jamaican Veggie Patties, Belly Full - Jamaican Beef Patties, Catch a Fire - Chicken Sandwich, The Whaler - Grilled Tilapia Sandwich, Pat O'Brien's: Jambalaya, Cancun Shrimp, Grilled Smokey Andouille Sausage with Read Beans and Rice, Mardi Gras Dinner Salads - (Blackened Chicken or Cajun Shrimp), Pat O' Cheeseburger, Chicken Sandwich, Muffuletta Sandwich, Pat O'Melt, Po'Boy Sandwiches - (Shrimp, Fried Oyster or Fried Crawfish), Latin Quarter: Chicken Fajitas (served with yellow rice, black beans), Arroz con Pollo (half chicken cooked in yellow rice), Cuban Sandwich (with black beans and rice) , Marinated Pork Loin (served with Boniato mash with black beans), Ensalada de Pollo (grilled chicken salad), Chilean Salmon Ensalada (grilled salmon salad), Pastamoré: Fettuccine Alfredo, Chicken Piccatta, Pasta Primavera, Spaghetti w/Meatballs, Spaghetti w/ Marinara, Spaghetti w/Bolognese (Italian Meat Sauce), and Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza
•Child (ages 9 & under) - Bob Marley's: Chicken Skewers, Fish Sticks, Macaroni and Cheese, Pat O'Brien's: Corn Dogs, Chicken Fingers, Hamburger, Cheeseburger, French Quarter Pizza, Latin Quarter: Grilled Chicken Quesadilla, Fried Fish Basket, Hamburger, Chicken Fingers, Pizza Empanadas, Pastamoré: Cheese Pizza, Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce, Fettuccini Alfredo, Hamburger, Macaroni & Cheese, and Chicken Fingers

 

[Coach81]

I would not recommend the meal deal. IMHO it "forces" you to eat too much so you feel like you are "getting your money's worth". I would just pay as you go, you will save a few dollars, and will not over-eat.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Gr8t Fan]

I think I'm going to have to make a spreadsheet to see how we would use it! It's ok- I love vacation spreadsheets!

We're going in April, so I'm hoping the parks will be open a little later. At least to let us get dinner and then maybe have a light snack after.

Can you go through and just get the "dessert" part, or do you need to order the whole meal each time?

Good idea about just ordering for kids! I'll make that a row on the spreadsheet and see how it plays out!

I'm wondering if adding CityWalk dinner for $6 makes it more worthwhile? So much to figure out....

We just returned from a trip and got the meal deal for 1/2 price because we were approved for the credit card that they hardsell when you're coming to the parks from the parking garage. They allow you to purchase up to 8 meal deals at 1/2 price as well as sipper cups at 1/2 price. We're a family of 6, 2 adults, 2 Universal "adults", one infant, one "child" by Universal standards, so we used 4 tickets the first day (and purchased a child's meal plan at full price) and 4 the second day (purchased child's meal plan at full price). We did not do the Citywalk add-on. At 1/2 price I felt it was worth it but I would not consider it at full price.