Musings and questions about Universal's different types of gift cards

[peacefrogdog]

Just got back. I had hoped to purchase a gift card as a way to control spending. I just assumed that I woul be able to use a gift card for everything. I thought I was buying a $300 general gift card (that came with a free interactive wand) but it turned out to be a merchandise specific card. I also saw that they sold dining-specific gift cards. As a APH, I was able to buy a $150 dining GC for $120 - however it did not work in the Tuk Tuk Market or in the Islands dining room.

Any idea why they separate merchandise and dining specific cards? Wouldn't it be easier to have just one general card?

Also, does anyone know whether gift cards expire? Specifically the dining gift cards?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

No, they don't expire.

They do offer general Universal Orlando gift cards, but the ones you got were specific promotional ones.

That discounted food gift card is a nice deal; easy to spend a lot on food during a vacation.

If you were going to get a bunch of merchandise anyways, the free wand is a nice bonus. I think a lot more people would get a free wand if the promo gift card did work on food also (I would do it for a food gift card, but I never spend that much on just merchandise).

 

[MIChessGuy]

I just wanted to comment that the discounted Mardi Gras Food and Beverage card is parks and CityWalk only. It doesn't work at hotel dining venues.

 

[tony67]

I just wanted to comment that the discounted Mardi Gras Food and Beverage card is parks and CityWalk only. It doesn't work at hotel dining venues.

Yeah - its a pain - I've run into that a few times.
Still its a great value and if I am there during Mardi Gras I always buy several of them and use them for future trips.

The Merchandise one is somewhat useless unless IMO unless you plan to buy 300 in merch - so maybe a good deal on your first trip

My biggest frustration with the food one is you cant load it into the APP. How has that not been addressed yet? There are places that are APP only for ordering - yeah only a few - but its still the future and they need to address that. maybe even let you guy the gift card in the APP

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Oh they absolutely don't want to offer the Mardi Gras food gift card in the App, or else they'd just offer it online. The whole point is to get people to go to the parks in person. They don't want the once-or-twice-a-year out of state APs to buy the discounted GC for their HHN trips.

 

[tony67]

Oh they absolutely don't want to offer the Mardi Gras food gift card in the App, or else they'd just offer it online. The whole point is to get people to go to the parks in person. They don't want the once-or-twice-a-year out of state APs to buy the discounted GC for their HHN trips.

True - but I would like it for just that reason.

Also getting money up front from folks is not a bad thing - especially if you are taking care of AP holders.
Of course if they sell it in App the loose the benefit of people misplacing cards and never using them.

Regardless of that - we need to be able to put it into the app to use it in some cases and for convenience.

 

[MIChessGuy]

Oh they absolutely don't want to offer the Mardi Gras food gift card in the App, or else they'd just offer it online. The whole point is to get people to go to the parks in person. They don't want the once-or-twice-a-year out of state APs to buy the discounted GC for their HHN trips.

Hey, that's me. Oh snap! I do plan to use the food card on exactly two trips. Nice try, Universal.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

True - but I would like it for just that reason.

Also getting money up front from folks is not a bad thing - especially if you are taking care of AP holders.
Of course if they sell it in App the loose the benefit of people misplacing cards and never using them.

Regardless of that - we need to be able to put it into the app to use it in some cases and for convenience.

All good points - and I'm in the same position (out of state AP who would get them for future trips).

They also need to get the App to recognize & discount the Universal CC.

 

[orum]

Yeah - its a pain - I've run into that a few times.
Still its a great value and if I am there during Mardi Gras I always buy several of them and use them for future trips.

The Merchandise one is somewhat useless unless IMO unless you plan to buy 300 in merch - so maybe a good deal on your first trip

My biggest frustration with the food one is you cant load it into the APP. How has that not been addressed yet? There are places that are APP only for ordering - yeah only a few - but its still the future and they need to address that. maybe even let you guy the gift card in the APP

Going soon and wondering which dining locations are app ordering only?

 

[tony67]

Going soon and wondering which dining locations are app ordering only?

So YMMV but:
Minions cafe - although folks have had mixed results being able to go to a cashier.

There are a few (or one?) items that are app only at Circus McGurckus

Blondies in Super hero Island is app only as well.

There may be others or there may be others in the future - obviously it saves them having to hire cashiers.

In addition - its a lot easier to order on the app in most cases and just pick up the item or have it delivered to your table

 

[CAPSLOCK]

In addition - its a lot easier to order on the app in most cases and just pick up the item or have it delivered to your table

This. Most places you can order at a cashier but it's slower, there's usually only one cashier because they try to encourage everyone to order in the App. And we've ordered at the cashier, been assigned a table, and went to the table only to find someone took it. There was an adjacent empty table, so it wasn't a huge deal, but it was mildly irksome & the food runner sure looked confused.

 

[orum]

It sounds like Universal really should figure out how to let you pay for an app order with the gift cards. I was planning to get the $150 for $120 cards next week. Saving 20% on food using these cards seems pretty nice.

I think I also read that getting the 10% Universal credit card discount also requires a cashier. Is that right?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I think I also read that getting the 10% Universal credit card discount also requires a cashier. Is that right?

Yes, unfortunately.

 

[tony67]

I think I also read that getting the 10% Universal credit card discount also requires a cashier. Is that right?

Yes, unfortunately.

There is no reason they could not just credit it back on the card automatically - but then they would have to credit you back on Alcohol etc... Don't think they can break that out at the CC company.

I have numerous credit cards the credit me back for various things - like Air Line fees etc..
I even have one that does Lifestyle fees - so Uber and Streaming for example.

Its not a big deal for them to do this - even if they changed it to 5% back and just applied it to all purchases at the particular locations that would be fine with me to account for alcohol etc... Having to ask for the discount and hoping the person has a clue is just a PITA - and of course the entire in App issue.

 

[chad_1138]

2 questions on the Mardi Gras Food and Beverage Card:

1. Where to purchase?

2. Can it be used to pay for the Freestyle Mugs?

Thanks!