No "Universal Dollars" No "Universal Gift Cards?"

[disney's daughter]

Because I take my adult children and grandchildren once a year to Disney World...I also purchase a Disney Gift Card with about $1,500 to pay for all of our sit down meals...I give each grandchild an envelope containing Disney Dollars (they have earned by doing chores throughout the year) to spend as they wish...

Since, we are thinking about going to Universal/IOA and Sea World next February...I'd like to save up like I do for the Disney trips...Natually, I use my credit card to pay for the room(s)...but, what do you suggest I do to give the kids "special Universal money"...or even for myself...One card to pay for the sit down meals....Oh...I also would buy another much smaller reward card to give to my husband to take down to the bar each night...

Is there anything similar to the Disney Dollars or Disney Reward cards when it comes to Universal?

 

[G's mommy]

I believe Universal has "universal dollars" but you have to purchase them at guest services. There are gift cards that can be purchased at local grocery and drug stores, but these can't be used inside the parks, must be used toward purchase of tickets at the booth OR you can turn them in and receive the value in universal dollars. Not as convenient as Disney Dollars or Disney gift card, but can be done.

 

[disney's daughter]

Oooh...Thanks for the information...Yes...not as easy as Disney...but, I'll have to figure out something...I can "present" the grandchildren at the airport with 'IOU's" for Universal dollars...and I guess... and just put the meals on my credit card...I hate doing that...but, I don't have a choice....

 

[damo]

I just give the kids cash. Then whatever is leftover, they can spend elsewhere.

 

[disney's daughter]

Yes..I may do that with the kids...but, I will have to use my credit card to pay for the meals..We'd probably do one sit down meal together (which I pay for) each day we are there....I'd have 10-14 people ...

 

[macraven]

universal has the master card while disney has the visa card.

the universal card rewards are better imo. i have both cards.
UO, get 1 point for each dollar spent and double if it is for the parks, hotels, UO on line shopping, etc
exchange of points for the rewards vary to packages for on site, passes, tickets, cd's, etc.
the rewards are not UO inclusive while disney basically is.

i only have 20,000 more points to earn until i get a free package vacation for the on site hotels..

 

[horseshowmom]

Yes..I may do that with the kids...but, I will have to use my credit card to pay for the meals..We'd probably do one sit down meal together (which I pay for) each day we are there....I'd have 10-14 people ...

Universal has a program for dining that is an all you can eat thing at certain restaurants. I'll see if I can find a link for you.

Okay, here it is.
http://www.universalorlando.com/tic_meal_deal.html

 

[goofy!]

When we go, we get the Visa Travel card from AAA. You can load it with as much as you want and it is easy to check balances on line. It is also very easy to reload it again if you need more funds on it. It is fully guaranteed against fraud, with a 24 hour window to get your funds back in case of emergency. It is today's traveler's checks. We use it for all our meals and souvenir shopping. Hotels will not take it at check-in as a guarantee, but you can pay the final bill with it.

We've used the AMEX travel card too, but the Visa one from AAA has substantially less fees than the AMEX card.

As for the kids, we just go to our local grocery store and get them $100.00 (or whatever denomination we determine) Visa Gift cards. We usually travel with not only our kids, but my two nieces - so it makes it much easier to keep track of than all the cash and who has spent what. And we just sharpie their names on the front so nobody gets accused of using somebody else's money.

 

[disney's daughter]

Wow..It's so nice to receive information from those who are in the "Know" when it comes to Universal...I was already starting to stress about the trip and it is several months away! It's so different from Disney.

Yes...I usually gave my grandchildren a hundred dollars in Disney Dollars...The individual cards with their names written on them seems like a good idea, too...Hmmm...I could do that for my husband for his "bar trips", too...

 

[ski_mom]

universal has the master card while disney has the visa card.

the universal card rewards are better imo. i have both cards.
UO, get 1 point for each dollar spent and double if it is for the parks, hotels, UO on line shopping, etc
exchange of points for the rewards vary to packages for on site, passes, tickets, cd's, etc.
the rewards are not UO inclusive while disney basically is.

i only have 20,000 more points to earn until i get a free package vacation for the on site hotels..

Can you give an idea of how many points it takes for the vacation packages. I looked on their website and it gives pretty good details for the points needed for the gift card rewards and some of the travel rewards, but for the Universal rewards it just mentions that they are available and says nothing about how many points they take.

Anyway, if you have any of that information handy, I'd love to see them. We are always looking for the best value for all of the money that we charge (and pay off monthly)!

Thanks!
Becky

 

[macraven]

Can you give an idea of how many points it takes for the vacation packages. I looked on their website and it gives pretty good details for the points needed for the gift card rewards and some of the travel rewards, but for the Universal rewards it just mentions that they are available and says nothing about how many points they take.

Anyway, if you have any of that information handy, I'd love to see them. We are always looking for the best value for all of the money that we charge (and pay off monthly)!

Thanks!
Becky

i get a reward catalouge 3x's a year.
i will have to look for it for the total points. when my winter one came, it was about 65,000 points for one of the on site hotels.

the summer one should be out in may.