Thanks for the feedback! Yes the price is part of my hesitation with Atlantis - we have free accommodation through points either way, but the flights are more expensive and the food on the resort looks outrageous. We could eat for three days at Universal for the price of one day at Atlantis, but we also wouldn't have ticket costs. Might do a few nights in Clearwater at the end to get the best of both worlds.
I've done many vacations at both Universal and Atlantis. I want to comment on the cost thing.
First, remember that your room at Atlantis includes access to Atlantis amenities (Aquaventure, aquariums, etc.). At Universal, you're facing around $100 more per person per day for park tickets after you pay for a room.
Second, breakfast and lunch at Atlantis is quite comparable cost-wise. But you have to compare apples-to-apples. Several of Atlantis lobby bar area covert to continental breakfast bar in the morning, with prices quite comparable to a counter service place at Disney or Universal. Atlantis has several large buffets that are a little on the expensive side, but are cheaper than Disney's full breakfast buffets (since pretty much every Disney breakfast buffet is a character meal).
Lunch at Atlantis is probably cheaper than at Disney or Universal. Here's a menu board from a typical pool-are counter service venue (note the value meals that are $9 - $14):
Dinner is where some people are surprised at Atlantis prices. This is probably because the mix of casual versus fine dining venues is weighted toward fine. and there aren't any counter-service dinner places, other than
the pizzeria.
But there are a good number of casual places that are moderate cost. Here's a menu with prices from
Margaritaville, which is a 3 minute walk from the Marina Village at Atlantis:
The prices here are quite comparable to several of Atlantis' casual sit down venues, like
The Point,
Murray's' and
Frankie Gone Bananas.
The bottom line is Atlantis isn't necessarily more expensive than a Disney or Universal trip....it really depends on how you vacation at each place.
I have an older thread about
how to do Atlantis for less.