Universal Dining Plan... Would It Sway You To Stay At Universal Resorts?

[MrRomance]

So Universal are launching their own version of the Dining Plan...

Story Here

It doesn't seem like great value to me and there are such slim pickings with only a handful of table service options.

My question is this... if Universal start to offer "free dining" would it potentially sway you to stay at Universal Resorts?

For me, the dining plan they are offering is overpriced for the limited options they have. I also feel that the Universal Resorts are largely overpriced too. However, there are people who might be swayed because as we already know the only way to get "express" access to some of the HP attractions is to stay at a Universal Resort.

 

[Laurafoster]

I saw the dining plan but wouldnt consider it unless they add some better restaurants. They have so many good restaurants on city walk that arent included. I did wonder if this was because they arent universal owned/run. I know when Disney first release their lists of participating restaurants loads are missing initially that quickly get added.

IMO Universal resorts arent over priced if your staying a few nights. Example being we are staying for 6 nights in May next year at HRH at $212 per night. We were quoted a similar amount for the same nights at POR/POFQ. However if we were to stay 2 nights the price was substantially more per night.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

If it was to include City Walk then yes i would consider, but if it only for meals within Univesal then i would not.We had a few really good meals on City Walk last year.

 

[luvdumbo]

It would only sway me if it was a free promotion. Because I can never seem to get room discounts for when I want to go. But if a room discount was available for the same time period then I would rather go that route. I have never stayed onsite at Universal yet, but I want to on the next visit there so I can get the express pass.

 

[scoobydooby]

Never!!!!

 

[MichelinMan]

The Express pass is more than enough reason to stay on-site at Universal - hence why we booked 4 nights there for this trip. Can't ever see them offering free dining as well.

 

[irenep]

I only ever book one night at a Universal resort and that's purely for the FOTL passes and early entry but I think the cost of one night is pretty good value for what you get. The two days I get from that night is enough for me and a dining plan wouldn't entice me to stay any longer.

 

[wilma-bride]

I agree that I don't think they will offer the dining plan free at Universal. However, I would be much more likely to pay for the Dining Plan there than I ever would at Disney IF they were to extend it to incorporate all the restaurants in the parks and at City Walk. We nearly always eat on-site when staying at Universal, compared to Disney, so it would be a definite bonus for us if they increased the number of restaurants included. But certainly not as it stands at the moment.

 

[Cyrano]

The Express pass is more than enough reason to stay on-site at Universal - hence why we booked 4 nights there for this trip. Can't ever see them offering free dining as well.

As we go in summer the express pass is one of the reasons we enjoy onsite at Universal

 

[StarWarsJez]

I checked it out when it was announced a while back - I thought the choice of restaurants was pretty dreadful, so it's a hard NO from me!

 

[WiganTony]

When we first ventured to Universal back in 2009, they had this dining plan available, but we made the mistake of visiting a location that accepted it and it was manic - one person had been waiting almost 30 minutes for chicken fingers and fries. For that reason, plus the limited choice of restaurants, it would be a massive no from us.