Universal Meal Budget Ideas?????(long)

[Mad4Dizne]

We will be on a budget!!, and with the extra$$$$ we will be spending if we decide to stay onsite, we need to be much more concerned with meeting the budget. We usually have a lite snack/breakfast in the room--cereal/fruit and counter service in the parks for lunch and dinner at Citywalk....I tried to find current menu's but most sites that have Universal Menus don't have all the restaurants/prices/or current prices..(tried all the ones I found doing a search...didn't have prices listed for HRC and no current prices....). Anything exist like AllEarsNet for Disney????. And would you say that if you spend $100/day at Disney that you would spend the same at Universal??? Any suggestions would be appreciated!!!!
Thanks!!!

 

[Mad4Dizne]

My post was prompted by a post on the Disney Budget Board, where a particular budget savy individual spent $75/day at Disney for her family of two adults and two children. She had breakfast in the room(fruit/cereal,etc...they brought fruit for snacks too,I believe), counter service lunches, table service dinners and counter service dinners and snacks everyday. It was impressive!!!!
I was wondering if the same would be possible for Univeral???

TIA!!!!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

A great way to save $$$ is to invest in a cheap plastic souviner cup. They have $5 ones that hold about 32oz of drink. They can be refilled for free with ice water, or for under $1.50 if you want soda/lemonade.

Also, hit up the nearest grocery store in your area and get cheap snacks from there to bring into the parks.

Most of the entrees in Citywalk restaurants are under $20/person.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Which hotel do you plan on staying in and how many mouths to feed? Will you be flying or driving? If flying, how are you getting to the hotel?

 

[robvia]

They are from the UK, so obvioiusly they will be flying in, and probably using a car service from the airport.
Most limo services will stop at a grocery store as a perk for using them. Take advantage of this and visit the Publix located just north of the park.
http://www.nogodforme.com/directionstopublix.htm
If the limo service doesn't stop, or you can't make it there before check in, then find a way to get there, even if it means hiring a taxi cab to take you, wait, and bring you back. They'll know where the Publix is located.
Stay at a hotel that offers free breakfast. The Amerisuites is located directly across from the parking garage, and has a great breakfast.
http://www.nogodforme.com/Amerisuites.htm
Surf my site for other ideas. There are restaurants located across from the parking garage.
http://www.nogodforme.com/AcrossUSF2005.htm
Saving money at these places, will let you splurge in the park.

The HRC menu is here, good idea is to order appetizers, like the Jumbo Combo.
http://www.hardrock.com/locations/cafes/menuSelect.aspx?lc=MENU
On our trip, we ordered 3 Apps (each is about $10), and it was enough for everyone.

 

[Candice30]

i had this same issue when we stayed onsite last year. i saw our meals as the easiest place to cut the budget. i got a tip from someone here on the boards about shipping food to myself. in the months before we left, i shopped at my local grocery stores so that i could get the best deals and cut coupons. i packaged up the box and shipped it to myself at the hotel and let the hotel know that it was coming. i'm not sure what the cost would be from the uk but you can probably find out on the website of whatever shipping company you would use. i used ups and it only cost me $15 to send a box to myself. ups has estimates on their website based on box size and weight. you can even find out when to ship it so it will arrive when you do.

in the box i had cereal, granola bars, fruit cups, a case of mini water bottles, 2 cases of juice boxes, bread, peanut butter, jam, chips, pretzels, cookies, candy, napkins and such. it saved me so much money!!! we stayed at RPR and they had milk at the lounge and we just bought a 16 oz everynight and packed it in alot of ice for the morning. if you have a rental car or a car service where you can stop at the grocery store in orlando you can pick up milk. so we had breakfast in the room everyday except one (they wanted green eggs and ham) and for lunch, i packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, water, & juice in a collapsable cooler and took to the pool with us. the only food i bought out was dinner every night and the occassional slurpee or ice cream in the park. GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[JessicaR]

New England isnt in the UK.

There are so many options to eat for less $. We always spend lots less at Universal than at Disney. Turkey legs are so filling and cheap! You could have a great sit down at many restaurants in CW each evening and not break the bank...just choose wisely.

 

[Candice30]

oops! i just noticed the other poster said uk and i didn't even look at your profile. anyway, you can go to www.ups.com and get the info i was talking about.

 

[Mad4Dizne]

We are taking a car service to resort, probably RPR--but we like HRH too, depends who has the best deal when we book; We will get a grocery stop for breakfast foods/snacks. We usually have lunch in the parks and dinner in Citywalk...never really thought about our budget at Universal before. I was just getting nervous because we are spending alot more on the room and tickets this year (staying longer).

What would be your suggestions for the best park restaurants/best deals in them???

Thanks again!!!!

 

[Candice30]

from my experience with universal, there aren't really deals in the parks. the food is expensive and not very good unless you eat at a sit-down place that will cost you more. to save money, we did eat dinner sometimes in the park as it was too much for me to do citywalk everynight. i took and 11 year old and a 7 year old. the 11 year old eats like an adult but to save money and not waste food, i usually shared something with the 7 year old. alot of the time he wanted pizza or chicken fingers. alot of the places in the parks have those in combo meals. we split the entree and drink and if i was really hungry, i would get a side salad or extra fries. not a big savings but allowed for another slurpee fix when we wanted it.

 

[phamton]

At Universal: Louie's is a cheap place to eat if you order one large pizza (around $13 for a pepperoni) and share it. Get two refillable cups for soda. It is big enough that two people can share. Mel's has the cheapest hamburger---around $7 for hamburger, fries, and refill drink. Richters has bigger and better burgers but they will cost a dollar more. Also hotdogs and corn dogs at many of the stands are around $5 for refill drink, hotdog, and chips.

At IOA, the meals at Enchanted Oak are huge and can be easily split. They are around $12 for ribs, corn on the cob, cornbread, baked potato. (They also have chicken and hamburgers) Burger Digs has hamburgers with fries and drink for around $8.

If there is something specific you were looking for or a certain restaurant, let me know and I'll be glad to check in a few days.

 

[gigi1313]

i also read the post on the budget board re: food for four for under $75/day and have to say that we are a family of four also (similar kids' ages) and there is no way my family would be full/content w/the food (both amount and selection... lots of double cheeseburgers/extra buns and chicken finger meals) that family ate... we would be hungry if we split cs-meals and that would only lead to needing more mickey bars

 

[Mad4Dizne]

We have to try the pizza!! I was looking for the approximate prices of combo meals and meals at the counter services--you guys are great!!!! Thanks again!!!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

When we were at City Walk, DH, DS and I would often split a salad or app then DH and I split an entree. Often DS would order off the kids menu. We were trying to save calories and ended up saving $$ as well.