Universal Meal Plan

[chach]

I'm looking for some current updates from people who have used the meal plan. Could you go over the items you ordered and your opinion on the plan?
thanks...

 

[markndean]

I'm looking for some current updates from people who have used the meal plan. Could you go over the items you ordered and your opinion on the plan?
thanks...

we didn't use it this year, but last yeat we had a 2 park deal. What we ate was:

11.00 - cheesburger and fries - captain america IOA
12.30 - fried chicken ( left the rest) circus mcgurkus IOA
14.30 - Chinese - world food court US
16.30 - Dessert - comic strip cafe IOA
18.30 - meatballs and spaghetti - pastamore city walk

Good value, but you feel that you want to get your moenys worth. We paid for a meal deal each, but if you watch other people you see that only one will have a wristband and they all share the food. we only buy 1 drink though, and keep getting it refilled all day.

 

[macraven]

oh man, you missed the best pizza at Louie's last year....

 

[A Mickeyfan]

You will want to plan your meals off peak times. Many of the places that take the meal deal will have a special line for the wrist band people and you can be on that line for 20 minutes if not longer (while the other line will have no one waiting). It is worth it if you are going to be at the parks all day, but if you get there late or plan on leaving early, it is not worth it. You can eat for less than the cost of the wrist band if you only plan on eating 2 meals there.


The food is basically the same at most of the places (some are only at certian places though ie: mashed potatoes, chinese food, spicey chicken). Pizza, burgers, fried chicken, grilled chicken cesar salad, some chinese food (sweet & sour chicken, sweat & sour beef, fried rice, & something else but I can't remember), chicken parm & spaghetti, spaghetti & meatballs, mashed potates, french fries, onion rings, spicy chicken fingers & spicy chicken sandwich, fruit plate... desserts are all the same no matter where you go.. they are a cookie, a piece of chocolate (very good ) silky cake, or a jello cup in red & blue with some sort of whip cream in it (red, white and blue). If you order a fruit plate, that is considered a meal so you cannot get food. I like to get fruit as my dessert and cannot. So I have to get my meal, then go back and get my fruit. You also cannot get a burger, fries & oinion rings. I also have not been able to just get a side order of fries or onion rings, I have had to get an entire meal just to get onion rings.. lots of things do not make sence and it a waste of food..
You can get the soda deal with it or without it. I usually do not since I have a refillable cup that I use all the time there, 70 cent refills all the time.... if I had only the meal deal cup, I could only use it on the days I buy the meal deal/w the drink (not sure if they would even let me reuse my cup). I have an AP & go several times a year but do not always get the meal deal... but will buy soda every time... so that was a better deal for me..

 

[macraven]

the counter services close 30 minutes prior to park closing.

be there before then if you plan to have one last dessert or entree.

 

[muffyn]

if you purchase it for one park, can you upgrade it to 2 parks (during the day) if you change your mind & go to both parks?

 

[Kymie]

not sure about upgrades, but to get value for money we skipped breakfast and ate as soon as the restaurants opened at 11am, then had 'lunch' between 2 and 3pm, and dinner after 6pm so we got our moneys worth and missed the long lines

 

[stepdisney]

we didn't use it this year, but last yeat we had a 2 park deal. What we ate was:

11.00 - cheesburger and fries - captain america IOA
12.30 - fried chicken ( left the rest) circus mcgurkus IOA
14.30 - Chinese - world food court US
16.30 - Dessert - comic strip cafe IOA
18.30 - meatballs and spaghetti - pastamore city walk

Good value, but you feel that you want to get your moenys worth. We paid for a meal deal each, but if you watch other people you see that only one will have a wristband and they all share the food. we only buy 1 drink though, and keep getting it refilled all day.

I would think that all you can eat at burgers and fries is encouraging folks to share meals. We have 2 meal deals and I am sure we will be sharing meals. Sorry for those who think this is wrong but I almost have to eat 4 meals myself to make up for the cost. The meals are $6.00 each and the cost for 2 park is $25.00.

 

[macraven]

I would think that all you can eat at burgers and fries is encouraging folks to share meals. We have 2 meal deals and I am sure we will be sharing meals. Sorry for those who think this is wrong but I almost have to eat 4 meals myself to make up for the cost. The meals are $6.00 each and the cost for 2 park is $25.00.

it is illegal to share food on the meal plan.

if it is abused, the meal deal could be taken out of the system.
for those of us that do use it, would be a sad day if it left.


it is not worth it to cheat.
would you go to a store and pick something up and take it without paying for it because you wanted to recoup cost of spending your money on necessities?

if the meal deal is not for you, then don't buy it.
it is an optional thing for the guests.

you can have your opinion but to encourage others to cheat is not a good thing.


why don't you just buy food at the park that you know you will eat?
i don't know many people that would buy 4 meals a day when they are doing theme parks.

 

[phamton]

I would think that all you can eat at burgers and fries is encouraging folks to share meals.

Each person on the meal deal will have a wristband. It is very easy to spot anyone sharing a meal with someone not wearing a wristband.

We have 2 meal deals and I am sure we will be sharing meals.

It is considered theft and there have been serious consequences when caught.

Sorry for those who think this is wrong

It is wrong.

but I almost have to eat 4 meals myself to make up for the cost.The meals are $6.00 each and the cost for 2 park is $25.00.

If it is not cost effective for you then you are free not to buy it and just purchase each meal individually.

 

[phamton]

if you purchase it for one park, can you upgrade it to 2 parks (during the day) if you change your mind & go to both parks?

Yes, you can. Just go to Guest services.

 

[stepdisney]

The same can be said for the cups. It is stated that they are for one day or one year only and yet we justify using them year after year. I simply stated that the choices for the meal plan make it so that you have to eat 4 meals to make it a deal. You literally would have to eat 4 hamburger meals to make it cost effective. What is the difference between purchasing 4 meals off of the meal plan at cost and purchasing 2 meal deals and eating 4 meals? I don't think they thought this one through. If I said that we were eating 8 meals per day on 2 meal deals, That would be stealing. The tickets for the sippy cup deal say they can only be purchased with meal deals and that is why some people purchase the meal deals. Also, the having your entire trip paid for thing.

I don't want the meal deal to go away, that wasn't my point. And, of course I do see your point, please try to see mine. I'm obviously not trying the something for nothing approach now am I? My point was that perhaps they should rethink the options, maybe add some other places to eat and not so much the "all you can eat" burger thing. They really are banking on the fact that you will only eat 2 cheap meals. Hope you're listening Universal. I heard that you "care about your customers".

 

[phamton]

The same can be said for the cups. It is stated that they are for one day or one year only and yet we justify using them year after year.

Where was this stated? I know it is stated for the free refills for the meal deal, but the regular refill mugs are good for every visit. When they first started the refill cups it was a daily thing where you got a sticker but then in years past it was changed. My refillable mug was good for whenever I bring it. I know Disney's is for length of stay but universal refillable mugs are not. The only ones that expire are the free refills with the sipper cups.

The tickets for the sippy cup deal say they can only be purchased with meal deals and that is why some people purchase the meal deals.

you can buy the same type of cup and pay for discounted refills. You just can't get free refills unless you are on the meal deal.

My point was that perhaps they should rethink the options, maybe add some other places to eat and not so much the "all you can eat" burger thing. They really are banking on the fact that you will only eat 2 cheap meals. Hope you're listening Universal. I heard that you "care about your customers".

The best way to accomplish that is to email guest services about the choices and/or prices, not to share the meal. You don't show Disney that their trading pins are too expensive by purchasing one and stealing another. You either don't buy the pin or you purchase both pins but let them know of your displeasure with the price.

 

[stepdisney]

Each person on the meal deal will have a wristband. It is very easy to spot anyone sharing a meal with someone not wearing a wristband.



It is considered theft and there have been serious consequences when caught.


It is wrong.



If it is not cost effective for you then you are free not to buy it and just purchase each meal individually.

Never mind. (insert white flag smiley face). I respectfully withdraw. Really wanted the sippy cup, had to purchase a meal plan to get it. I just found out I can get a souvie cup for less and pay the 70 cents. I also wanted to have my trip paid for totally including food. Don't want to eat burgers and fried chicken and pizza the whole trip. First time to Universal with the kids. Meal plan not really cost effective period. As all ears stated it's really for convenience sake.


You would have to know me to know that I am NOT trying to make any waves. Just responding to the comment where the person said they saw most people sharing meals, I can see why they do.

 

[ky07]

Where was this stated? I know it is stated for the free refills for the meal deal, but the regular refill mugs are good for every visit. When they first started the refill cups it was a daily thing where you got a sticker but then in years past it was changed. My refillable mug was good for whenever I bring it. I know Disney's is for length of stay but universal refillable mugs are not. The only ones that expire are the free refills with the sipper cups. you can buy the same type of cup and pay for discounted refills. You just can't get free refills unless you are on the meal deal.



The best way to accomplish that is to email guest services about the choices and/or prices, not to share the meal. You don't show Disney that their trading pins are too expensive by purchasing one and stealing another. You either don't buy the pin or you purchase both pins but let them know of your displeasure with the price.

Totally agree with you phamton and to the other poster Universal does care about thier customers and thats why you hear about them going out of thier way to make things right

 

[A Mickeyfan]

it is illegal to share food on the meal plan.

if it is abused, the meal deal could be taken out of the system.
for those of us that do use it, would be a sad day if it left.


it is not worth it to cheat.
would you go to a store and pick something up and take it without paying for it because you wanted to recoup cost of spending your money on necessities?

if the meal deal is not for you, then don't buy it.
it is an optional thing for the guests.

you can have your opinion but to encourage others to cheat is not a good thing.


why don't you just buy food at the park that you know you will eat?
i don't know many people that would buy 4 meals a day when they are doing theme parks.

You said it very nice.. that is why I said, some days it is not worth buying, simple as that. Some days it is, some it isn't. It all depends on how long I will be at the parks & how many meals I will get out of it. I am an AP holder & AP holders do get a small discount on their food, so that is something I weigh also when purchasing my Meal Plan. Someday's it works out cheaper to go a la carte with the AP food discounts... and eat only 2 meals. , and I always have my refillable cup with me

 

[chach]

We got a little side-tracked. I'd still love to hear
about anyone's opinions and food selections on the
recent Meal plan?
If you were doing one park for the meal plan
which would it be?

 

[macraven]

hey chach, i think it was discussed in another thread about opinions on the meal deal. if you do a search, you will find that thread and a few more on the boards. if you see a post that catches your eye on how they felt, send them a pm to get more info. not everyone will say exactly how they feel on an open forum. kwim??


i love the meal deal.
i pig out at louie's for the pizza. i don't care i stand in line. sometimes the TM sees the arm band on me and knows i only came back for the pizza.
so instead of the other things on the deal, i just get the pizza again.

i also love the chinese and american dishes at international film festival food bazaar. they have a bufferia style set up. you get in line and order what you want. they have 2 side by side serving lines.

yum yum..........so good there......

if you want drinks, buy the refillable mug. it tis valid for life for a refill cost. or you can buy the sipper drink cup/mug which is valid only with the meal deal. you buy it once and all set.


many poo poo the meal deal for many reasons.

if i am in the mood to spend the day shopping, browsing and eating, i buy the meal deal.
if the day will be spent doing rides, shows, attractions, i only do oop cs.

i am there for 5 full days so i take advantage of meal deal at least once per trip. sometimes more. but the, i love pizza at louie's and the chicken dinner at ifff place.

 

[bennyb98]

I LOVED the mean plan the last time I went to Universal! I was able to get all my favorites (pizza, chicken nuggets, fries) without having to worry about getting money or a card out, really simple to just get what you want and flash your wrist band.

However I would suggest doing the math to see what you expect to pay for food compared to the meal plan. I know I saved around $5 when I did the meal plan compared to buying everything separate.

 

[dsmom]

We got back two weeks ago and we always do the meal deal for one day. The pizza at Louies was great as usual. We got salads, fruit salads, chicken, burgers, chinese, etc... Our son is only 60 pounds but is an eating machine. The posted time says it starts at 11 a.m. but we got to order at Mels at 10 a.m. this time. Several places have let us order at 10:30. So if you are hungry early I would give it a try.