Universal Picture Card and Meal Plan?

[laharp4]

Hi Everyone, We are making our first trip to Universal. We will be there for 2 days. I am wondering about the picture card and the meal plan options that they have. I see that the prices have just recently gone up on the picture card by $30. (Was $59.99, now it is $89.99) This seems like a bit of a steep increase all at once.... (1) Can you tell me if enough pictures are taken to say that this package is a good investment? Also, (2) does anyone know if a picture is taken as you travel thru the wall to get onto the train platform? My last question is about the Meal Card... (3) Will purchasing the meal card give us a decent savings on food in the parks? I'm not sure what the pricing is within the parks.

Thanks you!
Tina

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We purchased the Photo Connect annual pass for our May trip and thought it was a good value....BUT, we also purchased it at a deep discount ($49.95 for the entire year, on a limited time promotion) and we made a point of geting the value out of it (stopping at as many photo locations as possible.....when the opporunity presented itself, we seized the moment). We liked the borders that were available for the photos, and the fact that they could be downloaded in various sizes. Some were excellent quality (nice enough that I framed a few for my walls) and others were so-so. All were nice and clear. We got some really fun "magic shots" at Simpsons and ET which were cute souvenirs of our trip.

No photo is taken as you travel through the wall at Platform 9 3/4. We did get an in-queue photo at Escape from Gringotts, and a Photo Connect photographer was stationed on the bridge as you enter Hogsmeade from Jurrasic Park.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

This link is a good resource on the Photo Connect product, and lists all the "regular" places that you should find photographers (though they will be in other non-scheduled places, too):

http://touringplans.com/universal-orlando/photo-connect

Edited to add..........

This thread is a great link to see a sample of the kinds of photos that you might get with a Photo Connect purchase:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/hey-yall-show-me-your-favorite-photo-connect-pictures.3393961/

 

[laharp4]

Thanks for the info... the more the better!!! Trying to make sure we optimize our trip for sure!!! Anymore help would be appreciated!!!

 

[macraven]

the meal deal is only good if you know prices.
i buy them and use them to my advantage for the quick service counter places.

i buy the more costly meal at the 3B's and buy the card there.
it covers that meal and a beverage.
(not butter beer but lemondade, tea, etc.)

you also get two coupons that must be used within 14 days of the date stamp on them.
one is for a snack
one is for a beverage.

you can use them anywhere in the park.
i use the snack for a butterbeer.
i use the beverage for large soda
deserts at boulangeria is another good place to use the snack credit coupon.

with this plan i save about $5 maybe 6 when i use them.

 

[gofordrew]

We didn't think the Photo Card was worth it...unless you really love ride photos. If you do want every ride photo it is a great deal compared to getting them individually. However, the only photographers we ever saw were at the entrances to the parks. Even at Character meets, we had to get someone to take our picture with our Camera because there were no Photo Card photographers there.

The meal plan is a good deal if you plan it right. The most expensive entree is Chicken and Ribs are the Monster Cafe, mix that with Poweraid for your 2 drinks and Butterbeer for your snack and you come out about $6 ahead. Depending on what you get, you can come out ahead, break even, or even come out at a loss.