The Exceptionally Easy Guide to Affordable Dining Options at Universal Studios Parks
Visiting any theme park can put a dent in your wallet. And as awesome as they are, Universal Studios theme parks are no exception. However, one of the largest expenses that’s often overlooked is meal planning. Food can get ridiculously expensive at theme parks if you aren’t careful. Luckily, it is possible to plan your trip without busting your budget – if you know how to do it! Here are our best tips and tricks to finding the most affordable dining options at Universal parks!
Don’t Discount Quick Service Selections
The days of wilted salads and sad burgers as the most affordable menu options are long gone. You can find delicious – and fairly inexpensive – food at many of these locations. For food that’s good quality and a good price point, check out some of our favorites:
1. Doc Sugrue’s Desert Kebab House
At the Lost Continent in Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure, you can find some truly great kebobs on a budget. They are all generously sized portions for the price (around $12.99) – you get the kebob, pita bread, and a choice of chips. Their snacks include hummus served with pita bread and celery sticks, as well as a nice Greek salad. They’ve also got vegetarian kebob options for those who prefer meatless entrees.
2. The Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck
The Simpson’s area at Universal Studios is criminally underrated when it comes to theming and budget-friendly themed food options. The first of these is Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck. This free-standing kiosk serves a few meat-based taco options with generous portions and great flavor. For $11.99 you can get two tacos and a side of chips and salsa. Not a bad deal compared to the pricier options! And who doesn’t love tacos??
3. Fast Food Boulevard
Also located in the Springfield section of Universal Studios, Fast Food Boulevard is a collection of quick-service dining spots conveniently grouped in one building with multiple facades. This houses several locations including Krusty Burger, The Flying Dutchman, Cletus’ Chicken Shack, Lisa’s Teahouse of Horror, Luigi’s Grill, and Flaming Moe’s. With this many options grouped in one spot, you’re sure to find something both affordable and delicious!
4. Central Park Crepes
This kiosk – located near the entrance to the Hollywood section of Universal Studios – is one of the many hidden gems for affordable snacks that are filling enough to be considered an entrée. They serve a variety of crepes for just about any mood for craving. Go for a traditional strawberry hazelnut to appease that sweet tooth or check out their smoked brisket crepe for a savory surprise. All priced under $10, they are very wallet-friendly as well!
5. TODAY Café
One of the newer quick-service restaurants in the park, The TODAY Café has some surprisingly affordable options for every meal. They also boast a healthier menu that’s filled with artisan sandwiches and fresh salads. TODAY Café is close to the park entrance, making it a good central location to take a break on a busy park day.
Grab Breakfast Before You Go
Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day – but that doesn’t mean you need to blow a ton of your budget on overpriced options. Depending on where you stay, you may have access to complimentary breakfast at your hotel. At the very least, your hotel will have more affordable (and often quicker) breakfast options than the theme parks.
You can also plan to bring your own breakfast fare for your trip. Most hotels have a mini-fridge in the room so you can store fresh fruit or other items for grab-and-go breakfasts before you leave the room.
Pack Your Own Snacks
Speaking of bringing your own food, you can also bring snacks into the Universal parks! Universal Studios theme parks allow guests to bring in their own food. Some recommendations include protein bars, individually wrapped snack cakes, packages of peanut butter crackers, small bags of chips, cookies, crackers, or trail mix.
However, there are some restrictions on what you can bring. All snacks must be small and can’t require refrigeration or heating. They also will not allow large insulated bags, coolers, or picnic lunches inside the parks. Oh, and make sure to read any updated park guidelines before you go, just to be on the safe side!
Refillable Snacking
There are affordable snack options within the park – if you enjoy popcorn and soda. Universal has two refillable snacking options: Drink All Day Long ($16.99) and the Souvenir Popcorn Bucket ($11.29). Each comes with a refillable container that you can use anywhere in the park. While the Drink All Day Long deal lets you get unlimited sods throughout your day, there is a $2.00 charge for any popcorn refills.
If you are considering this route, ask yourself this question: Will I use this more than once? And while they can seem like good deals – especially if you have a large group – you have to keep in mind you’ll be carrying around your cup and popcorn bucket all day long.
Avoid Alcohol
Drinking is expensive! (Especially in the Universal Parks.) While we love a good cocktail or two, it’s something you can easily cut out of your budget in favor of a fancier meal at the park…or you can snag that souvenir you’ve been eying since you arrived. I know, I can’t resist a cute plushie, either!
Additionally, Central Florida is warm no matter what time of the year you visit, so, you could run the risk of dehydration if you have one too many drinks. Moderation is a good idea even without budget restraints!
Skip Sodas & Bottled Water
No matter how you look at it, $4 for a bottle of water is too expensive – even in the Florida heat. One of the best purchases we ever made is a durable, refillable water bottle. You can refill them regularly all over the park.
Moreover, you can also skip sodas at any restaurant or quick-service location in favor of free ice water. I know we just said the refillable drink cups can be a good deal, but you don’t have to get one at all. Most locations within the park will gladly give you water, even without a purchase at the location – you just have to ask! With these two tricks, you can significantly stretch your food budget.
Check out CityWalk for Affordable Dining Options
One of the benefits of visiting Universal Studios theme parks is the proximity of outside food and drink options. Universal CityWalk is a few steps away from the park entrances and, while it might be underutilized by parkgoers, it opens a world of opportunity for food.
You can find some incredibly affordable meals (and snacks!) at all price points. You can grab some fast food at Burger King or Panda Express, check out Moe’s Southwest Grill for a burrito, Red Oven Pizza for a hot slice, or swing by Voodoo Doughnuts for something sweet.
Split Meals
Depending on your appetite for the day, you may find that splitting dining portions at certain locations may be the best option for your budget. Most of the locations have larger platters that are just big enough for two people to share without feeling hungry when you’re done. You can find larger portions at places like Classic Monsters Café and The Flying Dutchman.
If you do a little research – and some serious planning ahead – you can save yourself a lot of money in the long run when it comes to eating well at the Universal parks.
What’s your favorite budget-friendly snack solution for a theme park vacation? Let us know in the comments below!
Happy snacking!
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