Planning a Universal Orlando vacation on a budget?  Here’s some of the best ways to save money on food at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure Orlando.

I’m a mom of 4 which means that we are always looking for ways to save on our Orlando vacations and I also am gluten free which comes with it’s own set of obstacles.  

These recommendations are our best tips for saving money on food (and they are also gluten free because that’s how I roll).

I hope you find some amazing money saving tips on food for your next Universal Studios vacation!

Best ways to save money on food at Universal Studios - Hogwarts castle shown.

1) Eat Breakfast at the Hotel

One of the best ways to save money is to eat breakfast at your hotel.  First, check and see if your hotel offers a free breakfast.  If not you’ll want to get some of your own food to keep on hand in your hotel room.  

We make a local grocery store run in Orlando and stock up on cereal, breakfast bars, fruit, and other cheap items for our vacation week.  

You’ll find the best prices at a Walmart or Target.  

gluten free snacks - chips, breakfast biscuits, kind bars

If you don’t have a car, you can either use InstaCart or the Kroger delivery service to grab some cheap breakfast items for the week!  

Our kids usually eat in the hotel room while my husband and I are getting ready and prepping for the day.  I often will pack a breakfast bar to take with me into the parks.

2) Pack Snacks

I tend to pack light for Universal compared to Disney as so many more of the rides require you to place your items in lockers.  

However, If you are planning on carrying a bag anyway, go ahead and fill it up with your own snacks like crackers, bars, apples, etc.  

Be mindful that if it’s hot outside, you’ll want to avoid packing anything with chocolate as that summer Florida heat can be relentless and your snack will turn into a gooey mess.

Having a small mid morning snack can give everyone a much needed boost and can help eliminate the need to buy a snack in the park or less lunch.

3) Order Kid Meals

Adults can eat kids meals at quick service locations.  Many times the Kids meals aren’t much smaller than the adult size….and you can save quite a bit!

4) Share a Meal or Drink

Many meals are large enough to feed 2 people – or at least 2 kids!

If you have kids, you know how random their eating habits can be.  Somedays they eat their full bodyweight in pizza and the next day they act like they’ve never eaten pizza in their life.  

So….share those meals!

pizza tots from Green Eggs and Ham at Universal

Green Eggs and Ham at Islands of Adventure is a great place to share tot bowls as these tend to be large enough to feed 2 kids.

5) Free Water 

I personally like to travel light (belt bag style) at Universal due to all the lockers that are required for rides.  

This means that packing reusable water bottles are an option, but not a great one due to having to stow it in a locker at nearly every ride.  

free water at Universal studios

But…there’s some really good news!  Amazingly enough at Universal Studios, you can find free water cups at quick service restaurants, kiosks, and you can refill them with water at the Freestyle Coke machines.  

These are only for water, but that’s really all you need on a hot day and you can save so much money by just drinking water.  It’s one of the easiest ways to save!

6) Free-Style Drinks

The Free-style drink machines are an interesting option and I did want to address them even though my own family does not use them.  

Many families like to purchase a Free-style cup which comes with unlimited refills.  You can bring it into the park a second day to use again for a somewhat lower price.  

But basically, the price of one refillable cup the first day is the same as almost 4 individual drinks in the park.  This can be a good deal if you are willing to share a cup.  

The 2nd day activation fee is about the same cost as 2.5 individual drinks, so you are really gaining the savings on your second day.   Keep in mind though, that the cup has to be activated each day you bring it in.

However, what I don’t like about this is that you are stuck using the lockers at every ride to store the cup (which takes a lot of time out of your day versus just wearing a fanny pack and walking on most rides).  

Look into it as it might work for your family’s situation, but for me and my family of 6, it’s never made sense.

7) London Taxi Hut

jacket potatoes

If you are looking for a easy meal that is super filling, be sure to check out the little hut near the purple Knight Bus outside of Diagon Alley at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  

You can find baked potatoes called Jacket Potatoes.  We love the loaded baked potato, but you can find other flavors as well.  Such a great deal for a filling lunch!

8) Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck

The Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck in the Simpsons section of Universal Studios Orlando is a good idea for a quick bite!  

Tacos are a great option as they have gluten free options and food costs are fairly reasonable for the amount of food you receive.  Check this quick service meal out!

9) Green Eggs and Ham

Green Eggs and Ham at Universal’s Islands of Adventure serves up delicious Tot bowls for a reasonable price. We love the gluten free Pizza tots but there are other options as well.

green eggs and ham

These bowls are very filling and you can definitely split a bowl between 2 kids!

10)Today Café

The food prices at the Today Cafe near the entrance of Universal Studios are very reasonable.  

You can find sandwiches and salads which can be made gluten free at this little restaurant.

11) Leaky Cauldron

Excited about eating in one of the Harry Potter themed restaurants?  The cheapest way to enjoy one is checking out the Leaky Cauldron.  

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a great meal here.  We enjoy cooling off and taking a break from the long lines at this fun quick service restaurant.

chicken sandwich at leaky cauldron

Are you noticing a pattern?  We’ve noticed that the best deals on food tend to be on the Universal Orlando Florida side of the park in the quick-service restaurants, while Universal’s Islands of Adventure tends to have the more expensive options.

It’s not 100% across the board, but if you can eat in Universal Orlando Florida, you’ll probably save some cash!

How to save money on food at Universal

More Universal Vacation Planning Tips

Planning a trip to Universal Orlando Resort?  Here’s some of our best tips for your visit!

Did you know that Lanyards are a Universal thing?  Here’s the Best Lanyards for Universal and Why you Need One!

Get ready for your trip with this free Universal Theme Parks Packing List.  Everything you need without the fluff.

Here’s What to Wear to Universal.  Learn all about the weather at each time of year and get a great idea for what to wear!

Learn all about the Universal Studios Express Passes.  Are they necessary or do you just need one during peak season?  Everything you need to know on these passes and if they are worth the extra cost.

Want to save this article for later?  Pin the image below to your Universal Studios Florida Board on Pinterest.

The Best ways to save money on food at Universal Studios - Hogwarts castle

Similar Posts