Food and Drink

The number one thing I pack in our bag every time we go to Universal is WATER. We are are pretty big water drinkers anyways, but when we are walking around (especially in the Florida heat), we consume a lot of water. I like to freeze two bottles, and throw in at least two more that are refrigerated. If we are choosing to use our refill cup, then you can get water pretty easily from the Coca-Cola refill stations, so I’ll just pack an extra thermos with ice and we refill that all day.

You can also get free water at the park at any quick service station. Just be aware that the cups are on the small side for an adult, and you might have to wait quite awhile in line on busy days just for your small cup of water.

I received this cooler backpack for Christmas, and it’s been amazing. It keeps our drinks and snacks fresh and cool all day long. I try and pack snacks that won’t get smushed too badly. Bring stuff that your family likes and can preferably eat while standing in line or walking from place to place. We like fresh fruit, nuts, lunchables, goldfish, and granola bars. I love these natural peanut butter packets that give me an awesome energy boost and are super portable.

Universal’s official rules state that you can bring in snacks and any drinks non-alcoholic that are not in glass bottles. We’ve picked up sub sandwiches from Publix (Florida’s unofficial sandwich) and brought that in with bags of chips and nobody batted an eye. So I’d say it’s safe to bring in full lunches, if that’s your thing. Just don’t be super obvious about it and try and drag in a giant ice chest, and you’re good to go.

Merchandise

There are approximately one billion super cute things your little one will want you to buy them throughout the course of the day. On days when I’ve decided that Cash will get a souvenir of some sort, I give him a budget and tell him he has all day to search for one thing. At the end of the day, he gets to tell me what his decision is, and we’ll go buy it. He has fun checking stuff out everywhere we go, and he knows that I am going to say yes to something, so it cuts down on the whining and pleading. It also cuts down on having to carry stuff, and then worry about losing it. If you’re staying on site, there is a service that allows you to send your goodies back to the hotel room. You can also just have it sent to the front of the park for pickup at the end of the day.

Another option that is fun is using a gift card. You can buy one for each kid and they have a set amount on it for the trip. They work just like debit cards, and since you can add money to it, maybe you could have them earn money to put on it on the weeks leading up to your vacation. :) When that money is gone, it’s gone, and you don’t have to worry about what you’ve spent on whom.

Inside the Park Deals

One of the best deals you can get, if you are planning on staying all day and drinking something other than water, is the refill cup. You can purchase one at the beginning of your stay, and refill it all day from the Coca Cola machines for free. Each day you go, you can pay a small fee to get it reactivated. We usually use the main cup for soda and juices, but we also use it to obtain free ice for our water bottles. They have these stands all over both parks as well as in many of the restaurants, so they are easy to access.

Another great buy, especially if you’re a passholder or are going for multiple days is the popcorn bucket. You can purchase the bucket once, and get refills for somewhere around a dollar, forever. This has saved us a ton of money when we’re hungry for a hot snack. The only downside to this is that they are very bulky. We use the handle to attach it to the outside of our bag.