Cheap Eats at Universal Orlando
That Are Actually Worth It
The best-value food at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, Volcano Bay, CityWalk, and the hotels: cheap sides, shareable pizza, and snacks under $6.
The cheapest way to eat at Universal Orlando is to bring water and small snacks from home, then spend your food money on things that are filling and easy to share. Universal’s entrées and kids’ meals cost more than Disney’s, but its cheap sides and snacks are some of the best deals in Orlando. Garlic knots for $4.99, a jumbo muffin for $4.99, and a whole pizza that serves two are all out there if you know where to look.
This guide covers the best cheap eats at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, Volcano Bay, CityWalk, and the hotel food courts, plus the free water and refill tricks that save the most. Universal adjusts menu prices often, so treat every price here as a guide and check the Universal app before you go.
Water is free. Restaurants and most carts give free cups of water, and the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines pour free water.
Snacks yes, full meals no. Universal allows bottled water and small snacks, but not full meals from outside.
Sides are the best deal. Garlic knots, corn, fries, and muffins under $6 make an easy light lunch for small kids.
Value hotel food courts are cheaper than the parks. A whole cheese pizza is about $13.50 to $14.
Start With What’s Free: Water and Snacks From Home
Before you spend anything, cover the basics. Universal allows bottled water, small snacks, baby food, and food for medical or dietary needs, but not glass containers or full meals from outside. Our best snacks for Disney and Universal guide covers what holds up in a park bag.
- Free water: Ask for a free cup of water at any restaurant or most carts, or use the water button on a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine. Bottled water costs about $6 at most locations.
- Bring a bottle for each kid: An insulated water bottle keeps water cold all day, and you can fill it at water fountains around the parks.
- Make water more interesting: A packet of Liquid I.V. or another drink mix gets kids drinking without buying a soda.
- Pre-portion snacks: Reusable silicone snack bags filled the night before mean you hand over a bag in line instead of buying a snack every hour.
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Cheap Eats at Universal Studios Florida
The jumbo slice is big enough for two small kids to share. A whole cheese pie is about $38.99 if you’re feeding a group, which is still cheaper per person than most entrées in the park.
A kid-size mac and cheese that’s cheaper than most kids’ meals at Universal, right in the park’s area for little kids. The Can’t Stop the Donut, a frosted sprinkle donut, is about $4.49, and bottled water here is cheaper than elsewhere, about $4.25.
A shareable side that Minion fans love. Kids’ meals here, like Mr. Gru’s PB&J or Bob’s Cheesy Mashup, are about $9.99.
A filling Harry Potter-themed side for about a third of the price of an entrée there. It’s a fun way for fans to eat in the Leaky Cauldron without paying for a full meal. A Butterbeer is about $9.99, so one to share is a good way to try it.
Cheap Eats at Islands of Adventure
One of the best deals at Universal. The garlic knots work as a snack or a light lunch for a small child. Cafe 4 in Marvel Super Hero Island sells garlic knots with marinara for the same price.
A cheese pizza is about $12.99, and a garlic knot is $4.99. It’s one of the cheaper ways to feed a hungry kid in Jurassic Park, close to Camp Jurassic and the Pteranodon Flyers.
Corn on the cob is about $5.29, and a loaded jacket potato (about $11.99) is a full meal. Kids’ chicken fingers or mac and cheese are about $9.99, and you get to eat in one of the most fun Harry Potter restaurants.
Big enough to split as a family breakfast on your way into the park, and much cheaper than buying a breakfast for each person.
Cheap Eats at Epic Universe
Each pizza serves two, which works well for siblings. It’s one of the best-value meals in the park.
Nordic Fries are about $5.49 and easy to share, and kids’ plates are about $9.99. The Viking hall is one of the most impressive places to eat in the park.
Kids’ chicken tender or meatloaf skewers are about $9.99, and a side of slaw is only about $1.99. It’s a good stop if your kids are fine with the spooky theme.
A cheap breakfast or snack in the Wizarding World. Kids’ fried chicken or a petite burger is about $9.99.
A cup of popcorn is an easy shared snack between rides. Toadstool Cafe nearby is more of a splurge, with kids’ meals about $10.99 to $13.99, but for Mario fans it’s worth it as a special meal.
Our Epic Universe family guide covers the best rides by age in each world.
Universal’s refillable popcorn bucket is about $12.29, with refills around $2.19. The Coca-Cola Freestyle souvenir cup is about $19.99 for a day of refills across the parks, and it’s cheaper per cup when you buy two or more. It pays off for families who would otherwise buy four or five drinks each.
Cheap Eats at Volcano Bay
Volcano Bay closes for part of the winter, so check the calendar if you’re visiting in the cooler months. When it’s open, these are the best values:
- Jumbo muffin (Kohola Reef): About $4.99, and an easy breakfast or snack. Fries are about $5.99.
- Longboard pizza (Whakawaiwai Eats): A cheese longboard pizza is about $12.99 and is easy to share.
- Ice pops (Bambu): A coconut or mango ice pop is about $5.99 and a good way to cool off.
The Volcano Bay menus don’t list separate kids’ meals, so plan on sharing a pizza or sides. Our Volcano Bay family guide covers the rest of the day.
Cheap Eats at CityWalk
CityWalk is mostly sit-down restaurants, but Hot Dog Hall of Fame is an easy, cheaper stop. A Nathan’s Famous hot dog is about $9.49, or about $10.49 with chips or fries. Our CityWalk family guide covers what else is there for kids.
Cheap Eats at the Universal Hotels
The value hotel food courts are often the best value of the whole trip, especially for breakfast and an easy dinner after a long day.
- Endless Summer food courts: Beach Break Cafe at Dockside Inn and Pier 8 Market at Surfside Inn sell a cheese pizza for about $13.50, with kids’ meals around $8 to $9, including a drink.
- Cabana Bay: Bayliner Diner has a hot dog with fries for about $8.50 and a whole cheese pizza for about $14. Kids’ meals are about $10 and include a drink and fruit.
- Refillable hotel mugs: Universal’s hotel mugs are priced by length of stay and refill at the hotel food courts, but they don’t work in the parks.
Our Universal Orlando on a budget guide covers savings beyond food.
We’ve found that having the right snacks and drinks on hand makes a big difference throughout the day. We always bring a leakproof, insulated water bottle for each of the kids and add drink packets like lemonade or electrolytes so they actually drink. For snacks, we keep it simple with reusable bags of easy favorites like Goldfish, pretzels, and dried fruit. That keeps us from constant snack stops, and it leaves room in the budget for the food stops that become part of the trip, like Toadstool Cafe at Epic Universe, which ended up being one of our favorite moments.
How to Spend Less on Universal Food
Save Money By…
- Bringing water bottles and small snacks from home
- Ordering cheap sides like garlic knots, corn, or fries as a light lunch
- Splitting a jumbo slice or a whole pizza
- Eating breakfast at a value hotel food court
- Skipping bottled water in favor of free cups
It’s Worth Paying For…
- A shared Butterbeer in the Wizarding World
- Toadstool Cafe for Mario fans
- A Freestyle cup or popcorn bucket if your family will use it
- A sit-down lunch indoors on a hot afternoon
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✕Buying bottled water all day. Free cups of water and a refillable bottle save more than almost anything else.
- ✕Bringing a full picnic. Universal’s outside food policy covers small snacks and water, not full meals.
- ✕Ordering a full meal for every small child. Many kids are happy sharing a pizza or a couple of sides.
- ✕Buying a Freestyle cup you’ll only use twice. Count how many drinks your family really will buy.
- ✕Waiting until everyone is starving. Hungry kids choose the most expensive thing on the menu, and lines get longest at noon.
Bring water and snacks, then build meals from Universal’s cheap sides.
Free water and snacks from home do most of the saving at Universal. In the parks, $4.99 garlic knots, Louie’s jumbo slice, Pizza Moon’s shareable pizza, and sides under $6 go a long way, and the value hotel food courts make breakfast and dinner cheaper.
Then save room in the budget for one or two treats that become part of the trip, like a Butterbeer or a meal at Toadstool Cafe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the cheapest items are the $4.99 garlic knots at Comic Strip Cafe, Cafe 4, and Pizza Predattoria in Islands of Adventure, a $4.99 jumbo muffin at Volcano Bay, and a $4.19 croissant at Epic Universe. A side of slaw at Das Stakehaus in Epic Universe is about $1.99.
Yes. Restaurants and most carts and kiosks give free cups of water, and Coca-Cola Freestyle machines pour free water. There are water fountains around the parks too.
You can bring bottled water, small snacks, baby food, and food for medical or dietary needs, but not full meals from outside. Glass containers and large coolers aren’t allowed.
Most kids’ meals in the parks are about $9.99. Toadstool Cafe at Epic Universe costs a little more, about $10.99 to $13.99, and the value hotel food courts are about $8 to $10.
It is if your family drinks a lot of soda. The cup is about $19.99 for a day of refills across the parks, and it’s cheaper per cup when you buy two or more. If you mostly drink water, skip it, since water is free.
A cold, frozen, or hot Butterbeer is about $9.99, and a souvenir mug costs extra. Sharing one is an easy way for kids to try it.
Food budget sorted. Let’s plan the park days.
Itineraries, packing guides, and planning tools for every part of your Universal trip.