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  • I took my family to Universal Orlando for less than $200 a person each day — my key to saving hundreds was knowing where to spend it

I took my family to Universal Orlando for less than $200 a person each day — my key to saving hundreds was knowing where to spend it

Lisa GalekJul 4, 2023, 19:02 IST

Universal Orlando Resort has three of my favorite theme parks: Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay.Lisa Galek

  • I took my two daughters on a three-day trip to Universal Orlando Resort for less than $1,800.
  • The annual passes we purchased in 2022 saved us hundreds of dollars on park admission fees.
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My daughters and I decided to plan a three-day getaway to Universal Orlando Resort, and we pulled it off for less than $1,800.

We flew from Cleveland, Ohio, to Orlando, Florida, for the three-day trip.Lisa Galek

Annual passes can be pricey up front, but they saved us money on park entry, hotel stays, and food in the long term.

Volcano Bay is one of Universal's three theme parks.Lisa Galek
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Frontier Airlines automatically seats children under 14 with the adults in their party, so I didn't have to pay extra for reserved spots.

We had our own row on the flights to and from Orlando.Lisa Galek

My daughters and I shared a room at Dockside Inn and Suites, one of Universal's newest and least expensive properties, for $105 a night.

Our standard room at Dockside had two queen-size beds and fit up to four adults.Lisa Galek
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Since we were only really traveling between the theme parks and our hotel, we didn't rent a car.

We took an Uber from the airport to our hotel when we arrived.Jerry Driendl/Photodisc/Getty Images

My kids and I love trying different meals and snacks in Universal's parks, so I budgeted $50 for each person to use for food every day.

We typically stick to quick-service restaurants in Universal's theme parksLisa Galek
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We ended up spending just under $300 on food over the course of three days and stuck to mostly quick-service restaurants.

Creating a food budget ahead of time helps me feel more relaxed in the parks.Lisa Galek

I also packed our own healthy snacks — like nuts, granola bars, and fruit leather — in a backpack I wore around the parks.

Some of the lines can get long, so it's helpful to have snacks while waiting.Lisa Galek
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If you're looking to cut down expenses, I recommend steering clear of souvenirs in the park.

The souvenirs in Universal's gift shops tend to be very expensive.Lisa Galek

We'd previously purchased interactive wands for $63 each, so we brought them back to use at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Some souvenirs can be used over and over again in the parks.Lisa Galek
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Our trip total came out to $1,790, or about $200 a person each day.

Budgeting ahead of time really helps me cut back on expenses.Lisa Galek
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