Bringing Outside Food & Drink to Universal Studios
Universal Studios sells some fantastic food and drink. However, as with most theme parks, the cost of these items is inflated.
You are permitted to bring food and drink into Universal Studios, provided the items meet the rules set out by Universal security.
The food and drink items permitted into Universal Studios include:
- Bottled Water (maximum 2 litres per guest)
- Any food required for medical purposes
- Baby food or baby formula
- Food that does not require heating or refrigeration
The food and drink items not permitted into Universal Studios include:
- Glass containers
- Drinks containing alcohol
There are also restrictions on the cooler you can bring into Universal Studios. The cooler can only be soft-sided and no larger than 8.5″ wide x 6″ high x 6″ deep.
You can find more food and drink rules for Universal Studios on the:
The Best Food & Drink to Bring to Universal Studios
Just because you can bring a banana or a turkey sandwich to Universal Studios doesn’t mean you should. The heat and humidity can make some foods inedible, cause you to be sick or damage the inside of your backpack.
I find it’s best to bring snacks to Universal Studios rather than a full lunch, although that may not be possible if you have specific dietary needs.
Bringing snacks, specifically durable snacks, means you don’t need to bring a cooler. Plus, you can still take advantage of the benefits of bringing food and drink with you to Universal.
With that in mind, these are the snacks I recommend packing for a trip to Universal Studios:
- Chips & Crisps
- Croissants & Pastries
- Pretzels
- Cereal & Granola Bars
- Breadstick & Cheese Dippers
- Crackers
- Nuts & Trail Mix
- Squeezy Yogurts
- Fruit Roll-Ups / Fruit Leather
- Jelly Sweets
- M&Ms
- Cookies
- Popcorn
- Carrot & Cucumber Sticks
- Raisins
- Apples
- Rice Cakes
- Beef Jerky
- Fruit Sauce Packs
- Dried Fruit
- Fruit Juice Mixers
- Electrolyte Sachets
Most of these items are stocked in stores near Universal Studios, including Walmart, Target, Dollar Tree, and Five Below.
Benefits of Bringing Food & Drink to Universal Studios
Carrying food and drink around Universal Studios all day can be hard work. As such, it’s important to consider the benefits of bringing food to the park.
Given the cost of food and drink at Universal Studios, the most obvious benefit of bringing your food is the money you can save. However, unless you plan to bring a full packed lunch, you’ll still need to budget for food at the park.
If you have dietary needs, bringing food to Universal Studios can elevate some stress. That said, Universal is very accommodating when it comes to dietary requirements.
A benefit often overlooked when bringing food to Universal Studios is the ability to access the food when you want. This is ideal if you are hungry while in line for the Hogwarts Express or need a quick, sweet fix while waiting for a show to begin.
This is also perfect for kids, who often go from completely fine to starving in less than five minutes.
Tips for Bringing Food to Universal Studios
Alongside the food, you may want to pack some extra items for cleaning and convenience. These include
- Wipes
- Food Bags
- Water Bottle
I also recommend packing variety rather than depending on one or two large bags of a specific item. This will allow you to cater for different needs and cravings without taking up any extra space.
Also, if you’re travelling with kids, pack food that reflects the food you’ll see in the park. That way, they are more likely to eat the food you’ve brought rather than continue to ask for the food they’ve seen.