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Universal Studios Spending Money: How Much Do You Need?

ByThemeParkPro Published

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve visited Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood. However, I’ve never really tracked how much I spent during a trip – until now.

On my latest visit, I spent an average of $100 per person per day, covering:

Pro Tip: This total doesn’t include things I booked in advance, like flights, hotels, or theme park tickets.

Of course, the amount you’ll need to bring depends on several factors, such as:

  • Location – On-site hotel, nearby, or further away
  • Accommodation – Hotel, villa, or apartment
  • Transport – Rental car, public transport, Lyft/Uber
  • Duration – How many days you’re visiting
  • Travellers – Young kids, friends, or solo

To help you plan your budget, I’ve divided this guide into four key spending areas. That way, you can see exactly where you need more or less money for your Universal Studios trip.

Food & Drink

On average, I spent $50 to $65 of my $100 spending money on food and drinks at Universal Studios.

Much like any theme park, the cost of food and drink at Universal Studios is inflated. Here’s a rough breakdown of what you can expect to pay:

  • Quick-service meal (burger, fries, and a drink): $12 – $18
  • Table-service meal (entrée, side, and drink): $20 – $35+
  • Snack (pretzel, churro, popcorn, etc.): $5 – $10
  • Bottled water or soda: $4 – $6
  • Alcoholic drinks: $10 – $15+

If you plan to eat every meal at the park, costs can add up quickly. However, there are a few ways you can save money on food, such as:

Transport

How much you spend on transport at Universal Studios will depend on two things:

  1. Transport Method
  2. Distance from Theme Parks

If you stay at a Universal Orlando hotel, you’ll get free transport to the theme parks. Therefore, your only transportation cost will be getting to and from the airport.

However, if you’re hiring a car, you’ll need extra spending money – even if you’ve already paid for the rental. That’s because you’ll also have to factor in:

  • Gas – Prices can vary depending on your location.
  • Tolls – Some routes in Florida and California have toll roads.
  • Parking – Parking at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood is expensive. Depending on where you’re staying, you may also have to pay for parking at your hotel.

Because of this, it’s often cheaper to use Uber or Lyft instead. However, you won’t have the same level of flexibility, so this option isn’t for everyone.

If you’re visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, public transport is also an option. The Metro station is a 10-minute walk from the theme park’s entrance.

Souvenirs

Unlike food and transport costs, how much you spend on souvenirs is entirely optional. You can spend as little as $10 or as much as $500.

On my early trips to Universal Studios in 2013 and 2014, I couldn’t afford souvenirs. I was working my first job out of school, and everything I had went on the essential parts of the vacation.

21-year-old me, visiting Universal Orlando in 2015.

However, on my more recent trips, I’ve been able to buy several souvenirs to enhance my visit and help me remember the vacation. Some of my favourite souvenirs include:

Miscellaneous

Then there are the miscellaneous expenses. This wasn’t a large category when I only visited Universal Studios with my now wife. However, I’ve found that this category has grown since I started visiting with little kids. Some of the expenses I’ve had include:

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