Universal Orlando Refillable Cups – Worth It?

With drink prices at Universal Orlando being pricey to begin with, we often get asked if the Universal Orlando refillable cups are worth the purchase.

Unlike the single type of refillable mug offered at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando has several refillable cups for guests to choose from. And after a quick Google search, information surrounding each of these refillable cups can feel intricate and confusing. With how often we frequent the Orlando theme parks, we’re here to clarify all this confusion to provide you with the most up-to-date information possible.

Here's everything you need to know about the refillable cups at Universal Orlando. We visit Universal Orlando often and have experience deciding on if the Universal Orlando Refillable Cups are worth it!

Universal Orlando Offers 3 Types of Refillable Cups

This makes the refillable cup system very different from the Refillable mugs at Disney World.

Two of these refillable cups are offered inside the Universal Orlando theme parks while the third is offered exclusively at the Universal Orlando Resort hotels. All of these refillable cups are similar in concept, offering refills on drinks at the Universal Orlando theme parks and resorts. Yet, their pricing and which areas and locations guests can use them are very different and can be confusing to understand at first.

Let’s go over each of the different refillable cups offered at Universal Orlando.

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How Much Does the Universal Orlando Refillable Cup Cost?

Each type of refillable cup comes at different prices, so let’s go over how much each one costs.

Discounted Refillable Cup: Prices start at $13.99 plus tax and go up depending on the type of cup you purchase. These cups include the Universal souvenir cups and plastic butterbeer cups. Subsequent refills cost $1.49 at any participating locations. Unlike the Disney World refillable mug, guests with the Universal Orlando refillable cup can get these discounted refills for the entire life of the cup or as long as Universal offers this deal.

• Coke Freestyle Cup: 1 cup costs $18.99 (plus tax), 2 cups cost $16.99 each (plus tax), and 3 to 6 cups cost $14.99 each (plus tax). These cups allow for unlimited refills at specific Coke Freestyle locations (giving access to over 100 drink options) for the day of purchase. However, guests can add another day of use for $11.99 per cup per day.
• Universal Orlando Resort Refillable Cup: Unlimited refills cost $10.50 (plus tax) for 1 day, $16.50 (plus tax) for 3 days, and $19.00 (plus tax) for the entire length of your stay (4 – 14 days). These cups allow for refills at soda fountains in each Universal Orlando Resort hotel lobby.

Depending on how much soda, coffee, or tea you like to drink and where you plan on using your refillable cup, 1 specific type of refillable cup may work better than others for you.

How Universal Orlando’s Refillable Cups Work

These refillable cups use RFID technology that is activated at the time of purchase and allows guests access to their respective time frame of refills.

The RFID chip is embedded within the cup and cannot be accessed without destroying the cup. Here’s generally how to use your refillable cup at Universal Orlando:

• At the participating location, you must place your cup below the drink dispenser where the RFID chip reader reads your cup.
• Once validated, you will be able to select the drink of your choice.

Keep in mind though that refills can only be done at 10-minute intervals. This rule is implemented to prevent groups from sharing a single refillable cup by filling 1 drink, then pouring it into a different cup, then immediately getting an additional refill.

Universal Orlando Refill Locations

Each of the 3 different Universal Orlando refillable cups only work at specific beverage locations, which makes their utility different depending on where you would like to use them.

Let’s go over the different locations you can use each refillable cup.

Discounted Refillable Cup

The discounted refillable cups (including souvenir cups) can be refilled at any permanent drink stand, table service, or quick service restaurant across Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, or Volcano Bay.

In other words, any spot that offers fountain soda usually offers discounted refills for your refillable cup. However, guests cannot refill their cup at a beverage cart since they do not sell fountain drinks here. They also cannot use these cups at any of the Universal Resort hotels.

Of course, if you have questions regarding where you can use these cups, ask a Universal Orlando Team Member!

Coke Freestyle Cup

Guests can refill their Coke Freestyle refillable cup at Coke Freestyle machines located throughout Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and Universal City Walk.

Here’s a list of specific locations you can refill your Coke Freestyle refillable cup. Keep in mind that while there are Coke Freestyle machines located at food and beverage, there are also stand alone machines throughout the theme parks.

Volcano Bay:

• Whakawaiwai Eats
• Kohola Reef Restaurant
• Bambu

Islands of Adventure:

• Circus McGurkus
• Comic Strip Café
• The Watering Hole
• Captain America Diner
• The Burger Digs
• Pizza Predatoria

Universal Studios Florida:

• Mel’s Drive-In
• Monsters Café Beverage and Food Stand
• Classic Monsters Café
• Kid Zone Pizza Co.
• Louie’s Italian Restaurant
• Central Park Crepes
• Richter’s Burger Co.

The Coke Freestyle Cup offers the most flexibility and value for the price compared to the other 2 refillable cups.

Universal Orlando Resort Refillable Cup

The Universal Orlando Resort refillable cup can only be purchased and refilled at drink fountains the Universal Orlando Resort hotel you purchased your cup.

This means, for example, that if you purchase your resort refillable cup at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, you can only refill your cup at that resort hotel and not at Universal’s Aventura Hotel. Additionally, you cannot refill your resort refillable cup after midnight of the final day that your cup is valid. That means, for example, if you purchased a 1-day resort refillable cup, you have until midnight of that day to use your cup.

If you plan on spending a lot of time at your Universal Orlando Resort hotel, then a resort refillable mug can be a good value for the money.

What Doesn’t Count for my Universal Orlando Refillable Cup?

To recap, the discounted refillable cups are good for any fountain drinks, the Coke Freestyle refillable cups are good for any drink at any Coke Freestyle location, and the Universal Orlando Resort refillable cups are good for any fountain drink, coffee, tea, or hot cocoa at the resort it was purchased.

In other words, if it’s not a fountain soda, Coca-Cola product, coffee, tea, or hot cocoa, it most likely won’t count for a refill with your Universal Orlando refillable cup. This includes any specialty drink at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter or The Simpsons Fast Food Boulevard. However, purchasing any souvenir cup, including the discounted refillable cup and souvenir Butterbeer mug also allows you to get discounted refills of tea, lemonade, non-alcoholic cider, slushies, and Icees.

These drink restrictions are important to keep in mind when considering purchasing a Universal Orlando refillable cup.

Universal Orlando Refillable Cup Tips

With all the information regarding the 3 types of Universal Orlando refillable cups, there’s a few things to keep in mind to make the most of your purchase.

• If you decide to purchase either the Coke Freestyle refillable mug or Universal Orlando Resort refillable mug, purchase it as early in the day as possible to get the most value
• Keep your receipt in the case that the RFID chip is damaged or stops working
• Refills on water, just like at Walt Disney World, are free!
• If you plan on coming back to Universal Orlando, you can bring your refillable cup back to use as long as you pay the reactivation fee when necessary
• You are able to use your Coke Freestyle refillable cup at locations that accept discounted refills for the discounted refillable cups

Are Universal Refillable Cups Worth it?

Anyone who has purchased fountain drinks at any theme park knows that drinks are not cheap.

The thing is, whether or not the refillable cups are worth it heavily depend on how much of these types of drinks you plan to drink. If you like to drink sodas and fountain drinks and spend most of your time at the Universal Orlando theme parks, the Coke Freestyle refillable cup will likely be worth your money. However, even if you frequent the Universal Orlando theme parks but only drink 1 or 2 fountain drinks per day, the discounted refillable cup will be a better option.

Given some quick maths, it takes 3 refills of the discounted refillable cup to equal the price of a Coke Freestyle refillable cup in 1 day.

And of course, if you plan on spending more time at your Universal Orlando resort, the resort refillable cup may be worth your money, with better value the more days your refillable cup is valid.

Either way, all 3 refillable cup options offer guests great discounts on beverages throughout your visit to Universal Orlando. When taken full advantage of, they can save you a lot of money on fountain drinks. With fountain drinks already at around $5, you’ll quickly feel like you get your money’s worth.

After all is said and done, which Universal Orlando refillable cup will you get?

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