Your Guide to Universal’s Resort Refillable Mugs

There are many options for refillable mugs at Universal Orlando Resort. Here is your guide for refillable mugs at your Universal resort hotel.

What is a refillable mug?

People are always looking for ways to save money on vacation. Many sit down and figure out a budget prior to their trip. However, food costs can quickly add up.

One way to save some money on your vacation is with a refillable mug. These type of mugs offer you a one time price to refill the mug an unlimited number of times for a specific period of time. This can save families money when drink prices are now easily over $5 for one fountain drink.

How many types of discounted/refillable mugs does Universal offer?

Universal Orlando offers several different discounted drink programs. This can be overwhelming when you are trying to figure out the best option for you and your family.

Universal actually offers three different types of discounted or refillable mugs throughout their parks and resorts. However, these mugs are specific to the parks or hotels. You cannot use these refillable mugs interchangeably at the various locations offering mug refills (Coke Freestyle machines).

Universal Orlando Studios Resort offers three different types of refillable or discounted mugs throughout their parks and resorts.

What discounted/refillable mugs are available in the parks?

In the parks, Universal Orlando, has two great options for their guests to save money. The options are a discounted refillable cup or a Coke Freestyle cup.

The first option is the refillable cup. This cup you purchase and then can get discounted refills for the LIFE of the cup or as long as Universal offers this deal. These Universal refillable cups can be refilled for $1.49 plus tax for fountain drinks at participating locations.

Unlike Disney World, Universal offers their guests refillable and/or discounted fountain drinks with their in park programs.

The other option in the parks is the Coca-Cola Freestyle cups. These cups allow for UNLIMITED refills throughout that day for one price. 

How do you know which type of mug program is right for you? Be sure to check out our complete guide to discounted refillable cups versus Coke Freestyle cups HERE.

What type of mug is offered in the resorts?

Universal Resort hotels only offer the refillable mugs; no discounted refills here. With these resort specific mugs you can pay one price and receive unlimited refills for that amount of time.

This program is similar to what Walt Disney World does with their Rapid Refill program. Many guests love this option as they feel they can save on drinks whenever they dine at the quick-service location in their resort or even just grab a fountain drink before heading back to the room.

Pricing

This mug program comes with options! If you are just visiting for a quick trip, or just don’t want fountain drinks that many days then you can pay less money!

Prices vary depending on the amount of time purchased. This ranges from 1 day to length of stay!

At Universal Resort hotels you can choose between 1 Day, 3 Days, 7 days or Length of Stay for your refill options. Pricing is currently as follows for each cup (please note prices have increased since the picture above was taken):

• 1 Day $12.50
• 3 Days $18.00
• 7 Days $22.00
• Length of Stay $25.00

It is also important to note that Universal has recently changed the duration of the mugs’ activation. The current options are 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, and length of stay versus 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, and length of stay.

How these refillable mugs differ from Disney’s version

The resort refillable mugs don’t differ too much from Disney’s Rapid Refill mugs. However, there is one big difference. When you purchase your refillable mug at Universal, it can only be used at that specific hotel. Each resort has their own mug design as well, unlike Disney World that has various designs but all tend to be available throughout the resorts.

At Disney World, when you purchase your Rapid Refill mug, you can use it any hotel across the Disney World property. This is why I always carry my Disney refillable mug everywhere I go at Disney World, so when I resort hop I can still maximize my savings and not purchase another drink.

However, I do love that Universal offers different lengths for these mugs, offering a better bang for your buck if you are visiting for just a couple of days. Disney World will set you back one price no matter how long your current visit is.

Just like in Disney, there is a minimum amount of time that will need to pass between refills. This is done to help prevent people from sharing.

Is worth it to get a refillable mug during my Universal vacation?

With fountain drinking setting you back at least $5 a drink, this could be a very easy decision for some. Depending on your length of stay, you could quickly get your money’s worth out of this deal.

Personally, I love having that pre-paid option, so that I don’t feel like I am constantly paying for something at every turn. I know everyone gets their money in the end, but it makes me feel like I might be saving something.

For my family, we find the resort refillable mugs to be a great value. And, it’s an added bonus that we walk away with a fun souvenir.

Final thoughts and how to make the right choice for you

Because Universal has so many different refillable and/or discounted mug offerings, it is important to pick the right option for you. This may even be several different types of refillable mugs (one for the parks and one for the resort) if you are a big fountain drinker.

When making your decision if any of the discounted or refillable mug options are for you, you need to decide if you will drink enough to make it worth it. Some refillable locations even include Icee (decision made!).

Be sure to purchase your refillable mug as early in your vacation as possible to get the best value out of it.

Please keep in mind that that these mugs/cups are intended for individual use and not to be shared among the travel party. I recommend budgeting everyone’s mugs into your food budget so that everyone can get one.

Even if you purchase the “length of stay,” you only need about 4 to 5 fills of a fountain drink to make your purchase worth it. I also recommend purchasing the mug as early in your vacation to get the best value.

Do you get a refillable mug when you stay at Universal Orlando hotel? Do you find the refillable mug worth it? Do you like they are resort specific at Universal or do you wish you could use them across the various hotels? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to share this post with a friend.