How a $3.37 Cup Saved Us a Small Fortune at Universal Studios

  

Spoiler: You’re paying $4–$6 per water bottle otherwise.

Theme park prices are no joke—especially when it comes to water. On our recent trip to Universal Studios, temperatures were high and hydration was key. But with bottled water priced between $3 and $6 each, we knew we had to come up with a smarter solution.

Enter the collapsible water cup purchased from Amazon for $3.37.

Lightweight, foldable, and super convenient, these little silicone cups clip right onto your backpack or belt loop. We purchased a couple of different sizes and  brought ours along, and it ended up being one of the best decisions of the trip.

Here’s how it saved us money:

Free water at quick-service restaurants – Most places will give you free cups of ice water. Instead of juggling those flimsy paper cups (which spill easily), we just poured the water into our collapsible cups. No mess, no waste.

Refill stations around the park – We refilled our cups throughout the day at water fountains and refill stations near restrooms or dining spots.

No lugging heavy water bottles – When collapsed, the cups take up almost no space. No more carrying full bottles all day or tossing them halfway through because they’re warm.

By the end of our week-long trip, we had easily $100 just by not buying bottled water for the family.

Pro Tip: Clip one to each kid’s bag. No more “I’m thirsty!” every 15 minutes—and no need to shell out for overpriced drinks.

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Where to Get One:
You can find them on Amazon or at outdoor stores for around $3-$5. Choose one with a lid and carabiner for the most convenience.

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Final Thoughts:
If you're heading to a theme park (especially in the summer), don’t overlook this tiny travel hack. The collapsible cup was an MVP of our Universal Studios trip—and now it's a permanent part of our travel bag.

One useful thing to know is that you can stop by any quick-service restaurant and request a free cup of water. We typically order water with our meals during our visits to the park (though we definitely make room for Butterbeer too), but whenever we needed more, we simply asked a team member for a cup of water and were helped right away.