Refillable cups or sports bottles can be a tremendous value during a theme park visit as opposed to paying for each soda individually. Universal Orlando Resort offers a Coca-Cola Freestyle Souvenir Cup program that gives you unlimited free soda and ICEE throughout the parks. Most of this is of this is totally automated through Coca-Cola Freestyle machines and a RFID chip in the base of the cup. Cups begin at $19.99 and can get as cheap as $15.99 if you buy 3 of them. This price gives you the souvenir cups to keep and free refills for a day. The cup can be reactivated on a future visit for just $12.99 and once activated is good throughout the resort at self serve Coca-Cola Freestyle machines at Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, Volcano Bay and CityWalk. I think Epic has my favorite name for a refill station in Celestial Park called the Goddess of Refreshment.

Using the cups is very easy, simply place the cup on the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, wait a second for it to be recognized and pour like usual. Cups can be refilled every 10 minutes and the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines provide a wide variety of beverage choices with water always available free of charge. One word of advice, if you’re looking to buy or reactivate a cup first thing in the morning you may want to take the first open kiosk or restaurant you see as it’s not uncommon for beverage stands deeper in the park to delay opening for an hour or so after rope drop. The Coca-Cola Freestyle machines will likely be available, you may just not be able to buy or reactivate your cup.

$12.99 to reactivate a cup and get free refills all day is a tremendous deal and provides much needed hydration in the hot Florida sun. The cups also make a great souvenir to remember your trip as they’re often branded to rides or special events. Be sure to take advantage of the program on your next visit to save money and time as opposed to waiting at a food stand or restaurant.