Ten Reasons to Love Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando

A New Year in Orlando usually ushers in a whole new array of live entertainment and special events, and that is definitely the case at Universal Orlando, where Mardi Gras is getting ready to spread its fabulous party-time vibe.

This seasonal programme roars into life at the Universal Studios park from February 4th and runs until April 16th, and it can best be summed up in three words: Beads! Beignets! Bands!

Yes, it’s a truly fun atmosphere, and the festivities are spread throughout the park, offering extra shows, authentic themed food and beverage items, and a truly unmissable parade.

For our Orlando visitors during the upcoming months, it is a fabulous additional layer of excitement at the Universal theme park and well worth making time for.

What is Mardi Gras?

Literally, Mardi Gras is the French phrase for Fat Tuesday, which reflects the Christian practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before the ritual fasting for the Lent season.

In typical American style (but also reflected elsewhere in the world), it has developed into a party-style event that incorporates multiple celebrations, parades and special food recipes to mark the occasion.

New Orleans has become Mardi Gras Central since the 19th century, when the French-influenced city began its parade season - and it has refined it over the years into a signature parade-rich period of costumes, floats, food and bead-throwing – LOTS of bead-throwing.

Going back to the 1840s, people in the parades typically threw little treats to the audience, but New Orleans turned it into a bead fest in the 1880s, settling on glass beads as the ideal trinket to throw, and the city’s tradition mushroomed in the 20th century, with plastic beads becoming THE thing to collect.

Universal began celebrating this eye-catching event – with plenty of bead-throwing of their own – in their unique style way back in 1995 and, while the New Orleans event lasts just a few weeks, at Universal Studios it continues for several months!

So, with that in mind and this year’s celebration less than a month away, we thought we’d highlight our Top 10 reasons to enjoy this iconic celebration that really adds extra lustre to Orlando’s theme park scene.

10.

It’s included with your admission price. That’s right, unlike some evening events, there is NO additional charge or ticket price to enjoy all the magnificent array of entertainment that is laid on throughout the Mardi Gras season. You just turn up with your Universal Orlando ticket (currently selling from just £322) and then join in all the festivities as they happen!

9.

The new Float Ride & Dine Experience is now on offer, featuring a chance to actually ride aboard one of the huge parade floats, and take part in the bead-throwing frenzy. Having done this in the past, we can attest to the fact it is HUGE fun and is an experience you’ll never forget. The Ride & Dine programme is pre-bookable online (at $64.99/person) and combines a three-course meal at a choice of four Universal restaurants with a reserved spot on a parade float.

8.

It spills into CityWalk, too. Several of the clubs and restaurants add their own signature touches to the Mardi Gras experience, most notably the original New Orleans style of Pat O’Brien’s restaurant and bar, complete with a full range of Cajun menu specialities and open until 2am so you can extend your celebrating! Universal’s hotels also kick in special menu items and, of course, there is the Fat Tuesday bar with its own array of tempting cocktails and other drinks.

7.

There are authentic Beignets! If you have never discovered this New Orleans sweet treat, this is your chance to sample these totally delectable fritter or doughnut-like creations. Deep-fried squares of dough are liberally sprinkled with powdered sugar to deliver a hot, fresh pastry that is devoured by the thousand during Mardi Gras (and year-round in the city itself).

6.

Don’t forget the King Cake. This is another signature taste of the season, and is served up in the traditional purple, gold and green colours of the annual celebration. A ring-shaped blend of brioche, coffee cake and cinnamon roll, King Cake is another delicious dessert choice that goes down well with coffee. Or a bourbon hot toddy!

5.

The food items don’t stop there, either. You can stroll and dine from a rich variety of kiosks that serve up the full Mardi Gras/New Orleans menu profile, from shrimp gumbo to crawfish etouffee. Universal has refined this over the years, and their Cajun Crawfish Boil is a long-standing favourite and highly recommended. There are also International Flavors of Carnaval kiosks, with other exotic dishes. This year you can pick up a Food & Beverage Card – replacing the old Tasting Lanyard – to take your sampling to the next level (and save a few dollars in the process).

4.

Much of this takes place in The French Quarter, a section of the New York area that is heavily re-themed to present the look and sound of the carnival. This is where the music and tastes are most prevalent, including those delicious beignets!

3.

Mardi Gras usually brings out the best of Universal’s souvenir creativity, with plenty of carnival-style items to choose from. This signature merchandise includes the specially re-themed Tribute Store, which features rooms dedicated to the different parade floats this year. The Store is re-decorated for each seasonal event and is well worth seeing whether you are in souvenir-buying mood or not.

2.

The French Quarter is very much the Live Music epi-centre of the celebration, with street performers and the sounds of true blues, jazz and zydeco bands with that New Orleans swagger. And that daily ambience is enhanced each weekend with headline concerts on the Music Plaza Stage. The 2023 line-up has yet to be announced but in 2022 it featured Diana Ross, Sugar Ray, Seal and Jason DeRulo among a wide variety of performers. Concerts start at 8.30 pm and are VERY popular, so if this is your ultimate aim, arrive at least 45 minutes early for a good spot.

1.

Finally, there is the magnificent Mardi Gras Parade. Staged daily at varying times (from 5.15 to 7.45 in 2022), this is a pure slice of New Orleans as the huge floats were all designed by the company that creates the Louisiana city’s own parade vehicles, which are heavily themed to the occasion. The Parade features a loop starting in the Hollywood area (opposite Mel’s Diner) and then goes up and around the New York section before returning to its starting point. Universal’s creative folks estimate that they throw out around 1.6 million strings of beads each Mardi Gras season and it creates great family fun as you try to catch as many as possible. Don’t be shy – the bead throwers will often target the most animated people along the parade route, so be ready to jump, dance and shout for your share!

See more details at UniversalOrlando.com.

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