Top Five Tips to Universal's Mardi Gras

Universal's Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval is less than 30 days away, and Keri's ready to stuff her face with beignets. Starting February 4, this celebration will run until April 16, 2023. This year, the party doesn't stop at Universal Studios Florida. Guests will experience the energy throughout CityWalk Orlando, Universal's Islands of Adventure, and Universal's Volcano Bay. So join us as we break down our top tips to party all the way to your car.

5. ​Don't forget to party with all the parade performers in the afternoon before each parade. Not only do the Mardi Gras performers carry extra beads, but they also love to interact with you and take photos. So, make sure your camera is handy, and don't be shy about taking photos.

4. The best places to catch beads would be in the Hollywood section. In Hollywood, you can see the parade when it first starts and when it returns around to the end. Also, another good spot exists in the New York area. You'll find more space to move around and catch beads next to Louie's Italian Restaurant.

3.  You can enjoy mouth-watering bites and sips during Mardi Gras as you make your way through several tents and bars. You'll find classic Cajun dishes like jambalaya, gumbo, and other unique creations by Universal Orlando’s Culinary Team. ​

2. Be a Bead Thrower! You're probably wondering what that means. Guests are able to ride of the Mardi Gras Parade floats. This requires guests to sign up for the limited spots via the Virtual Line on The Official Universal Orlando Resort App. You must check in before the parade if you can snag a spot. Check-in can usually occur around two hours before the parade's kickoff time. Keep in mind that if you want to see a concert on the same night, it may take some time to get back to the concert area when the parade is over. However, there's nothing quite like tossing beads. Speaking of good spots, this brings us to number one.

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1. You want to ensure you scout out your favorite location for the parade. Once you've found it, you should arrive at least an hour before the parade starts. If a concert is being held that you want to see,  you may have to give up that perfect spot for the parade to ensure you can enjoy it without seeing it from the "nosebleeds." On concert nights, Music Plaze Stage area gets filled quickly.

Well, that's it for now. Let us know what we are missing from the list. Mention it in the comments below, and maybe it will appear in another video. Be sure to follow and like this video, so we know you want more videos like this. Be sure to keep traveling, tasting, and experiencing the thrills.  Special thanks to Jake for providing the photos. Follow him on instagram for more great content. 

FolloW JAKE

Xavier.H

​​I'm Xavier- a food enthusiast and full-time blogger, theme park lover(especially Universal), and Halloween Horror Nights fan. I do happen to also lead the Universal Food Blog team on our trek to find the best dishes around Universal Orlando Resort to report to you!