Mardi Gras & Seasonal Pass

TheConsciousness · Oct 24, 2016

We're thinking of getting ourselves some APs and noticed that Mardi Gras is listed as a special event that isn't included in Seasonal passes, and then later on in the terms it says that people with Seasonal passes will be escorted from USO during Mardi Gras concerts. So is it the concerts that aren't included in the Seasonal Pass, or admissions into USO in general during Mardi Gras?

tony67 · Oct 24, 2016

As I understand it you cant access US on concert days at all - "If there is a concert during a non-blockout date, Seasonal Passholders will only receive access to Universal’s Islands of Adventure, but not Universal Studios Florida."

PHXscuba · Oct 24, 2016

So where will we find the info on which days will have concerts?

PHXscuba

Metro West · Oct 25, 2016

PHXscuba said:
So where will we find the info on which days will have concerts?

PHXscuba

The dates and times will be released later in the year. You can bet most weekends will have the headliner concerts.

TheConsciousness · Oct 25, 2016

tony67 said:
As I understand it you cant access US on concert days at all - "If there is a concert during a non-blockout date, Seasonal Passholders will only receive access to Universal’s Islands of Adventure, but not Universal Studios Florida."

Wow, ok so no access for the full day.

Metro West said:
The dates and times will be released later in the year. You can bet most weekends will have the headliner concerts.

Would they have a concert on a Saturday and Sunday back-to-back? I don't want to do a Sat/Sun if that means I will be limited to IoA for 2 full days. (Not necessarily a bad thing)

tony67 · Oct 25, 2016

TheConsciousness said:
Would they have a concert on a Saturday and Sunday back-to-back? I don't want to do a Sat/Sun if that means I will be limited to IoA for 2 full days. (Not necessarily a bad thing)

So last year - there were only three weekends where there was a concert both days - so it was mostly blocked on Saturdays (11 times)
No way to know for sure this year until they announce the concerts - which could be as late as January

Metro West · Oct 25, 2016

TheConsciousness said:
Would they have a concert on a Saturday and Sunday back-to-back? I don't want to do a Sat/Sun if that means I will be limited to IoA for 2 full days. (Not necessarily a bad thing)

Yes...they very well could. It's happened in the past with headliners on Saturday and Sunday. Nothing will be known until the schedule is released later so anything else is purely speculation.

disneyseniors · Oct 25, 2016

I've been looking at getting AP's for next year, and noted the same thing, OP. I looked at regular tickets and if you buy tickets for the day of Mardi Gras, there is no extra charge. The mardi gras parade, is included. There was not a mention of the concerts, or maybe I wasn't paying attention. We would only want to see the parade and ride the rides, not attend the concerts anyway. So, it looks like a regular park admission ticket will work for mardi gras activities.

tony67 · Oct 25, 2016

disneyseniors said:
I've been looking at getting AP's for next year, and noted the same thing, OP. I looked at regular tickets and if you buy tickets for the day of Mardi Gras, there is no extra charge. The mardi gras parade, is included. There was not a mention of the concerts, or maybe I wasn't paying attention. We would only want to see the parade and ride the rides, not attend the concerts anyway. So, it looks like a regular park admission ticket will work for mardi gras activities.

Correct - but this limit is just for the season pass - so the power pass or other APs would not have the limitation.
If you are there on the day I think it is cheaper to just upgrade the AP than to buy the ticket.

PHXscuba · Oct 25, 2016

So if I originally had a 2-day ticket that I planned to use on a Saturday/Sunday, but upgraded it to a Seasonal Pass on the Sunday (to get the hotel discount), what would happen to me if Sunday was a blackout date? Would I be able to enter USF that day? Hopping from IoA to USF or reverse? I know Disney honors tickets when you upgrade on a blackout day, but I have no experience with Universal.

PHXscuba

tony67 · Oct 26, 2016

PHXscuba said:
So if I originally had a 2-day ticket that I planned to use on a Saturday/Sunday, but upgraded it to a Seasonal Pass on the Sunday (to get the hotel discount), what would happen to me if Sunday was a blackout date? Would I be able to enter USF that day? Hopping from IoA to USF or reverse? I know Disney honors tickets when you upgrade on a blackout day, but I have no experience with Universal.

PHXscuba

That is a good one...Id guess as long as you upgraded it in the park before you left on the Sunday you would be OK - but once yo leave the park (or take the train to IOA) you probably cant get back in.
Anyone ever try this?

Candycane83 · Oct 26, 2016

tony67 said:
That is a good one...Id guess as long as you upgraded it in the park before you left on the Sunday you would be OK - but once yo leave the park (or take the train to IOA) you probably cant get back in.
Anyone ever try this?

I'm thinking about trying this for December. (Concert on Dec 3) Would be happy if someone could confirm this...

TheConsciousness · Oct 28, 2016

Would anyone know how bad the crowds are during Mardi Gras? Is it ever better in one month than another? Earlier / later better? Which other months in the year are comparable?
I know this year will be different, as they'll be doing parades every day as opposed to previous years, but any info on crowds would be great. Crowd calendars are failing me right now.

tony67 · Oct 28, 2016

TheConsciousness said:
Would anyone know how bad the crowds are during Mardi Gras? Is it ever better in one month than another? Earlier / later better? Which other months in the year are comparable?
I know this year will be different, as they'll be doing parades every day as opposed to previous years, but any info on crowds would be great. Crowd calendars are failing me right now.

From what I have gathered early February is better than late February - and the prices increase in the hotels seems to confirm that to me. At that point you have February Vacation. As for march I can't say - but you start to get the college beaks at that point.
The weekends will depend on the concerts- bigger names=bigger crowds but I dont think Mardi Gras draws big crowds during the week.
From what I understand it's not like Disney F&W or the Garden festival that people travel for specifically although I may do that this year.

If your staying at one of the hotels that has express pass it's probably not as big a deal .

macraven · Oct 28, 2016

TheConsciousness said:
Would anyone know how bad the crowds are during Mardi Gras? Is it ever better in one month than another? Earlier / later better? Which other months in the year are comparable?
I know this year will be different, as they'll be doing parades every day as opposed to previous years, but any info on crowds would be great. Crowd calendars are failing me right now.

Read keishashadow's report about her time at Mardi Gras this past February

You can find it in the trip report forum

That will give you an idea of MG crowds

Mardi Gras & Seasonal Pass

TheConsciousness

Coaster Skeptic

tony67

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PHXscuba

Mouseketeer since birth!

Metro West

On the west side of Orlando

TheConsciousness

Coaster Skeptic

tony67

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Metro West

On the west side of Orlando

disneyseniors

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tony67

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PHXscuba

Mouseketeer since birth!

tony67

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Candycane83

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TheConsciousness

Coaster Skeptic

tony67

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macraven

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