Crowd levels during mardi gras

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

I'm planning to go to IOA on February 10th, the day after mardi gras begins in universal. What can I expect the crowds to be like, especially in Harry Potter world?
TIA

 

[RMulieri]

Touring plans recently added a crowd calender.There is also one at Undercover tourist.

 

[macraven]

Mardi Gras is at the studios.
ioa is not affected by it.

 

[Metro West]

Mardi Gras is at the studios.
ioa is not affected by it.

 

[Armadillo4]

I assume that the Studios crowds will be affected by Mardi Gras. I'm helping my sister plan a spring break trip to take her kids to USO and IOA. Right now, we may end up at USO during a Mardi Gras day, but we're not really there for any of the Mardi Gras entertainment. Should we try a different schedule and avoid the Studios on these days? Or will the crowds during the day be only slightly affected until the late afternoon/evening?

 

[Metro West]

I assume that the Studios crowds will be affected by Mardi Gras. I'm helping my sister plan a spring break trip to take her kids to USO and IOA. Right now, we may end up at USO during a Mardi Gras day, but we're not really there for any of the Mardi Gras entertainment. Should we try a different schedule and avoid the Studios on these days? Or will the crowds during the day be only slightly affected until the late afternoon/evening?

If she's visiting during Spring Break, both parks will be busy throughout the day. The Studios will get busier in the afternoon and evening for the parade and concert. If she's not there for any of the festivities (although the parade is worth seeing) then she should plan to play it by ear on the crowds but like I said...if she's visiting during Spring Break then both parks will be busy during the day.

 

[cc-atl]

I assume that the Studios crowds will be affected by Mardi Gras. I'm helping my sister plan a spring break trip to take her kids to USO and IOA. Right now, we may end up at USO during a Mardi Gras day, but we're not really there for any of the Mardi Gras entertainment. Should we try a different schedule and avoid the Studios on these days? Or will the crowds during the day be only slightly affected until the late afternoon/evening?

It is a litte confusing because people are talking about Mardi Gras in different ways.

Mardi Gras the day falls on 2/12 this year. Both parks should be pretty uncrowded on that specific day. Primarily only schools in Lousiana (and a few in Alabama and Mississippi) have off for Mardi Gras so Mardi Gras the holiday has some impact on crowd levels but not as much as more nationally recognized holidays like presidents day, mlk jr day, etc. Remember, however, that Mardi Gras floats every year so during years when Mardi Gras fall during the same week of Presidents Day or spring break it will be more crowded then this year as an example where it is during a week on its own.

As posted in previous responses Mardi Gras the Universal Studios celebration impacts crowds primarily at US and primarily on Saturday and some Sunday evenings when a parade and concert are held. How bad the crowds are will depend on who is playing the concert and whether or not that Saturday or Sunday is a particularly busy time of year. If you go on Saturday 2/9 when a not as popular band is playing and it is a little less busy time of the year than the crowds may not be as bad. If you go on 2/16 when the Steve Miller Band is playing and it is the Saturday or Presidents Day weekend it will likely be very crowded.

 

[1tripandIfell]

Also not all schools in Louisiana even get the full week off, the majority of the schools only get the 2/11 & the 2/12. Our children get the full week off so we are able to come 2/13-2/17 with missing no days of school. We also get to enjoy Louisiana Mardi Gras and come and experience US Mardi Gras!

 

[alvaroaze]

What about March 2nd, a saturday with Demi Lovato singing? It's my only day at US and I would like to see the floats, but will it be too crowded?

ty

 

[Armadillo4]

If she's visiting during Spring Break, both parks will be busy throughout the day. The Studios will get busier in the afternoon and evening for the parade and concert...

It is a litte confusing because people are talking about Mardi Gras in different ways...

As posted in previous responses Mardi Gras the Universal Studios celebration impacts crowds primarily at US and primarily on Saturday and some Sunday evenings when a parade and concert are held. How bad the crowds are will depend on who is playing the concert and whether or not that Saturday or Sunday is a particularly busy time of year.

Thanks for your responses! Our trip is during Spring Break (March 13-20) so we're expecting crowds. As it turns out, we're changing up some of our WDW days, so we'll be at Universal on a Sunday and Monday--and missing the Mardi Gras events altogether. I think we'll be at IOA on Sunday, March 17 and then USO on Monday the 18th. The parade does sound like a lot of fun though! Maybe between now and our trip, we'll decide to go on Saturday and take in the Mardi Gras entertainment. Matchbox Twenty is the band that night and I do like their music.