Mardi Gras Lineup ANNOUNCED!!

[PammyK]

With all the construction this year, I have a feeling it will be a rough year for crowd control. The parade route has changed and most of the route will be pretty crowded this year.

Gah, I forgot all about the stupid construction. It is gonna get ugly in there.

 

[hpriamson]

Here's the 2013 parade route from the universal website.

 

[atricks]

Wow! My son who is 8 would absolutely LOVE this. His absolute favourite thing about our town Christmas parade was that he was allowed to be in it and hand out candy canes. I swear you would have thought it was his full time job to make sure no single person missed getting a candy cane. He's a sweet little guy. I won't tell him about it, but I will sign up the week before and cross my fingers. It would be a nice surprise

I'd go ahead and sign up now, waiting until then may be too late. They pick people every week, but you can sign up well in advance (I think it's first come first serve).

 

[samples78]

What would be the best location to catch the parade if we are not planning to go to the concert, and how early do we need to find a spot (don't have to be in front, just able to see most things). My daughter and I will be arriving the afternoon of March 2 and are planning to head over to USF around 4 or 5. We would like to get some food in the French Quarter area (where is this located?) and watch the parade. Would there be any time in there to catch a ride or two or will it be too crowded. Also, if left up to my daughter, we would first go to IOA and ride Hulk a few times before heading over to USF. Will there be time for this?

Thanks for any tips and advice.

 

[atricks]

Best location to view the parade and not the concert would probably be somewhere in the hollywood area of the park, basically avoid the New York area and by RockIt.

I have no idea where the French Quarter area will be this year, in years past it was right where the transformers construction area is going on (where the big crane is). It pretty much leaves the streets on either side of Finnegans (not the main drag), or in the corner past twister back toward the NY Public Library facade. (Where rockit runs through the building and behind it)

If I had to guess one, the street next to Finnegans, where the Blues brothers stage is.

 

[pigletto]

I'd go ahead and sign up now, waiting until then may be too late. They pick people every week, but you can sign up well in advance (I think it's first come first serve).

Interesting. I read that you had to sign up the Friday of the week before your intended parade. But maybe it was saying that was the LATEST I could sign up not the earliest!
I'll try now and report back

ETA) You were right! Thank you. I just signed us up and now we wait to hear. Thanks again

 

[Metro West]

What would be the best location to catch the parade if we are not planning to go to the concert, and how early do we need to find a spot (don't have to be in front, just able to see most things). My daughter and I will be arriving the afternoon of March 2 and are planning to head over to USF around 4 or 5. We would like to get some food in the French Quarter area (where is this located?) and watch the parade. Would there be any time in there to catch a ride or two or will it be too crowded. Also, if left up to my daughter, we would first go to IOA and ride Hulk a few times before heading over to USF. Will there be time for this?

Thanks for any tips and advice.

I would plan on the Hollywood section of the park which is the beginning of the parade route. Construction is really going to make it rough this year. If you move to the Production Central area which runs from Despicable Me down to just before Twister, you aren't going to have much room to stand. I don't know where the FQ will be this year. I'm thinking it will be in the Central Park area again but not sure. Again...construction will play a major role this year.

 

[Jason71]

Again...construction will play a major role this year.

Much like with Horror Nights, I think I'd wait to see how the first night goes before making solid plans. Even then, I expect there to be tweaks to Universal's plan as the event goes on.

 

[Metro West]

Much like with Horror Nights, I think I'd wait to see how the first night goes before making solid plans. Even then, I expect there to be tweaks to Universal's plan as the event goes on.

I have a plan in the back of my head as to what I want to happen next weekend. Whether it does or not remains to be seen. That's all we can do right now.

 

[samples78]

I would plan on the Hollywood section of the park which is the beginning of the parade route. Construction is really going to make it rough this year. If you move to the Production Central area which runs from Despicable Me down to just before Twister, you aren't going to have much room to stand. I don't know where the FQ will be this year. I'm thinking it will be in the Central Park area again but not sure. Again...construction will play a major role this year.

Thanks for the advice. I will keep checking back to see what everyone suggests once things get going.

 

[Metro West]

Thanks for the advice. I will keep checking back to see what everyone suggests once things get going.