Mardi Gras Tips Request

[Tony M]

It's been awhile since I've been to Mardi Gras at Universal and was looking for tips in enjoying the parade, the concert afterward and bead begging advice.
In no particular order, Here I Go...
What time does the parade start?
What time does the Concert start?
What's the best place to see the parade go by and then go to another place and catch it again?
Can you still get selected to ride the floats?
What is the Minimum Height to ride on the floats?
How long do the concerts last?
Best spot to view the concerts?
Anything I'm Forgetting?
THANKS!!!

 

[Slacking]

It's been awhile since I've been to Mardi Gras at Universal and was looking for tips in enjoying the parade, the concert afterward and bead begging advice.
In no particular order, Here I Go...
What time does the parade start?
What time does the Concert start?
What's the best place to see the parade go by and then go to another place and catch it again?
Can you still get selected to ride the floats?
What is the Minimum Height to ride on the floats?
How long do the concerts last?
Best spot to view the concerts?
Anything I'm Forgetting?
THANKS!!!

1- Most nights will be 8pm

2- Usually right after parade (H&O started late though)
3- Amity near Jaws and then near beetlejuice (but they may be out of beads by then)
4- not sure, but I know they have a thing for AP holders to ride on floats
5- not sure
6- 60-90 min (a guess)
7- If you're viewing the parade, as close as you can get in the yard. Most people gather in the yard awhile before the aprade starts

 

[OhioGrumpyGirl]

How do you get to ride on a float if you're an AP holder? I know we get reserved seating for the parade, but I didn't know nothing about the floats. My niece would flip out if she got to do this!!!!

 

[lovetheparks]

How do you get to ride on a float if you're an AP holder? I know we get reserved seating for the parade, but I didn't know nothing about the floats. My niece would flip out if she got to do this!!!!

Here's the info from UO's website:

Email your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, date of birth, number of people in your party and which night you’d like to ride to APMardiFloat@universalorlando.com. Spots are limited.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

and the AP newsletter states that it's one request per family. so pick your night carefully.

 

[Tony M]

Thanks to all, especially Slacking, I'll add the answers to my own questions based upon my own Mardi Gras Trip, 2/18

What time does the parade start?
What time does the Concert start?
What's the best place to see the parade go by and then go to another place and catch it again?
Can you still get selected to ride the floats?
What is the Minimum Height to ride on the floats?
How long do the concerts last?
Best spot to view the concerts?
Anything I'm Forgetting?
THANKS!!!

1. Parade starts at 8:00pm sharp
2. Concert started immediately after the parade. If you want a good spot for the concert you have to skip the parade and arrive early.
3. We set up shop at the corner by Beetlejuice and caught beads in twice.
4. ...
5. ...
6. The concert was over at 10:15pm
7. Arrive early, skip the parade if you want to see the concert with a good spot.
8. HAVE FUN. We arrive pretty early(6:00pm) to camp out for the concert. We were too late. By then the whole "Boneyard" was filled and the street was becoming log jammed due to people trying to camp out for the concert and parade. We really wanted to see the parade for the kids and the Concert for the big kids(aka Us,the Parents). We were able to get no closer than the corner at Shrek and we could barely see who was on stage. It seemed that alot of people that were into the Parade but not so much the Concert stood around in curiosity causing the impassable crowd. As the show wore on and the lookie-loos tired of the hard rock, they moved out and we moved in. By the end of the show we were five rows from the stage. Crowd control in the Pit was non existant and the biggest enforcement was the one beer per ID. Kid Rock put on a great show. It was not one of the predictable ho-hum I'm a "star" relegated to playing a special event concert at a theme park concerts.
We had a great time and are already planning a return before Mardi Gras ends this year.
Any questions???

 

[Slacking]

Glad to ehar you had a great night Tony, glad I could help!

I had to laugh when you mentioned the Boneyard was packed by 6pm. Last weekend for Hall and Oates, it was rainy and cold. Even by 7:30pm, a concert goer could still voew the concert from the area clsoest to the stage the Boneyard was VERY empty (and at 7:30!)

 

[luvmyeor]

We staked out a parade spot right across from the Monsters Cafe. I asked an employee where the best spot to view the parade was and that is where she told me to stand. We were right in front of The Yard. You could actually sit on the bench and see the concert without going into The Yard. There were plenty of beads. The kids standing in front of me were getting handfuls from every float. I managed to get 9 sets as it was hard to get them with all those kids around.

 

[dorisdvu]

Here's the info from UO's website:

Email your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, date of birth, number of people in your party and which night you’d like to ride to APMardiFloat@universalorlando.com. Spots are limited.

Is there an email address for non AP holders?

 

[Motherfletcher]

I just re-emailed the AP address begging for spot on Saturday's float. They sent me a "don't call us we'll call you" return email. I've tried the AP site for a couple of years now with no luck. Others have said that they were approached at the park and asked if they wanted to ride. If memory serves someone said to hang around the Twister gift shop before the parade? Does anyone have any tips for how to get on a float?

 

[MsDisney]

Glad to ehar you had a great night Tony, glad I could help!

I had to laugh when you mentioned the Boneyard was packed by 6pm. Last weekend for Hall and Oates, it was rainy and cold. Even by 7:30pm, a concert goer could still voew the concert from the area clsoest to the stage the Boneyard was VERY empty (and at 7:30!)

True that! It definitely depends on who is playing and (in the case of Hall and Oats) the weather...but Kid Rock was definitely a HUGE draw and in contrast, the Bonnie Raitt night seemed pretty darn quiet!

I would expect that Heart, Kool and the Gang and KC and the Sunshine band will be pretty crowded since they are the last 3 and they flank Easter...plus, they're FUN!

Karen / MsDis / MrsMIB999999

 

[RUDisney]

We were told by our concierge that if you go to the last showing of Fear Factor for the night, and ask at guest services there that you may be able to get on a float.

We didn't try this because our DD wound up in a wheelchair just before our trip and my DH decided not to go to the park with us because he didn't feel well. It was hard enough battling the VERY LARGE crowd that night without having to get to the other end of the park. As a result, we also didn't get to see George Thorogood.... maybe next time.

The parade was super cool and the kids loved the time that we had there.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Thanks for the tip RUDisney!

 

[Motherfletcher]

... we also didn't get to see George Thorogood.... maybe next time.

He was bad to the bone!

 

[lovetheparks]

OK so I am Universal vet but a Mardi Gras rookie who pays no attention to names or directions

Is the boneyard where the Rat Run maze cages were set up last HHN? The spot right between Jimmy Neutron and Twister?

We are thinking about going over this weekend for Big & Rich since we have AP's but we know we'll have to stake out a spot EARLY!

Thanks!

 

[Slacking]

OK so I am Universal vet but a Mardi Gras rookie who pays no attention to names or directions

Is the boneyard where the Rat Run maze cages were set up last HHN? The spot right between Jimmy Neutron and Twister?

We are thinking about going over this weekend for Big & Rich since we have AP's but we know we'll have to stake out a spot EARLY!

Thanks!

yup, thats the boneyard (or just The Yard)

 

[lovetheparks]

Thanks a bunch!