Mardi Gras w/Kids

[Cyn]

We are thinking of sqeezing in a short trip 4/16 - 4/20. Yes I know Mardia Gras and Easter - what could I be thinking? Anyways, we'll have the kids in tow 12, 12, and 11. Is Mardis Gras tame enough for adventerous young men?

I've studied the schedule for weeks and that's the only date before next Christmas! Year round swimming has eaten up all our free time now.

Thanks in advance!
Cyn

 

[rangebob]

I always see tons of kids in the crowd. They are the favorites sometimes to get beads and coins thrown at. I would do it with them. Depending on the day of the week they normally have some pretty good bands playing there.

 

[robvia]

Kids will have a blast getting tons of beads. People in the floats throw to the kids more than adults.

Crowds may be ok. Public schools off:
South Florida Spring Break April 14th - 21st.
Orlando Spring Break - March 17-21
Tampa Spring Break - March 24-28
Tampa and Orlando have April 18th off.
Orlando has April 21st off.
So besides April 18th and 21st, the local kids will be in school.

Tuff to say how much the colleges will effect the crowds. I know the adults will come out at night, but during the day, it should be light. This is what happened during HHN last October.

 

[USO2003]

Don't think of a rowdy New Orleans Crowd for Universal. Although people tend to get drunk and when that is a factor problems will soon follow. I seen people get really pissed off because confetti fell in their beer. I seen people rip beads off people's necks. I seen people pushing shoving to get fallen beads or coins.

That stuff happens, it's not like that all over but that stuff does happen and it's only far to mention that. I think if Universal stopped selling alcohol the annual events like that will not be as popular.

Just be carefully.

 

[USO2003]

Originally posted by robvia
Kids will have a blast getting tons of beads. People in the floats throw to the kids more than adults.

Actually I think more fly towards the young hott girls in the crowd, which is why I stand near them and catch their beads.

 

[webray]

We have been to Mardis Gras at Universal many times. It is great, and there are always a lot of kids in the crowds..at parade time and all day long.

We have never seen the drunk/unruly people that are spoken of above. The crowds have always been very much under control and well behaved.

Go for it, you will have a great time!!!

 

[USO2003]

Originally posted by webray
We have been to Mardis Gras at Universal many times. It is great, and there are always a lot of kids in the crowds..at parade time and all day long.

We have never seen the drunk/unruly people that are spoken of above. The crowds have always been very much under control and well behaved.

Go for it, you will have a great time!!!

Well I wouldn't say it, if I haven't seen it. I have video of that stuff, a guy standing around me got confetti in his drink and went nuts, F- this and F- that, I better get a free refill. I was standing on the crub and a mother pushes her kid infront on me and starts screaming at me to move. I have video of this behavior so I can back what I say. It's good you never seen that stuff and it shouldn't be seen, but I can assure you it does. It was well documented at HHN's this year the same sort of crowd behavior was not taken lightly. Large crowds mixed with alcohol don't make for a good time.

 

[Aisling]

We have never seen the drunk/unruly people that are spoken of above. The crowds have always been very much under control and well behaved.

My neighbors were at last year's Mardi Gras and they did indeed see some rowdy behavior, and even got it on their video. Nothing serious like fighting, but a couple of drunks cursing and pushing some girls from behind in a suggesive manner. When one of the guys saw my friend's video camera, he got right in front of it and yelled Hi Mom! Needless to say, my friends moved to another spot and everything was fine after that.

 

[rangebob]

This behavior that NWO is explaining is very rare. I've been to so many of the Mardi Gras events and have never seen any such fighting or pushing going on. I'm not saying that it can happen but I've never noticed it. I am thinking that he might have been right near the stage where the staff pumps the crowds up in anticipation of the parade and then the concert. I normally stay away from the stage for the parade and get plenty of beads and then wank over to the concert and have never had a problem.

 

[BarryHom]

Drunks are usually ejected from the park before they can cause trouble.

As for kids, I remember last year there was a "Little Jester's area" especially for kids. Kids generally get the short end of the stick when they complete for beads against adults. The long reach of adults usually beat the reach of kids. In the Little Jester's area, kids only complete with kids for beads.

 

[USO2003]

Well I am saying is it does and it has happened, I explained it's not always like that and the whole event isn't like that but it does and can happen at anytime so be careful.

 

[Metallicat]

I've been to USF's Mardi Gras many times and have never personally witnessed any rowdy or drunken behavior and even if I did, I would move along but, I have seen many bead catching finatics fall all over themselves to grab up as many beads as they can. watch out for those people. they will knock you over for a 5 cent strand of beads so stand clear of them. you don't have to be right up front to get beads. I usually stand back close to a building (out of the way) and I have a grocery bag full of beads and coins.
It's Mardi Time! (almost)

 

[the Dark Marauder]

There is a "Little Jester's" area, which is for kids. They all get beads right from the start and are kept safe from some of the people who jump/push over beads. Dont be surprised if the float escorts are mean-they're on Ultra Safe Mode and dont want anyone getting hit by floats or stiltwalkers. They're the only ones who are allowed to take beads that dont get in the crowd and throw them out.

The worst Mardi Gras I'd ever been to was the one where Smashmouth was playing at the concet stage. The staff had made a pathway that was for "exit only" but many people insisted on not using that path to move. A family with a stroller couldn't even get through the crowd it was so bad.

 

[pathubia]

Last year we went to the parade 3 times, twice at night, once during the day. It was the last weekend of Mardi Gras. I never saw any drunk or horrible acting people. There were a few that got very overzealous, but nothing too bad. We rode on a float one night and that was SO much fun. We ran out of beads on Hollywood Blvd, and we had to dance, that was pretty funny.

Patty