Mardi Gras

[JBrig]

Anyone been to UO during Mardi Gras? How are the crowds? Anything special going on? How likely are we to get discount for HRH during that time?

 

[JessicaR]

Mardi Gras is awesome. We went first time this past March and enjoyed it. They have parades and concerts. Lots of fun! If search is UP give it a try for many posts on the subject! We got a discount using our Fan Club card and entertainment rates are usually avaliable as well. It was crowded on the weekends but it wasnt terrible.

 

[webray]

Mardis Gras at Universal is excellent...a lot of fun.

Not too crowded...things are spread out all through out the park so there is not a big concentration of people in one area.

Don't forget your beads and masks...and if you do...there are plenty for sale there!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

The parade isn't too bad with the crowds, but I thought the concert areas were tooooo crowded to stand in with children.... my teenagers were ok with it, but my younger one wasn't comfortable. As far as the park itself is concerned...crowds weren't bad at all......

 

[Molokai Gram]

This is my absolutely favorite time to go to UO! I have been to the celebration twice and would go every year if I could afford it. The parks are relatively empty during the day (as long as it isn't spring break) and the parades are so much fun. In 2001 they had parades every night and we had a ball. DH (who is usually on the shy side when we visit the mainland) became a dancing fool and was thrown loads of beads from the floats. In 2002 the parades were only on weekends when we went and DH had to stay home and I did not catch very many beads...but then I am more circumspect than DH.

The crowds are massive when they have the name stage entertainment and I have only stayed a little while to watch.

The party attitude prevails even during the day. It is just wonderful. And it was even better when there are DIS meets at the same time.
Wish I could go again.

 

[wendypooh]

Being from Baton Rouge......... I'd like to see the mardi gras celebration at univ.... I'm sure it's fun......... and no "UH HUMM" on the sidewalks............

 

[DocRafiki]

Hi Baton Rouge! (LSU grad here)
I did love the concert series this year, even though Counting Crows canceled . I was really impressed that they booked CC and LIVE, 2 acts usually seen in much larger settings. But, it's only one act per weekend, so you just have to get lucky since it sounds like your date is set.

But, my big peeve with "Mardi Gras" is that it extends several weeks PAST Mardi Gras day, which is unheard of (actually blasphemous) for anyone familiar with the real Mardi Gras season.


(plus it just bothers me when areas put on these fake Mardi Gras celebrations outside of south LA/MS/AL, but that's the fundamentalist in me)

... and can you believe they are STILL throwing beads around that place? get over it, already, people. it's like leaving your christmas lights up all year!

 

[wendypooh]

Hey LSU grad.......... Geaux Tigers!!!!!
I know, I was just in N.O. and there are still beads everywhere!!!! I'm sure Univ's. mardi gras is great.......... I'd love to yell " throw me somethin' mister" with a beer in my hand......... oh wait, I do that here at home......

Yeah, I saw where it extends way past the "season". BLASPHEMY!!!


I can hardly wait to get there...... it's been a long time since we've been, and were all really looking forward to it!!!

 

[robvia]

Agree about the blasphemy thing. Everyone seems to be jumping on the Mardi Gras bandwagon lately.
Next year, Mardi Gras is February 24, 2004.
The day passes with barely any coverage leading up to the event, then I see the ads on TV promoting USF concerts that have already passed.
If the marketing department is smart, they'd start advertising for Mardi Gras in Jan/Feb, so people can plan their trip.

The problem is that Mardi Gras is early in the year, and the day changes depending on Ash Wednesday.
2004: Feb. 24
2005: Feb. 8
2006: Feb. 28
2007: Feb. 20
2008: Feb. 5
2009: Feb. 24

So imagine in 2005 when Mardi Gras is on Feb 8th, the "day" itself will pass so fast, noone will have heard, and then all the promotions will start running thru March.

 

[mouseclick1]

We were at US during Mardi Gras this year and loved it! We ended up getting randomly picked to ride one of the floats, which was a blast! On the down side, we never really got to see the parade! We are going on a DCL cruise next year at Easter, and I was thinking of going to US on the day the cruise returns if Mardi Gras is still going on (sorry to those of you who conider it blasphemy! ). This way we can actually catch some beads and maybe catch a fun concert!

Crowds were amazingly very small during the week, but definitely picked up on Friday. On Thursday, at 5:30 pm, people were walking on to the Hulk with no wait!

Regarding room rates: we went the last week of February and were able to get PBH for $155 entertainment rate. Our first choice was HRH, but we couldn't get the ent. rate there. We booked only 3 weeks before the trip. We walked over to the HRH one day and spent the day lounging around the pool.

 

[wendypooh]

Hey Mouse.......... glad you had a good time,,,,,,,, and as anyone from La. will tell you, any reason to have a party is a good reason to have a party!!!!!!! If you see Rex, tell him to get his bottom home!!

 

[jsteinmetz]

I love mardi gras, i hope to be able to visit US during their mardi gras celebration. Its hard because i would hate to leave New Orleans during that time.

Let me know what other people have experienced!

 

[phamton]

Originally posted by DocRafiki
it just bothers me when areas put on these fake Mardi Gras celebrations outside of south LA/MS/AL,

So, unless you are from Germany, you shouldn't have a Christmas tree. Celebrations often extend to other areas. Nothing wrong with that. Cinco de Mayo is a big celebration in Texas and last I heard Texas hasn't been a part of Mexico for over 100 years.

N.O. doesn't own the rights to Mardi Gras. If you want to see the original go there, but for a lot of fun without flashing for beads, go to Universal.

 

[Jenny&Trey]

I think it would be cool to go then too, although I don't know if I'd be disappointed since my hubby and I go to NO for Mardi Gras every year. This year will be my 10th and our 7th togeather.

It has to be a great combo though Universal and Mardi Gras, well catch some beads for me and I'll catch you some from New Orleans. It is gonna be COLD this year!!!

We rode on the Grim Reaper float in HHN on October 13th, that got me pumped for Mardi gras!

Happy Mardi Gras
Jenny

 

[drumflower]

Has the official information been released yet? Where can I find more information on Mardi Gras?