Please oh please tell us all about last night at Mardi Gras!!

[essmom]

I am dying to hear about Mardi Gras and the B-52's. How were the crowds ? How was the parade? Where's a good place to be for the parade? Thanks

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

And did anyone see where the Little Jester's Area is? Can't wait to hear about Mardi Gras - 11 more days.

 

[damo]

They're all still sleeping.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Didn't get to stay for the B-52's. It was raining last night for Mardi Gras, so we left after the parade. I saw seahag yesterday, so maybe she can tell ya (she was on a float!)

Crowds were....large. During the day there weren't as many. But since there are tickets where you can get in after 5:00PM for Mardi Gras, crowds REALLY picked up around then. At a Ghostbusters Meet and Greet, the Ghostbusters were surrounded by MANY, MANY people. I almost felt bad even worrying about a picture because of all the people!! It was the most people I've seen wanting pictures in a loooooooooong time.

MIB had gotten a 60 minute regular line wait in the afternoon. Single riders line was about a 15-20 minute wait (was all the way past the hall area).

BUT, as far as the crowds DURING Mardi Gras, you will encounter some rude people...and some people who just aren't thinking. I was with Keriann and her mom for the parade. There were a few people who tried to run along the edge, cutting in front of you to steal whatever beads were thrown your way. One lady in particular stood out. Keriann was also there with her sister's fiance's nieces, and the lady would even get in the way of the little girls. Keriann said something, and the lady apologized and moved down a bit to continue over there. Another kid (related to the same lady) would shove in between people to get beads. He tried to get in between me and Keriann's mom, but we stood closer together and formed and wall. We wouldn't budge, and we both gave him a dirty look as to, "What do you think you're doing?" He moved to bother Keriann, who was holding one of the nieces. She said she had to go as far as to hit him in the head so he would leave (remember, we were all here first...saving our spot ahead of time.).

Mardi Gras gets wild...you met lots of different....and interesting people...(*cough*fruitsandnuts*cough*) It was fun, despite those few people. But once we stood our ground, they stopped bothering us.

 

[rangebob]

MG was pretty good. Expect to see some of the mummy around the area both during the parade and before. I don't know where the found the mummy look alike but I could almost swear that it was the real actor (don't know his name though).

As for the little jester area there is one in front of Twister, Jimmy and one over by the old Herculies/Zena building (Near the 50's diner). Plan on seeing alot beads flying in those areas.

 

[rocketman23]

Woo, how about that Kyle Henderson Project? I didn't know bands could be formed singing only stolen 80's songs let alone wear a blazer while doing it. Kyle Henderson will for ever be a joke among those who saw him.

 

[rangebob]

But how about the Neon green tamboreen and the bright yellow pants on the man from the B-52's. Great costume there.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by Robert Walker
But how about the Neon green tamboreen and the bright yellow pants on the man from the B-52's. Great costume there.

I saw the b-52's over the summer, and Fred always wears those!

Been a b-52's fan for almost 20 years (sigh!), and Fred always has "flashy" clothes!

Which songs did they sing? WE saw them at another theme park over the summer and they did over an hour show (almost two hours)

 

[silverspark]

Originally posted by Flyfly_Eclipse
Mardi Gras gets wild...you met lots of different....and interesting people...(*cough*fruitsandnuts*cough*)

haha fly fly!! im glad you had fun! and its funny because the real mardi gras is not like that...well at least where we stand at our parades....the people are all friendly and were never rude or tried to steal beads and spots....but thats cuz we stay at the uptown parades and not the downtown ones.....anyway

we do have lots of fruits and nuts at new orleans mardi gras, though! and it makes it more fun!! im kinda sad that i'll be missing new orleans mardi gras....but i'll be in universal, so WHO CARES!!! hahaha

 

[rocketman23]

The "nuts and fruits" may be 52's related. You got to find the right spot for the parade (to which must be not be spoken of on board to avoid a larger crowd there) and the annual pass area is often not the right place due to the viciousness of AP holders. I only grab beads if they come to me; I make a lunge only for the special ones (which are getting more sparse every year). For one I got a bucket full, but for two all the beads weigh down my neck to all hell standing through the concert afterwards.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

well. the "fruits and nuts" wasn't during the parade nor the concert though.....heh heh.....but I'm not going to share that on a public board. You never know who may be reading...and I don't want to offend anyone...because I don't really have a problem with it...it was just funny.....'nuf said

 

[Dznefreek]

I could almost swear that it was the real actor (don't know his name though).

Arnold Vosloo, I believe.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

It is Arnold Vosloo. I just check imdb.

 

[Seahag]

Originally posted by Flyfly_Eclipse
well. the "fruits and nuts" wasn't during the parade nor the concert though.....heh heh.....but I'm not going to share that on a public board. You never know who may be reading...and I don't want to offend anyone...because I don't really have a problem with it...it was just funny.....'nuf said

Gee, if I didn't know better, I would think that was directed my way.

 

[Seahag]

Originally posted by Robert Walker
MG was pretty good. Expect to see some of the mummy around the area both during the parade and before. I don't know where the found the mummy look alike but I could almost swear that it was the real actor (don't know his name though).

That guy looked *EXACTLY* like the mummy - unreal - I dont' know how they did it, but they sure did a good job - he's a dead (pun intended) ringer for the actor

 

[rangebob]

The only thing that was missing from the parade was the coins and the stilt walkers. They might not have put them out there due to the weather. Hopefully they will be there this week.

 

[h20jag]

So, is the Parade any more impressive than previous years? Seems the feedback I've read so far makes it out to be more chaotic (crowd-wise).
I think we'll just buy beads this year, which was probably factored into the "scaling back" decision Uni made this year!
Too bad we couldn't justify more MG's this year.
Thanks for the reports!
Jim

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

I'll probably go back for Mardi Gras this Saturday. Hopefully the weather will be better, and maybe the crowds won't be so bad from where I stand. I'll let you know how it is. We stand by a covered area, so almost everyone was hanging out over there, and there wasn't room for everyone to catch beads, so people were extra grabby.

I'll let you know!! I thought the parade was quite neat, actually. I had never been to the Mardi Gras event at Universal before (probably back when we didn't know it was included with our admission), so I can't compare it.

Even though there were a lot of grabby people, between my dad and myself, we got 21 beads. not bad.

 

[h20jag]

Thanks FFE!
Is Monster Cafe fully operational during the concert?
Found this to be a safe haven last year. Really liked their attempt at gumbo!
Jim

 

[rangebob]

Suprisingly they never closed it after the christmas rush. They do have the MG type of food in there again this year.