Question about Mardi Gras timing

[triplejen]

So we are taking a trip to the dark side this coming week. We decided to try Blue Man Group while we are there, so I got us (more than a month ago) tickets for Saturday night (2/25).

I didn't realize until last night that we will be there for a Mardi Gras celebration, but of course the only one that coincides with our trip dates is happening on that Saturday. (I need a d'oh! smiley for that.)

Our BMG tickets are for 6:00. I *think* the schedule for Mardi Gras shows that the parade will be at 7:30, so I can see that we will miss it. I'm so bummed :-(

Do they only run the parade once each night? Are there other activities we can see that will also be fun and Mardi Gras-ish?

I'm so annoyed with myself. We totally could have done BMG a different day!

Thanks for any and all advice or details about what goes on at Mardi Gras.

 

[Metro West]

Do they only run the parade once each night? Are there other activities we can see that will also be fun and Mardi Gras-ish?

Sorry...the parade is once per weekend night followed by the concert. The weekend you're visiting, Diana Ross will be performing so the Studios will be jammed! All of the MG festivities are inside the Studios so unless you are visiting on one of the MG nights, you won't see anything.

 

[damo]

I would go to the box office when you get there and see if they will exchange your BMG tickets for another day. There is a BMG box office outside the BMG building.

 

[islandtimect]

Our first trip to Universal Studios is this weekend and I know it'll be packed, especially since Kelley Clarkson is performing. Any advance on what to do to entertain ourselves during long ride lines? What attractions will be less crowded? When should we get ourselves near the place where Kelley will be performing? I hear folks line up hours earlier, but I dont want to waste the whole afternoon.

 

[Metro West]

Our first trip to Universal Studios is this weekend and I know it'll be packed, especially since Kelley Clarkson is performing. Any advance on what to do to entertain ourselves during long ride lines? What attractions will be less crowded? When should we get ourselves near the place where Kelley will be performing? I hear folks line up hours earlier, but I dont want to waste the whole afternoon.

She will be a huge draw...no doubt about it. If you want to see the parade, line up around 7pm and you should have a good viewing area. If you do that, you will have to stand quite a ways from the stage but you can still see everything on the big screens. Remember...all attractions close when the park closes so you won't be able to ride anything after 9pm.

If your main goal is the concert, you will need to line up no later than probably 4pm but then you won't be able to see much of the parade or ride anything. It all depends on what you want to do.

 

[vakamalua]

Where is the best spot to watch the parade and when do you need to be there?

 

[Metro West]

Where is the best spot to watch the parade and when do you need to be there?

There really isn't a "best" spot for parade viewing. As long as you stake out your spot by 7pm or so, you can have a pretty good view and you can line up anywhere along the parade route. Last weekend I was in front of Twister but I prefer the area around Mel's Drive In...it's my usual spot.

 

[macraven]

(I need a d'oh! smiley for that.)

 

[nhpooh]

There really isn't a "best" spot for parade viewing. As long as you stake out your spot by 7pm or so, you can have a pretty good view and you can line up anywhere along the parade route. Last weekend I was in front of Twister but I prefer the area around Mel's Drive In...it's my usual spot.

I was there too! We were across the street from Twister!

 

[damo]

There really isn't a "best" spot for parade viewing. As long as you stake out your spot by 7pm or so, you can have a pretty good view and you can line up anywhere along the parade route. Last weekend I was in front of Twister but I prefer the area around Mel's Drive In...it's my usual spot.

On the Mel's Drive In side? My niece is going down from Saskatchewan in two weeks for the first time and will have a 2 year old and a 3 year old. Would you recommend that as a good place for a family with little ones? They'll be thrilled if they can get lots of beads. I can give them advice on pretty much everything except Mardi Gras. We tend to miss it when we go down and the last time we did see it was about 6 years ago. I think Taylor Hicks was the headliner, lol.

 

[nhpooh]

On the Mel's Drive In side? My niece is going down from Saskatchewan in two weeks for the first time and will have a 2 year old and a 3 year old. Would you recommend that as a good place for a family with little ones? They'll be thrilled if they can get lots of beads. I can give them advice on pretty much everything except Mardi Gras. We tend to miss it when we go down and the last time we did see it was about 6 years ago. I think Taylor Hicks was the headliner, lol.

Not sure about the Mel's Drive In side, but where we were I got over 25 beads and my friend who was with me did too! I gave some to my DD when I got home and still have lots left!

 

[Victoria3]

If you don't care so much about the concert the best place to watch the parade is where it starts, inbetween Horror Make Up and Cafe LaBamba. It starts and ends there.

 

[damo]

If you don't care so much about the concert the best place to watch the parade is where it starts, inbetween Horror Make Up and Cafe LaBamba. It starts and ends there.

Perfect. So any corner at the intersection should work well.

 

[Metro West]

I was there too! We were across the street from Twister!

I was blabbing with some friends in Louie's that caused us to arrive late so we staked out the best spot we could find. I got eight strands which for me is a record! I was too busy trying to take pictures to concentrate on catching beads but I'm going to try and beat the eight strands next time.

On the Mel's Drive In side? My niece is going down from Saskatchewan in two weeks for the first time and will have a 2 year old and a 3 year old. Would you recommend that as a good place for a family with little ones? They'll be thrilled if they can get lots of beads. I can give them advice on pretty much everything except Mardi Gras. We tend to miss it when we go down and the last time we did see it was about 6 years ago. I think Taylor Hicks was the headliner, lol.

Make sure she takes the kids to the Kidzone Krewe Mardi Pardi which is near E.T. They have a stage show, character meets and will toss lots of beads for the kids. It's every day at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm. There is also a special children's parade viewing area near Terminator which opens an hour before the parade starts. The parade starts at 7:30pm for most of March.

 

[nhpooh]

I was blabbing with some friends in Louie's that caused us to arrive late so we staked out the best spot we could find. I got eight strands which for me is a record! I was too busy trying to take pictures to concentrate on catching beads but I'm going to try and beat the eight strands next time.

I got something like 25 beads! I was taking pictures too, I kept getting hit with them even got some in the hood of my sweatshirt. It was like it was raining beads!


Oh! Good luck to you next time!

 

[Metro West]

I got something like 25 beads! I was taking pictures too, I kept getting hit with them even got some in the hood of my sweatshirt. It was like it was raining beads!


Oh! Good luck to you next time!

I got smacked in the face more than a few times. I compared this year's beads with the ones I got last year and the beads are shorter this year...not that it matters.

I will try my hardest to get more beads this week.