Rides open during Mardi Gras?

[spewey]

Just tryin' to get a straight answer ...

So, since it's been - gasp - almost a whole month since the wife and I were at Universal, and she may actually have a few days off at the end of February, we were talking about a return trip. Looking at possible dates - and having never been during Mardi Gras - something on the official web site caught my eye:

"Select rides and attractions will be open during the parade and concerts."

Now, the parade and concert don't hold much interest for us, but the prospect of Mummy/Jaws/MiB etc. being open later than the regular closing hours of 8PM certainly does (the parade/concerts go as late as 10). But there were no specifics, and I couldn't find anything here or at IOA Central. So I called the park; spoke to Guest Services, who said "a couple rides in the area of the parade, i.e. Shrek or the Mummy, should be open", who then transferred me to Operations, where a woman (very helpfully) tracked down an Operations supervisor who told her that - without a doubt - absolutely all rides and attractions would close at 8PM, and none would operate during the Mardi Gras festivities. She could not explain why the web site said otherwise.

So. Who's right (I'm hoping the web site)? Does anyone here know for sure? Can anyone check this weekend and report back? Does anyone here have offspring that work on any of the may-or-may-not be operating rides? I guess I'm a little eager to find out as I'm checking air fares as we speak ...

 

[phamton]

My son works from 9 am-7 pm that day but I have heard of others coming in later and working until midnight. I'll let you know on Saturday. In years past, all rides have been shutdown once the parade starts but I have been hearing that this year that rides will be open.

 

[phamton]

OK, my son just got home and he was told last night that Mummy would not be open during the parade or concerts.

He also said to let you know that even though they were told that, it doesn't mean that they can't change their minds.

 

[spewey]

Hmmm. I wonder what's with the website?

Thanks, phantom, for the quick reply. I'll keep my fingers crossed they have a few stay open ...

 

[highlander447]

I would think that it would be dificult to keep any attraction open as u cannot cross the road while parade is on and if they did let u themn I would think its a major safety problem, but it would be good for those not into concert

 

[spewey]

Was anyone at the park this past Saturday? Anything open? The web site still claims some rides will run during the concerts ...

 

[Not2L8]

Mummy, MIB, Shrek, and I think Jimmy Neutron, were all open during the parade. Not sure about Jaws.

 

[kit]

There were four rides operating until 10 pm this past Saturday. Twister, earthquake, mib and mummy. But earthquake broke down again the first day back up.
I was amazed by the crowds on Saturday especially during the parade. And then everyone made a mass exit and missed a great concert.

 

[kit]

There were four rides operating until 10 pm this past Saturday. Twister, earthquake, mib and mummy. But earthquake broke down again the first day back up.
I was amazed by the crowds on Saturday especially during the parade. And then everyone made a mass exit and missed a great concert.[/QUOTE]

 

[phamton]

My son got off at 6:00 PM on Saturday at the Mummy. When he was leaving they said they still didn't know if they would be open during the parade and for how long. Those who were still working just had to stay even though they weren't scheduled to work.

It seems the employees were the last to know. They did stay open until 10:00 though.

 

[spewey]

How strange - the confusion of the web site versus park ops, rumors versus policy, etc., with the employees not being told in advance. Pretty sloppy for what is usually a first-class park. This is the sort of stuff - not getting a straight answer, and ride ops being kept in the dark - that one normally associates with a Six Flags, not Universal ...

 

[Corporal_Radar]

last saturday, i went to all of the rides up at the front of the park arond 9:30... and none of them were open.... i was sad.... i wanted to hit the mummy at least another 40 times before i left....

 

[FrannyK]

We were there the first Saturday of MardiGras, Feb 5, and I even called the parks the day before (Feb 4) to see if any rides would be open and they said "No rides will be open after 8pm parade time." When we entered the park late Saturday morning, we were given a flier at the entrance to US about MardiGras and it said ROTM, Shrek, Jimmy Neutron and Twister would remain open till 10pm. And they were. They certainly must have known this the day before since there were printed fliers Saturday a.m. I don't know why they give such differing info?

We ran into the same thing w/Superbowl--the parks and hotels said they would be showing the Superbowl at certain specific locations, and they did show the game, but not in the locations they had told us even that morning. Odd