Stay Away from US during Mardi Gras?

[BabkaGal]

Hi all!

I am so excited to finally go to Universal Studios this weekend! The weather looks like it will hold out (hopefully!), and I have started packing for the trip.

My dilemma is, however: I just realized that Mardi Gras is happening Saturday evening. I do not want to go to Mardi Gras (just want to enjoy the rides!), and I do not want to deal with the crazy crowd.

Should we stay away from US that day and go to IOA instead? I am not sure where the parade goes and where people line up, but I am worried it will be in the US park itself. I can't really tell from the website where the parade goes. Does the Mardi Gras celebration happen at US or at Citiwalk?

Also, how long does it take to hop from US to IOA? If we want to swtich parks in the afternoon, would that be a good idea? Please let me know your thoughts!

Thanks for your help!

 

[damo]

US and IOA are adjacent to each other. You walk out of one exit and two minutes later you are at the other entrance.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

If you are not interested in the Mardi Gras festivities, then I recommend starting your day at Universal until the afternoon. Then Mardi Gras people pour in (some tickets are for Mardi Gras only, and allow admission at 5:00PM I think). IOA is extremely close by, so switching mid-day to the other park isn't bad at all.

HTH!

 

[silverspark]

the mardi gras parage begins by the ghostbuster show...turns down by shrek i think.....and follows up to where the mummy will be. the parade rolls twice

being from new orleans, i wouldn't call the crown a "crazy crowd" it was just people watching the parade and grabbing for beads. the floats are authentic...made my local (my kind of local) Blaine Kern....

if you do decide to go (i recommend it) dont expect a lot of beads...normall people leave mardi gras with bags and bags of beads, but at US - you're lucky if you catch three!!

i think you should go - its fun!!

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

I've gotten over 20 beads during one time at Universal...but it all depends on where you stand and all. Second time I saw the parade I only got like 5 or 6. (It helps when sometimes 2 or 3 are tangled together when thrown lol)

 

[highlander447]

Well my daughter is really looking forward to Mardi this sat as Sean Paul is playing and next weekend its the blackeye peas who my son loves

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Highlander,

I am so excited for you - look at your countdown.

Also, my kids got tons of beads at Mardi Gras, at least 25 each, and did DH and I.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

oh yay Hidhlander! Almost 5 hours now!!! You're probably going crazy with last minute stuff!!

That's cool your son and daughter get to see two artists they like! The only one I knew well enough to care about was KC and the Sunshine Band. My parents let me stay...but I missed it because I was at CityWalk. D'oh! Oh well!

 

[BabkaGal]

Hi all!

Thanks so much for your advice! Looks like we'll probably do the AM at Universal and PM at IOA to avoid the Mardi Gras crowds. I'm sure Mardi Gras is fun, but we're only going for 2 days and want to enjoy every minute we can on the rides!

And check out my new countdown timer! I wish I had figured it out before, but it still looks cool now! Less than 48 hours to go!

Thanks again!

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

yay!!! You have a great time!! Watch a GB Show and a Graveyard Revue if you can fit it into your schedule.