Tell me about Mardi Gras in the parks

[qemom]

At our last trip I upgraded to AP and now am planning a trip for Mid February. All crowd calendars say low crowds. I've never been during Mardi Gras but I think there's a parade? Do I need to expect blackout dates for concerts? I'm hoping I didn't pick a bad time to go.

 

[Metro West]

At our last trip I upgraded to AP and now am planning a trip for Mid February. All crowd calendars say low crowds. I've never been during Mardi Gras but I think there's a parade? Do I need to expect blackout dates for concerts? I'm hoping I didn't pick a bad time to go.

During the day the crowds aren't too bad for most dates. However...depending on who's playing that night crowds can and will be insane! Blackout dates should only be for Season Passes I believe...all other passes are fine. There is a parade and it's wonderful! BUT...there is no easy way to see both the parade and show...you have to pick. If you really don't care about the performer that night you can concentrate on the parade and watch the show on the monitors. I would advise you leaving before the show is over to try and avoid the mass exodus from the park and garage which is a royal pain! I like going during MG...it can be a lot of fun.

 

[qemom]

During the day the crowds aren't too bad for most dates. However...depending on who's playing that night crowds can and will be insane! Blackout dates should only be for Season Passes I believe...all other passes are fine. There is a parade and it's wonderful! BUT...there is no easy way to see both the parade and show...you have to pick. If you really don't care about the performer that night you can concentrate on the parade and watch the show on the monitors. I would advise you leaving before the show is over to try and avoid the mass exodus from the park and garage which is a royal pain! I like going during MG...it can be a lot of fun.

We have the season passes So are the concerts every night during Mardi Gras? Just weekends? Can I not go to either park if it's blackout for a concert? Sorry I know it's a lot of questions lol

 

[Metro West]

We have the season passes So are the concerts every night during Mardi Gras? Just weekends? Can I not go to either park if it's blackout for a concert? Sorry I know it's a lot of questions lol

Usually every weekend but you can go to IOA...just not the Studios.

 

[TheConsciousness]

Went to Mardi Gras this year with a Seasonal AP, which means that I cannot attend the concerts during those nights. We scheduled our days avoiding the concerts and had a blast at the parades every day. Mardi Gras is a great time to go in terms of things to do, food to eat, and low level of crowds.

 

[vincentc77]

Was down 2 years ago for a convention and got to experience Mardi Gras. It was a blast. Even got lucky enough to score a AP spot on a float. We were in a deluxe so had the express pass, but I don't believe the daytime crowds were of a concern. It the evening concerts that brought in an insane amount of people.

 

[nighttowll]

I was there for Mardi Gras this year in February and March.

The parade was every night, a change from past years. They were also allowing annual pass members to ride on the floats. I really wanted to do it, but it never worked out.

February was amazing, no waits, no crowds, front row for the parade, plenty of beads. The parks were pretty dead.

March was beyond crowded. Long lines. Huge parade crowd, very lively. Still got a few beads, but you'd definitely want to stake out a parade spot in advance. Same with riding on the float. In February plenty of last minute spots, but in March, it was very booked up.

The concerts were Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and only access to Universal where they are held was blocked. IOA was still accessible.

Keep in mind, you also loose access to the Hogwarts Express on concert days since you can't hop. There were a few people upset because they didn't understand why they couldn't just ride it over and straight back, but they won't let you do that.

What I did to get around the blackout issue this past spring was to buy regular tickets, making sure they cost less than a season pass would. Then on the last day of the trip, we upgraded to a season pass inside the park.

This allowed us to enter Universal on concert days using a regular non blacked out ticket. Then on our last day of the standard ticket, second to last of the trip, which I think was another concert day, we again entered on the regular ticket, went to guest services inside the park, and updated to the season pass. As long as we didn't leave Universal, we were ok, as the season passes wouldn't have let those in our group re-enter on a concert night. Hope that makes sense. Maybe that option could work for you if you haven't already bought tickets.

 

[qemom]

I was there for Mardi Gras this year in February and March.

The parade was every night, a change from past years. They were also allowing annual pass members to ride on the floats. I really wanted to do it, but it never worked out.

February was amazing, no waits, no crowds, front row for the parade, plenty of beads. The parks were pretty dead.

March was beyond crowded. Long lines. Huge parade crowd, very lively. Still got a few beads, but you'd definitely want to stake out a parade spot in advance. Same with riding on the float. In February plenty of last minute spots, but in March, it was very booked up.

The concerts were Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and only access to Universal where they are held was blocked. IOA was still accessible.

Keep in mind, you also loose access to the Hogwarts Express on concert days since you can't hop. There were a few people upset because they didn't understand why they couldn't just ride it over and straight back, but they won't let you do that.

What I did to get around the blackout issue this past spring was to buy regular tickets, making sure they cost less than a season pass would. Then on the last day of the trip, we upgraded to a season pass inside the park.

This allowed us to enter Universal on concert days using a regular non blacked out ticket. Then on our last day of the standard ticket, second to last of the trip, which I think was another concert day, we again entered on the regular ticket, went to guest services inside the park, and updated to the season pass. As long as we didn't leave Universal, we were ok, as the season passes wouldn't have let those in our group re-enter on a concert night. Hope that makes sense. Maybe that option could work for you if you haven't already bought tickets.

Thanks for this! We do already have our AP since we upgraded to those in May. So if there's a concert at night you can't go to Universal the entire day? I'm really worried about this now, planning on going Thursday-Sunday and if there's concerts Friday Saturday and Sunday then that's really going to suck not being able to go to Universal all three days

 

[nighttowll]

I went back and rechecked. Concerts were only Saturday and Sunday. I got my days mixed up, sorry. When you're off work, it all kind of runs together. I was looking at an old schedule that listed Friday and Saturday for some nights.


Hopefully two days at IOA only won't be so bad, if not, you can always upgrade to a ticket that doesn't black out concert days. Not ideal, but better than being confined to only IOA.