We just returned last night from a great time in Florida, but I had to tell everyone that if you go to the Mardi Gras parade with younger kids, have them stand in one of the roped off kids areas...the floats paused there everytime and my kids caught tons of beads and coins. I thought there might be too much competition and my daughter who is on the shy side might not be aggressive enough to get any, but everyone in the parade made sure that all the kids got something as they passed by. My 9 year old son stood in the back of the area and caught everything that the younger kids missed. He came home with 20 coins and countless beads. My daughter caught or was handed almost the same amount. My husband held my 2 year old so she could see the floats and all the people on stilts stopped by to shake her hand and give her beads. I was almost embarrased by how many beads we walked away with, but all the kids in the same kids area were also loaded with beads. The parade was my 7 year old suaghters favorite part of the whole trip!!! It really was a fun time for all of us!