Jump to content
  TPR Home | Parks | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram 

Universal Orlando Resort (USF, IOA, Epic) Discussion Thread

P. 625: Harry Potter Ministry of Magic revealed!

Recommended Posts

Yesterday the Universal Orlando Resort invited us back out to experience this year's Mardi Gras Grand Celebration! Host to incredible food, fun and music, this annual event keeps getting better and better! But rather than just tell, I figured we could show you!

000.JPG.f1e4cb2b293d0b7104c77bf98dd878d9.JPG

Mardi Gras Grand Celebration runs this year from February 8th to May 31st!

001.JPG.195c19ed691bb3634ba2998b4d1edbd7.JPG

And we're back!

002.JPG.ce09730b66173ce708f7761e59e92cdc.JPG

Sadly tonight's show with Robin Thicke was cancelled, but Robin has agreed to perform at Universal at a future engagement.

003.thumb.jpeg.f851b849b8b4e42530ad692a32d8c2c6.jpeg

There's never a shortage of awesome streetmosphere when it comes to Mardi Gras at Universal!

004.JPG.35a53884ad28207ba650dea4894e4cdc.JPG

One of my favorite parts of Mardi Gras is the French Courtyard, home to some authentic cuisine and music!

005.JPG.7de66bae3a15f62d9c13818a3adcbe2d.JPG

King Cake for the win!

006.JPG.49b0d8aa296a8fc5cd91b2f1fd51d8b2.JPG

It wouldn't be a Universal special event without Twisted Taters!

007.JPG.a21f34b3c35b4527a7d76665de23e45c.JPG

And an authentic New Orleans band to boot!

008.JPG.8ac590d6e3f16a94aad7c334f19745f5.JPG

We were given the chance to go backstage to see the new and upgraded parade floats, fresh from their production at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World in New Orleans.

009.JPG.49cd91620360e26afef0630cb1c11766.JPG

Blaine Kern has been producing Mardi Gras floats for New Orleans since 1947, and Universal has partnered with them for this parade since Mardi Gras first began at Universal Studios Florida many years ago.

010.JPG.60c0b3629fe6ca0ed4473f8c850dc0c6.JPG

The Jester float was considered one of the classics for Universal Mardi Gras, but Patrick Braillard, show producer for this year's parade felt that it was time to update the float, retaining much of its charm from before, but emphasizing a brighter color palate and a more vibrant design.

011.JPG.92489542eea21f41ecfbb0ef9b6bf007.JPG

You can definitely tell how passionate Patrick is about this year's parade!

012.JPG.a35bc2fc98143877c036d579a8af54cb.JPG

Needless to say, there is never a shortage of beads during the Mardi Gras parade!

013.JPG.34dc19e79b4d57652946bda768b5baf2.JPG

Let's go fly a kite!

014.JPG.c60c17424b23d30b6b312258dbb4ec5d.JPG

How sweet of Universal to name the boat the TH ELISSA! They must be fans!

015.JPG.5230f62d1e4694a59b2e441313dfcc82.JPG

Scariest dolphin EVER!

016.JPG.38744ecf3350a051b12c721cff3f4270.JPG

Time for my favorite part... The food!

017.JPG.af7a19901f3c60b2b63fee395b2887fb.JPG

Authentic Mardi Gras andouille sausage!

018.JPG.47a046f888badbad6732170b5c4396ae.JPG

GUMBO!!!

019.JPG.6bc5e4e288cb542669bfd1d1363786a5.JPG

King Cake and Praline Cheesecake for the win!

020.JPG.ee5c136380f1b6be53f84348b78b675e.JPG

Steven Jaysen, Executive Corporate Chef for Universal Studios (worldwide) once again shared with us the stories and inspiration behind this year's cuisine.

021.JPG.1ed9938b87f16dff47c2f0817e628f89.JPG

This year's floats look incredibly cool at night!

022.JPG.6e15e1ae6f9b2ebfd7d3a1a5e00ab845.JPG

Keep your hand at the level of your eyes so as to best catch beads (and to not get pelted in the face by them)!

023.JPG.88a5e3fff441bbb1748034b795fa7548.JPG

One of this year's new floats, inspired by the new theme for this year's parade: Around the World in 80 Days. The Zeppelin actually features programmed strip lights that dance in unique patterns.

024.JPG.4db20cead33790aee4f29abddf7fb08e.JPG

This float looked so incredible with all of the smoke!

025.JPG.e29e169895e8e54fe54801a2a1f828eb.JPG

It's the TH ELISSA!

027.JPG.c7762d36d36c641570da31ba7be28b35.JPG

Another classic float for Mardi Gras at Universal is the riverboat!

028.JPG.24bf1e85f86dd25e8d2519f52c898355.JPG

The Bourbon Street float debuted last year and remains as one of my favorites of the entire parade!

029.JPG.e52006ba7de18925daccddb878ce05c1.JPG

And closing out the parade is the classic, huge King Gator float.

030.JPG.88b07e96cc8dae65ed58922e40e2f684.JPG

Mel's and Transformers even got in the spirit for Mardi Gras.

031.JPG.5303ab54b73372ec0be853ee791e79a0.JPG

Since there was no Robin Thicke concert this evening, a showing of Universal's Cinematic Spectacular was added to the evening's lineup, and it never fails to impress!

032.JPG.74eb4de838f8a9c0aa349740d2460d56.JPG

Thanks again to the Universal Orlando Resort for hosting us for an incredibly fun night at the Mardi Gras Grand Celebration!

 

Seriously folks, if you haven't been, or haven't been in a while, Mardi Gras is just one more reason to come out and visit! Whether for the food, the music or the great lineup of rides and shows, this extra event is just the icing on the delicious King Cake that the Universal Orlando Resort continues to serve up!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He cancelled his performance at Universal Mardi Gras the day before the event and then was photographed at Disneyland with his family. Now today it's being reported that he's divorcing his wife. I'm calling shenanigans on the 'too sick to perform' excuse and I think it's kind of a slap in the face to Universal.

 

Anyways, I feel like his 15 minutes is fast approaching the end.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seriously folks, if you haven't been, or haven't been in a while, Mardi Gras is just one more reason to come out and visit! Whether for the food, the music or the great lineup of rides and shows, this extra event is just the icing on the delicious King Cake that the Universal Orlando Resort continues to serve up!

 

Thanks for posting this report with the awesome floats, food and festivities, Adam!

 

I decided that I am going to take Friday the 7th off of work so we can guarantee that we will be there on the 8th to witness this event. Being that we had originally tried to swap our time share for a place in New Orleans for Mardi Gras (nothing available and we had our request in for two years!), it is awesome to know that we will be at the next best place.

 

Actually now that I think about it, I believe that it WILL be the best place to be because of all the other great attractions coasters and attractions we will be checking out instead of just being stuck around a crowded bunch of unruly college drunks for several days!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Uh.....I guessing this is a joke, lol.

 

There is a lot of information leaking about this new expansion, though I cant confirm any of it AT ALL. But apparently the coaster will be 4 Minutes long! That's a pretty hefty ride time for a coaster if true, so I'm guessing there will be some long show scenes in the ride.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use https://themeparkreview.com/forum/topic/116-terms-of-service-please-read/