7 Reasons Universal Orlando Is the Best Place For Families to Celebrate Mardi Gras

Published on Feb 25, 2020 at 3:35 PM

Mardi Gras parties are not exactly known for being family-friendly, but Universal Orlando is out to change that notion. The theme of this year's celebration is Treasures of the Deep, so expect plenty of pirates, sea creatures, and buried treasure with, of course, a side of food and fun.

They've kept kids in mind for nearly every detail of the 25th anniversary of their annual Mardi Gras party, including a kid-friendly spot to watch the parade, loads of tasty treats, and entertainment that you can't help but dance along to. Universal's Mardi Gras celebration runs from Feb. 1 through April 2, which means you've got two whole months to let the good times roll before this party packs up and heads back to the Big Easy until next year.

There's a Special Parade Viewing Area For Kids

Every night of this two-month-long party includes a colorful, glittery, confetti-filled parade that kids will love. For an unobstructed view of the fun, kids can watch from the Little Jester's Parade Viewing Area, located in front of the Brown Derby Hat Shop in the Hollywood area of the park.

Kids Can Indulge Their Sweet Tooth at the Feast & Floats Dessert Party

There's a festive selection of desserts available throughout the celebration (the bite-size king cakes are perfect for little hands), but on select nights between March 9 and April 2, families can gather at Cafe La Bamba for speciality desserts and drinks (there's sparkling cider for parents, too) and an exclusive viewing area for the Mardi Gras parade. Adult tickets are $49.99 and kids ages 3 to 9 are $29.99 plus tax.

Kids Can Interact With Fun Street Performers

Universal Orlando's Show Director Blake Braswell let us in on a little secret that will add even more Mardi Gras magic to your family's visit. "Each night about an hour before the parade, all of our performers actually go out onto the street and lead dance parties with the kids," he told us. Make sure you wear your dancing shoes, because they're known to pull a few parents in on the action to give the kids a little laugh.

There's Over-the-Top Milkshakes Galore

If you've never visited the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium at Universal's CityWalk, this Mardi Gras-inspired shake is a good reason to change that. The French Quarter milkshake is basically a king cake in a glass with an actual king cake on top. And a beignet. And beads. The best part is it's big enough to share, so you can pick up where your kids leave off.

Beads, Beads, and More Beads

It's not Mardi Gras without a few beads, but from what we've heard, kids will get much more than just a few beads at the nightly parade. According to Blake, "No matter how big or small your kid is, they will never be able to hold all the beads that get thrown their way." If you know your kids are going to be excited to catch those handfuls and handfuls of beads, maybe pack an extra bag to help get them all home.

Kids Can Try Fun New Foods

New to this year's party is the Carnival Around the Universe Tasting Tent — a dining location with a biweekly rotating menu that'll feature dishes inspired by carnival celebrations around the world. Some of the dishes may be unfamiliar to kids, but if they are a bit adventurous, they'll dig right in to the Pão de Quiejo (Brazilian warm cheese bread) and the Softshell Crab Slider. If they aren't quite ready for food that looks like a crab, the Gator Bites at the French Quarter Courtyard look just like chicken nuggets, with the added bonus of being able to brag to their friends that they've eaten gator.

There's Free Music Every Day

Each day, families can enjoy authentic Louisiana jazz, blues, and zydeco bands in the New York area of the park, but things really heat up on select nights throughout the festival when big-name acts take to the Music Plaza stage for a rockin' good time (there's also a Louisiana-style crawfish boil on concert nights). Included with the price of your theme park admission, you can introduce your kids to classics like TLC (February 29), REO Speedwagon (March 7), Diana Ross (March 15), and Earth, Wind & Fire (March 21), or catch current favorites like Luis Fonsi (March 13) or Marshmello (March 22).