Orlando’s biggest party is back in town! With Universal Orlando Resort hosting many well-known ‘marquis’ events, one of the biggest of the year has just rolled back around! On February 3rd, 2024, the two-month-long celebration officially hit Universal Orlando, bringing the sounds and flavors of New Orleans to our backyard.
Featuring unique food and drink options alongside a thrilling parade party and an authentic bead throw every night along the parade route, Mardi Gras has been a staple of Orlando Celebrations for years.
This year, Universal Orlando Resort is proud to announce all new food booths featuring cuisine inspired by countries never before featured in the Mardi Gras menu, like China and the Philippines. Alongside these new offerings are staples of the event, like the fan favorite Shrimp Gumbo, as well as the return of the Bloody Mary Bar outside of Loui’s Pizzeria.
And because one of the biggest draws of Orlando’s biggest Mardi Gras event is the international food available at pop-up food booths throughout the park, guests can take advantage of an excellent deal offered at many of the food booths: the returning Food and Drink Lanyards.
The food and drink lanyard is a pre-purchased gift card; standard guests can purchase a 65-dollar card and receive 75 dollars in credit towards food and drink (including alcohol) throughout the park, but annual passholders have the option to purchase a lanyard for 120 dollars, which will give them 150 dollars in credit.
While the prices of these special lanyards tend to seem expensive for guests visiting for a single day, those who intend to get the most out of the Mardi Gras season will find value in these prepaid cards. Annual passholders especially, on top of receiving 30 dollars in free food with the purchase of the 120 dollar card, can use their typical UOAP discount at all applicable food stations, as well. If you’re a UOAP who plans to try everything Mardi Gras has to offer, the 120 dollar food and beverage card is a deal that can’t be beaten.
Most importantly, for all versions of the food and beverage card, there is no expiration date. Even if you don’t use the full value of your food and beverage card during Mardi Gras, frequent parkgoers will be able to use the remaining balance at other standard in-park dining locations.
For parkgoers like myself, the reasoning is simple: you’re going to be spending the money in the parks, anyway. Why not get some of it for free?
In addition to the tempting, limited-time food and drink options featured at Universal’s Mardi Gras and the excitement of the bead throw during the nightly parade featuring all-new floats, guests are also treated to weekly concerts featuring some of the biggest names across a variety of genres; easily the best part about these concerts is that they’re available at no extra charge – the only admission you need to experience all the incredible offerings of Mardi Gras – including concerts by artists like Ava Max and All-American Rejects, this year – is your standard daytime admissions ticket or annual pass.
For more information about the concert lineup and the dates each featured artist will be performing this year, check out our article: Universal Orlando Announces Concert Lineup for ‘Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval’
With all these exciting features, it’s unsurprising that Mardi Gras is one of Universal Orlando’s most anticipated yearly events. From now until April 7th, 2024, this year at Universal’s Mardi Gras celebration is certain to be the biggest, wildest, and spiciest yet!
