Feet don’t fail me now, feet don’t fail me now!
You’re all thinking it! It’s impossible to think about Universal Studios Florida’s Mardi Gras celebration without hearing the catchy, high-energy parade music we’ve all come to love over the years! And with Halloween Horror Nights wrapped up and Christmas now underway, it’s time to start looking towards the new year and what to expect from 2025’s Mardi Gras Celebration.
As we get closer to the event, more information will be revealed, and guests will have a better idea of what to expect, and which time-honored traditions will be returning this year, from ongoing traditions like the Tribute Store photo packages to the nitty gritty details about food and live entertainment hosted during this year’s run.
What we do know, however, is that the Ride and Dine packages have officially gone on sale! While everyone loves watching the Mardi Gras parade that rolls down the streets of Universal Studios Florida, a separately ticketed event elevates that experience to the next level – and from experience, I can safely say that once you’ve done the Mardi Gras Ride and Dine event, there’s no going back! Easily the best way to experience the parade is from the floats themselves, as bead throwers, dancing to the music as you chuck beads along the parade rout to the guests below.
In addition to riding the float and tossing beads you also – as the name of the event implies – get to dine at one of a select few Universal restaurants, and will be treated to a three-course meal, gratuity included, as part of the ticket price. This year, guests get to choose from The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, the NBC Sports Grill & Brew, Finnegan’s Bar & Grill, Lombard’s Seafood Grille, Confisco Grill (located in Islands of Adventure, which will require admission), as well as dinner-only option like Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food, Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom, and Pat O’Brien’s, all three exceptional restaurants located on Universal’s CityWalk.
Tickets for the Mardi Gras Ride and Dine Experience starts at 89.99 per person, but will be 99.99 per person for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This may seem steep, but the inclusion of the three-course meal (which entitles guests to one appetizer, one entree, one dessert, and one non-alcoholic beverage each from the restaurant of their choosing) truly does offset the cost of the ticket. During last year’s Ride and Dine experience, for instance, guests were able to pick from the full menu at Lombard’s, which opens up a fantastic world of choices at some of Universal’s most extravagant restaurants. For a look into last year’s Ride and Dine experience, check out Theme Park Shark’s coverage of the event!
Reservations for this event must be made in advance, and spots will fill up quickly – especially as we get ever closer to the start of the event! For guests who hold annual passes to Universal Orlando Resort, a 15% discount can be applied during reservation by calling (407) 224-7554, or by purchasing tickets at the Front Gate or any of the Guest Services locations within the parks. Purchasing these tickets online or via the Universal Orlando Resort app, however, does not seem to give guests the option to add the UOAP discount – so if you’re interested in this unforgettable extra, be sure to go through the right channels to make the most of your pass perks! Valid Universal Orlando Resort annual pass and photo ID will be required, of course.
And as more information about this upcoming Mardi Gras season is released – and trust us, we’re just as excited to get that concert lineup as you are! – Theme Park Shark will report to keep you up-to-date on Universal Orlando’s wildest event of the year!
