Mardi Gras celebrations seriously adds to the fun at the Universal Orlando Resort

Courtney Mills

16 years ago

In these trying financial times, there’s one challenge that
each of us faces. Which is stretching our entertainment dollar as far as it can
possibly go.

That was my goal this past Saturday … to see how show I
could really get for my dough. So armed with a one day two park ticket from
Orlando Fun Tickets, I drove on over to the Universal Orlando Resort and tried to
experience as many rides, shows and attractions as I possibly could in a single
12-hour period.

Mind you, I did my homework first. Before I headed to bed on
Friday night, I checked around on the Web to gather some essential information.

Both Universal Studios Florida & Islands of
Adventure were opening at 9 a.m.
The Mardi Gras parade was scheduled to get underway
at 8 p.m.
The Ne-Yo concert would kick off at around 8:45
p.m.

That’s the really great part about visiting the Universal
Orlando Resort this time of year. Now through April 18^th, every
Saturday night (and even some Friday & Sunday nights too!) is Mardi Gras over
at Universal Studios Florida.

And we’re not talking about some rinky-tink miniature theme
park version of Mardi Gras. This is the biggest celebration outside of New
Orleans itself; which means that there
is a full blown parade with elaborately themed floats, stilt walkers, and street
performers that cruise down Hollywood Boulevard.

And , did I mention the authentic Cajun & Creole cuisine
that Universal’s restaurants serve up during this 10 week-long celebration? Or
the great live music acts that the Park brings in to perform as part of Mardi
Gras?

And the best part is that all of this seasonal entertainment
is included as part of your regular admission price to Universal Studios
Florida. There is absolutely no up-charge for this theme park’s Mardi Gras
celebration with your regular admission theme park ticket.

So, now that I knew that my day at Universal Orlando was
going to end over at the Studios movin’ and groovin’ to Ne-Yo, I thought that
the smartest thing to do would be to start my Saturday over at Islands of
Adventure. Which – for my money – is the most ambitious theme park in all of
Central Florida.

I mean, who needs a cup of coffee when you’ve got the
Incredible Hulk Coaster (which goes from zero to 40 mph in two seconds flat) to
jolt you awake. And forget about watching the CW4Kids’ new “The Spectacular
Spider-Man” cartoon on Saturday morning. Here at IOA’s “The Amazing Adventures
of Spider-Man,” a 3D version of Spidey lands on the hood of your Scoop and then
compliments you on your eyewear.

Mind you, it really helps to plan ahead with Islands of
Adventure. To do things like take in all three of this theme park’s big water
rides – Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges, Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls
and the Jurassic Park River Adventure – in one fell swoop very early in the
day. That way, as the temperatures climb later in the day, your clothes will actually
have a chance to dry off.

Of course, while you’re enjoying all that Islands of
Adventure has to offer now, don’t forget to take a peek at that theme park’s
future. I’m referring to all of the construction that’s going on in and around
the Lost Continent. Where the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is rising up
behind a seemingly endless series of construction walls.

But as morning gave way to afternoon, I thought that it was
time to change theme parks. So after ducking out of IOA, I made a quick stroll
through CityWalk (Which was surprisingly busy for a Saturday afternoon) and
then made my way into Universal Studios Florida and … Holy Cow! Have you folks
seen Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit?

That thing is huge! Some 17 stories tall, this new
state-of-the-art coaster literally towers over the Park. Rip Ride Rocket’s 3800
feet of track wraps itself in and around Universal’s Production Central. At one
point blowing straight through the façade of that theme park’s Twister … Ride
It Out attraction. I can’t wait to ride this thing when it finally opens later
this Spring.

But – for now – I thought that I’d start off my day at
Universal Studios Florida by visiting with Marge, Homer and the kids. “The
Simpsons Ride.” There’s a reason that the Themed Entertainment Association
named this “Back to the Future: The Ride” redo as its Best Attraction for 2008.
From the clever retheming of this USF show building to the hundreds of sight
gags & in-jokes that have been crammed into its ride film, “The Simpsons
Ride” is supremely entertaining. The sort of attraction that you’re going to
want to ride twice in order to pick up on everything you missed the first time
around.

Of course, the same thing can be said about “The Simpsons
Ride” next door neighbor, “Men in Black –Alien Attack.” This interactive
shooter attraction – with all of its hyper-detailed sets, not to mention its
snarky sense of humor – just raises everything to the next level.

The Universal Orlando Resort likes to describe itself as the
place “Where Blockbusters Come to Life.” Well, after being snapped at by “Jaws,”
having my eyebrows singed by all the fire effects in “Revenge of the Mummy” as
well as having donkey snot blown all over me in “Shrek 4-D,” I felt like I
needed a break from blockbusters. So I wandered out onto Hollywood Boulevard
and … Well, whaddaya know? The Mardi Gras parade was just getting underway.

Now when I say that this is no rinky-dink theme park version
of a Mardi Gras parade, I really mean it. We’re talking 13 full-sized floats
here. Six of which celebrated this year’s theme for the parade, which was “The
Wonderful World of Literature.”

And this past Saturday, the energy of the crowd that lined
Hollywood Boulevard as that Mardi Gras parade rolled on through was high. As
people yelled at the top of their lungs “Throw me some beads!” And then dived
to catch whatever the folks who were riding on those floats flung into the
crowd.

After that was over, I made my way through USF’s French Quarter
Courtyard to the Park’s newly completed concert venue. Where Ne-Yo then
entertained the crowd with a selection of his greatest hits.

The concert wrapped up just after 9:30 p.m. And while I
toyed with the idea of heading over one of the clubs or restaurants at
Universal Citywalk for a quick nightcap … In the end, I knew that it was time
to go home. Two theme parks PLUS a Mardi Gras parade & celebration AND a
live music concert were a lot for any one human to handle in a single day.

Of course, what wasn’t a lot was the price. That one day two
park admission to the Universal Orlando Resort that I got through Orlando Fun
Tickets only cost me $81.69. And given the huge amount of show that I got for
my dough this past Saturday … Well, I feel like I really did stretch my
entertainment dollar just as far as it could go.

Mind you, I’m still recovering from my Universal marathon.
So this coming Saturday, the only stretching that I’m planning on doing is seeing
how far I can stretch out when I lie down on my couch.