Mardi Gras season is back at Universal Orlando. The event continues to emphasize the New Orleans-style festive atmosphere, including a bead-carrying parade, concerts, and international cuisine.
New additions to the event, officially named Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavor of Carnival, are influencing its atmosphere, including new menu items, floats and the introduction of reptilian royalty.
Prince Gator, a gold and green, large beaded and crowned character, is now available to interact with visitors. He’s stationed near the park’s Pantages Theater (home of the Horror Makeup Show) in the basement of a curved structure Universal calls Hollywood Wave.
“A few years ago, he was designed and brought in as a popcorn bucket. Then he was made into a stuffed animal, and we said, why not add him to our animated family?” said Kelly Malik, show director of entertainment development. “We have to bring another party animal into the Mardi Gras mix.”
Like Earl the Squirrel, Universal Orlando’s holiday character Prince will also be available for photos and autographs, according to Malik. And he has a backstory.
“He also wears a traditional set of beads passed down from his father, who is none other than the King Gator of our parade,” Malik said.
Yes, Prince’s pop signature extra-long float will once again appear at the tail end of the evening parade. This year’s theme, especially the new float, is related to the city of New Orleans.
“It’s like they took New Orleans and Mardi Gras out of New Orleans and put it right into their own parade,” Malik said.
“You’re going to be a part of it. You’re going to see all the lights, all the sights, the audio, the lights, the high-energy performers,” she said. “Everything happens before your eyes.”
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Elements of NOLA presented via floats include food, doubloons, music and the bayou. This is in contrast to themes seen in previous years on half of the floats, such as marine life and literary styles. This year’s approach is expected to be more seamless.
On opening weekend, some of the floats had no bead-throwing passengers, making them eerie abandoned units. Universal officials called it an “altered” experience. By early this week, the float was full.
The parade route is still filled with costumed stilt walkers and dancers in familiar looks, but there may be more birds and creatures. That had a raccoon on its head, right?
Familiar foods like po-boys and king cakes will also be making their way back to the theme park streets.
“This year, we wanted to enhance the experience even further by actually doing a lot of cooking over an open fire,” says Vice President and Executive Chef Jens Dahlmann. “This is something I’m really passionate about because you can really create a multi-sensory experience on the road.”
Visitors can watch grills cooking salmon over open flames at kiosks specializing in Puerto Rican, Brazilian, Jamaican and Chilean cuisine.
“It’s the freshest, highest quality ingredients coming from Patagonia, exposed to fire and smoke,” Dahlman said. “It’s the signature style of food you’ll find on the street here in the studio.”
The 2025 festival’s best-selling pintxos de lechon is back in kiosks in Puerto Rico. Also joining us is Coconut Francocho, a dessert chosen in a Universal Chef competition.
“So francocho means flan and cake, and it’s even better when you eat them together,” says Dahlman.
“You’ll see a little cockin up there. … It’s very, very cute,” he said.
Universal’s Mardi Gras Festival runs every day through April 4th. Included in regular Universal Studios admission. The next concert for this event will be in Portugal. The Man (“Feel It Still”) will perform on Saturday, and Puerto Rican reggaeton star Ivy Queen will perform on Sunday.
news and notes
• There have been changes to Universal’s Mardi Gras schedule. Ziggy Marley will perform at the concert on March 7th, replacing Shaggy as originally announced.
• Volcano Bay, Universal Orlando’s water park, is going cashless starting February 25th. This attraction only accepts credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, or Universal Pay for purchases. Cash-to-card kiosks will also be available.
• Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift, a roller coaster under construction at Universal Studios Hollywood, will open this summer. This is not to be confused with Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a roller coaster under construction at Universal Studios Florida that is scheduled to open sometime in 2027.
• Aquatica, SeaWorld’s water park in Orlando, is planning spring enhancements, including a fourth toll plaza, upgraded shade structures (including adding more umbrellas), expanded mobile food ordering, a new paint job and a reimagined Ke-re’s Bar. The price tag is “in the millions of dollars,” said park director Bradley Gilmore.
• Brevard Zoo is adding colobus monkeys, including two sisters (Nia and Zuba) from the Nashville Zoo in Grasmere. A male is expected to be born in the next few weeks.
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dbevil@orlandosentinel.com
