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Happening: February 1 – March 30, 2025
What is Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras International Flavors of Carnaval?
If you’re a fan of New Orleans, beads, King Cake, and a little bit of debauchery, you’ll get a taste of that at Universal Orlando’s version of a Food & Wine festival. For those who don’t know, Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday” a tradition that is celebrated the day before Lent where you engorge yourself on everything and anything that you may be giving up during the season before Easter. A … fattening so to speak.
Taking place at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, the festival has an array of activities. With weekend concerts, a daily parade, and 13 food booths, there’s enough to do across the two months.
Food booths this year include: Bites of the Bayou (New Orleans), Canada, China, Coca-Cola Market Square, Colombia, France, Germany, French Quarter Sips, India, Italy, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Taste of the Quarter (New Orleans).
I wouldn’t miss out on the nightly parade – grab all the beads you can, but leave enough for others to enjoy the parade, too (you’re not the only one there looking to enjoy it)!
Note: Despite my desire to be within the park, I will not be creating a food review for this year’s festival as I am currently unwell. I’ll see you in 2026. 🙂
The Complete List of Theme Park Festivals: Across the United States
Things to Do Around Universal Orlando’s Carnaval
Depending on if you’re a local or someone coming to the parks as a 2-3 day (or more) tourist, the level of things to do really depends on you and your schedule. As a local, you can take things a lot slower as you can stretch the festival across the two months, but as a tourist, you’ll jam pack everything in and you may miss certain activities (like concerts) if you’re a mid-week visitor.
But, there are still things to do. Mainly food-related though. So, wear your stretchiest pants and be prepared to walk a lot to burn those calories.
Mardi Gras Parade
Probably the most anticipated part of the Carnaval is the daily parade. The parade starts (and ends) in between the Horror Make-Up Show and the Cafe La Bamba restaurant on Universal Mega Movie Parade “Road.”
This parade is as authentic as it gets outside of New Orleans with authentic floats from The Big Easy as well. Times vary during the festival as to when the parade occurs, but I’ve kept it pretty succinct for you below. Be careful not to get slapped in the face with beads and if you’re taller let little kids stand in the front so they have an easier time of catching beads.
Also! Please don’t be selfish in gathering beads. The amount of people I saw night after night carting away 20+ bead necklaces around their necks while others had nothing was staggering. Don’t be that person; you’re not cool.
Parade Times:
5:00pm:
- February 4
6:00pm:
- February 2, 3, 5-7, 9-13, 18-21, 24–28
- March 3-7, 9, 12, 18
7:00pm:
- February 14, 17, 23
- March 2, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 19, 20, 23-28, 30
7:30pm (Concert dates):
- February 1, 8, 15, 16, 22
- March 1, 8, 15, 16, 21, 22, 29
Float Riding
Everyone has an opportunity to ride the floats during the parade, but there’s a limited number of spots available per night. One way is through the reservation system on the Universal Orlando app (you must be in the park to join the Virtual Line) and the other is by participating in the Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience.
The reservation system fills up very quickly though so be on your P’s and Q’s for that.
The Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience (starting price of $89.99–gratuity included) guarantees a spot on the parade float to toss beads to the crowd as it makes its way through the streets of Universal Studios. UO Passholders save 15% when purchased via Guest Services, Pass Sales, Destination Universal Desks, at the Front Gate or by calling (407)-224-7554.
Dining Locations: Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, NBC Sports Grill & Brew, Finnegans Bar & Grill, Lombards Seafood Grill, Pat O’Brien’s (dinner only), Antojito’s Authentic Mexican Food (dinner only), Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom (dinner only), and Confisco Grille (2-park ticket required)
Each venue is given 30 seats a day for ride and dine guests and they no longer are requiring dining reservations. As such, you can eat whenever you’d like (aside from the restaurants that are “dinner only”) prior to the start of the parade, however guests are highly encouraged to dine with a minimum of 2 hours prior to the parade start.
Why? Check-in opens 2 hours before parade start and closes 45 minutes to its start. Therefore, if you book this experience make sure you’re giving yourself enough time to eat and walk over to Animal Actors on Location! for check-in.
Live Concerts
Select nights see popular artists descend on the Music Plaza Stage (between to Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and Jimmy Fallon and across from Pop-A-Nana). Concerts happen at 8:30 PM / 20:30. It’s a pretty hard spot to miss really.
A lot of people do attend these concerts so you’ll have to show up early to get the best standing spot as these concerts occur right after the parade ends.
| February 1: T-Pain | March 8: Illenium |
| February 8: Joe Jonas | March 15: All Time Low |
| February 15: Kool & The Gang | March 16: Lawrence |
| February 16: Juanes | March 21: Coco Jones |
| February 22: Scotty McCreery | March 22: DJ Pauly D |
| March 1: Foster the People | March 29: TLC |
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Exploring the Food Stations at the Mardi Gras Carnaval
There are 13 food booths this year (we’re down one!), but still a lot of food to try throughout the event. What I love about Universal is they post their prices, so this is just helping to keep all things food-related on one page like I do with all of my other food guides. 😌
Quick reminder that I won’t be doing a food review for this year (I know, I’m sad about it, too, but I don’t want to get people sick).
Bites of the Bayou
By the small square park sat across from Jimmy Fallon, The Mummy, and near the Transformer ride and by nearby Taste of the Quarter
Food items:
- Baked Cajun Mac & Cheese ▸ $10.99
creamy spicy cavatappi pasta with andouille sausage, holy trinity and a cajun cream sauce, garnished with scallions - Cajun Spiced Twisted Tater ▸ $9.99
Cajun seasoned potato, Creole remoulade sauce, herbs - Chicken & Sausage Gumbo ▸ $8.99
stew of trinity: chicken, andouille, bacon over white rice
Beverages:
- Miller Lite® ▸ $10.50
- NÜTRL® ▸ $12.50
- Modelo® ▸ $11.50
Canada
Next to Colombia on corner from Jimmy Fallon
Food items:
- Hot Maple Lacquered Salmon ▸ $14.99
griddled salmon fillet with a maple lacquer and an ancient grain mixed salad - Margherita Poutine ▸ $10.49
fresh mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, basil cream and pub fries
Beverages:
- Ginger Snap ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $16.50 | (12 oz. Single Serve) $13.50 | (Refill) $13.50
Fireball® Cinnamon Whisky, lime juice, ginger purée and maple syrup - Ginger Snap Mocktail ▸ $9.00
Lime juice, ginger purée, cinnamon syrup and maple syrup - Collective Arts Brewing® Life in the Clouds IPA ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $16.00 | (20 oz. Single Serve) $13.00 | (Refill) $12.75
China
In San Francisco across from Lombards Seafood Grill
Food items:
- Spicy Szechuan Chicken Bites ▸ $11.99
crispy pieces of chicken with white rice, sesame seeds, Szechuan chili crunch - Duck Xian Bing ▸ $10.99
shredded duck dumpling with hoisin scallion ginger butter
Beverages:
- Luck and Prosperity ▸ $9.00
Hokkaido® Milk Tea powder, ginger puree, blood orange syrup, vanilla cream syrup and mango popping boba - Heineken® ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $15.25 | (20oz. Single Serve) $12.25 | (Refill) $11.25
- Bud Light® ▸ $10.50
- NÜTRL® ▸ $12.50
- Voodoo Brewing Co.® Lacto-Kooler ▸ $13.50
Coca-Cola Market Square
On the corner across from Transformers and Mel’s Drive-In
Beverages:
- Frozen Brandy Milk Punch ▸ $13.50
Torres® 10 year brandy, Old Forester® bourbon, milk, cream, simple syrup and vanilla bean - Frozen Irish Coffee ▸ $13.50
Jameson® Irish whiskey, JF Haden’s® Espresso Liqueur, cold brew concentrate and vanilla ice cream - Banana’s Fosters Fizz ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $16.50 | (12 oz. Single Serve) $13.50 | (Refill) $13.50
Cruzan® Aged Dark Rum, Planteray® O.F.T.D. rum, Bols® crème de banana and Barq’s® Creme Soda - Doberge Cake Cocktail ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $16.50 | (12 oz. Single Serve) $13.50 | (Refill) $13.50
360® Sorrento Lemon vodka, 360® Double Chocolate vodka, vanilla cream syrup, cupcake cold foam and Sprite® - Peach Cobbler Smash ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $16.50 | (12 oz. Single Serve) $13.50 | (Refill) $13.50
Old Forester® bourbon, peach puree, lime wedge and Coca Cola® - Peach Cobbler Smash Mocktail ▸ $9.00
peach purée, lime wedges and Coca-Cola® - Orange Coconut Snowball Mocktail ▸ $9.00
Pineapple juice, coconut milk, cream of coconut and Fanta® orange - BLTC Bloody Mary ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $19.00 | (12 oz. Single Serve) $15.00 | (Refill) $15.50
New Amsterdam® vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt and black pepper - Premium Cocktail mixed with your choice of liquor: ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $19.00 | (12 oz. Single Serve) $16.00 | (Refill) $16.00
Tito’s® vodka, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum®, BACARDI® Superior rum, Patron® Silver tequila, Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7® whiskey, Crown Royal® whisky, Tanqueray® London Dry gin
Colombia
Next to Canada and near to Taste of the Quarter in the small square park
Food items:
- Colombian Burger ▸ $10.99
grilled burger with Monterey Jack cheese, pineapple cabbage slaw, cilantro garlic sauce and potato sticks - Chicken Empanadas ▸ $8.99
crispy corn masa chicken empanadas with aji picante - Pandebono ▸ $7.99
warm Colombian cassava bread
Beverage:
- Aguapanela ▸ $9.00
Panela sugar, water and fresh cut lemon
France
Across from the NBC Media Center
Food item:
- Duck a l’orange Crepe ▸ $15.99
freshly made crepes filled with shredded duck, onions, Boursin cheese, orange segments and an orange slice
Germany
On the San Francisco Pier next to Lombards Seafood Grill across from Fast & Furious exit
Food items:
- Leberkäse ▸ $10.99
German-style meatloaf served on a pretzel bun with mustard and sauerkraut - Currywurst & Pommes ▸ $9.99
crispy bratwurst topped with spicy curry ketchup, served with fries and mayo - Apple Strudel ▸ $4.99
flaky pastry layers wrapped around spiced apple filling
Beverages:
- Beer Flight ▸ $13.00
Bitburger® Premium Pils, Franziskaner Hefe Weissbier®, ERDINGER Weißbier Dunkel® - Bitburger® Premium Pils ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $16.00 | (20 oz. Single Serve) $13.00 | (Refill) $12.75
- Franziskaner Hefe Weissbier® ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $16.00 | (20 oz. Single Serve) $13.00 | (Refill) $12.75
- ERDINGER Weißbier Dunkel® ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $16.00 | (20 oz. Single Serve) $13.00 | (Refill) $12.75
French Quarter Sips
Across from The Mummy ride
Beverages:
- Category 5 Punch ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $16.50 | (12 oz. Single Serve) $13.50 | (Refill) $13.50
Cruzan® Aged Dark Rum, Myers’s® dark rum, lime juice, orange juice, simple syrup, passion fruit puree and grenadine - Espresso Martini ▸ $18.00
Julius Meinl® breakfast blend, JF Haden’s® Espresso Liqueur, New Amsterdam® vodka and simple syrup - Pimm’s Cup ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $16.50 | (12 oz. Single Serve) $13.50 | (Refill) $13.50
Pimm’s® No 1 Cup and Seagram’s® ginger ale garnished with fresh cut orange, strawberry, lemon and cucumbers - Bud Light ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $14.25 | (20 oz. Single Serve) $11.25 | (Refill) $11.00
- Modelo® ▸ $11.50
- Corona® ▸ $11.50
- NÜTRL® ▸ $12.50
India
On San Francisco Pier next to Chez Alcatraz
Food items:
- Potato Dosa ▸ $7.99
griddled dosa filled with curried potatoes, onions, black mustard seeds, served with a coconut chutney - Butter Chicken ▸ $10.99
tender chicken in a spiced tomato butter sauce with Naan bread and cilantro
Beverages:
- Jaljeera Soda ▸ $9.00
Jaljeera Spice mix, lemon juice and Sprite® - Iced Chai Latte ▸ $9.00
chai, milk and house-made masala cold foam
Italy
Seated across from Starbucks and Häagen Dazs
Food item:
- Trapizzini ▸ $10.99
warm ciabatta, meatball, marinara and spiced parmesan
Beverage:
- Peachello Spritz ▸ $17.00
Pallini® Peachello, Cavicchioli® 1928 Prosecco, club soda with peach bursting boba
Pass Holder Exclusive Items @ Louie’s Gelato Window:
- Affogato ▸ $6.49
salted caramel and espresso - Spiked Affogato ▸ $14.00
salted caramel, espresso, and coffee liquor
Mexico
Between Cafe La Bamba and NBC Media Center
Food items:
- Quesabirria ▸ $10.99
birria beef in a corn tortilla with Monterey Jack and Oaxaca cheese served with a birria broth - Chilaquiles Verde ▸ $7.99
tortillas topped with chile braised shredded chicken, salsa verde, cilantro onion mix with lime crema and Cotija cheese - Churro Loops ▸ $8.49
crispy cinnamon sugar loops with dulce de leche and chocolate sauce
Beverages:
- La Tormenta ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $16.50 | (12 oz. Single Serve) $13.50 | (Refill) $13.50
Cuervo® Tradicional® blanco tequila, lime juice, orange juice, dragon fruit puree, passion fruit puree and smoked sea salt - Elote Old Fashioned ▸ $19.00
Desert Door® sotol, Nixta® Licor de Elote, Del Maguey® Vida mezcal and agave syrup
Puerto Rico
On the corner across from The Mummy Ride
Food items:
- Pinchos de Lechon ▸ $10.99
char-grilled pork shoulder skewer with guava bbq sauce and pan sobao - Pastelón Fritters ▸ $8.99
crispy sweet plantain and picadillo beef fritters served with mayo ketchup - Cheese Dog ▸ $9.99
all-beef hot dog with cheddar cheese wrapped in an empanada disc, served with mayo ketchup - Limber ▸ $9.00
a Puerto Rican frozen iced treat with choice of coconut or guanabana
Beverages:
- Piña Colada ▸ (20 oz. Souvenir Cup) $16.50 | (12 oz. Single Serve) $13.50 | (Refill) $13.50
Ron del Barrilito® Three Star rum, lime juice, coconut cream, pineapple juice and smoked sea salt - Ponche ▸ $9.00
Welch’s® grape juice, sweetened condensed milk and blackberry essence
Taste of the Quarter
By the small square park sat across from Jimmy Fallon, The Mummy, and near the Transformer ride and by nearby Bites of Bayou
Food items:
- Red Beans & Rice ▸ $7.49
vegan sausage with stewed beans, white rice and garnished with scallions - Beignets ▸ $7.49
sweet fried pastry with powdered sugar - King Cake ▸ $7.49
traditional cake with cinnamon swirl icing, Mardi Gras sprinkles and a Mardi Gras baby
Must-Try Dishes and Beverages
With well over 50 items on this years menu, there’s a lot of new food and drinks that can feel absolutely tempting to try (and you’d be absolutely right about that). However, I’d be remiss in saying that there are definitely some food items that are simply better than the rest out of what is currently on the menu from last year.
Popular items according to the masses were:
- Beignets at Taste of the Quarter (I mean, duh)
- Every food item at Mexico
- Pastelón at Puerto Rico (so try the Pastelón Fritters!)
- Colombian Burger at Colombia
There were a lot of rave reviews for the Philippines booth (the Pancit Bihon was a favorite), the Candied Bacon & Onion Poutine at Canada, and the Chicken Satay at the Thailand booth, but as you can see from this years menu, those items are not available. And if I had a say, the Poutine would have 100% stayed–it was drool-worthy.
Speaking of, here are Theme Park Bites’ favorites (and those I wouldn’t mind trying again), based on what’s available this year:
- Beignets at Taste of the Quarter (duh!)
- Quesabirria at Mexico (pictured above)
- Category 5 Punch at French Quarter Sips
- Colombian Burger at Colombia
- King Cake at Taste of the Quarter (mainly my mom loved this to be fair)
But if I had to poke the bear and make a prediction on the favorites for 2025, I’d have to go with:
- Baked Cajun Mac & Cheese at Bites of the Bayou
- Spicy Szechuan Chicken Bites at China
- Banana’s Fosters Fizz at Coca-Cola Market Square
- Colombian Burger at Colombia
- Butter Chicken at India
- Everything (again) at Mexico, and
- Pinchos de Lechon at Puerto Rico
Foodie Tips for Having the Best Time
There are a few things to help you make your time within the parks a bit better on your stomach, a little lighter on your wallet, and overall a generally better time overall for you.
- First, knowing ahead of time what you want to eat will help you to stick to your budget. Try to stick to that plan if you can (believe me I get it, especially because everything looks so good, but stick to your guns!).
- If you are a Universal Orlando annual pass holder, I urge you to get a Food & Beverage card at the highest price of $120 valued at $150 (savings of $30). If you are a day ticket visitor you can also get this card, but you’ll be limited to the $65 for $75 deal (savings of $10).
- If you are a Premier or Preferred pass holder remember to show your pass to get discounts on top of your F&B card (if you purchase) as it stacks.
- Pass holder exclusive item over at Louie’s Gelato Window: Affogato and a Spiked Affogato! (You’ll have to show your pass in order to access this item).
- Mexico is an incredibly popular booth, their Quesabirria is probably why (I mean, heck, I waited a while just to get one, so yeah). So, either get there as they’re opening or if you see a lag in the line, or no one at all, hop in line because that may be your only chance before it gets crazy again.
- Booths get swarmed within the first hour of opening and definitely around dinner time. Find the lulls and go with the ebbs and flows of the booths as you pass them by if you’re a free spirit and not tied down to anything (and even if you are, you don’t need to eat in order!).
Download the event map to your phone as your wallpaper (hint: so you spend more time off your phone and with your family or friends!) so you’re aware of where everything is located and where the the parade runs so you can be where you want to be when it starts running (because once it starts and you’re on the wrong side you’ll have to wait for it to pass by before you can move to the other side!). That or get the UO app if you haven’t downloaded it yet.
Critique of the Carnaval
Alright, back at it again with a critique. Keeping it simple this year since I have no leg to stand on since I’m not going into the park for this event until next year.
- For a black-French-centered holiday (because of its heavy influence leaning into New Orleans and its origins out of France) the lack of much black influence is lacking. I will die on this hill until they change that. There is one dish from France this year and the African American offerings this year are laughable to the offerings that they had last year (they pared it down so much it’s honestly egregious; is it really a celebration of Mardi Gras?). And when I criticized last year’s French offerings, I should’ve been specific–yes, the menu had a lot of items, but it was all alcohol and a dessert, one I had no personal interest in, but I would have liked to try other French food items in general. Wanted to clear that up.
- They did pare back on Germany dramatically, which is good, however, when you compare this years menu to last years, it feels like they pared back on everything in general. There’s less booths and it feels like there’s actually less food despite there looking to be the same. Is this in response to EPIC Universe and they believe attendance will be down? Potentially.
This is a general thought, but I mentioned last year that going during the first two weeks probably isn’t the best idea as they make the most mistakes then, and I feel like that remains true. It’s when all of the kinks are ironed out to ensure the smoother running of the festival. And if that happens, please show staff kindness and grace, please.
They’re people just like you!
Beads or Bust, Baby!
So there you have it, everything altogether for this festival. And I know it’s late, literally burning the midnight oil to drop this at the last possible second, but hey, I did it. Enjoy your time at Universal’s Mardi Gras and if it’s your first time eat lots and lots of beignets for me, please? Thanks!
And if you haven’t as of yet, please follow me on my other social media channels (YouTube, Instagram & Tik Tok – @themeparkbites) once I get movin’ and groovin’. Thank you for allowing me to be your tasty theme park companion!