Mardi Gras 2023. Laissez les bon temps rouler (let the good times roll). Parades, King Cake, Cursed Club, Voodoo Dolls, Food, Rocket Ships and more

[disneyseniors]

Love your photos too!
I confess that I am afraid of Frankenstein, and the one in the shop was really lifelike and scary! I blame that on watching Frankenstein when I was a young child, LOL.
Going to DA is always a fun and unique experience for us. I love both of those Harry Potter lands.
The decor, merchandise, and shops seem to be a cut above anything that Disney has. Can't wait to get back to Universal!

 

[Robo56]

Love your photos too

Thank you. So glad you are enjoying the photos.

confess that I am afraid of Frankenstein, and the one in the shop was really lifelike and scary! I blame that on watching Frankenstein when I was a young child, LOL.
Going to DA is always a fun and unique experience for us. I love both of those Harry Potter lands.

I agree whoever did the Universal Monsters in the Five & Dime did a wonderful job. They are very life like for sure. They all have so much personality.

The decor, merchandise, and shops seem to be a cut above anything that Disney has. Can't wait to get back to Universal!

I agree the merchandise is very good.

I hope you will be able to get back soon.

 

[Robo56]

Wednesday, February 8th continued


I always like walking around Diagon Alley and taking pictures.

This is one of the secret spell spots in Diagon Alley. It is located at Scribbulus.


Another secret spell spot is at Slug and Jiggers Apothacary


That is supposed to be Dragon Poo in the barrel I read. When you do the spell it collapses and you smell a sulfur like smell. It is pretty sticky…LOL









These scissors do magically move.




You can now get your robes personalize.

 

[macraven]

You have such a good eye in taking your pictures.

 

[Robo56]

After leaving Madam Malkin‘s Robe Shop I went to one of my favorite places Knockturn Alley.

Borgin and Burkes is were the Dark Wizards and Witches Shop. The shop specializes in Dark Magical Artifacts.


The Hand of doom.




Death Eaters Mask that is for sale.


Lucius Malfoy’s Death Eater Mask. This is for sale


Bellatrix Lestrange‘s Death Eater Mask is also for sale.


Something new I had not seen before that is for sale. The Mirror of Erised. Erised is Desire spelled backwards. The Mirror shows the person who looks into it the desires of their hearts. The Mirror is also dangerous.







To be continued

 

[Robo56]

have such a good eye in taking your pictures.

Thank you Mac

 

[Robo56]

Great trip report so far! Your pictures....amazing...as usual.

Thank you Pumpkin. So glad you like the pictures and are following along.

usual.

I love going through the brick opening to get into Diagon Alley. Dh didn't get why I made a big deal of it...until this past Friday - when we watched the first Harry Potter and he put the 2 together

Yes, entering the park and hearing the bricks open up is pretty special.

 

[Lynne G]

Great pictures and enjoying reading your report.

A TM at that five and dime said was a real funeral hearse in that store. Maybe it was?

Agree all TMs are mostly very pleasant people.

With little one having a seasonal pass, maybe just I will do MG one of these days. But as the day we were leaving was the first day of MG, she went to IOA, while I took advantage of that food/drink gift card 150 dollar deal. Probably one of the first to do so. LoL

 

[Robo56]

Great pictures and enjoying reading your report.

Thank you Lynne, so glad you are enjoying the pictures and trip report.

A TM at that five and dime said was a real funeral hearse in that store. Maybe it was?

That is both creepy and scary. It looks like the real thing for sure.

Agree all TMs are mostly very pleasant people.

They are really nice. Many times when I‘am in the parks I do see their kindness displayed. They go above and beyond to be helpful.

With little one having a seasonal pass, maybe just I will do MG one of these days. But as the day we were leaving was the first day of MG, she went to IOA, while I took advantage of that food/drink gift card 150 dollar deal. Probably one of the first to do so. LoL

I enjoy Mardi Gras. They do a great job with the parade and really hit it out of the park with the food this year.

I’am glad to hear you were able to take advantage of purchasing the AP food/drink gift card on your trip.

 

[Robo56]

Wednesday, February 8th continued



Walking around Knockturn Alley is always nice and it gives a nice respite from the heat on very warm days and good shelter from the rain when there is a downpour.



After a few more photos is was time to leave Diagon Alley. It was pretty busy.


Everywhere you look there is something special to see. They really hit it out of the park when they built Diagon Alley.






People were lined up to get into the Telephone booth and dial the Ministry of Magic 62442 (Magic).



The India food booth was almost across from Fast and Furious Ride.

 

[Robo56]

I had tried the Bloody Mary drink last Year and made the mistake of getting the Spicy one and it was spicy for sure. I had planned to try the mild one this year. Will have to put that on my list of things to try next year.




The India booth had some interesting options to choose from.





This booth is across from the exit from Transformers. I have tired the Crawfish and Shrimp Boil in the past and it was good.









To be continued

 

[Robo56]

Wednesday, September 8th continued


The store fronts on this street in the New York area are very detailed. I enjoy walking around and taking photos in this area.







After taking a few photos on this street I turned around and headed past the front of Transformers.

This large food booth is located across the street from exit of Transformers ride. It is near the water.


I have had the Crawfish and Shrimp Boil before and it was good.




They had standing tables behind the booth area to eat your food.


There are also benches around this area to have a seat and enjoy your food.

After having look around this area I back tracked and headed back past the street in New York that I had took photos in. I went to the street behind this one close to the park and there were more food booths.

I like the Mardi Gras decoratons.

 

[Robo56]

The regular food items typically associated with Mardi Gras were on this street.










I had read that this Po Boy Fried Green Tomato sandwich was good.

 

[Robo56]

I wanted to try the Poutine with Short Rib Gravy.




This was delicious. The fries were lightly crispy. The rib meat with gravy was tender and delicious and the cheese curds melted lightly after minute or two sitting on the gravy. This dish was a double thumbs up. The portion if you ate it all could be easily considered a meal as it was generous.


After sampling this dish I was ready to start walking to the Main Street to have a nice stroll out of the park.




To be continued

 

[Robo56]

Wednesday, September 8th continued


After I headed to turn the corner that leads to the main street that walks past Jimmy Fallon’s Ride. I took a few snaps of the Puerto Rico Booth.







Mardi Gras decorations on the park lamp posts.




Some more food booths facing the side of Transformers Ride.

 

[Robo56]

The King Cakes were really big and they had a golden baby on top.






There was a cocktail bar set across from these food booths just like at HHN.


Its nice that Universal has posters on the construction walls as you are walking through the park so you are not looking at bare construction walls.

 

[Robo56]

I miss the Monsters Cafe. I would always stop in when it was open to look around. It was a nice cool area to get a reprieve from the heat, take some photos and have soft drink.

I hope Universal uses some of things that were in Monsters Cafe in a new way at Epic Universe.

 

[Robo56]

Some more fun Minions photos on the construction walls. I think everyone is excited to see what the rumored Minion Cafe and Store will look like.









I always have a walk through the Hello Kitty Store to look at the collection of purses and backpacks as they have the biggest selection in the park.

They has some Mardi Gras earrings and key chains too.


Betty Boop merchandise is at the front of the store.






They have a nice selection of WWOHP bags.

 

[Robo56]

I had not seen the Howler Letter purses before


Jaws


Jurassic Park


Back to the Future.


The ET backpacks and wallets were really cute.




To be continued

 

[Robo56]

Wednesday, February 8th continued


I walked out to the Park and went past HardRock and Toothsome Chocolate Emporium. My family and I had eaten at Toothsome when it first opened and the food was great. Then it kinda of went down hill every years since then. The food is not as good and the wait times for food to be delivered after its ordered is terrible.

I did go in again a couple of years ago for lunch and ordered a salad that I always ordered there and it was missing ingredients on the salad. The wait staff are fantastic. There is obviously an issue in kitchen.

The grandchildren had ordered the milkshakes in the past and they enjoyed them when they first opened.





I had plans to try and have an early dinner at Confisco Grille. I really have enjoyed coming here for a meal or two during my trips to Universal over the years.








I decided to order two appetizers to sample for dinner. Ahi Tuna Nacho’s and the Hummus.

The Ahi Tuna Nacho’s are so good and there is a good amount of Tuna. The sweet soy wasabi aioli sauce is delicious.


The Hummus is delicious and it is served with Soft and Crispy Pita Bread.