Laissez les bon temps rouler! There’s one place in Disney World where it’s Mardi Gras all year long, but on the actual day of Mardi Gras, they celebrate in a BIG way.
Let the good times roll!
We headed over to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort recently to check out their Mardi Gras celebration, including a rare PARADE! Come with us to check it out!
Disney actually has TWO Port Orleans Resort hotels — Riverside and French Quarter. Both celebrate the holiday, but most of the party can be found at French Quarter each year.
Play it, Gator!
On Mardi Gras, we found this guide to the celebration! It lists a few different ways to celebrate, including the Port Orleans Mardi Gras Pargo Parade from 10AM to 11AM, Mardi Gras Courtyard Crafts from 12PM to 4PM in the French Quarter courtyard, and a Mardi Gras Party from 5PM to 10PM, which is also located in the French Quarter courtyard.
Information
There was also a live jazz band in Scat Cat’s Lounge from 7:30PM to 11:30PM.
Scat Cat’s Club — Lounge
The 2024 parade was themed to “Celebrating Walt Disney World Parades of Past and Present!” Here’s a look at the parade route:
Parade Route
It began at 10AM EST near Building 80 at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside and made its way through the resort, next to the Sassagoula River, ending in the Port Orleans — French Quarter courtyard.
Celebration
Before 10AM, people were gathering along the parade route! It’s time to begin!
It’s starting!
The parade started off with an exciting band!
The band
Up next, Princess Tiana came by, waving to the guests!
It’s Tiana!
There were floats about all kinds of Disney parades.
Parade floats
People were handing out Mardi Gras beads, too!
Beads!
One of our favorite floats was the one about the Main Street Electrical Parade!
Main Street Electrical Parade Float
Check it out here:
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, this golf cart proudly presents a spectacular pagaent of Mardi Gras magic and imagination in thousands of sparkling lights and electrosynthomagnetic musical sounds. The Main Street Electrical Parade! pic.twitter.com/yuLwGbtSUS
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) February 13, 2024
We loved this Main Street Transportation one, too.
Main Street Transportation float
The Rainy Day Cavalcade that sometimes pops up in Magic Kingdom when the weather’s bad made an appearance!
Rainy Day Parade float
These rainy day costumes are adorable.
Rainy Day Parade float
There was also a float for SpectroMagic, which was a nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom that debuted in 1991, ran through 1999, and then returned for a while in the early 2000s.
SpectroMagic
What a great throwback!
SpectroMagic
OK, I know we had a ton of favorites, but this is another one: The Boo To You Parade!
Boo to you and you! This Mardi Gras float has us feeling villainous ? and wondering if it’s really too early to start getting excited for Halloween! ? pic.twitter.com/TnJ8fBgj7Q
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) February 13, 2024
There were even Haunted Mansion grave diggers!
Gravediggers!
Plus, there was a villains float as part of that one.
Boo to You!
The parade ended with a float that was dedicated to Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade!
Christmas Parade
Guests can vote on which float was their favorite, and the whole parade ends at the French Quarter courtyard, where a party is happening!
Vote for your favorite
Head to the Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter next year to celebrate Mardi Gras with crafts, live music, and a party! And stay tuned to DFB for more updates from Disney World.
Click here to learn more about Disney’s Port Orleans — French Quarter Resort.
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