Last year we experienced Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando for the first time and loved it. My baby girl had such a fun time collecting beads, watching the parade, and enjoying the Mardi Gras atmosphere that fills the Orlando theme park. In fact, she loved it so much that last December when we attended their Christmas events, she asked if we’d be able to come back again for Mardi Gras in the new year. Luckily, we were able to do so a few weekends ago and once again, our family enjoyed the fun and festivities of Mardi Gras at Universal Studios.

This time, our baby boy came with us as well, and it was so great to see him get into the fun of Mardi Gras. Just like his big sister, he enjoyed viewing the Mardi Gras parade, wearing a few beads, and dancing along to the vibrant music. Oh, and let’s not forget about the beignets that are available! My baby girl and I especially liked our beignets with chocolate sauce on top.

If you’re wondering if you should take your family to Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando, let me share with you a few reasons why I think you’ll love it and why the kids will have a great time!

7 Reasons to Celebrate Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Orlando

1. Mardi Gras Parade

The Mardi Gras Parade is spectacular. Huge and ornate floats parade down the streets of Universal Studios playing upbeat music and throwing beads to the crowd. I will mention that you have to watch out a little to make sure the beads don’t hit your little ones, as they can hurt a bit if they land the wrong way on your skin, but the kids truly love trying to catch as many beads as they can. Some of our favorite floats from this year included the Chinese New Year and Mexican Day of the Dead floats. I love that the theme of the parade this year is Colorful Cultures Around the World! Check out the free printable coloring pages on the Universal Orlando site for the kids to have fun with some of the parade floats!

2. Beads

Have I mentioned beads enough? I’m not sure what it is about them, but kids love collecting the Mardi Gras beads. I saw several kids wearing an insane amount of beads around their necks and it almost becomes a competition for them to see who has the most. Not only can you catch beads from the parade floats, you can also purchase fancier beads, necklaces, head pieces, and even a tie made of beads throughout the park. Another fun fact is that each parade float hands out a different color bead, which was fun for my girl to remember which bead came from which float!

3. Beignets

I don’t know where in Orlando you can get beignets (it’s not something I’ve searched for, honestly), but I know that you can purchase some at Universal Orlando during Mardi Gras. This makes for a fun treat for kids and adults alike, and though my girl and I poured chocolate sauce on top of ours, I also saw caramel and strawberry sauce as other topping options.

4. Concerts

Included with your Universal Studios park admission, Mardi Gras hosts live concerts each weekend featuring artists such as Demi Lovato, Sean Kingston, Pitbull, and many more. The night we attended, Matchbox Twenty performed, so we got to see a bit of their performance before heading out since the kids were pretty tired at that point. If you’re local or visiting Orlando in the upcoming weeks, you still have a chance to see Kool & The Gang, Pitbull, and The All-American Rejects perform before Mardi Gras at Universal Studios wraps up for the year.

5. Street Performers

All along the streets as you walk through the Universal Studios park, you’ll find street performers, including stilt walkers, dressed in Mardi Gras costumes and colors. Our kids loved this and it’s nice that they interact with guests, especially children.

6. Cajun Food

In addition to beignets, you can also purchase red beans & rice, jambalaya, and gumbo in the French Quarter Courtyard at Universal Studios. And here’s a little bonus I just found – Universal Orlando provides a recipe for Jambalaya and a recipe for Creole Gumbo so you can try them at home! (PDF files)

7. Music from New Orleans

Musicians from New Orleans also perform every weekend in the French Quarter Courtyard, bringing authentic New Orleans sounds to Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Orlando. What better way to truly enjoy the experience of Mardi Gras than by listening to live New Orleans bands?

What’s your favorite part of Mardi Gras? Will you be celebrating Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Orlando?

Disclosure: Our family was provided a complimentary 1-day visit to Universal Studios Orlando to experience Mardi Gras. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Except where noted, all photos © Melanie Edwards/modernmami™

We recently attended SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration and enjoyed the beautifully decorated park and fun Christmas-themed attractions. My favorite part of SeaWorld at Christmas is the Sea of Trees – a lake full of Christmas trees that make for a wonderful view at night. My kids enjoy O Wondrous Night, a live show retelling the story of Christmas with songs, puppets, and even live animals.

There’s a lot more to see at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration – here’s what you can find:

• O Wondrous Night: This show features more than 30 carols, angels, and live animals. New this year, you can take photos with some of the animal stars from the show.
• Winter Wonderland on Ice: a Christmas-themed ice skating show with towering water fountains and fireworks
• Shamu Christmas…Miracles: A night-time show with seasonal music accompanying the whales.
• Clyde and Seamore’s Countdown to Christmas: Clyde and Seamore, famous sea lions, plus otters, an elf, and a walrus or two, search for Santa.
• A Sesame Street Christmas: Great for toddlers and preschoolers, this show features Elmo, Telly Monster, Abby Cadabby, and more Sesame Street friends. Kids will love the singing and are sure to laugh along.
• Holiday Reflections: A choreographed light and firework show set to holiday music.
• THE POLAR EXPRESS Experience: Based on the film, this is a fun attraction that takes you through a bit of the story. You can also meet Santa Claus and see polar animals in this exhibit.
• Sea of Trees: My favorite, this display features more than 100 trees on a lake, each sparkling, lighted and choreographed to holiday music.
• Santa’s Fireside Feast: Not included with park admission, this add-on let’s you enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet-style Christmas dinner. The kids will love seeing Santa and Mrs. Claus! Reservations are required for dinner and include reserved seating at select holiday shows.

Except for Santa’s Fireside Feast, all of the above is included with regular park admission and the rest of what SeaWorld has to offer. It really is a great bonus experience, taking place select dates through December 31, 2012.

Want to head out to SeaWorld with the family? We’re giving away a family four pack of single-day admission passes to SeaWorld Orlando! See below for giveaway details.

SeaWorld Orlando Giveaway

We want you to enjoy the holiday season at SeaWorld Orlando and see all that SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration has to offer. Enter below to win a family 4-pack of single-day passes, good through December 31, 2012!

How to Enter

Required entry: If you’d like to enter this giveaway for a family four pack of single-day admission passes to SeaWorld Orlando simply leave a comment letting us know what you think you’ll like best about SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration.

Extra entries (optional):

Each of the following will count as 1 extra entry. You’ll need to leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Follow @modernmami on Twitter.
2. Tweet the following (1 time only): Win a family 4 pack of @SeaWorld #Orlando passes from @modernmami to see #SWOChristmas! http://bit.ly/SWOChristmas #giveaway
3. Receive post updates by subscribing to our RSS feed. You can do so either via email or through a RSS reader. Leave a comment saying you did so or are already a subscriber.
4. Write a blog post on your own blog sharing the details of this giveaway. Be sure to include a link back to this post. Leave a comment with your post link.

All entries must be in by Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 11:59 pm EST. You must be 18 or older and a U.S. resident. No purchase necessary. Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be notified via email. (Please be sure to provide a valid email address with your entry.) Winner will have 24 hours to respond and claim prize, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. Prize will be provided and fulfilled by giveaway sponsor and modernmami™.com is not responsible for lost or damaged goods. Tickets are valid for one-time use before December 31, 2012.

Disclosure: We were provided complimentary admission to SeaWorld Orlando in order to experience SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration.

Christmas is a special time for Central Florida theme parks – each park hosts Christmas events and is adorned in beautiful holiday decorations. Walt Disney World, of course, is no exception and hosts Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. This special night-time event is not included with regular Magic Kingdom admission, but is an event that you and the kids will love.

We were able to enjoy the festivities again this year via a media invitation to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Baby boy was able to enjoy a lot more this time since he’s now walking and able to partake in the fun. He and his big sister enjoyed riding several rides, meeting some characters, and of course, snacking on cookies and hot chocolate. I always enjoy seeing Magic Kingdom decorated for Christmas and just walking around taking in the sights. Christmas and Disney World make a good combination, don’t you think?

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party began on November 9 this year and continues through December 21, on select nights. A very family-friendly event, this Magic Kingdom Christmas party includes various holiday-themed fun:

• Cinderella’s Castle is decorated with Christmas lights that change color.
• Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade will be enjoyed by the little ones and they’ll love seeing Santa Claus at the end!
• Exclusive holiday fireworks – Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season - can be seen during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
• Special shows and entertainment featuring Disney characters are scheduled each night of the party.
• Disney characters dressed in their holiday best are available for pictures and autographs. Special characters also tend to make an appearance that normally are not in the parks, such as Donald Duck’s Uncle Scrooge.
• Complimentary cookies, apple slices and hot cocoa are provided throughout various locations in the park.
• Walking down Main Street, U.S.A. with “snow” falling on you is always fun, especially for the kids!
• Several of the Magic Kingdom rides and attractions are open for you to enjoy with less lines.
• Kid-friendly dance parties with a DJ and Disney characters dancing too!

If you’re local to the area or plan to visit Walt Disney World this December, consider attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party; you still have time as the event will be held several nights in December this year and goes from 7 p.m. until midnight. Several other holiday events are also happening throughout other Walt Disney World parks – see Disneyworld.com/holidays for more information!

What do you enjoy most about Christmas at the theme parks?

Disclosure: We received complimentary admission to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party to experience the fun as a family.

Our Disney princess patiently waiting to arrive at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for a night of fun during the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration.

Today’s the day! We’re heading to Walt Disney World for the Social Media Moms Celebration!

Learning, fun, family, and friends? Yes, please! We’ll share insights with you soon, but in the meantime, follow along with us on Twitter and Facebook!

Last weekend, my family and I had the pleasure of enjoying the Mardi Gras fun at Universal Studios in Orlando. We’ve never actually been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and though I’m sure the energy and vibe is significantly different, Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando Resort was pretty fun.

As you may know if you’re a long-time reader, our family is from the Caribbean, with my husband being from Trinidad and I from Puerto Rico. Both islands have their own carnivals and festivals, full of parades, music, dancing, and fun, much like New Orleans’ Mardi Gras. So, the Mardi Gras festival was full of things we already enjoy.

As guests of Universal Orlando, we were able to see the Mardi Gras parade, up close. My daughter caught an insane amount of beads and even her abuela got into the spirit and went home with a nice collection herself. We also saw the KidZone Mardi Pardi Krewe, located in Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, where Curious George, Woody and Winnie Woodpecker, Scooby Doo, and other characters put on a show for the kids. This was actually where the bead catching fun began, since they also throw beads to the kids.

A carnival or festival isn’t complete without food, so of course, we were able to sample New Orleans style Cajun food. Normally, this food is sold throughout the French Quarter Courtyard, with traditional foods such as jambalaya, gumbo, red beans & rice, and beignets available for purchase. As part of our tour, we were treated to a wonderful private dinner to enjoy the foods offered during Mardi Gras, including some king cake!

Our evening ended with a live concert by Big Time Rush. To be honest, my family and I only sort of knew who they were, but we had never heard their songs. Baby girl is only six years old, so she hasn’t quite hit that stage of being a boy-band fan. However, she is a party-girl at heart, much like her mami, so she really enjoyed the concert. Despite being exhausted since it was already 9 pm (past her normal bedtime), she screamed like a true fan, danced and jumped around to each song.

You can still catch the Mardi Gras fun as there are quite a few weekends left before the festival ends this year. The full concert line-up shows the upcoming performing artists, with all the concerts being included with park admission.

Have you ever been to Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras or even Mardi Gras in New Orleans? What’s your favorite part?

Disclosure: My family and I were provided a complimentary 1-day visit to Universal Orlando to experience Mardi Gras. No compensation received.

Photos courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort

Fun at SeaWorld’s Just for Kids festival – SeaWorld Orlando

Dancing with Shamu

Hula hoops gone wild

LazyTown Live on Stage

Disclosure: My family and I received complimentary admission to SeaWorld Orlando to experience the Just for Kids festival. As always, all stories and opinions are my own.

Helping folks find their way to Cinderella’s Castle. Icons on parking lot floor of Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World.

New Magic Kingdom parking lot set-up.

Video by John Frost. Used with permission.

Editor’s Note: Please welcome Kristen, a new contributor to ModernMami.com, who will be sharing occasional book reviews/giveaways, as well as local Orlando events and attractions.

A wonderful new experience just opened at Discovery Cove – SeaVenture! It’s an add-on to the Grand Reef area which opened in June. SeaVenture is a light version of scuba diving, and easier than snorkeling! Guests participate in an underwater reef walk without all the heavy equipment. It is one of the most fun, memorable experiences EVER!!!!!

When I arrived, I was greeted by a concierge in a beautiful lobby! A small group of us were escorted to the Grand Reef area where the SeaVenture experience takes place. The walk to get to this area is serene, loaded with flowers and surprisingly enough, not a lot of people! A private cabana awaits the group filled with soft drinks, water, and snacks. We were fitted with wetsuits (not my favorite part, since you can’t hide much in them) and then we went through a short orientation and safety presentation which was informative, and would help an apprehensive person feel at ease. That would not be me; I could not wait to get in the water!

Normally, four people at a time experience the “walk” together. However, for our trip, there were only two of us. It would be perfect for a family of four, though. Here’s the cool part: you climb down a ladder until everything is submerged but your head. The water temperature is 72 degrees, which is the reason for the tight-fitting wet suit. You then wait for a white helmet to be placed on your head (it feels very underwater-astronaut-like). There is an endless supply of oxygen provided and the weight of the helmet is what keeps you on the sandy bottom. Three divers are with you at all times and we were taught hand signals so we could communicate. A doodle board was also around so we could write underwater and share species’ names. Kids will love this part!

Finally, we were underwater – it was so clear and easy to see everything around us. Immediately, a huge spotted ray swam over my head followed by schools of yellow and blue fish. The guide showed us various beautiful marine animals; I even got to hold a Cowrie which looks and feels like a huge slimy snail. My boys loved hearing about that part! We also saw sharks and a lion fish separated only by underwater glass. Our guide, Steve, brought fish food with him and he fed fish so we could see all the different varieties.

The whole time I was underwater, I wanted my kids to be part of the fun, as well. As a parent, I would be perfectly comfortable allowing my kids the chance to experience the up-close undersea wonders that are offered with SeaVenture. Guests must be at least 10 years old to participate, which seems like the perfect age to get the most out of the experience, since the helmet might be too heavy for smaller children. My daughter is eight, an excellent swimmer and would love the experience, but the helmet on her might be overwhelming. If you have children that are younger than ten, they can experience the Grand Reef which is connected to the SeaVenture lagoon. There are also viewing bridges and very shallow tidal pools where you can see some of the action.

I recommend booking the experience in advance or immediately upon entering Discovery Cove. SeaVenture is being limited to only 100 people a day. Once word gets out about how special this add-on is, I’m sure it will completely book every day.

The experience lasts about 20-25 minutes. Truthfully, I didn’t want the experience to end. I can’t wait to go back and take my family. Discovery Cove is great for couples, families and anyone who wants up-close encounters with sea life. Unlimited food and drinks are provided with each admission. The SeaVenture experience is one I won’t ever forget. I plan for my next trip to also include a swim with dolphins!

Disclosure: Kristen was provided a complimentary visit to Discovery Cove to experience SeaVenture. No compensation received.

Photos by Kristen