It’s almost time to let the good times roll during Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval at Universal Orlando Resort! The food booths are up, a special “token experience” for Annual Passholders has rolled out, and now we know when we get our first look at the Mardi Gras Tribute Store, which will be moving to the Hollywood area for the first time!
While the UOAP Lounge moves over to the Betty Boop Store at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, the Mardi Gras Tribute Store is almost ready to go! In fact, a new email was shared to Team Members with details on the upcoming store, including more details on its theme:
This year’s Tribute Store theme invites guests to an international jazz celebration that leads to the traditional alleyways of New Orleans and ultimately into a speakeasy where the Mardi Gras celebration continues.
Team Members will get an exclusive preview of the new tribute store on Thursday, February 2 from 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m., and will share access with Annual Passholders previewing the store from 12:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. when the park closes. It seems likely that the Tribute Store will therefore open on February 3 to all guests, but nothing is set in stone until Universal announces such.
Have a look at last year’s Mardi Gras Tribute Store if you want to get an idea of what’s coming.
As we revealed late last year, the former home of the UOAP Lounge is becoming the new location for the perennially-changing Tribute Store, which has become an iconic Universal staple. The constantly rotating theme to the season or event taking place in the parks has cemented its place in the hearts of Universal Orlando visitors, like during Halloween Horror Nights, for example, guests are able to shop in eerie and intensely themed rooms which come together to tell one larger story that takes place within the event. During the holidays, we are able to enter an entirely new world of festive fun that also follows its own storyline.
The Tribute Store was formerly located next to Revenge of the Mummy, where it had been since 2016. Once limited to Halloween Horror Nights, the store took on more and more themes in 2020 and expanded to essentially a year-round offering constantly being rethemed.
Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval runs from February 4, 2023, through April 16, 2023 at Universal Studios Florida, and it seems Islands of Adventure might be getting in on some of the fun as well. Stay tuned to Universal Parks News Today for full coverage, including of the annual parade and reviews of the food.
Are you excited to visit this year’s Mardi Gras Tribute Store? Let us know in the comments below!
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