Changes help perk up Universal's Mardi Gras parade

You could be forgiven for feeling a bit of dj vu while watching the Mardi Gras parade at Universal Studios, even if you haven't thrown back a hurricane or two. It's all shiny and glittery, with strands of colorful beads zipping past your head, that "Feet Don't Fail Me Now" song looping and the King Gator float at the tail end, right?

Well, not exactly.

Universal introduced three floats into the mix this year the land, sea and air models tied to the "Around the World in Eighty Days" theme. It also enhanced its traditional "jester" float.

It was decided that the jester needed to be more vivid, says show director Patrick Braillard. Universal designers consulted the artwork used to construct the float originally and proceeded with alterations. They added new bead work to the sides of the float and rearranged some of its architecture.

The archway is new, and there are fewer masks displayed.

"We kept one of the same masks, but we updated the paint treatment on it and then split the focus. Previously, there were two masks on each side," Braillard says.

The refinished product resulted in a promotion for the jester float. It now leads Universal's Mardi Gras parade.

Universal has recycled elements of past floats into this year's units too. The glowing strings from a giant guitar on a music-themed float are now used on the Set Sail float.

"We took that material and we put it on the blimp," Braillard says. "As you watch the parade, you'll actually see that blimp be lit on all of those ribs, and they will actually spin and change color."

The entire float changes colors. "It looks like one giant birthday cake," he says.

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Changes help perk up Universal's Mardi Gras parade