Hi there, Paige! Although I live in Pittsburgh now, I was born and raised in the Big Easy, and I fondly remember those days growing up when Carnival Season would start and we could buy our King Cakes at Gambino's Bakery. However, I have even better memories of the one year when my dad surprised my sister and me with a trip to Walt Disney World Resort over the Mardi Gras holidays. We didn't catch any beads that trip, but we were
jazzed to be there!
Although the Parks don't typically have any planned festivities for the occasion, in 2019 the place to celebrate New Orleans style was
Disney Springs, with themed food, live music and more.
House of Blues Restaurant & Bar served Cajun-inspired dishes like steak po' boys, jambalaya, gumbo, and bourbon bread pudding.
World of Disney, located in the Marketplace section of Disney Springs, also carried some adorable Mardi Gras-inspired Minnie Mouse ears that included purple, green, and gold beads and feathers. If you decide you need a pair of these before your trip, you can also purchase them on the
shopDisney website. I'd also recommend staying tuned to the
Disney Parks Blog, where they publish up to date information about the Parks.
During your trip, you may want to schedule some time to wander over to
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter where they serve up Mickey-shaped Beignets and a Beignet Cheeseburger at
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory (you can't get these at Café du Monde)! Often, they will have unpublished events at this resort, such as the "Mask"erade Scavenger Hunt, and they will pass out feather masks to participants.
Scat Cat's Club also offers some traditional New Orleans libations, like Hurricanes or (my favorite) the Ramos Gin Fizz.
Paige, laissez les bons temps rouler! I hope you and your family make lots of magical memories this Mardi Gras!
Eean