Prince Gator makes debut at Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval
Good times are rolling at Universal Orlando’s signature Mardi Gras event Feb. 7 – April 4, 2026.
IT’S OF COURSE FAT TUESDAY. EVERYTHING FROM FOOD TO LIVE PERFORMANCES. AND YES, THE GOOD TIMES ARE ROLLING THIS MARDI GRAS SEASON. IT’S ALL HAPPENING CLOSE TO HOME AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO, AND THERE’S SO MUCH FUN IN STORE, INCLUDING UNIVERSAL MARDI GRAS, INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS OF CARNIVAL. AND YES, I COULD TELL EVERYBODY ALL ABOUT IT, BUT WE’VE GOT SPECIAL GUESTS HERE. WE’LL GET TO YOU IN A MOMENT. BUT KELLY MALIK, SHOW DIRECTOR AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT, GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN, KELLY. IT’S SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE. AND OF COURSE, THIS YEAR’S MASCOT OF MARDI GRAS, PRINCE GATOR KELLY. THIS THIS IS SO FUN. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF PRINCE GATOR BECAUSE WE’RE JUST MEETING IT THIS YEAR. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT HE’S BEEN INTRODUCED TO OUR FANS AT MARDI GRAS. 31 YEARS LATER, WE’RE ABOUT TO BRING THE LIFE OF THE PARTY. THIS IS ACTUALLY PRINCE GATOR. HE IS THE SON OF KING GATOR, WHO IS OUR TAIL END, IF YOU WILL, OF OUR PARADE. YEAH. AND YEAH, HE HE WAS HATCHED WITH A LOT OF PIZZAZZ. BROUGHT TO MARDI GRAS. DONNING HIS TRADITIONAL SET OF BEADS, READY TO GO. HE’S THE SUPERSTAR EVERYBODY WANTS TO MEET AND SEE PRINCE GATOR. SO LET’S TALK ABOUT UNIVERSAL MARDI GRAS. MAYBE SOMEBODY’S NEVER BEEN TO THIS EVENT. WHAT DO YOU WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW? MARDI GRAS. LIKE I SAID, MARDI GRAS, 31 YEARS. WE’VE WE’VE HAD THIS PARTY OUT AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO. IT IS A PARTY. BUT IT’S A FAMILY FRIENDLY PARTY, RIGHT? RIGHT. IT DOES DIFFERENTIATE FROM LIKE THE NEW ORLEANS PARTY. CORRECT. WE DID BRING NEW ORLEANS HERE THIS YEAR, BUT YOU’VE GOT AN INCREDIBLE PARADE. YOU’VE GOT LIVE ENTERTAINMENT. WE HAVE CONCERTS ON SELECT NIGHTS. WE ALSO HAVE AN INCREDIBLE EXPANSIVE MENU OF FOOD ITEMS FOR YOU TO TRY. AND THESE ARE FOODS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, ALL OVER THE WORLD. AND YOU HAD A COUPLE GREAT EXPERIENCES. OH YEAH, WE’VE TRIED. LET ME JUST SAY, THE FOOD FROM THE NEW ORLEANS AREA THERE. IT DOES TRANSPORT YOU TO THE BIG EASY BECAUSE THAT RED BEANS AND RICE AND THEN GUMBO. SO GOOD. WE TRIED A FEW OF THE ADULT BEVERAGES LEFT THE KIDS BEHIND FOR THAT WEEKEND. THERE’S A KING CAKE, ESPRESSO MARTINI. IT IS INCREDIBLE. I CAN SPEAK TO THAT. YOU HAVE SOME FOOD HERE TO KELLY. LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS. THESE ARE KING CAKE INSPIRED. THESE ARE OUR MINI KING CAKES. AND OF COURSE WE HAVE OUR BABY ON TOP. THAT’S FOR GOOD LUCK. YES, THOSE ARE DEFINITELY FOR GOOD LUCK. BUT WE ALSO HAVE AMONGST THE KING CASE, WE HAVE. WE HAVE OUR BEIGNETS, WHICH ARE ALWAYS A FAN FAVORITE. JUST DELICACIES FROM, LIKE YOU SAID, FROM EVERYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD. AND THEN OF COURSE, BEADS. YES. AND LOTS AND LOTS OF BEADS DURING THE DAY AT THE PARK, THERE ARE PERFORMERS OUT AND ABOUT. YOU MIGHT RUN INTO PRINCE GATOR, ALMOST CALLED YOUR YOUR DAD, YOUR PARENT THERE, AND THEY ARE HANDING OUT THESE BEADS, MAKING SURE THAT FROM IT SEEMS LIKE THE PARK OPENING UNTIL THE PARADE ROLLS AND BEYOND, YOU’RE GOING TO YOU’RE GOING TO GET BEADS. THERE’S SO MANY BEADS. I MEAN, PALLETS AND PALLETS. I CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE HOW MANY BEADS YOU HAVE TO BUY. MY KIDS COME BACK AND WE CAN’T EVEN ALMOST SEE THEIR NECK BEADS GALORE. AND FOR YOU, WHAT MAKES THIS TIME SO FUN? OUT AT UNIVERSAL KELLY, IT’S IT’S SUCH A FAMILY FUN EVENT, LIKE I WAS SAYING, AND WE GET TO BRING NEW CHARACTERS TO LIFE AND HE’S A PRINCE GATORS OUT THERE WITH SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS, TAKING PICTURES. HE’S THERE ALL DAY FOR OUR KIDS AND AND FRIENDS OF ALL AGES. RIGHT? YES. LET’S TALK ABOUT THAT PARADE TOO, BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES BRING NEW ORLEANS HERE. AS THE FLOATS ARE MADE THERE. IS THAT WHAT I UNDERSTAND? WE DO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH KHERSON KHERSON STUDIOS, AND WE PARTNER WITH THEM TO TO CREATE THESE INCREDIBLE FLOATS. WE HAVE OUR SIX SIGNATURE FLOATS THAT WE PARTNER WITH THEM. AND EACH YEAR THOSE ARE CHANGED OUT AND ARE DIFFERENT BASED ON THE CREATIVE THAT WE HAVE DECIDED UPON. BUT THEN WE HAVE OUR CLASSICS LIKE KING GATOR THAT YOU’RE SEEING RIGHT NOW, AND HE IS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY. YEAH, IT’S A BEAST OF A FLOAT. I FEEL LIKE IT’S MULTI TIERS LONG. IT’S THE ONE THAT I WANT TO GET MY FAMILY ON. WE’VE DONE THE RIDE AND DIANE THEY OFFER A PASS HOLDER DISCOUNT. WE LOVE ALL OF THAT. AS PASS HOLDERS. AS PASS HOLDERS A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT WE’RE GOING TO BE BACK IN A FEW MORE WEEKS TO RIDE, SO WE’LL BE OUT THERE THROWING THOSE BEADS AND, YOU KNOW, BRINGING THE PARTY OURSELVES. SO WE’LL LOOK FOR YOU. PRINCE GATOR KELLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE’VE GOT ALL THE INFORMATION RIGHT THERE ON OUR WEBSITE, WESH.COM. ALL RIGHT. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL, KELLY. LET THEM ROLL. YEAH. HAPPY MARDI GRAS, BY THE WAY. AND PRINCE GATOR, THANK YOU FOR COMI
Prince Gator makes debut at Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval
Good times are rolling at Universal Orlando’s signature Mardi Gras event Feb. 7 – April 4, 2026.
Updated: 10:08 AM EST Feb 17, 2026
Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval brings global celebrations to Central Florida featuring a New Orleans-style parade, live performances, merchandise, along with international food and drinks.Universal Orlando Resort show director, Kelly Malik, and this year’s Mardi Gras mascot Prince Gator join WESH 2 to highlight the event. Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval runs from Feb. 7 through April 4, 2026.Admission is included with guest tickets and annual passes.Click here to learn more.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval brings global celebrations to Central Florida featuring a New Orleans-style parade, live performances, merchandise, along with international food and drinks.
Universal Orlando Resort show director, Kelly Malik, and this year’s Mardi Gras mascot Prince Gator join WESH 2 to highlight the event.
Universal Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval runs from Feb. 7 through April 4, 2026.
Admission is included with guest tickets and annual passes.