UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT UNVEILS STAR-STUDDED MUSICAL LINEUP FOR 2014 MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION

This Year’s Mardi Gras Celebration Delivers More Excitement Than Ever Before With an Extended Concert Series Featuring Robin Thicke, Nelly, The Wanted and More

ORLANDO, Fla. (January 15, 2014) – Universal Orlando Resort comes alive this spring with its Mardi Gras 2014 celebration, featuring 20 nights of electrifying concerts from the biggest names in music, coupled with the essence of the legendary Bayou bash.

On select nights Feb. 8 through May 31, guests will experience a “N’awlins”-inspired, family-friendly version of Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Florida. The celebration combines unmatched theme park entertainment with delectable Cajun cuisine, authentic New Orleans bands, an awe-inspiring parade and live concerts by some of today’s hottest artists.

This year’s powerhouse musical lineup features a diverse array of talent, from R&B superstar Robin Thicke, whose hit single “Blurred Lines” topped the Billboard chart for a near-record 12 weeks, to UK pop sensation The Wanted, who has sold nearly 10 million albums worldwide, to Latin idol Prince Royce, who reached number one on the U.S. Hot Latin Songs chart with “Corazón Sin Cara.” Also performing is rock band Daughtry, Grammy award-winning Hip Hop artist Nelly, and the classic rock group Foreigner, one of the best-selling bands of all time. For the complete line-up, see below.

Guests can also catch colorful beads by the handful during this year’s parade, which will feature 12 vibrant floats, including three new additions celebrating Jules Verne’s novel, “Around the World in Eighty Days.” All of the exquisitely detailed Mardi Gras floats are engineered by Blaine Kern Artists, the same company that has been hand-crafting floats for the iconic New Orleans celebration since 1947. Plus, guests can visit Universal Studios Florida’s very own French Quarter Courtyard to enjoy authentic Cajun cuisine and see performances by bands pulled straight from Bourbon Street.

The excitement of Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras celebration is included with admission to Universal Studios Florida, where partygoers can also join Optimus Prime in the fight to save Earth on TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D or visit Springfield, home to The Simpsons, to take an intergalactic spin on Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl. With an upgraded park-to-park ticket, guests will have the opportunity to visit Universal Orlando’s second theme park, Islands of Adventure, and enjoy award-winning attractions like: The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk Coaster and more.

In addition to two theme parks, Universal Orlando Resort is home to three on-site hotels: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and a fourth on-site hotel, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, opening March 31, 2014. And its entertainment complex, Universal CityWalk, offers some of the hottest, most recognizable entertainment experiences in the world.

For more information and a full concert listing, visit www.universalorlando.com/mardigras.

About Universal Orlando Resort
Vacation like you mean it at Universal Orlando Resort – where every heart-pounding, jaw-dropping, goose-bumping second counts. With two incredible theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, three magnificently themed on-site hotels and a nighttime entertainment complex, Universal Orlando is the only place where you can turn spending time with your family into spending time as a family. Together, you can soar above Hogwarts with Harry Potter, swing above the streets with Spider-Man, become a Minion in the hilarious and heartwarming Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride, and join Optimus Prime in the fight to save mankind on the new mega-attraction, TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D.
Universal Orlando Resort is part of NBCUniversal, a Comcast company. Follow Universal Orlando Resort on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

2014 MARDI GRAS TALENT LINE-UP
Mardi Gras Event Dates	Headliners (performing in the Music Plaza)	New Orleans Bands (performing in the French Quarter)
February 8	Daughtry	Remedy Krewe
February 15	Barenaked Ladies	Soul Project
February 16	Thomas Rhett	Soul Project
February 22	Robin Thicke	Rockin Jake
March 1	Collective Soul	Big Al and The Heavyweights
March 8	Prince Royce	Daddy Mac Blues Band
March 14	Cody Simpson	Mississippi Rail Company
March 15	Foreigner	Mississippi Rail Company
March 21	TBD	The Big Easy Playboys
March 22	Gavin DeGraw	The Big Easy Playboys
March 28	TBD	Dirty Bourbon River Show
March 29	TBD	Dirty Bourbon River Show
April 5	Skillet	John Lisi and Delt Funk
April 12	Lynyrd Skynyrd	Beth McKee & The Sliders
April 19	Kool & the Gang	Gravy
May 3	Nelly	Chris O’Leary
May 10	The Wanted	T Bird & The Breaks
May 17	TBD	Grady Champion
May 24	TBD	Cha Wa
May 31	TBD	Naughty Professor

Florida residents can take advantage of this current special offer:

2014 FLORIDA RESIDENT OFFERS

Up to 3 months FREE on any Annual Pass

For a limited time, get up to 3 months free on any Annual Pass:

· Power Pass – $174.99 (plus tax)

· Preferred Pass – $244.99 (plus tax)

· Premier Pass – $369.99 (plus tax)

· Offer is also available on FlexPay, Universal Orlando’s monthly payment option

· Must be purchased and activated by April 30, 2014 with a Coca-Cola UPC code or promo code on specially-marked cups at participating Wendy’s.

· Visit UniversalOrlando.com for full details and to learn about the benefits of each annual pass

Florida Resident Getaway

· 2-night accommodations at a nearby Universal Partner Hotel

· Florida Resident 2-day base ticket to both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure

· Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the theme park opens

· Complimentary scheduled transportation between hotel and Universal Orlando Resort

· And more!

· Starts at only $105 per adult, per night, tax inclusive

· Upgrade to one of three deluxe on-site hotels at Universal Orlando Resort and stay in the heart of the party! Plus, receive complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access to skip the regular lines in both theme parks (a FREE benefit worth up to $89 per person, per day)

Guests outside Florida can take advantage of this current special offer:

SAVE & Play Vacation Package
*SAVE up to $500 with an On-Site Vacation Package**	Deluxe On-site Hotel Accommodations at one of three AAA Four Diamond Award on-site hotels Theme Park Admission Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the theme park opens Complimentary on-site transportation via water taxi or shuttle bus to both theme parks and Universal CityWalk Receive complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access to skip the regular lines in both theme parks (a FREE benefit worth up to $89 per person, per day) Book by March 31 and use promotion code UNIPLAY at time of purchase to save! Valid for travel January 1 – May 22, 2014