Mardi Gras World, New Orleans

As a NOLA native taking guests and one senior citizen, I was very disappointed in this tour. We had to compete with a group of teenagers so our tour was rushed through. By the time my older aunt and I could catch up with the tour, the guide had finished talking and was moving on. To add insult to injury was tacking on $5 for parking to an already ridiculous tour ticket. I'm sorry but my $20 should be just as important as some teenager's. Won't be bringing guests back again .

We thought that it would be a cheesy tourist exhibit. Actually, it's a working Mardi-gras Float warehouse-factory. Watch the artists at work & look at their past creations. Tour guide explains how & why the floats are used.

Took our granddaughter (9) to this one morning and she loved it so much that the next day she took her Great Grandfather and her mother the next. Great photo ops; free ferry ride and shuttle make getting to and from this Algiers location a breeze.

It was great! Very New Orleans. Fun for the kids, the parents, and even the grandparents. What's as good as Mardi Gras all year long? Mardi Gras World. Plain and simple. I strongly suggest visiting this place. After you visit, go to Cafe DuMonde, then go to St. Bernard Parish.

When I visited Nawlins for the first time back in 2001 Blaine Kerns was the first stop. Albeit my tour group didn't take the pedestrian ferry (I wish I knew about that back then) to get there just the drive over the river to Algiers and passing the shot gun shacks to get there was interesting. What I really liked about Mardi Gras world is that the staff goes beyond the usual tour guide stuff. Blaine Kerns gives a Mardi Gras 101 approach teaching visitors a history and cultural background to Mardi Gras from the history of the parade and how far in advance the Krewes plan for their float, the cultural tradition of King Cake and the tradition of placing a plastic baby under a slice (plus a yummy sample of King Cake) but like the others have posted they do allow you to try on those elaborate headdresses and costumes. The floats are incredible and I would be really sad if most of those floats didn't survive Katrina..because the artwork is incredible. You get to go to the warehouses where the magic really happens. Some floats were adorned with fiber optics. All I can say is plan for a trip to Nawlins a week before Mardi Gras..Fat Tuesday itself and you really get a feel for Mardi Gras without the insane crowds. The gift shop is pretty cool too..you can get local foods like King cake mix and Beignet mixes and beautiful porcelain mardi gras hats adorned with BEADS BEADS and MORE BEADS. Make it one of the first places to visit if it is your first time to Nawlins.

the floats were beautiful, the costumes were more like rags, they were so old and overused. The staff was sweet but owner was cold and distant when I said hello to him, he looked right through me. linda apline

Loved being able to dress up in the mardi gras costumes and see all the floats. THIS is a MUST for families visiting new orleans. We were also able to sample the famous King Cake and had many great pictures taken here.

Take the Algiers pedestrian ferry across, and wait at the ferry terminal for the free shuttle to Mardi Gras World. This is where alot of the floats for the Mardi Gras parades are made and stored. They also make floats for Disney's Halloween parade at Universal Studios, and several other venues. The tour starts with a short film on the history of Mardi Gras and getting dressed up in some of the elaborate costumes. Then you sample King Cake. As you're walking through the buildings you see floats being designed, crafted, and the finished products. These are all stored in large warehouses. At the end of the tour, they allow you to wander on your own through the warehouses, looking at the various parts of floats, or go back into the workshop and watch the floatmakers at work. It seemed a little pricey (if you qualify ask about AARP, AAA, or military discounts) but we still felt it was worth the trip. Especially if you hang around on your own and explore after the tour is complete.