Mardi Gras World Reviews

A really interesting and engaging experience. We learned so much about the history and culture of Mardi Gras. The warehouse was incredible and the work of the artists was so impressive. Mac was an awesome and super knowledgeable guide. Cannot recommend highly enough!

This was a really fun tour and really informative on how Mardi Gras and the parades work. I was a little on the fence, but it was super interesting.

It was great to see the floats and decorations up close. Tour guide was very informative and has a great sense of humor.

Be aware that the shuttle rides might take longer than you'd expect. Construction along Canal Street plus heavy traffic from convention center events and cruise ships added an hour or so to the total time we anticipated.

Wasn't sure what to expect but was very impressed. The past floats are housed there and are working on the next years floats. They played a video about the parade and it was very informative, a lot I didn't know.

This may have been one of my favorite activities my friends and I did visiting New Orleans. The museum starts with a slice of kings cake and watching a video about Mardi Gras. Then you go through the warehouse at your own pace to view how they create the floats and you get to see many fun floats and sculptures of previous Mardi Gras’s. Definitely come with your camera ready as there are so many fun photo ops. Bring plenty of water because the warehouse portion is not air-conditioned. If it had been air-conditioned, I would’ve given it five stars but wandering through the warehouse in the sweltering heat was really uncomfortable. That man working the register inside the store was so sweet and so kind. The customer service was excellent.

This may be as close as I will get to Mardi Gras and wanted to see the floats. This was a very welcome surprise with a guide giving the history of Mardi Gras, how the floats are made and we got a close up of many of them with no time constraint of looking around the warehouse. Our guide was great, we watched a movie in the beginning and tasted some King Cake. Yum. Scooter and wheelchair accessible. Very interested, plan to spend at least 2 hours.

Was not sure what to expect to be honest, but one of 3 ( the other adult) in our family was not feeling well and wanted to venture out, and while informational, this wouldn’t be “their thing” per say.
Didn’t use, but like the fact they have a free shuttle pick up locations. We had already purchased a jazzy pass and it was a quick (15 or so min) walk from the stop.
The video to start was informative, the king cake was delicious, our guide, whose name I don’t recall) was nice. It’s a fairly quick tour if you do guided, but you can walk around after If you want to get any additional photos. Over all it was a fun experience and neat to learn about the making of the floats and how it’s set up over all.

It was ok. Nothing really special, as a to go place. Recommended by our travel agent. Guide was ok, in view of what she was working with.

Lucky, our tour guide, was well versed in everything Mardi Gras and relating to the workshop. The King Cake was terrific. Interesting on how the floats are made, the Krewes are organized. Use the FREE shuttle, it is in an industrial area. Highly recommended for everyone.

Fun to see how the floats are made. It was a very brief guided tour but fun nonetheless. The video at the beginning of the tour was a bit dated but had great information that I never even realized. I didn’t know there around 75+ different parade that happen during “Carnival”.

Such a thrill seeing these amazing floats!
Allow plenty of time to view these incredible structures located inside a large warehouse. I attended Mardi Gras only once in the 1980s and seeing the floats in the parade was great. Here however you can see them being built and repurposed to other floats. Such an awesome visit here which is totally self guided in the midst of these pandemic times!

Great tour and explanation of what Mardis Gras is, the history of it and how the parades are made. My kids were fascinated with the floats and props. It was interesting to see the process. Definitely a must visit in New Orleans.

It was a cool experience for sure! Super cool to see all the sculptures, floats, and people actively working on stuff in front of your eyes. The only reason why I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 was because parking was pretty steep ($20 for barely spending an hour there) and the warehouse is not air conditioned so we were all sweating buckets. It's hard to fully enjoy when it's so incredibly hot and that's all you can focus on. Otherwise, the actual tour itself minus the parking and weather were great! Not sure if i'd come visit again myself but would definitely recommend to others who have never been to experience at least once!

This is where the parade displays are made. Lots of history. Grab the free shuttle too. Great way to spend a couple of hours!

The tour itself was fine. It was interesting and informative. My gripe is with their choice of shuttle drivers. We were told by 2 people ( 1 the hop on hop off driver and the other the actual tour guide) that the shuttle would let us off at one of the hop on hop off sites or another place that was close to our destination. When we got on the shuttle the driver said that he only had certain drop off spots and was quite nasty when we were saying that we didn’t understand since we were told differently. We are from out of town ( obviously, no one from New Orleans would probably go to Mardi Gras world) and were just trying to figure out how to navigate the area. This person should not be dealing with the public. As I said before, nasty, with quite a chip on his shoulder and should work on another vocation that might give him help with his aggression.

Get behind the scenes of Mardi creations. Start with a short film of the history and some yummy kings cake. Then off to inside the work shop to see the creations and take lots of pictures. Caro, our guide was well paced, knowledgeable and fun.

We booked tickets direct for Mardi Gras World and were not disappointed.

We rang for a free shuttle bus ride, and were transported there and back.

It is just an amazing place, to see the workshops,, floats and costumes was incredible.

And the staff were SO NICE, friendly and welcoming - a great experience.

It was so much fun to learn about the floats of Mardi Gras and be able to touch the decorations. The tour starts with a 15 min video and then you get to walk around and see them making decorations as well as touch and photograph previously created floats.

The only downside is the location and shuttle. It is not accessible via public transportation so you're reliant on the shuttle. We had to wait about 20 min to be picked up and nearly an hour to be dropped back off.

What a fun tour to go on! The collection is huge and the artwork, amazing. Hard to believe it has been around this long!! Worth the trip.

We went to Mardi Gras world which was very cool. We tried to get the shuttle which street three calls finally came and didn’t have enough room for our party. There was only one shuttle running - so the next shuttle orient be back for 20 minutes. We decided to Lyft. Coming back we tried to take the shuttle. Half of us did not have masks. We went to get in the shuttle and told the driver we didn’t have masks. Dan (driver) didn’t tell us that he had masks available. We went into Mardi Gras shop to see if we could buy masks. They told us that the driver had them. By the time we got out -he had gone. We had to wait for the shuttle to come back and when we asked him why he didn’t tell us he had masks - he said - ‘you didn’t ask’. Unbelievable. The staff inside the store were awesome and really great. This guy though -

Way more interesting than I thought it would be. Good tour with funny guide. Lots of floats that you can take photos with. Takes about 2 hours. Take the shuttle parking is very expensive

This is a great way to learn about Mardi Gras in New Orleans if you're not in town during the celebration. There's a video, short tour and time to wander around the warehouse on your own.

The tour guide was very knowledgeable and made the tour fun and interesting. All the sculptures were amazing. Very cool to see pieces being created, we well as sculptured that are refurbished. Highly recommended!

This was a lot of fun! Free jitney pick-up (2 blocks from our hotel) and return, so easy to get to. Wonderful to see the "props" and floats up close; we even watched craftspeople working on new ones for next year's parade! Highly recommend.

This was very interesting and a nice way to spend 2 hours! Dusty and hot in the warehouse. Our guide was VERY enthusiastic !! It was better than expected

Fascinating to see the floats from conception to actually being built!. It was interesting, plenty of great pictures to be had.

Had a great experience with this. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a yon about Marsi Gras, the “krewes” that plan, fund and ride on the floats, and the way floats are designed and created.

This was really cool. You walk in and see a 10 minute video. They offered King Cake afterwards. We then walked into the warehouse and watched a few people working on painting, protecting, carving, the floats. You get to see some older items. The tour lasted about 30 minutes. You then can stroll around and spend more time with the props.
There is not any parking I saw. Perhaps by the cruise ship area.

While on a bus trip to New Orleans, we stopped at Mardi Gras World for a tour. We watched a short film about the company who makes the parade floats. Then we were given a small piece of King Cake (yummy). Next we were divided into groups and we were taken on a guided tour of the warehouse. They showed us how the pieces are made, and we got to see some of the carving and painting in action. The only problem was that our group was so large (over 100 people) that many people could not get close enough to hear the guide.

After the tour, we were given time on our own to view the beautiful parade floats and take pictures.

Nice place, the tanks are beautiful. Tasting of the King Cake included. Free shuttle bus to get to the site and back to the city. Small carnival necklace offered. The starting film is interesting but a bit long, for the rest of the visit I advise those who do not speak or speak English badly to visit from their side. The visit is very long and not always exciting. With the voice amplifier of the guide, migraine is assured.

It's like a working museum. People at work on the various bits and pieces for the floats in next year's Mardi Gras. Their work is excellent. There are also some of the floats stored there. Before the tour there is a sort film show explaining Mardi Gras. You are guided for the start of the tour but then can walk around on your own. You definitely need a camera.

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. See the movie first to really appreciate all the work behind the floats. Incredible to watch the floats being made right in front of you. Loved the variety of all the items we were able to see, stand by and take pics! Something for everyone!
BONUS: We got to try fresh King Cake, absolutely delicious!

We loved our trip to Mardis Gras World. We were looked after very well and it was great value for money. Our ticket included mardis gras beads, a documentary video in the theatre, a slice of king cake to try and then we went on the very interesting tour with lots of photo opportunities. Would definitely recommend!

Weather was bad on one day of our vacation - so we needed an indoor activity - and this was perfect!

Admission was $24.95 for seniors. Tours run every 30 minutes. Tour starts with a movie regarding the history of Mardi Gras and an explanation of the different kinds of floats. Then everyone gets a slice of King Cake! Our guide walked us through active float building areas…both foam and fiberglass floats. Pretty cool to see artists applying paper mache. Fantastic photo ops!

While we Uber’ed there, we took the free shuttle back to our hotel.

We were spending our one day in NOLA car-less, so we ended up walking here from the Garden District. It wasn't a bad stroll, other than the heat and humidity. We had gotten to-go cups of ice-water, which helped a lot.

If you are not walking, they appeared to have plentiful parking in nearby lots (I am not sure if these fill up sometimes, when conventions are active?) and they also utilize a looping shuttlebus. More about that later.

This place is basically a long metal warehouse parallel to the Mississippi River. The entrance is quite clearly marked; you enter and wind up at the (air-conditioned) gift shop and ticket counter. Tickets are just over $20 per person. They have a regular orientation video which they encourage you to watch first. It is only about 15 minutes or so. It provides a good background about Mardi Gras, floats, etc.

You are then free to wander about in the (non-air-conditioned but fan-cooled) work area. There are crafts-persons working on varying stages of floats. There are also elements of prior floats in storage. It was mildly interesting to wander among the cartoon giants and odd sculptures along the recommended route. While it is a bit touristy, where else can you see how the floats are constructed? Also, I learned that you could purchase Styrofoam in extremely large rectangular blocks, should I ever need to...

There are numerous photo ops throughout this space. When you are done with your walking tour, you can enquire at the ticket counter regarding the next arrival of the shuttle. They will announce it over a P.A. system.

We wrapped up our visit and headed out to the shuttle. There was a bit of a lag before it arrived - it does a loop through the major hotel areas of downtown, so it is very convenient. My only gripe was that the driver seemed super-sensitive to people putting on masks OUTside the shuttle. It's June; can we get over this at least for the vaccinated? At least it saved us a long walk and let us out 2 blocks from our hotel.

Mardi Gras World is worth including in a short NOLA itinerary.

We went here when we were on our 24 day deep south bus trip with Nagel tours.It is an interesting place to go to see how they make the floats for Mardi Gras and other parades.It is a nice visit if you are ever in the area.

I went to this facility with a large group from work as a team building exercise (which was to decorate and then present in parade form floats) and then dinner and a reception afterwards.
The start of the visit was boring and awful, as it was nearly 2 hours of “hanging out” in the store and factory area of where they build big, professional floats. Totally no communication of what to do, where to go, etc. So, we walked through it, but it was stifling hot so we went back to the store area where there was AC to hang out. Then, about a couple of hours later, they took us to the area where we decorated our own floats. None of us has any idea that this would be a very messy (painting) endeavor, thus we weren’t really dressed appropriately for it. This part of the “event” took about an hour and a half and though it was meant to be a team building exercise, the majority of us really didn’t find it to be something we were interested in.

The next part of the event was the reception, which was at a large indoor area that looks like an outdoor courtyard at a mansion. This area was really interesting looking and was the most exciting part of the hours we spent there. The food was decent and there were plenty of bars available too.

Overall, not sure what it costs to have such an event there, but the first two phases weren’t worth it… the last was nice. I’m sure we would have been perfectly fine just showing up for the dinner reception portion and omitting the first stuff.

Interesting, but warehouse is in poor shape. Vast amount of huge sculptures. Interesting movie on Mardi Gras. Skip the King Cake sample. Heard another tour guide say episode of CSI filmed there.

This was totally awesome! As people who have celebrated Mardi Gras, but never been to NOLA during Mardi Gras, this was eye-opening. When we came, we actually saw people working on the floats for the 2022 Mardi Gras. We also got to try authentic King Cake. They had a little video and then we went on the self guided tour through the float warehouse.

A unique and fun experience unlike anywhere else. How often do you get so close to these creative beautiful floats? It’s worth the trip!

This was a wonderful experience to see all of the Mardi Gras float attachments, and how they are made if you were in the Mardi Gras floats this is a place to see

My only complaint with this place is the entry fee was too expensive. Was it neat? Sure, but not worth the amount we had to pay. The employees were very kind and friendly. The free shuttle was a nice addition because it’s not in easy walking distance.

Kind of interesting, but not worth the admission price. A walk through a warehouse that does have a lot of characters from past floats, but only really takes about 20 minutes to get through

It starts with a video giving important history. This is worth it! They even have king cake tasting which is so awesome because my family hasn't had it before. We all enjoyed the cake. Then you can either do a self guided tour or a guided tour of the warehouse. We chose to be guided to understand more and we are glad we did. They let you walk around during the end of the tour if you wanted to go back and explore more.
Having a shuttle bus was so nice!!!! Thank you! The shuttle bus driver was awesome. He was entertaining and safe.

An impressive foray into the hangars where huge and colorful sculptures are housed, used during Mardi Gras parades.

Wow so cool!!! Did you ever wonder how they make the floats?! Well this is the place to go! You start off with a short film of history, get a small slice of kings cake and then you are free to roam the working space warehouse. They do offer a shuttle that is very tricky. They announce its there and by the time you walk outside you see it down the street. It makes no sense you would have thought they wanted us to stay and buy things but really they just want you to stand outside and wait another 30mins in the sun for the shuttle to come back. You can not see outside from inside the shop. It’s a good little walk. Make sure you pack a mask. They don’t have any and your are not allowed on the shuttle without one.

Originally from New Orleans but it was very interesting to see how the pageantry of a parade comes together. Easy walking and you can get up close and personal to the exhibits. Fun visit for about 45 minutes.

Great river view as well.

What a great place to visit! The fabrication of these beautiful floats is a marvel to see! Everyone in our family (young to older) was impressed and in awe of the designs! Definitely a must see!

This place is great, especially if you can’t make it to New Orleans during Mardi Gras. You get a tour of how they make the floats year round and how they create items for other big companies such as Caesars as well. You even get to see a huge machine carving one up, as well as some of the Mardi Gras floats. This warehouse is HUGE with other parts and puppets from old Mardi Gras floats or even some of the new ones for the next year. At the end you can even dress up in a Mardi Gras outfit and take time taking pics and videos with it on all over the place which was really awesome and fun to do for the TikTok. You even get a piece of some King Cake and they have a shuttle that will take you to one of the trolleys. Just make sure your tour is not with a huge school group full of kids which is what we accidentally had. This is a must do in NOLA.

Really cool tour where you can see past and future floats of New Orleans with a great history lesson.

The costumes and wearing costumes was interesting g, bur overall I was a bit disappointed in this museum. I would have liked to see some more written stories or actual photos, or so.ethong? It just felt rather incomete. Yes the single male presenter told ghd story of Mardi Gras, but I'd like to see that in written form as well.
So.ething just seemed to be missing. For a big city like NOLA, this was small potatoes.

A friend recommended a trip to Mardi Gras World, and it was fantastic. In addition to a ~30 minute guided tour, you can wander around on your own. We spent about 2 hours looking at floats, watching Pixie and the various craftspeople in action.

Definitely worth a visit! Even if you have to take a cab or rideshare. Plan ahead tho, there are few dining/drinking options in the area.

Worth the visit. It was very interesting to learn how they make the floats and about the history of marti gras. Love the king cake they give you to try. There is a free shuttle that can get you closer to the French quarter - that was a godsend considering we walked almost 2 miles there with our young kiddos.

Great tour with great guide to learn more about the history of this wonderful festival. You’re welcomed with a piece of traditional cake. Free shuttle is also a great incentive to book.

This was a fun thing to do with the elderly. As my mother was in a wheelchair this was easy to push her around. Not sure I would go back again.

Great tour here while learning all about how the float props are made and we all received a piece of King Cake. The guide explained so much and we could freely walk around looking and take pictures of things. Very neat and cool to see. We would highly recommend this to all ages to visit, you won’t be disappointed!

Used a Groupon. Good value with Senior discount. Shuttle pick up when you call. Short film then a walk through the work area where float characters are produced. Work area was colorful, informative and great place for pictures, but very hot!

I had super low expectations and came away super impressed!
I caught the free shuttle from my hotel. Very easy and convenient. Look at the website to see where the shuttle goes.
I was worried that I would be with a huge group of people but the group was about 20 folks and it was a large space so it worked out. There are tour bus groups there too, but the guide was great about keeping us away from them and finding our own area to listen and take photos.
I didn't know anything about the floats and "props" and learned so much!
I wasn't going to go to the movie, but I did and am sooooo glad!
Also, after the tour and the movie, we were allowed to go back through the warehouse on our own to take photos, read the signs, try on the costumes, etc. Definitely a plus.
I learned a lot!

The tour of the Mardi Gras factory was even better than I expected. It was amazing to see the floats up close and how they are made. Our tour guide was excellent and answered all of our questions. The video at the beginning was interesting and gave us a background before we started the tour. The King Cake at the beginning was yummy!

Lots of fun things to see. Loved the King Cake. It was fun to see them working on the new floats. We would recommend it for families visiting.

We had a fun-filled week. We decided to go to Madri Gras World. It was better than we thought. The tour was fun and interesting and we appreciated the military and student discounts.

The gift shop was so so. We could not find anything exciting. The shuttle was a disappointment too. We could not find it on the way there and had a lot of walking. On the way back, it was confusing as to where it was and where it parked and they only one stop.

This was such a cool place to visit! I most likely will never attend an actual Mardi Gras parade, so this was the next best thing! Your ticket includes a guided tour. I believe they run every half hour. There were maybe 12-15 people in our tour group. Our tour guide was very funny and knowledgeable. It was awesome to see so many floats and pieces from previous Mardi Gras celebrations, as well as to see things they are currently working on. There's also a free shuttle that takes you to and from several hotels in the area. We didn't realize this until we got there, so we were able to take a shuttle back, which was awesome and so helpful. Highly recommend!

We learned alot about the mari gras. We spoke with an artist as he was altering one figure into something else. We got to walk around and take tons of photos, even one next to the original King Kong from a previous parade. Next best thing to being there Mari Gras time.

Don't allow the TONS of littering on your property. There were HUNDREDS of empty bead bags, shopping bags, and beads within your property line. There was one FULL shopping bag of clear sealed bag of beads waiting for the taking. You have the responsibility of providing closed dumpsters throughout your property grounds to prevent this especially it appears that it's being done by the employees.

Secondly, once inside the admission building & you watch the 10 minute video, you're told to follow the yellow emblems on the floor for your self guided tour. Once we leave the lobby the YELLOW EMBLEMS CAN'T BE FOUND ON THE FLOORS and there's too many heavy fencing blocking paths for the tour was very small & maybe was bigger if we could tell where to go.

Lastly DON'T PARK in the near by parking lot as they charge $20 per vehicle & that's on top of the $25 per person entrance charge for the tour.

We anticipated wandering around giant sculptures and were so lucky to catch the start of Donna’s tour! We got a snack (!) after the short video and learned fascinating facts. We love behind-the-scenes tours and this fit the bill.

It was my 2nd visit so I can’t help but compare to pre COVID-19 to now. Before it was exciting and had a Mardi Gras feel. Felt like a party with cake being served and dozens of workers sharing what they were doing.
Now you get cake in a styrofoam box. They don’t even turn the lights on and off in the movie room...just enter a dark room and leave a dark room. Hardly any workers...floats are still awe inspiring but no magic in the visit.

Perfect behind the scenes tour. Enjoyed the video and history of Mardi Gras
So many beautiful things to see. The guest shop was great.

This tour took me by surprise in a good way. To learn the history, see some of the artists and their work up close, and everything that goes into the making of the floats was amazing. Not only do you learn about the floats, but you learn about what it takes to make Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras. Enjoyed getting to walk around the warehouse amongst the floats.

A few years ago I attended a conference in New Orleans and saw the sign for Mardi Gras World next to the Convention Center. I really wanted to check it out, but had to wait until this past week, when I booked the tour on Tripadvisor. The tour included a short film about the history of Mardi Gras in New Orleans and a tasty slice of king cake, then the guide, Lee, took me into the large warehouse area where parts of floats are stored and where there are artisans working on new projects. It turned out that I was the only person for that particular tour's time slot, so it was a great opportunity to talk one-on-one with the guide and ask questions, which he was happy to answer and show me around. After spending a few minutes with the guide, he left me to wander around the warehouse on my own and take photos. It was a very enjoyable experience and I'm very glad I booked the tour. The gift shop has a lot of good things to offer, as well. (I should note that a tour that came through afterwards had a couple dozen attendees, so don't expect a solo tour, but it was perfect for me!).

This is where many (almost all, according to the tour guide) floats and mascot characters are made - not just for Mardi Gras but also for the Super Bowl, for the Macy's parade, for Disney, etc. The tour is probably more of a "2" but this place is so unique and you can't see it without taking the tour. The guided tour is very short though (maybe 15 minutes), and then you're allowed to walk around on your own. The tour will be much more interesting if you go when the artists are working. We took the noon tour so everyone was at lunch. The artists were just coming back and starting work when we were ready to leave. There was a short film before the tour that was interesting and we got a slice of King Cake. You can take pictures of everything.

Overall, this isn't the most amazing place I've ever seen but it's definitely unique. I haven't seen anything like it anywhere else. I think it's worth it if you don't have more pressing things to do. Kids would probably like it. It is about 3 blocks away from one of the stops on the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus but Mardi Gras World has a free shuttle that will come pick you up at the bus stop if you don't want to walk those 3 blocks.

If you like seeing artisans as work and want to know what goes into the celebration leading up to Lent, this is for you. The tour is currently self guided, with a little intro movie and signs to read. Take your time (and lots of pics).

Totally fun time. The tour guide was engaging and informative, and frankly it was news to my husband and I just how big a business Mardi Gras is! The tour includes an explanation of each stage in the creation of the images adorning floats in the Mardi Gras parades. These giant sculptures are colorful, over-the-top, and at times wonderfully outrageous! People are friendly and questions are welcome. Be sure to watch the short video before beginning the tour. It's well worth it for the information about Mardi Gras (and the slices of King Cake handed out at the end of the film is a nice touch!).

I heard people have to wait awhile for the free transportation so I walked there. It was $30 for a brief video where they give you a little slice of king cake and a guy giving a 15 minute tour in a warehouse with falling apart old
Props. They weren’t even layed out nice and the place was just dirty. I was going to take their shuttle back to the hotel since it was a long walk there but they said later in the day they only drop people at one stop. The driver of the shuttle is rude. There were obviously just a few of us who came from the building and there is nothing else around there. He still was gruff and said show me your beads or you are not allowed on. It really is not worth anywhere near this price. $5-10 max is all people should have to pay. Don’t waste your time there really are better things to do in New Orleans.

The tour was interesting and enlightening … staff was warm and friendly. Seeing and taking pics with the various props and familiar figures was a lot of fun. And I had my first slice of “king cake.”

There are so many spectacular creations to see! As a visitor you learn about the process for making the props and can even see some of them being made. This is an incredible art form and it's amazing to see what delicate and creative results the artists here produce. Lots of fun and a great place to take photos.

Very affordable and interesting. The artist are so talented. We had no idea what it takes to make a character and a float. They are beautiful! We used the shuttle with no issue.

Is there more than 5 stars!?! We had a wonderful time. We loved the tour. We loved the ability to explore on our own. This was the highlight of our trip to New Orleans.

Our adult family loved this tour. It starts with a video explaining a little of the history and a piece of King Cale. Then a guide takes you through the warehouse where you see props for the floats being made as well as large props used in previous years. There is good signage explaining what you are looking at as well as a knowledgeable tour guide. We loved our visit and look into the craftsmanship!

We really enjoyed walking through this facility and seeing all the past floats. Incredibly interesting to see the workers in action making each piece of the float along with the painting procedures.

BAD NEWS:
RUDE Trolley driver Daren. Traveling with 2 handicapped adults. One Cognitively impaired. NOT HANDICAPPED FRIENDLY TROLLEY
I was unaware we needed to keep our beads on. As soon as the trolley door opens, the driver, Daren, starts telling me I can't get on because I don't have beads. I did not know what he was talking about. I had the beads but had put them in my backpack because they are a choking hazard for my cognitevely impaired niece. Daren wanted me to step aside and let other people on but I would not as I was second in line and there was not going to be enough seats. (there were not enough seats, people were left behind). I finally find the beads and show them to him. He wants us to put them on. I explain I cannot do that and why. Additionally, I had called ahead and was told a walker on the shuttle would be fine. Driver, Daren, did not want me to bring it on. I had to bring it on. Daren made me hold a 40 pound walker on my lap rather than letting it sit in a seat by itself or putting it in the back or up front. I understand it could not be in the aisle, but this was ridiculous. The shuttle was packed. Wall to wall people. Seated and standing. Driver inconsiderate and rude.

GOOD NEWS:
The little warehouse is fun to see. The floats are great.. The short movie was fine. Minimal tour with guide and then he let us loose to wander around. It was not crowded.

We were VERY DISAPPOINTED in the treatment by the trolley driver. Perhaps he was having a bad day and was tired of people. But, don't take it out on an 86 year old grandmother and a cognitively impaired 39 year old.

Such a good experience . The tour was excellent you got to see the whole process from cutting of the styrofoam foam through to the painting of these amazing creations.

You were also allowed to dress up in a Mardi Gras costume for photo sessions.

Definitely worth the money for an afternoon or morning of fun and laughter!

So I wasn't particularly interested in going. I visualized a warehouse full of dusty floats that hadn't been used for decades. Boy, was I wrong.

We had an amazing guide who was clearly passionate about Mardi Gras, and is an active participant, so he spoke with authenticity.

The props were amazing, and it was so great seeing the artisans at work.

One of our favorite stops in New Orleans!

Previously here. Guided tour. This time around self guided. The artist there was very interesting but the warehouse was largely self guided and no real explanations. The level of draftsmanship is beyond description. There’s a shuttle that operates to bring people in and drop off but during Mardi Gras season couldn’t get to canal street. Was much better previously

It's $22 each and we spent about 45 minutes there. We used the shuttle to get there (super easy to do). The floats are cool but it's overpriced for what it is.

It was interesting to see how the float props are made but rather concerning that health & safety doesn’t seem to be a thing. Artists were sanding polystyrene with no PPE and while the supersized CAD/CAM system was cool, it was a bit odd to see someone seemed to have their office in the same space as the flying particles.
Disregarding those niggles, seeing the floats up close was interesting
It is also nice of them to lay on a shuttle because it’s a bit of a way from Canal St/French Quarter hotels

Self guided walking tour. King cake sample was very good. Exhibits were interesting. The introduction video was very good. Would be nice if the artists would interact with the gusts but understand they have a creative job to do too.

A must do if in the area! Shuttle bus service from local areas so you don't have to pay to park is offered. 30 minute tour was done well. You then can spend as much time enjoying the exhibit and taking all the pictures you like when the tour concluded.

It was very Interesting to see the process and beautiful floats. Would definitely recommend to anyone. Great price well worth it

This was a great self guided tour thru the floats used in the parades. We got to see old floats and new ones being worked on! All in all I'm glad we chose to do this activity!

The visit was very interesting and very good explanations. The shuttle service is very useful, as it is somewhat far from the center. Recommended

It’s a short walk from the Convention Center and you will not regret it. The tour gives a short history of the Mardi Gras, the year-round creation process of the figurines, and access to a selection of the best figurines from past festivals. Highly commendable for the whole family.

This was a good intro to Mardi Gras floats and how the designs are created and housed. I enjoyed the tour.

The building is a wharehouse. Tickets can be purchased on line or on arrival. First of all one is shown a film of the history of Mardi Gras, very informative. Then they give everyone a piece of king cake. We joined a tour which was taking much too long so decided to leave the organised tour and walk around ourselves which was more or less the same only not so slow. There is a gift shop at the end of the tour.

Parking was a bit challenging due to the convention center events and a cruise ship departure, but once we found a spot, the experience was well worth it. The tour began with an informative 15-minute video, followed by a complimentary slice of delicious king cake, which was a nice touch. After the tour, we had plenty of time to explore and take photos, which added to the enjoyment. The gift shop is spacious with a wide variety of souvenirs, and they also offer drinks to keep you refreshed.

We visited on a Saturday, so there weren’t many artists working that day, which was a bit of a disappointment. If you’re hoping to see more of the creative process in action, a weekday visit might be a better choice. Despite this, we had a wonderful time and are glad we made the trip!

This was a very cool museum! I didn’t know much about Mardi Gras and it taught a little bit about the history and then walked us through the working museum/storage. Seeing how the floats and decorations are made is amazing. Our guide was fantastic! People were putting the figures together as we walked through. It had so many past figures as well. I want to take my family to go! I think my kids would love it!

Was very entertaining. The work that they do is amazing. Great to see the statutes up close. Tour guide was informative. Great stop before hopping in our cruise.

Our experience here started with a bad free pick up. The driver was rude as heck! He acted as though he hated his job and liked people even less. We waited at the pick-up spot for a half hour, and when he did arrive, he was mad that we didn't see him at first. He was just as unpleasant in the ride back. The tour itself was interesting in how the floats were made, but you had to be right beside the tour guide to hear anything she was saying. The tour was only about 20 min long, and that really was too long. The floats themselves were pretty cool.

The Blaine Kern shop crafts a lot of Mardi Gras floats and other decor. This warehouse is fashioned into a kind of exhibit of past work, and you can wander around and look at everything. There is an informational film that explains how they create the designs, and a gift shop. There is a free shuttle that picks up by request from different locations around Canal Street. We didn't know anything about Mardi Gras, and we appreciated the introduction and being able to see some art up close.

Give yourself plenty of time to tour this place! So many cool float pieces that you can get up close to. The artistry and craftsmanship on these pieces is amazing. The self guided tour means you get to find all the fun things. We could have spent even more time there.

This museum was very interesting. There is a short movie to watch that gives history and interesting facts - then there is cake - then someone walks you through the area and gives you more fun and interesting facts. Then you can stay for as long as you want and explore and take pictures at your leisure. They have an outside deck and covered area where you can watch the ships go by. It was raining the day we went and the roof was leaking, so wear your rain coat. ☔️. I think we spent around two hours there.

Great experience and value. Our guide was very informative and entertaining. It was so neat to learn about how the floats are made. So much talent!!

The film Donna and I watched regarding the history of the Mardi Gras Parades in New Orleans. It is a self guided tour of the facility. We got lucky, there were a group of kids from a local school on the property. The tour guide didn't mind us tagging along to listen to her talk about the ongoing process of making floats for Mardi Gras.

Way overpriced. Adult ticket 30 bucks for a 15 minute film, which was informative but not particularly engaging, followed by a short tour of a warehouse. We saw a few stations where they create the float adornments and then an opportunity to see some past floats up close. They do let you wonder around freely after the tour. In total this was a 45 minutes activity. You can see some of the float adornments that are in the warehouse tour for free when you enter the building and make your way to the gift shop to buy the tour ticket. The location is also not a selling point. They offer a free shuttle as there is only paid lots in the area and it’s not on a public transit line. For 2 adults with parking it was over 80 dollars for this short adventure. I was excited to go and disappointed that it wasn’t a better experience.

It was very interesting to see a lot of huge characters displayed. We saw the process of how to make them and several of the floats. It was an inexpensive tour, well worth the time and expense. They even have a shuttle to transport you there and back.

Very interesting insight into the creation of floats ....not only in the Mardi Gras parage, but statues made for movies and props.
Nice demo on Styrofoam carving, creation, and most recently, the robotics.
Recommended. Take a taxi even though its near Canal St near the river.

Totally worth a visit, definitely recommended. We saw a video about the history of the company, then went through to the workshop/warehouse, so much to see including carving some of the pieces. The floats in the warehouse are amazing, really beautiful in some cases. Don't miss it.

It was nice to learn how the floats were made for Mardi Gras. We even got to try a piece of King Cake.

This was a super fun tour! Quick video about the history of Mardi Gras and Mardi Gras World. Then you do a self guided tour through the warehouse to view the process of float making and see some completed floats and such. Very interesting! I would highly recommend! Kids would love it!

Brilliant tour with an exceptional tour guide - very flamboyant & loved his job. Took us around to show & explain everything to us about the Mardi Gras. Was great to see people working on them & a machine that bolt things from scratch with just the styrofoam sheets

Very disappointed:( my wife and I have bin coming to NO for years and brought many friends to enjoy the quarter. On this particular occasion we decided to bring our group to the MardiGras world tour. 1) we all paid for a guided tour... at $30 each this was quite pricy for our group. 2) we were told to go in... but there was no guide?? After a few minutes (5min) we were approached and told to go back into the gift center. Our tour guide never showed so they canceled our tour and told us we could go on the next tour? ...wtf? Sorry but we arrived at 1215, waited for a 1pm tour... at 105pm told we had to wait BY THE MANAGER!!! till 2pm? Or we could pay the same price and do a self gguided tour BUT!! Only till 2pm and at the time it was 145pm wtf? So... myself and our group was very upset... the manager was not helpful, did not reimburse any money, and even though our group and the other 2 couples complained as well nothing was done to correct the problem... leaving our group out $1200, UNACCEPTABLE. Btw- your manager told us that the owner was too busy with the mardi gras parades to help us. Well I hope our money was worth it. Such a shame... WE BROUGHT CUSTOMERS TO YOU and now all of us will be writing bad reviews... shame on you MardiGras world.

The best thing to do in New Orleans. So cool to see how they're made and all the great sculptures. Also you get a piece of king cake and they have a free shuttle!

If you are going to Nola on a family trip or even just with a friend for the first time, this is an affordable , cool, must do activity. Take lots of pics!!

I learned a lot about the parade history, but truly enjoyed watching artists create float figures. I got some wonderfully strange photos.

Nice way to see some of the float pieces if you’re not there for the parades. You can also see the artisans creating their masterpieces.

This was such an incredible experience and is a must-see. The tour gives a background on the history of Mardi Gras, especially as it has evolved over time. But it's a real working warehouse and storage facility, so you get to see real floats and props up close. There weren't too many artists during our trip, but just seeing the behind the scenes workshop, old and new props, recycled pieces, retired pieces, and broken and in progress pieces all gave such an incredible look at what brings Mardi Gras and many other parades to life. If you have any interest in Mardi Gras, this is a must. Our tour guide today was Sean and he was awesome

Neat look behind the scenes. The tour is quick but you get some great info that makes you understand more about the background of Mardi gras & all that goes into it.
Getting there & back can be a little challenging depending on the time of day. If the streetcar isn't running all of the way down or you can't catch the hop on/off bus in enough time, use the shuttle from your hotel or take a pedicabs over from the French quarter. The pedicab will be a little expensive but it is worth it rather than trying to walk it. There's just not great walkways in some spots.

The tour started with a short video about the history of the Mardi Gras parade floats, and a piece of King cake. It is actually a working parade float factory. They show the workers performing different tasks on the art of molding, cutting, and there's even a robotic machine that does some of the cutting, painting, and plenty of finished product in the warehouse to touch and view. Carla our tour guide was very informative.

The tour was very good, and you learn a lot from the opening video. The shuttle pickup is convenient, but the driver was not terribly helpful and dropped us off several blocks from where he picked us up, using traffic as an excuse (traffic was not a problem).

I haven't been to Mardi Gras yet. The behind the scenes tour was a perfect segue. My daughter and I took 1000 pictures and are now looking forward to returning during Mardi Gras. Very fun and informative presentation. Love that the shuttle picks up from local hotels.

Very interesting tour. I have been to the Mardi Gras several times so I have seen the final versions of the floats, but this tour covered all the preparations. Our guide was knowledgeable and allowed plenty of time for pictures.
The video at the start was a great intro for my wife who has never been to an actual parade.
A nice extra was the complementary shuttle back to Canal Street.

We went there on the recommendation of the Routard guide. Expensive admission (30 bucks), uninteresting movie, kind of hagiography of the Kern family. Soporific guided tour, a real penance! Here we really think tourists are pancakes!
That's enough to get a mouthful of Lent!

I had been here many years ago and enjoyed returning for another tour. It is a lot of fun to wander thru the warehouse and see all the floats and learn about all of the effort and artistic talent that goes into creating them. Definitely recommend!

The displays and floats are pretty cool, but the organization is haphazard, the guide was mechanical, the price is ridiculous for what you get, and you have to pay $20 to park.

Don't miss this!!! It is an out-of-the-way world of fun!

I was afraid it might be a bit hokey but instead it was amazing! It is like having a front row seat to seeing how the Mardi Gras floats are created.... like being backstage at a theater and seeing all of the sets and props up close.

You actually get to wander through the warehouse and watch the people working on the different design elements. And you can wander endlessly around the gigantic and brightly colored creations that fill the warehouse.

They even have a shuttle that will pick you up downtown.

I would not, however, recommend walking there because it is not a beautiful walk, and it is a bit remote and isolated.

Been here several times over the years, but this was the first time post-COVID. Happy to report that the guided tours are back! Our guide was engaging and funny. I just wish they had smaller groups! Ours felt huge, which made it hard to see sometimes walking through the work shops. It is still so cool to see the old floats and props in the warehouse.

Extremely disappointed that we were not able to go on our tour today. Called yesterday they said they were open. Checed the website this morning at 9 AM. It said they were open. Arrived at 9:30 and the door had a sign on it that said they were closed through Monday! Unacceptable! The website continues to state that they are open. The staff that answered the telephone this morning stated that their owner told them this morning that they are closed today to prepare for a Super Bowl even. It’s sad when the rich get catered to and the local tourist are no longer able to experience the culture of New Orleans!

Neat place to visit. Starting off with a slice of King Cake to learn some history of Mardi Gras. Following the video you get to take a quick tour of how the pieces for the floats are made. Really interesting to learn the process and see all the pieces sitting around. There is a free shuttle service to will pick you up and drop you off. Definitely worth checking out. You will like it, have fun!

This was not the greatest time to go, since the Mardi Gras parade was only a few weeks ago, but there was still quite a bit to see. Make sure you see the video before going through the warehouse, or you won't be able to appreciate the work and history that goes into the floats. We didn't get to see many artists working at this time of year, but the guide was very knowledgeable. Expect to spend an hour or so.

We thought we were getting a tour. We were told to walk around the warehouse on our own. It was disappointing and not worth our time and money.

This is an amazing experience for anyone looking to see the behind-the-scenes of Madi grad and take in a cool view. It offers a unique perspective and allows for a deeper understanding and appreciation of the event. Whether you're a tourist or a local, this is a must-do for anyone interested in the Madi grad festivities.

This place is amazing! It was exciting to see them working on projects and to see the props from previous floats. I can't wait to see an actual Mardi Gras Parade!

We got a free shuttle to the warehouse where they create and store displays and floats. We self guided, but I think there is a coordinated tour available. Artists working on the sculptures and amazing displays of color and whimsy. Nice. Shuttle returns you to your last stop.

One of my favorite spots. A quick hour+ tour, ( Shawn was delightful).
We Ubered there and got a free shuttle back to Canal St. Please tip driver.
Shawn took us into the process of making, reworking, and storing floats.
It's magic.

We had a great time. Called the number on the website to arrange for the offered free transport from the nearest stop from our hotel. Shuttle picked us up within 10-15 min. Check in was relatively easy. Very pleasant and knowledgeable staff. We watched an introductory film— very informative and brief giving the highlights of Mardi Gras history and a tutorial on how the floats are made. After the film we were given directions on where to go for the self guided tour. We were able to see some of the artists in action making parts of the floats. Several opportunities for pictures throughout the warehouse. The floats and artistry on display is absolutely magnificent. I would definitely recommend this place to guests of all ages. We were allowed to tour at our own pace and given a complimentary slice of king cake on the way out. The shuttle was there to pick us up within 20 min or so.

Cool to see where they make the magic happen as well as get some history on various parades in New Orleans. Nice little movie and a taste of king cake

mardi gras world is cool but underwhelming. it is basically just a warehouse where they store all the mardi gras floats. it is cool to look at all of them but not much of an experience- mostly just walking around the warehouse looking at things on your own.
we were choosing between mardi gras world and mardi gras museum and we probably should have chosen the museum (you get to try on costumes)

We throughly enjoyed ourselves! My 5 and 8 year said they loved it! We found all the sculptures/props from the past floats beautiful, interesting and the perfect photo opps. We enjoyed watching the movie in the beginning and eating our piece of king cake, it gave a nice history and backstory to all the work that was being done in the warehouse. We watched some of the artisans shaping, papering and painting new and reused props for next year and watched some of the graphic design artist at work in creating new designs.

Totally enjoyable and fascinating. It was very interesting to see how the props and floats are put together, refabricated and used over and over. Our only negative comment is that while the free shuttle picked us up at our hotel, the driver on the return trip refused to drop us off at the same hotel and instead let us off many blocks away. But other than that, we thoroughly enjoyed the tour.

Tour was hot - and short. The guide wasnt connected to their guest . It had alot to see - but the information was vague . I wanted more history and knowledge . Lacking luster . Wouldnt go back or recc. The shuttle driver was nasty and almost left my kid behind. Not the best place - reconsider going here.

The tour started with a short film and a slice of King Cake before we entered the warehouse. It was interesting to learn how they build all of the floats and see them up close. We were allowed to wander through the warehouse where they store everything, but it was HOT, so take something cold to drink or something to fan yourself. If you're really into Mardi Gras, this is something you'll likely enjoy.

There were a lot of interesting floats at the place, but there was no organization in how to see the floats. The floats were just in the building with to predetermined location to see them. The tour was alright, but not to informative. You could walk throughout the warehouse and see the floats at your own leisure, but the floats were not stored in any particular order,

We decided to go here because we will likely never be there to experience the actual Mardi Gras.

We thought it was great that you could call for a shuttle and decided to use that service. We followed the directions for pick up near the aquarium but were apparently in the wrong location. We flagged the bus driver down but he refused to look at us. He was also 25 minutes later than the time we were told. We ended up running to to another area to catch the shuttle. The bus driver was very rude and said that we should have known where he picks up because that is where he “always does it.” We then had to sit on the shuttle while he drove away from the shuttle picking up more people. This took a big chunk of time out of our day and we would have been there sooner had we just walked.
We opted to walk back after the tour.

The Tour guide was good and you got to walk through the displays and floats but I don’t think I would recommend this tour unless you were passionate about Mardi Gras.

Mardi Gras 2024 has officially come to an end however, there is a place that you can visit all year to learn about the magic of Mardi Gras.
Mardi Gras World is this unique place. We took a free shuttle to the museum. The shuttle has a variety of pickup areas throughout the CBD and is an inexpensive and convenient way to visit. The cost to enter Mardi Gras World for an adult and a child is $36.00.  
Mardi Gras World is an interesting place to visit because you will have an opportunity to learn about the float design process.  Visitors watch a short film on the history of Mardi Gras. Once the film is over you can sample a slice of King Cake, try on some Mardi Gras attire, and then walk through the warehouse to see a variety of floats/props.  The visit definitely provides a bird’s eye view of the Mardi Gras process.
Visiting Mardi Gras World makes for a wonderful way to enjoy Lundi Gras, Mardi Gras, or any other time. Just remember that you have plenty of time to visit because Mardi Gras 2025 will not take place until March 4th of next year.

What a great warehouse filled with floats for the Mardi Gras parade - old and new and getting finished! We'll not see the parades so this was the next best thing. They show the process of making the incredible people, things, cartoons etc...that sit up there. How cool! And they also have a gift shop. You'll taste King Cake at the beginning of the tour as well.

We bought tickets on Groupon for a tour. The website said it was open and we bought tickets. We walked 30 minutes one way only to find out they were closed. Nothing on the website stated this and we were allowed to buy tickets.

I took a tour of Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World with my group. Our guide was very informative and taught us about the tradition of Mardi Gras. We even got a piece of King’s Cake to sample! Seeing how the floats are made is amazing. There is so much time and detail put into each float, which helps bring the magic into the parades. This was a great learning experience! Go check this place out!

Very interesting display of how the various models are made. Would have liked to learn more about why these parades happen and who pays for it and why, etc. (The movie they showed before going into the exhibit area was not looped and we probably missed about half of it).
Be prepared for non-conditioned space - the big models are stored in sheds that are not air conditioned. It was a rainy, wet day when we went and the roof leaks (not a big deal).
Be prepared to take lots of pictures!

If you are in New Orleans and have any interest in Mardi Gras floats, this is the place to visit. It is fascinating and the guided tour is excellent. Just finding out how these massive structures are constructed is well worth the price of admission. Don’t miss it! Highly recommended.

This was something I was really excited to see and was fingers crossed that it wouldn’t be closed for the cold weather but it was open and AMAZING! Ok I didn’t get to see the floats being made in front of me but you got to see the stages of building to finished product. Also great for taking pics with family and friends!

This is a must see!!! Be prepared to take an Uber or drive, it's a bit off the beaten path. Definitely worth it though. You get some great history and background on Mardi gras while also getting to see many of the props used in years past. During our tour some of the artists were actually there working on current projects which was pretty neat. We also got to try kings cake prior to the tour which was yummy! You get a guided tour of the area and then are free to roam and take any photos you missed along the way, so don't worry about getting photos of everything right away, you'll get time to go back and wander at your leisure. Recommend really walking around the nooks and crannies, you never know what you might find hidden behind another prop.

Very cool to see the process with the talent and work that goes into each float.
To know that not only do they work on Mardi Gras floats but they actually do things for other projects as well.
Would recommend the shuttle to get there as it is free and it is a good day to stay out of the rain!!!!

This was an excellent visit! Firstly they offer a FREE shuttle for pick up and drop off! Once you arrive you see a 15 minute or so film on the history of Mardi Gras and how the Kern family business was born and how integral a part of the parades they are! Then you get to sample King Cake!!! You get to see the artists as they create and build the floats and decorations. I highly recommend!!!

Went with a senior citizens group through Collette. I visited two years ago, but the warehouse was closed because of the flooding from Katrina. Glad I got a chance to see this now. Amazing place. Great narrator who answered all kinds of questions and he told us of the history and operation of this place. They have several other warehouses. Gave us a good view of what goes into Mardi Gras parades. These folks are really amazing artists. Their stuff can be seen in Disney productions also. You can see the artists working too !!

Disappointed that parking at this place is $23 for 9 hours!
The floats and statues are top notch. Just make sure you catch their shuttle to visit so you won’t have to pay exorbitant convention center fees because you chose to drive!

What an amazing place to visit!

Our tour guide was a real enthusist and went out of his way to make the day special - very professional outfit Mardi Gras World!!

It was fabulous to see the floats stored in the warehouse and to meet some of the artists who build them. It was fascinating to learn how figures are modelled and remodelled over the years to be as environmentally friendly as can be.

Having toured the workshops in Kolkata where the clay figures are made for religious festivals we could compare and contrast the vastly different techniques and materials used - both are impressive but worlds apart.

I was somewhat sceptical about the tour when booking, but t turned out to be one of the best we've experienced. Fully deserves 5 stars!!

This is worth a visit. We learned a lot about Mardi Gras and how the floats and decorations are made. You can see the artists at work. It is a giant warehouse and a gift shop. The tour starts with a short film about the history of Mardis Gras, then they serve you a slice of yummy Kings Cake - a tradition. The tour guide walks you through the warehouse for about a half an hour, then you can explore on your own. We were there for about an hourish with two teens. We drove and parked in Lot G right near there. We read mixed reviews on the shuttle so we did not do it. Parking was $23. We got our tickets on Groupon - cheaper - and had no issues being scanned in with Groupon voucher. It is a fun NOLA thing to do. Warehouse is hot. Gift shop is air conditioned. Hot walk from parking lot to door so if you have heat sensitive folks - drop them at door then go park. You pay for parking using an app. We enjoyed this visit.

We enjoyed this museum a lot. It was raining and when it rains outside- it rains inside the warehouse too. Dress appropriately for weather. The different displays were fun and very artistic! A fun little place to go and see!!

We love Amazing Race, and this was on an episode, so we HAD to go. It was awesome to watch the artist create the items. We were lucky to be there right at the beginning of carnival season. Check it out. Your kids will love some of the floats.

If you have any interest in the history, story, art, or pageantry behind the Mardi Gras parades in NOLA, then this place is an absolute must! I’ve never been to Mardi Gras - nor ever really wanted to go - but this visit definitely inspired me to try to go in the future. Plan to take the guided tour with some extra time to wander. Enjoyed the bonus of some authentic King Cake as well. Truly worth a couple hours of time while you’re in NOLA! I’ve seen a Groupon from time to time, but even without, the admission is quite reasonable.

We had a great time at Mardi Gras world! Our tour guide was awesome and taught us all about the history of Mardi Gras as well as how the floats are made and changes from year to year. The tour included a slice of King’s Cake.

It is worth noting that it is very warm in the warehouse where most of the tour is led.

Overall, highly recommend for all ages.

Just do it. Stop wasting your life and make the memories. We are all going to die but are u going to live first. Everything was an experience worth remembering

This is a great place to spend a few hours to learn about the floats in the parade and then to walk the warehouse and see a ton of the floats and characters. There is a short film in the beginning and then the tour is self-guided. cute gift shop as well. Thoroughly enjoyed this place!

Closed due to Hurricane Ida damage. Never got a notice. Card charged, money for a cab to and from, and time wasted. Very disappointed no notice.

Totally enjoyed our visit here. We utilized the free shuttle service by going to the Marriott on Canal Street and giving them a call. Within 10 minutes an air conditioned van was there to pick us up.....big plus!!

Once there, we watched a video on the history of Mardi Gras and had a slice of King Cake. Then it's off to tour the facility to see past floats along with ones being created for the upcoming year. You can see the work in progress with the team and they're happy to answer any questions.

This was a really nice treat and my family totally enjoyed the visit!

If you don't want to go to Mardi Gras but would like to see some of the floats this is a tour for you. Located in a very large warehouse you will get to see how floats are designed and built. This is a self guided tour or walk thru a working float factory.
You will start with an introductory movie and then walk at your own pace through the float workshops & exhibits. A gift shop is on site. Parking is only available at a lot across the street with a $20 fee.
Recommend. Hope this helps.

Wonderful museum where floats and props are made for Mardi Gras parades. We learned a lot about the process. It is beautiful to see up close. Our guide was knowledgeable and gave us great information. After tour, you are welcome to browse on your own. Parking is about 2 blocks away, on convention center lot. It uses Parkmobile app (no attendant) so be sure your app is up to date before you get there (it is confusing to use if you are not familiar), then you have to walk about 2 blocks. There is a shuttle, but it seems to service French Quarter and not the parking lot.

May be better than going to the actual parade. An interesting and informative tour. You get to see the floats up close and you can spend as much time looking as you wish. was a highlight of our week-long visit to New Orleans.

Definitely a must see! I have avoided coming to the Mardi Gras because of the "craziness", but I have a much greater appreciation of the tremendous artistry that goes into the fabrication of the floats.

This was a cool experience seeing all the floats and statues up close. There was a video that explained a lot of details and we got to try the king cake too! Would recommend the visit and cool pics to take!

This venue has everything you need to kniow about Mardi Gras Parades and how the decorations on floats are built. It is a behind the scenes tour of how they bulid and maintain the Floats. The build the floats and when the parades are over they immediately strip them down and start rebuilding them all over. There is every imaginable type of character and form there. They al;so have a nice film about how things are done.Take the kids they will enjoy the 1-2 hour tour of fun.

This was a great, fun tour. I'd been to a behind the scenes tour in Rio but this was an entirely different experience. Learning how the figures/floats were designed, sculpted and paper mache'd and painted was fascinating. We saw a 3D printer in action as well as two people shaving down the styrofoam block to make a shaped piece. They store all the previously made works and reuse and repurpose some as needed. Thus, the warehouse of FULL of "artwork". It was fun to take pics with many of teh different figures! Little kids and big kids will love it.

We noticed Mardi Gras World on Google Maps and decided to visit while we were in town. We are so glad we decided to visit. It was so much fun, and the staff there couldn't have been nicer or more welcoming! The location was easy to get to from our hotel in the French Quarter. It is a fascinating place; don't miss it!

We loved the Mardi Gras world tour! such a unique insight to all of the planning that goes into the celebrations every year. You get to go into the warehouse and see all of their stock and current projects. Also before the tour they give you a piece of king cake!! Lucky was an awesome guide. So funny and super knowledgeable about all of the goings on.

This place is completely enjoyable. You will first watch a film about the family history and see how the characters and floats are created. The process is fascinating. Next, get your slice of King Cake! Then enter the warehouse to see the old float characters and ones they are currently working on. Though you'll be taking a lot of pictures, you can do this place in an hour.
I haven't been to Mardi Gras in 20 years, but Kern's inspired me to return.
Tip: Inquire about the shuttle that can pick you up, deliver you back to many points around town.

It’s hard to express in words or pictures the scale of this place and the floats within, but it is absolutely a must visit in New Orleans. We got the free shuttle from near our hotel straight there without any issue (we just had to collapse our stroller before getting on). When we arrived, we converted our online booking into beads that they use as a ticket, and they’d just started the opening film so we were able to join a tour straight away. From what we gathered from hearing others arrive as we were leaving, you could sometimes have a wait of around half an hour before a tour starts so we were just lucky. The film was followed by a free slice of king cake (delicious, just like a massive cinnamon roll) and then we were walked round the warehouse by our guide Lee for around 35 minutes. It was truly fascinating to see the process of them making them, with real craftspeople working as we went round. After the tour you can roam at your leisure, and we probably stayed for another 40 minutes including looking round the gift shop. You’d struggle to spend any longer than this, and others might want to leave a lot quicker.

This place was great! A friend recommended and we had some spare time so we went for it. They have a shuttle you can call to pick you up at many different spots around the city and it will drop you back off too. Cool video about mardi gras and it's history then a slice of King Cake. The tour of old props and floats is great and there are workers on site building new pieces. The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We spoke to our tour guide for 5-10 minutes after for more info. You are also allowed to go back in and look around on your own. Very cool experience.

Do not park in their $20 parking lot. You can park for MUCH cheaper in the premium parking lots along the river(the one closest to the French market is by far the cheapest: P407). Leisurely stroll to canal st(~15min) where the free shuttle will pick you up.
The “guided” tour starts at the top of each hour. It starts with a movie in the theatre & a piece of king cake(20min), then continues with the guided tour~30min. (He wears a headset/speaker so everyone can hear!)You are free before & also after this to look around in the warehouse/workshop area, the very well priced gift shop (cute $16 t shirts, $10 Nola themed earrings, books, chips/cookies only..not real food. In fact, I don’t recall seeing drinks). Good bathrooms!
There is space out back to wait with shaded seating (inside too) & stools overlooking the river. Got a discount through Groupon.
NOTE: last shuttle back at 5:15 & after 4pm, the ONLY stop is at canal st (at the river/Harrahs casino/canal place shopping center)
While I gave it a 5, it’s not for the “first timer”

First thought, it’s a very dingy place. The making of film was very interesting but the theater was dirty, smelled musky and the king cake was ooooold! I understand it’s a wear house, but it’s a business… clean the place up!

Do not take the shuttle into town if you are parked in Parking Lot J across from the museum. They make you think they will drop you off and then return you to the museum, they will not. When I called the front desk I was told they were not a shuttle service and did not take you all over the city. I explained we were just trying to get to the parking lot. He said "Oh, okay. Is this a good phone number to contact in case our driver does not see you? He should be there shortly. " The driver showed up 20 minutes later and refused to bring us back to the museum, even after we explained the situation and that the front desk knew. Unpleasant ending to what had been a good day.

We brought my wife’s sister and brother-in-law here after first visiting the Audubon Aquarium on 12/26/25.

It was a good tour that Sean or Shawn (spelling ?) gave through the warehouse after a short video.

I attached several pictures taken during the tour.

This was a fascinating glimpse into how the parades get pulled together. The introductory film is just what you need to set the context - and the piece of king cake they give you is a nice treat.
The warehouse is a work area so you can see sculptors and carpenters working on their projects. I enjoyed the self-guided wander around the warehouse much more than I thought I would.

Watch floats in various stages of manufacture. See previously used figures some 15' or more tall. The art work, craftsmanship and the technology used to create these floats are fascinating.

I liked being able to wander around and get up close to some of the most unusual figures.

Get to see where the sausage is made for all those fabulous New Orleans parades. It’s a whole mess o’ fun. …like getting Willy Wonka to give you a private tour of the chocolate factory. Get up close and personal with the floats and see how those giant figurines are designed and produced.

Interesting behind the scenes tour. Staff was friendly and attentive. Tour starts with a video that explains the history of both Mardi Gras and the business of Mardi Gras World. After the video our guide served us King Cake. We were able to see part of a large float being put together and foam work being done as well as seeing completed works that have been used for other purposes.

It was really cool to see artists working on Mardi Gras floats in various stages. Our kids loved looking at all the floats and seeing how big they are. That being said, it’s definitely an expensive visit for the size of the place. We spent about an hour here and it cost over $80 for our family of 5. In my opinion, this is a one time visit type of place and I’m happy we went here during our time in New Orleans.

Tip-definitely take their free shuttle-super easy and efficient!

Go even though it’s off the beaten path! Derrell was our tour guide and he gave us so much history about how parades “krewes” are put together. Behind the scenes look at floats and decorations. Many discounts available.

Really neat experience! The movie you watch at the beginning gives a good history of Mardi Gras. There is so much more to it than one parade like I had sort of imagined. The floats were incredible and massive. I think it would be a great place for kids. I will say it is a bit expensive since I can't see someone spending more than an hour or so there (that's how long we were there) but I still recommend going.
The free shuttle there and back was a great plus. The location of the museum was kind of strange so I don't know that I would have felt comfortable walking there. Just look at the map on their website and you can easily see all the pickup and dropoff locations.

Cool place with s short history of the parade and a tour of the floats they make
Took about an hour was interesting
The do have a free shuttle from parts of downtown
I could not figure out how to use it but did take advantage of the shuttle for the ride back

What a cool museum. You get to see a plethora of sculptures and a few floats. You also get to see workstations where people are fabricating new sculptures. You can do a guided tour, or self guided, it's all the same price. This is a warehouse, so whatever the weather is like outside, it's like that inside too. This isn't negative at all, just something to be aware of.

I used a Groupon $18 vs $22 plus got a 40% code off since I had not used Groupon in years. It like getting a buy one, get one free ticket. Coming to Mardi Gras World was a highlight in our New Orleans trip, and I am so glad we went.

A free shuttle is offered if you check out their website. You need to call the phone number when you arrive at the pick up location and there is not estimated pick up time or schedule. We used the Harrah's hotel stop and it stopped in front of the hotel on the street, not under the overhand where the valet parking was. It took about 8-10 minutes for pick up. The building is located past the Convention Center and down the street to the left. It would have been a 25 minute walk. Area seemed safe enough. Afterwards Mardi Gras World, we walked to the National WW2 museum which was a mile away, about 20 minutes. Recommend you arrive at the WW2 museum around 12:30 pm. There is the 1:00 pm "Beyond All Boundaries" movie. The Mardi Gras World shuttle does not stop at the WW2 museum.

At the ticket area, the lady scanned my Groupon coupons and we were handed Mardi Gras beads as a sign we paid then went to walk around the gift shop until the next video would start at 11:00 am. The tour would not start until 11:30 am. The video have the history of how the Mardi Gras parade came into being, the krewes, and owners of Mardi Gras World who also produce most of the floats. It was well done. After the video, you could get a free slice of King Cake. It tasted like a danish to me.

In addition to some of the props that you could take pictures with, there were signs near the production areas, so you could read and appreciate the craftsmanship and knowledge that goes into creating a float.

It was fun walking around to see the much larger than life props and since Mardi Gras was coming up, seeing parts of what would be assembled into some of the floats.

You could see artists sculpting styrofoam or perhaps getting ready to paint.

You shouldn't bother the artists who are under time pressures to complete their work, but one nice artist volunteered to answer questions and it was quite interesting. There are very long days getting close to Mardi Gras to complete the work or even to dismantle the float after it finishes its parade route.

Everything took about an hour. There were no chairs or benches in the warehouse or production area. Bathrooms were in the gift shop plus drinks but no lunch food.

I feel I gained knowledge of how a float is developed from design to what happens afterwards. I thoroughly enjoyed myself even on the self guided tour. I am sure the guided tour would have been even more interesting with tidbits of information not on the signs.

Very worthwhile and recommend!

It starts off with a movie about the history of the company and Mardi Gras. They give a half hour tour through a work area, where you can see people making parts of floats, which is really cool. Then you get to wander around the warehouse to look at old and newer parts of floats that they've made. The ticket prices seemed a little steep for the tour, but it included a free shuttle ride to get there and back, so that made it worth it to us. They have a very nice gift shop.

When we left Mardi Gras World, a cruise ship was apparently loading, and the traffic got really jammed. If we had gone there a little later we might not have been able to get in. I don't know how frequently that happens, but just be aware that it could be an issue to get to Mardi Gras World.

Wonderfully informative look behind the scenes of Mardi Gras and how the slots and figures are made. Great 15 min film (plus King cake) and then a guided tour of the warehouse and workshops in action. I don’t think I have ever taken so many pictures. We walked there and got the free shuttle bus back to Canal Street. One of the highlights of our trip to NO.

I thought I already posted a review but Trip Advisor says no, so here goes. This is a truly unique experience. It is a bit of the beaten path, on the waterfront but a good walk from the Canal St. trolley stop, which is the closest. Buses may get you closer but it is off by itself in a warehouse on the waterfront. Very hot inside, limited air conditioning. But this is where the Mardi Gras Floats are made and developed. Not like any other attraction I have seen. It is unique and distinct, with so many colorful life-size or larger figures and props. Worth going, but bring a few drinks as it can get very hot in the warehouse in August, when we went.

This was out of the way. The Hop-On Hop-Off bus dropped us what they said was nearby … when we finally found it by asking people coming out of the Convention Center, we were enchanted.

This is a great tour, preceded by an informative film and Mac was a wonderful guide, very keen to answer all our questions.

We really got a flavour of the Mardi Gras parades and even saw a likeness of our Queen!

Excellent visit, the sculptures are awesome. You see where they’re being assembled & how they’re being assembled. Be sure to come when it’s not raining hard though or you may get wet.

What a neat place to visit. The making of the floats and the history is well worth your time. Touring the behind the scenes area was great. All the creative minds and what they have made for the floats over the years. Anyone will love it if all ages.

My friend recommended this to me and I thought it would give me a sense of Mardi Gras since I was coming post-festival to New Orleans. However, it wasn't really my thing. It starts with a 15 min video that provides the history of Mardi Gras in New Orleans which was interesting and I did learn some things. Then they give everyone a piece of king cake- which is a nice touch! Then our tour of how they build the floats begins, and honestly, everything felt like it was from the late 1900s, vs contemporary floats. It was pretty tacky. Not the aesthetic I was hoping for. I think this is an interesting business idea, but there is more they could do with it to make the experience a bit more modern. The whole experience only takes about an hour if that, and then you have time to walk around and take photos.

They do offer a free shuttle service- but it was more hassle than it was worth. I called for the shuttle, and waited 30 mins for it to come, and then it was a 15 min ride to the location, and the shuttle was not air conditioned (broken I expect). On the way back I just called a Lyft and it was only $8 to get back into the French Quarter.

Not something I would recommend which is why I give it 2 stars.

My BFF and I visited this warehouse museum using our GoCity passes. I was completely surprised about everything we found and learned about Mardi Gras. The history, the Krewes and everything else in between. I absolutely adored the statues they were creating right in front of us. It's a little out of the way, but they do offer a shuttle from several areas around the quarter. Be sure to make this one of your stops!

I didn't book up a tour for this as I didn't want to commit and my hotel was close enough to walk to this (after a look around the Waterfront mall and area).
I had no problems in rocking up after lunch and only had to wait 5mins to then be added to the next tour going round. Our chap was very knowledgeable and genuinely interested in the work done. We got to hear the history and how the things are made as well as observe some of the workers. We then had free time to stroll around the giant props and floats as we wished. It is a large warehouse with a lot to see and can get pretty hot in the summer heat.
My only issue was that it took me longer than expected to walk to it as you have to walk the entire length of the conference hall to get to the entrance, however, I was able to catch one of the shuttle vans going back in to town (you can get them to the warehouse too but have to phone for one to come and I didn't have a US sim).
There is also a large gift shop which is always a nice bonus, although, surprisingly, no books available to buy on the Mardi Gras here.

Finally visited here. A very worthy destination. Informative semi-guided tour. Huge working warehouse/shop for the design and build of the floats. Free shuttle transportation from Canal street locations to and from the tour site. Thousands of "props" to wander around and view. Provides a unique behind the scenes view of the work involved in float building.

Visited on a Monday morning & purchased 2 tour tickets ($22/adult). Watched the 15 minute info video in the theater then served King Cake slices. Guided tour through the construction & art areas. Learned how props are made and how floats/process all works. Such amazing artists & wonderful props! The tour itself is about an hour then you can roam freely.

Fun and interesting and unique. Bring your camera, there are a lot of photo ops! It doesn't take long so it's easy to fit into your schedule whenever you have a couple of hours. My only complaint is that $22 is steep for such a short visit.

We really enjoyed our tour of Mardi Gras World. It begins with a video about Mardi Gras where you get to sample a piece of King Cake. Then, you get to go into the warehouse/workshop for a fun and fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how Mardi Gras happens. You get to see how the pieces on the floats are made from conception to inception. Our experience was especially enhanced by Lucky the tour guide. He did little magic tricks, and he was funny and knowledgeable! The shuttle is also very convenient. This was a definite highlight of our trip to NOLA!

I really enjoyed my trip here. The tour was great and informative. You first watch a film, then get to try King Cake (one lucky tour goer will get the baby in the cake). Then you take a tour of the factory where the Mardi Gras floats are made. I learned so much stuff..had no idea how much history was behind the parade and the floats. You get to see the robot that carves the floats. Then you get ampme free time to wander around, taking photos of all the large statues and things in the warehouse. Highly recommend, as this is truly unique to New Orleans. You're not gonna see something like this anywhere else.

My husband and I did a self guided tour. It was neat to see all different items used in the parades. Parking was about 1/2 mile away but if you don’t want to walk there are plenty of other transportation options in New Orleans.

Good A/C. Tour starts with a 15 minute video. Self guided tour. No a/c during the tour. It’s an outdoor warehouse. The content is cool. The organization lacks.
We tried calling for shuttle service at 9 o’clock in the morning. They told us to call back when we were ready and standing in front of the pick up location. The driver deliver us at 12:28 for a 12.30 tour. We we told we had to wait for the 1:30 tour. The place was empty. They greet you with King Cake which was very nice and fresh. The attendants need to be trained on keeping the place presentable and clean. We waited for close to an hour for the return shuttle. If you’re on tight schedule, you may want to rethink this activity.

This was amazing. We got to see past floats and characters. Artist were there working on items while we were there. Very informative. A must see

Reading some of these other reviews, I feel like we missed out on half of the experience somehow. When we visited, we felt like the $22 fee was very high for what we got. Now I understand why. We weren't told about the movie and we didn't get king cake--missing both of those is disappointing. We also didn't have a guided tour, nor was that offered to us-- we were only offered a self-guided walk through.

I also felt that there wasn't a lot of context to what we saw. The warehouse is awesome to walk through and to see how big and colorful the float props are. It's fascinating to watch the artists creating pieces for this years' parades. But I didn't understand a lot of what I was seeing. There aren't informational plaques or anything describing what things are (apparently that's information we'd have gotten from the movie and from the tour guide). Another thing that was disappointing was that there were at least 3-4 school groups there at the same time we were, so it was crowded and loud (maybe that's why we weren't offered a guided tour?).

Overall, we appreciated the shuttle service--that was extremely helpful. We wish there had been evening hours to visit (we were in town for business, so the daytime hours were tough for us to schedule in). And I'm just really bummed that we missed out on most of the actual experience.

Our tour at Mardi Gras World was informative and fun.It would be wonderful to bring kids.The floats and displays were colorful, beautiful and intricate.The video was a good preview.The tour was self-guided so time was flexible.The staff were attentive and accommodating.The waterfront patio offered wonderful views of the river and the bridge that were iconic for New Orleans.There was a shuttle service that was easy to use with designated stops and a phone number to call for pick up.With concern for time management for the day,we opted for Uber going.We were offered the use of the shuttle as I was paying for my purchase at the gift shop.So we used the shuttle going back downtown.The shuttle driver was not pleasant .Taking Uber for $10 would have been a better option.Overall,a tour of Mardi Gras World is a must.It’s Mardi Gras without the chaos of Mardi Gras.

Enjoyed the self guided tour, but it would have been so much better with a guide, explaining the pieces and the construction process.

Quite a unique place. Worth doing as you won't find many places like this. A little out of the way so consider Uber. They DO have a shuttle so consider calling to see if you are in their pickup area. Much of the display is in a large warehouse which gets very hot in warm weather so keep that in mind. But it is a fun place to visit.

We enjoyed walking thru Mardi Gras World. It was very interesting to learn about what it takes to build the characters and floats.
Mardi Gras World has a FREE shuttle to pick you at your hotel or close to it.
I highly recommend a visit to Mardi Gras World.

We really liked this place, and they've thought of everything. You get pickup from various hotels and locations. They give you Mardi Gras beads, you watch a short film about the parades and making of the floats, and a free slice of KING Cake. It's better than cake. Lot's of floats and the workers are busy constructing floats and painting them. You can take all of the pictures you care to take, and they have photo spots. I took 73 pictures. Made us want to return when they are having a parade. You also learn about the Kewes, just look it up. Reasonable prices and good for all ages. Walk out back and see the river barges on the Mississippi. Only negative, it is a bit hot inside. Too large to air condition.

This was a neat experience. There’s a quick interesting video before the tour. When the video ends you can have a slice of ice cold king cake. There is then a quick walk through with a guide and then you get to explore on your own. There are a lot of cute figures and several photo op stations. They have a gift shop and one of those penny press machines.

It’s a quick fun spot to check out if you’re in the area.

Great fun. This place is a bit hard to get to but don’t let that deter you. It was great fun. Learned a lot about Mardi Gras that I never knew. The warehouse is chock full of floats and figures and is just a great glimpse into the parade process.

As we are from the north, we do not have experience of Mardi Gras. But now after visiting this establishment we have a better appreciation for the frugality in remanufacturing previous figues mostly made from styrofoam and the many many steps it take to put together a float. It was fun walking through the aisles to find items that had meaning for us.

Wow very impressed with the tour and ability to see the process of styrofoam and fiberglass creations. The King Cake was a nice treat too. Interesting to hear how many floats they create and the variety of companies they make displays for. Add this to your must see list.

Because of Covid there was no guide for the tour. Just a video and a walk through the warehouse of previous year’s Mardi Gras props. These were interesting but needed context from a guide. Again, because of Covid, the shuttle service to the site abbreviated. Definitely use the shuttle because getting there is rather confusing. Very few people there. Wait until the pandemic eases and then give the tour a try.

It's silly and fun and totally worth it! The little guided tour was very informative and fun and it was great seeing all the floats and props up close! Plus we each got a piece of King Cake!

At $22 for an adult ticket, I expected more from this tour. I like parade floats, but I'm not a huge fan of them. I visited Mardi Gras World because I love seeing the "behind-the-scenes" of any unique business, and I admire talented artists. In fairness to Mardi Gras World, the website explains: "Tours are currently self-guided with informational signage prominently placed throughout the studio, allowing our guests to spread out and distance. Self-guided tours begin every half hour with a video presentation." That being said, I expected "fun facts" and more memorable stories on the signage, but the signage is pretty bare. I wonder if there are tour guide-led tours in non-COVID pandemic times. Let me compliment the very nice young woman who was working the ticket area/cash register/gift shop and the extremely nice and talented artists and delivery crew who chat with visitors who visit their work areas. My advice is manage your expectations. The tour is fun for the eyes, less engaging for the brain because the "informational signage" is pretty limited.

we were completely unaware of what goes on to make these parades happen. it was truly a blast to learn all about the different 'crewes' and how these all work. Being a bit of an mechanical geek i would have liked to see more of the inner workings of the props but overall well worth it

This was a really cool tour. It is a working facility, so stuff is everywhere, however that was a neat part of the experience. The tour guides were great, and the King Cake was delicious. We enjoyed being able to see the work up close and personal and hearing about the projects that they work on. The free shuttle to the downtown area is a plus. I'd recommend this tour to others.

This was incredibly disappointing!!! The history of how this place evolved was interesting. That was about the extent of it. The staff was confused as to who did what and to a little extent, acting as if we were an annoyance. There did not seem to be a push for cleanliness. I hate to say this, but I wouldn't waste my time.

This place is really neat. If you've never been to Mardi Gras, but want to know all about it and all about the floats and the people that create them, then this is the place to be. Make sure to watch the short movie before the tour, so that you can get a greater appreciation for the creativity and talents that go into making Mardi Gras what it is. Beautiful work and a fascinating history. Highly recommend!

If you have not had the unique experience of being in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, or even if you have, you should check out Mardi Gas World. It's a one-of-a-kind place, and they even have a free shuttle to bring you here.

It’s nice to learn what it takes to get Mardi Gras going. The faces of these characters are life like. You can really appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into making the floats and characters. I was very impressed walking through the aisles and seeing the different characters. My Favorite was the terminator.

We were lucky to have a tour with Lucky. He was really entertaining and kept the whole group engaged. I was even impressed with the 15 minute intro video. The best part was the bonus snack of King Cake (available all year). I didn’t really realize how much influence this place has outside of New Orleans.

We arrived, the ceiling is leaking, so bad that you need an umbrella inside, full of dust and smell of mold. We arrived, turned around and left. Don’t waste your time or money.

Place hasn't changed much since we were there 2 yrs ago. King cake is handed out in take home cartons instead of cut for the crowd. No tour guide now, self guided tour lasts about 30 mins. The guide made it much better, hope covid goes away soon and they can go back to normal.

Cool high level history of Mardi Gras, especially for younger people who may not be aware of it. Enjoyed the behind the scenes portion, but it might be time to update your video presentation to include a local artist more current than Better Than Ezra.

This was the perfect rainy day activity with my family on St. Patrick's Day weekend. Not only do guests receive a guided tour, but before the tour begins, guests watch an informational video about Mardi Gras, as well as receive a piece of King Cake! All of the children received crowns to wear throughout their tour, and the guides were knowledgable and allowed so many opportunities for touching and photographs! It is a work site, so it is important to keep in mind that it is messy!

Very interesting Got to see how they make the figures for the Mardi Gras parades. lots of cool pieces in the warehouse from previous parades

They give a great explanation of Marxism grad activity and the history of the floats. A lot of past items, both foam and fiberglass, are on display.

This tour was so much fun! Our guide was excellent and gave us a lot of info about how they make the floats there, but I got totally overwhelmed with the visuals! Its so colorful, with unexpected things popping up at every turn.

Wr were looking for something to do before our flight out. This was amazing and so glad we decided to see this. First there is a short video then were given a piece of king cake. The tour led us through the the working and storage area in the gigantic warehouse so we could see works in progress and all the floats and pieces. It was incredible! They also have a free shuttle that picks up at several places in the french quarter.
My husband uses a mobility scooter and it was completely accessible to him.

Free shuttle was good. More chairs are needed to rest. Air conditioning is needed in the main warehouse. Price should be $10, not $17.

Not worth the money. On arrival we were made to join a tour that had started a few minutes earlier. We missed what had been said and were at the back of the group struggling to hear. The behind the scenes tour lasted 20-25 minutes only. We then went to watch the 15 minute video (which I believe we should have started with). At the end of the video we received a free, small slice of cake (tasted like a sweet bread with icing) which was a bit hard and didn’t taste great. That was it! We then had to wait 35 minutes for the complimentary bus to drop us on Canal Street. Very disappointing experience and was expecting more/better. Wouldn’t recommend going.

I thought this would be hokey, maybe it was but it really sets the tone of NOLA Mardi Gras to see all the Floats and Figures en mass. Learned a lot about the history of Mardi Gras and the characters that led the effort.

We got there and there was a sign on the door stating they were closed due to damage from hurricane. I totally understand that but obviously they had my info and could have called me to let us know. We paid $20 for 5 min of parking. I called both numbers on the link and no answer, as well as emailing. I paid $130 for literally nothing. I will update if a refund is offered.

We loved walking around the warehouse seeing all the old and new figures and floats. The talent needed to produce these amazing works of art is simply amazing. We have wanted to come here for years and finally found the time. Make sure to visit to get a true sense of float making, design, and creativity.

We had visited Mardi Gras World a few years ago and were very impressed. We decided to take the others traveling with us to have a similar experience. We were very disappointed. The huge difference was the lack of a guided tour this time. The signage was inadequate to get the whole story. The amount of work going on was not the same as the same month a few years ago.

Our advice is to wait until the guided tours start again. We all felt that this was a waste of our money.

It was interesting to hear how the floats are made and har the story behind the family who started the more intricate floats designs.

A must!! Free shuttle from Marriott on canal street. Can get discount through groupon. I personally would not walk there. You would be muddling your way through a freight yard train yard, etc..

really interesting place! they have a shuttle service to take people from Canal street to the place, but we walked from the nearby outlet.

This is a "must do" when visiting New Orleans.

Our hotel was a block away from the FREE shuttle pick up spot at the Roosevelt Waldorf Astoria. That made it really convenient as we did not have to worry about arranging our own transportation. It is just a phone call away, very easy process.

Our tour started out with a short film, and our guide served us each a slice of the king cake! That was a treat, since we visited in November and normally king cake is not available during this time. We continue our tour into the warehouse. He covered various processes and we got to see some actual work being done. The tour was very informative.

After the guided tour, we were free to roam around the huge warehouse to leisurely enjoy looking at the floats and decorations. We took so many fantastic pictures. It was a really fun experience. We especially enjoyed looking at the super floats, they are simply amazing.

They now have a robot "Pixie". The robot is capable of carving through polyurethane, stone, wood, clay, and even metal. They also have a outdoor area with great spanning views to the Mississippi River.

This was a great half day adventure for us. Well done.

So much fun! There were tons of opportunities for photos and we had fun just exploring all the different floats and props! No tour guide so we could go at our own pace, the shuttle bus driver was rude but other than that it was great

A very interesting way to spend a couple of hours- they will pick you up in town with their own shuttle to get you there and back. The tour is interesting with a slice of King cake, and you can roam and take all of the pictures you want. Plus, there is a large deck overlooking the Mississippi. Don’t miss it.

My daughters and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour but the introductory film seemed a bit dated. It was fun for my daughter who has lived in NOLA for the past 4 years to learn about floats that she actually saw in action during recent Mardi Gras parades.

I saw this place on the Amazing Race and I wanted to visit. When I did go I was fascinated not only by the number and style of floats, but we got to see the process of how the floats were made. It was a nice learning experience and we got a piece of king cake, too. And the view in the back of the bridge and river was icing on the cake.

So amazing!! If you love Mardi Gras and aren’t in the big easy around it - this is the place to be. People are working- willing to answer questions about the float pieces and entire floats the are working on. I’ve seen what’s coming in 2023 now. Definite two thumbs up.

This is a must see if you are in the area! It was neat to see all of the floats and decorations they use for Mardi Gras. You even get king cake!

The tour guide was very knowledgeable. She gave enough information without being overly wordy. She explained the different types of materials they work with to create the float parts, and how they are used.

Informative and interesting behind the scenes look at Mardi Gras. A quick 15 min movie to start, a slice of Kings cake and off to the showroom. They share the design process and let you wonder around. My 7.5 yo enjoyed the experience equally to myself, husband and 21 yo relative.

The place is a working studio and there are artists actively working on creating art for floats and industry. There are lots of old float displays to peruse. The tours are led by a staff member and after that you're free to wander on your own. There is a little movie at the beginning of the tour and a gift shop with some New Orleans themed touristy stuff. It was cool seeing all of the art. The downside is that the ceiling leaks a lot so if it is raining you will get wet and the floor is wood so there are soft spots and it may be difficult to navigate with any mobility issues. Also, the parking, even the handicapped parking, is about a city block away and it's not the easiest to navigate if you are using a walker or wheelchair so make sure you get dropped off at the front of Mardi Gras world if you have any mobility issues. They give you king cake so that's a yummy plus!

Fun place to tour. Definitely worth it. Loved learning about how the stuff was made and got to see the artists working.

The brief show & tour were informative and interesting. Our guide was passionate and funny. We were given time to walk around & take pictures. I’d definitely recommend this tour. In addition to the tour, they also have a free shuttle to and from their building from specific locations.

This is a great activity on a rainy or sunny day in New Orleans. It's where all the floats and characters are made for Mardi Gras! There's a little gift shop and also a 15 minute film explaining the history of it all. Then, you walk thru the warehouse on a self guided tour and look at all the characters and floats made. It's unbelievable the artistry on display. The whole thing only takes about an hour but I think it's worth it. Children and adults will both enjoy!

Great tour attraction for first time visitors to New Orleans. Give you the history behind Mardi Gras and how the floats are built (12 minute movie). You have the opportunity to walk in the warehouse to actually see and touch the floats which is awesome!!!

Our first tour stop was the Longue Vue house & garden ( see separate review).

Then we came here. Before heading out for dinner.

I attached several pictures including walking up to the entrance, styrofoam figures, painted / finished figures, a couple floats, and Blaine Kern himself.

We struggled to find lot “G” to park ( its contactless pay by taking a photo a bar code , $23 I think. The lot is about a long block west of Mardi Gras World.

Shawn’s tour was excellent and informative. Living in the area we should have already known most of what he communicated

Fun tour if you have extra time in Nola
Short history film slice of kings cake in addition to tour
Fun photo opportunities of props and floats

There is so much to see! This tour really helped me get a better understanding of what Mardi Gras is all about. It made me want to attend Mardi Gras in the future. Other reviewers were right when they say to bring a camera. It was a visual feast and I took more pictures here than other other thing we did during our time in New Orleans. Bonus- you get a piece of King Cake. Appreciated that they have a shuttle which helped me rationalize the cost of admission.
I do wish that there could have been more explanations of things along the way, but understand that with COVID things have to be a little different. Just had to do a little extra reading at the stations.

This place was worth a visit! Make sure to watch the introductory video as there is a special surprise at the end. Then we walked through and did a self-guided tour through the warehouse. There are numerous photo opportunities and you can see artists at work. The gift shop has a nice array of souvenirs to bring home.

A must see while visiting New Orleans. They explain how the parade floats are built and show you. See many past and present designs.

They have a bus pick up in several locations. Ride their bus. Call for pick and time so they know to pick you up. It runs in a loop, so plan for that coming and going. Seemed like parking was not close. We rode the bus. Sorry to say, I had to call and complain about the driver. He was rude and hateful to folks. Hopefully he was just having a bad day, or he needs a new profession.

Gorgeous! Very interesting and informative. Amazing they are huge! Watch the movie before going through. Walk through the warehouse at your leisure. Stay as long as you wish. However, it doesn’t take long to do. A little pricey considering it takes less than an hour to do it all. We stopped and took lots of pictures. You could actually do it in minutes. I would recommend, and I enjoyed it. A little hot in the wear house. Probably real hot when it gets hotter.

The best part of this tour was the movie. Bus never picked us up and took forever after the tour to provide us a ride back. We ended up taking an uber both ways. The “museum” is an old warehouse that was leaking and a mess. I can see how this would have been great in the past. A great informative and structured tour guide would have helped.

Cool place! Learned a lot about the Mardi Gras parades and the process to develop the floats! The movie at the beginning is very informative and the King Cake was great!! Great family activity

We were not advised by the employee who radioed the shuttle for us that we were to be standing outside in a very specific spot, so we waited just inside the door of the hotel to stay cool. The driver pulled up to the curb and immediately pulled away. We quickly called again, were advised to run across four lanes of traffic to catch the shuttle, and then hung up on. Obviously, we did not follow those instructions but did manage to quickly get across the street. As we approached the shuttle the driver began to drive away again, so we waved to ensure he would stop. He then began mocking us, flailing his arms about. We boarded and began screaming at us. I asked him to drive quietly but he continued to behave in a manic manner that was both disrespectful and concerning. He continued these antics until more guests boarded at the next stop. He then mocked us again in front of these guests. We tried multiple times to explain it was an honest mistake, but he was furious and unreasonable. He also said that people like us are why he ends up with bad reviews on Trip Advisor. He was so erratic that I worry this man may be dealing with a mental health issue and is unsafe to be driving. We chose to walk back.

The tour is fine, some cool stuff, but certainly not worth the harassment or the cost of an Uber.

If you have never experienced Mardi Gras I suggest this stop. The guided tour was best for the video. Less than an hour. Good history lesson. Easy to follow for kids. Shuttle offered but failed on our pick up.

I wasn't sure what to expect but was glad we went on the tour. Seeing how they make the statues, the people working on them, and the floats was fun and also great to learn about Mardi Gras. There was a Groupon and I bought it while waiting in line and then redeemed it there. Our guide was fun and it was nice to be able to walk around afterwards to see more. We walked there not realizing how far it is, but took the shuttle back. Check out the shuttle for getting there and back as they have several stops and are very convenient.

Tour starts with short video that really was well done and explains not only history of the floats but also the process of creating the outlandish characters. Then you are able to walk on self guided tour of the warehouse. We were lucky to meet and talk with one of the artists who was creating a sea monster encompassing three floats filled with various fish and moving sea horses. This is not to be missed if you want to know more about Mardi Gras than just the drinking on bourbon street.

So fun!! We loved this tour! It was so fun to see these up close. Truly magical to see! It was really neat to see how they make them and all that goes into the process.

This was a fun, little tour that gave a great behind the scenes look at Mardi Gras, the float and parade decorations and really made us want to see a parade in New Orleans. Tour takes about 60-90 minutes in total and is pretty casual, but really informative and insightful. Not a place you'd likely walk to, so I'm glad we called and took the free shuttle.

Very disappointed. The group was gigantic so you not only couldn't hear the guide you couldn't even see her. It appeared to be a storage warehouse with no actual work going on. The roof leaked even though the rain had ceased.

This is an outstanding exhibit of various characters used on the Mardi Gras floats. A huge collection of past floats and a chance to see current artists making new float characters.

We had a wonderful tour. Very much enjoyed the movie discussing the historical information behind the Mardi Gras celebration and the significance of all of parades. Enjoyed the King Cake and seeing the floats and displays used on the floats. Our tour guide did a great job. Highly recommend!

First, they sent a van to the Ritz to pick us up. You view a video and receive king Cake. We opted to tour on our own. You saw the process of creating these floats. The artists will answer questions. It is a wonderful fun tour.

This attraction was so much fun, with very nice attendants in the building, if you like crafted art, this is the place for you. It was exciting to see the recreations of some of my favorite characters from movies and tv. It's a laid back attraction with no time limits on how long you could browse the showroom. You will also get to see people making pieces and have the opportunity to ask them questions, I appreciated that.
But there is one aspect of this attraction that made it end on a bad note. There is a free shuttle offered to get you back into the heart of Canal Street and the nicest way I can describe the driver is by saying that he must have been having a bad day because he was rude. What upset me is that he made me feel like I was doing something wrong by getting on the free shuttle and not knowing the process. He was hesitant to answer my question and prompted me to take a brochure that explained everything. I honestly felt like he was saying to himself "Just take the brochure dummy and learn to read. "
Apart from this one unfortunate incident the exhibit was worth seeing, avoid the free shuttle back though.

We pleasantly surprised by how fascinating this working warehouse tour was. We saw floats being made, a great film about the history and pageantry, and saw many figures from previous floats. Can't miss this!

The video was enjoyable and informative! That was the only “guided” part! The rest was on your own! The construction and building of the float demo was good! You get beads and Kings Cake!

Not air conditioned.
The tour goes a bit quickly, and I wish that they would have gone a bit more into what the Crews are.
That said it was an interesting once in a lifetime experience and all of the float accessories are amazing.

The movie at the start of the self-guided tour was the best part - plenty of background information.

Once over, the tour is a walk thru the warehouse at your own pace. Not too much information is available and didn't see any artists at work.

King cake was fresh....

Not at all impressed with the driver of the shuttle - took on too many passengers and did not have seating.

So glad we decided to visit. We found out we could call ahead for a shuttle bus which took us directly to the warehouse. Our guide was engaging and it was fun looking at all the displays.

This place was so much fun! Definitely worth a trip. Lots of photo ops. The free shuttle makes getting to and from the location very easy.

Mardi Gras World was really cool to see. Great to get an idea of how the Mardi Gras floats are made and how much goes into them, and got some good history of Mardi Gras too. It was also cool to walk through the warehouse of floats. Not a ton to do though- the whole thing is less than an hour. The staff was very friendly, though, especially Meredith, who was working the gift shop at the time.

This was a 5/5 experience, learning about the way Mardi Gras comes together, you even get to eat King Cake! The floats are imaginative and spectacular and the tour guides care very deeply about these floats and your experience.

We had a very good time. The video prior to the “tour” was very informative. The king cake at the end of the video was a nice plus. We went on a Sunday so none of the artists were working but we were still in awe of their skills. We loved that the tour was self guided so you could go at your own pace. They also encourage photos!

This was an amazing experience! The tour guide we had was so knowledgeable about the business of float making, as well as the history of Mardi Gras. We were able to view hundreds of props from floats of past years as well as watch artist and craftsmen working on new props and pieces for upcoming floats.

HUGE warehouse filled with floats and props. There is a walking tour after which you can wander about on your own and get up close to these giant, magical floats. You can look into the workshop where they create these amazing pieces of art. It was interesting to get some history about the parade and parade culture. Lots of fun photo opps to remember this place by.

Very interesting to see how the Mardi Gras parade floats, and all the features that go onto the floats are made and recycled for future floats. Its in a very very large warehouse on the riverfront so it will be very cold or hot depending on the time of year you visit.

Very bad experience. 30 minutes tour when meant to last 90 minutes. There is not much more to see. Not worth the 35 dollars. But the worst was the shuttle driver. Apart from kicking everyone off the bus saying it was the last stop by the Cesar hotel, when there is not such a thing as last stop since it goes in a circle, also took my wife’s glasses. We were the only ones on the shuttle getting there. She realized she left them on the bus, 5 minutes after went there to picked them up and they were gone, without anyone else getting there. That is what I call a Mardi Gras’s miracle.

Nice way to spend an hour to see how the floats are actively being made. You first watch a movie and they give you beads and a piece of king cake. Then your self guided in the warehouse. If you have extra time I would go and see it. It’s a little costly for what you get but I’m sure it’s what helps fund the making of the floats.

We really enjoyed our time at Mardi Gras World! We have never attended Mardi Gras in New Orleans but being from Orlando, we see the one at Universal yearly. This was such an informative tour and really showcased the skill involved in making these massive pieces of art! We were toured all around the facility as artists were at work. We then had free time at the end of the tour to spend as much time going back around to take photos. Highly recommend visiting here once!

Shawn did an amazing job leading the tour. He is upbeat and a great speaker. We were there about 1.5 hours. The king came they offer tasted great. The floats are amazing. I had no idea the amount of work that goes into Mardi Gras.

The tour starts with a slice of king cake. Yummy! Then a short film about Mardi Gras and the krewes and floats. Then we are lead to the warehouse we’re the make the floats and keep them. You walk threw at your own speed and go where you want. So beautiful and details are amazing. Very interesting

It was really awesome to see this working shop/warehouse. So much goes into this celebration! Super interesting to see the artists at work and learn some behind the scenes information. The floats etc. are stunning.

We used the free shuttle to get to the location. This is a really smart idea on their part as walking there would be challenging. You enter a nice gift shop to get your tickets and wait for the tour. There are seats both inside and out. They have a lovely patio on the river if the weather is nice.
The tour starts with a 15 minute background movie which was okay. You are given a piece of kings cake and enter the workshop. You get to see artists working on upcoming float props and props from previous floats. The tour guide provides some information about the float building process as you move through the warehouse.
This part of the tour last at most 30 minutes. That is it. This is why I have a little bit of an issue. The idea of Mardi Gras World is good, but at 30 dollars a ticket for less than an hour, it just isn't worth it.

We loved our experience at Mardi Gras World. The staff were so lovely and kind. The free shuttle and cake tasting were a lovely touch. It was interesting to see all of the floats and hear about the history.

Really interesting behind the scenes look at how Mardi Gras floats are made. The free tour has started back up (had been self guided) but you're able to stay and wander around for as long as you want. Worth a visit. We were there for about an hour including the movie at the start of the tour.

I LOVED the small tour with an actual artist through this maze of figures and fantasy. It was amazing to watch these enormous hunks of foam get carved, plastered and painted. The initial video was great for an overview of the Mardi Gras history and helped me understand New Orleans with new eyes. The extra time at the end of the tour gave me a really good opportunity to get some great shots. Definitely a must see!

Price a little much , but worth admission, thanks to a Groupon. We elected to do a self guided tour. There was a lot to see, including people at work making new float pieces. All the floats were in a huge warehouse. Some were easy to see and get to, and some were not. The warehouse was very cold. A lot of photo opportunities. Overall, we had fun and would recommend.