2026 Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts Mardi Gras Parade and Celebration Details
Details have been posted for this year’s annual Mardi Gras Pargo Parade and celebration at Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts. Each year, cast members from select divisions form teams to create themed golf cart floats for a parade that runs from Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside to the French Quarter Resort. Even though details for the event are not publicly posted until a few days before, you can rest assured that it will be popular. Many guests book this week specifically to take part in the festivities.
The Port Orleans Mardi Gras Pargo Parade takes place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The parade will step off at Port Orleans Riverside Resort near building 80 at 10:30 a.m. It is expected to reach building 7 at Port Orleans French Quarter by 11:30 a.m. Typically, the parade will start at Riverside and follow the long path across the resort in front of the mansions. Once it reaches the last building, it will then cross the bridge and continue down the sidewalk adjacent to the Sassagoula River all the way to Port Orleans French Quarter. Once it passes most of the French Quarter, the parade turns into the resort and ends up in the courtyard in front of the resort lobby. The parade’s theme in 2026 is Disney Villains vs. Heroes.
Disney’s Port Orleans Mardi Gras Festivities in 2026
The following list details all the resort festivities at Port Orleans French Quarter Resort on Fat Tuesday (February 17, 2026).
- Port Orleans Mardi Gras Pargo Parade
- 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
- Port Orleans Riverside: Parade starts near building 80 at 10:30 a.m.
- Port Orleans French Quarter: Parade starts near building 7 at 11:30 a.m.
- Mardi Gras Courtyard Crafts
- 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Join us for arts and crafts with complimentary activities between buildings 5 and 6.
- Costume Contest
- 2:00 p.m. Between buildings 5 and 6
- 8:00 p.m. Jackson Square Courtyard
- Come show off your best Mardi Gras king and queen attire.
- Mardi Gras Party
- 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Music, feathers, beads, and masks. What more do we need to have a blast? This event at the French Quarter Courtyard has fun, games, and crafting for the whole family.
- Live Jazz Band
- Scat Cat’s Club Lounge
- 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Tips for Seeing the Parade
The parade typically takes an hour from the starting point to the finish. So if you’re hoping to see the parade and then go on about your day, you’ll want to secure a spot closer to the stepping-off point at Riverside.
Remember: Choose a spot to watch the parade based on how long you plan to stay. However, if you want to see which floats are chosen as winners, plan to be there until lunchtime. (This might be a good day to plan lunch at Port Orleans French Quarter or take the boat to Disney Springs for a variety of options.)
Extra: You might see live music or other entertainment at the resort for the celebration. Often, Princess Tiana rides in a horse and carriage through the entire route ahead of the parade. (This is not guaranteed, but from what we’ve seen is fairly consistent.)
Is the parade worth going out of the way to see? If you’re a regular guest who doesn’t feel like they’ll be missing time in the parks, then, yes, the parade is worth it. We enjoy doing these kinds of things when it works with our schedule.
The best advice I can offer is to find a viewing spot on the parade’s route somewhere along the river between Riverside and the French Quarter. You can then walk to the French Quarter lobby at the end of the parade to get a better look at the golf cart floats after they park. From experience, you do not want to wait for the parade in front of the French Quarter lobby. That’s where it ends. The entire area is exceptionally crowded, and instead of the floats coming through, they come to a dead stop. The photo below shows guests waiting in the area where the parade ends. There will be signage posted at both resorts that shows the parade’s route.
Final Thoughts
The Mardi Gras celebration at Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts is a longtime tradition that’s fun for everyone. If you’ve never been before, you might be surprised at how many people turn out for it! It is truly a celebration. For more on what’s going on this month at Disney World, see our guide:
Disney World in February 2026 (Dates, Weather, and Crowds)
In the Comments
Do you plan to see this year’s Mardi Gras parade at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort? Have you visited before? Let us know in the comments below.
